Still lifes

[Dovrob]

Hi,
I'm posting 4 still life images which are section of my college work. Part of the evaluation asks for comments from other people. So I would be interested to hear members thoughts on the images. Thanks in advance

[bnnrcn]

Hi David,I like#1 for the colours and composition,#4 is nice too

[Dovrob]

Thanks, Image 1 was for a refreshinbg drink, image 2, a title page for a quality coffee table cook book, image 3 for a perfume company, showing the male side and image 4 was for a catalogue for glass ware

[kap55]

Nice lighting in 1 & 3. Not crazy about the bottle being half shown in 4 - would prefer it completely in or out of the photo. Would like the recipe for 2.

[bnnrcn]

David,I had actually thought that #2 would have been good for a cook book

Thanks, Image 1 was for a refreshinbg drink, image 2, a title page for a quality coffee table cook book, image 3 for a perfume company, showing the male side and image 4 was for a catalogue for glass ware

[Dovrob]

Cheers, Interesting ideas coming up which I appreciate as they are all useful when I come up to write my evaluation.

[Shadowman]

#1 is different and trendy but takes away from the impact of your setup. I would use the light trails as a background layer.
#2 the dish is a bit on the soft side, vegetables and pasta are sharp. Like the composition, would bring the bowl more into the frame.
#3 is nice, would try light so the cast shadow (reflection) appears in the back or to the side.
#4 is nice.

Just an observation.

[Dovrob]

Thanks Shadowman. All observations welcome.

[Dovrob]

Hoping to get a few more comments, :-) Going to use the comments as a part of my evaluation as to what other people think. Always useful to get fellow photographers' comments, as they look at the wider image, eg, lighting, composition, perspective.

[Geoff F]

With #1 is there possibly one slice of lemon too much and do we need to see the top of that bottle? I'm not sure.

With the plate, I'm not certain about the lighting angle and the shadows. Needs an opinion from someone who is more experienced in this sort of scene than me.

And is placing the bowl centrally plus something in each corner a little bit too regular?

Perfume and tools is a good idea, but I just wonder if it would produce a stronger image by having the bottle more upright (vertical lines being vertical), amongst tools at an angle?

And with the decanter; could you have some brighter highlights on the glass?

But this is being ultra critical on some good shots.

[Dovrob]

Geoff I'm looking for opinions from other photographers., to help me learn and giver me another view. Still life is not my preferred genre, but its something I have to do. Starting a scene from scratch and building it up is something I struggle with , but try hard to learn.

My tutor also think I went overboard with the lemons, so maybe its time to listen :-)

[HMW12]

Hi David
For #3 I agree that the angle does not work. If this was a product shot I would think the client would want the brand name more prominent and legible.
For #4 not sure why - maybe the lighting and reflections from the background - but to me the glasses look like they have not been properly washed.

[Dovrob]

Thanks Helen. Interesting about image 3, useful thing to bring up in evaluation. Glasses in shot 4 may have suffered a little wear & tear as I was more interested in the decanter, which has great sentimental value. Emotion and product shots certainly don't go . Thanks

[Loose Canon]

Emotion and product shots certainly don't go

I would have to disagree.

From a photography standpoint, emotion has everything to do with selling a product!

For example? The saying "sex sells" ain't for nothing!

[flashback]

David,

#1 I would prefer to see the top of the bottle, and maybe do without the (?) silly string.
#2 I think it's great, not a product photographer but it looks really good to me.
#3 I like the layout but, you have an *antique* mallet but a modern chisel, doesn't work for me, plus the drawings have no connection to the the tools (furniture maker in me). The drawing should maybe be something that would have been hand worked.
#4 Why isn't the decanter filled?

[Wavelength]

Like them

[steve welle]

Good photos generally. I think it would be better to show top of hooch bottle with a bit a space above that so it looks less crowded. The bowl to upper right of soup/stew is too shadowy inside and cannot tell what it is, and you don't need so many items. I would have moved the main subject to right and shown the whole ladle instead. The cologne label should be more prominent if that's what you are selling. The booze bottle should not be cut off in my opinion. Leave it all in or take it out or pour it into the decanter.

[Kaye Leggett]

I like 1 and 4. Not sure 2 works - the food doesn't look appetising enough to eat and I don't get number 3 - I know what you're trying to achieve but for me it just doesn't work - perhaps replacing the pencil with a red crayon and the chisel with a red handled screwdriver etc. would...... But feel free to ignore me as someone for whom college was a long time ago...

[Dovrob]

Thanks for the comments, they are really useful. Still life isn't my favourite subject, but with hard work and help I'll make a go at it.

[Geoff F]

David, your thread has spurred me on to try a similar idea which has been at the back of my mind for some time.

Shot several versions today and thought I was doing well - until I looked at the shots on my computer screen.

Ditched them all and reshot. Much better this time; or so I thought. Another computer screen viewing and another load of rejects!

I was attempting to shoot with poor natural light, which I think was a large part of my problems; so will try again with different lighting.

Like you said, not my preferred subjects.