Chopping down an onion tree

[Mike Buckley]

My two onion trees have grown as much as they're going to grow. It's now time for them to serve their initially intended purpose -- to enhance food.

I lit and composed this not as that would have been done for use as an advertisement of a product. Instead, I designed everything to show my personal emotional interpretation of the scene.

[John 2]

Brings tears to my eyes Mike. Technically excellent. The light distribution in front of and behind the knife is spot on. Beautifully captured.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, John!

About bringing tears to your eyes: When I chop a couple cups of onions, tears will literally come to my wife's eyes even when she is in a room 40 feet (13 meters) away.

[tbob]

Really well done and very creative I love the backlight on the leaves (stems?) and skin

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for noticing the backlighting, Trevor. That's done using a speedlight positioned below and behind the tabletop (out of view).

The things that are growing upward I call leaves. I have no idea if that's the correct term. I do know that "onion tree" is not correct.

[John 2]

Thanks, John!

About bringing tears to your eyes: When I chop a couple cups of onions, tears will literally come to my wife's eyes even when she is in a room 40 feet (13 meters) away.

That's why you get to chop all the onions!

[Donald]

Just as John & Trevor have commented. Beautifully assembled, arranged, composed, lit and executed.

[IzzieK]

Thanks, John!

About bringing tears to your eyes: When I chop a couple cups of onions, tears will literally come to my wife's eyes even when she is in a room 40 feet (13 meters) away.

My go-to method for slicing an onion is to put it in the freezer for 15 minutes before cutting.

Anyway, I love the lighting you did in this one...very nice indeed...

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Izzie and Donald!

My go-to method for slicing an onion is to put it in the freezer for 15 minutes before cutting.

Never heard of that. Thanks for the tip!

[Scouse]

Excellent idea and photo. Composition is great.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, Ken!

It's now official: The two onions at the base of the onion trees have been chopped and half of the chopped onions helped make an excellent paella paired with an equally excellent Rioja reserva. The other half awaits in the refrigerator for a destiny that is equally impressive.

[Scouse]

bon appetit

[IzzieK]

Thank you, Ken!

It's now official: The two onions at the base of the onion trees have been chopped and half of the chopped onions helped make an excellent paella paired with an equally excellent Rioja reserva. The other half awaits in the refrigerator for a destiny that is equally impressive.

No...!!! You didn't put a cut onion in the fridge!!! In the cooks' world, that is an absolute no-no!!! Cut onions absorbs all the other smells that are inside the fridge. It also collects all the bacteria in there and therefore it is poisonous. Google is your friend if you do not believe me.

BTW, your onion tree -- the green part is called a sprout, not a tree. If it comes to this point like how your onion looks like, I usually use the green part, not the bulb for cooking. The green part is useable but the bulb is less flavourful and should only be used as fertilizer on the ground, not in the stomach.

I cannot see anymore of what I am typing so I better go to bed. It's been a long day for me today...

[Mike Buckley]

No...!!! You didn't put a cut onion in the fridge!!! In the cooks' world, that is an absolute no-no!!! Cut onions absorbs all the other smells that are inside the fridge. It also collects all the bacteria in there and therefore it is poisonous.

Point #1: It doesn't absorb anything because it is in its own sealed container. I've been doing this for decades with no ill effect and for reasons that make sense.

Point #2: If there are harmful bacteria in the refrigerator that could get within sealed containers, there would be no reason to ever put anything in a refrigerator. Again, I've been putting cut onions in the refrigerator within a sealed container for decades with no ill effects.

Moral of the story: There are at least as many myths pertaining to food as pertaining to photography. Common sense, not myths, prevails in my household.

[IzzieK]

Oh sorry...you are right of course.

[Brownbear]

Exemplary as always...

What I admire most about this image is the light, and that the light looks like natural outdoor light.

[Jeffbridge]

That is beautiful! Excellent Shot!!!

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Christina!