Flowers & Seashells

[Davejl]

Hi Tony,

Many thanks for explaining your technique. I'll read your explanation very carefully. There is so much to inspire me here, and much to be experimented with. Your images are quite amazing, but it seems that on the purely technical level I should theoretically have the equipment to try to follow your example. Your handling of the highlight issue is very impressive and I love the way that the black background isolates that starfish, for example.

Cheers,

Dave

[KWM]

Lovely pictures

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[Tony Britton]

A few more I hope you'll enjoy.

[IzzieK]

Tony...I particular prefer the non-flower shots here. If you do not mind me commenting...the non-flower shots, the shells are like they are floating. I came upon a photography advice somewhere that if you do not like the background, just select the object then change the background to a suitable colour or pure black or pure white in hue and saturation. I have done that with one image I sent to someone in the email. It kinda looks like yours. Anyway, the flower shots, I think you need to experiment on some more angles to show their beauty. And oh, #7 is too shadowy, maybe another angle will show more of what there is to see there or perhaps it needed light on top right hand side. Try 1 o'clock. Just a thought...unless you decided that shot is deliberate. If it is, then ignore me.

[Tony Britton]

Tony...I particular prefer the non-flower shots here. If you do not mind me commenting...the non-flower shots, the shells are like they are floating. I came upon a photography advice somewhere that if you do not like the background, just select the object then change the background to a suitable colour or pure black or pure white in hue and saturation. I have done that with one image I sent to someone in the email. It kinda looks like yours. Anyway, the flower shots, I think you need to experiment on some more angles to show their beauty. And oh, #7 is too shadowy, maybe another angle will show more of what there is to see there or perhaps it needed light on top right hand side. Try 1 o'clock. Just a thought...unless you decided that shot is deliberate. If it is, then ignore me.

Hi Izzie,

Thanks so very much for looking and I always appreciate your constructive input. Yes, the "floating" effect is one of my main goals with regard to the seashells. On my website I say that I want to create an image similar to astrophotography, such as planet floating in the blackness of outer space. Whether it's a flower, seashell or bird photo like the ones I've posted on this site, my main theme is the exciting interplay of light & especially shadow and I strongly favor the darker end of the exposure spectrum and therefore, all of my exposures are deliberate or intentional.

Best regards,

Tony

[Tony Britton]

[IzzieK]

I must start doing table top photography soon....I prefer #2. Where do you find your shells?

[John 2]

Interesting shots Tony, that demonstrate that nothing compares to nature when it comes to variety.

[Tony Britton]

I must start doing table top photography soon....I prefer #2. Where do you find your shells?

Hi Izzie,

Yes, it can be great fun and really interesting given the many ways to light and position the shells to your liking. A shell like #2 can be especially fun to photograph simply because the surface presents so many areas for light & shadow play. It's like the "moon" in my goal to present certain seashells as if they're floating in outer space.

I live in a seaside town and purchase my shells at a shop on a municipal wharf. Otherwise, the internet has numerous online seashell companies with an enormous supply and choices.

Here's a couple more of the #2 shell, which I believe is called a "Sea Bisquit."

[Tony Britton]

Interesting shots Tony, that demonstrate that nothing compares to nature when it comes to variety.

Thanks very much, John. How right you are with regard to nature!

Tony

[Tony Britton]

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Tony,

Good series.

My only thought, particularly with the latest batch, is that some reflected fill would be beneficial to show us the outline of the entire shell where not lit by your light source where it disappears in to the background blackness.

I do 'get' why you are lighting as you are, it enhances the texture, just that with some angles, I feel we're losing too much.

However, I am not known for my 'artistic interpretation', and if this is definitively how you want them to be seen (aka 'your style'), that's absolutely fine.

HTH, Dave

PS

Actually, that wasn't my only thought, another was I'd like to see them a bit bigger (because they are good), but again, if you'd rather not (I imagine they are quite saleable/stealable), that's OK.

[Tony Britton]

Hi Tony,

Good series.

My only thought, particularly with the latest batch, is that some reflected fill would be beneficial to show us the outline of the entire shell where not lit by your light source where it disappears in to the background blackness.

I do 'get' why you are lighting as you are, it enhances the texture, just that with some angles, I feel we're losing too much.

However, I am not known for my 'artistic interpretation', and if this is definitively how you want them to be seen (aka 'your style'), that's absolutely fine.

HTH, Dave

PS

Actually, that wasn't my only thought, another was I'd like to see them a bit bigger (because they are good), but again, if you'd rather not (I imagine they are quite saleable/stealable), that's OK.

Hi Dave,

Thank you for your thoughtful comments and suggestions. I'm afraid that in the case of these types of photos the "style" in which they're presented is intentional and therefore, the amount of shell I want to expose / hide is exactly to my liking. It's essentially a form of visual hide and seek in the sense that I want the viewer to imagine the rest of the image which is hidden in shadow. I'm not saying it's for everyone, but I certainly enjoy it!

My website might display slightly larger images than those I post here, which will remain sized as such.

Best regards,

Tony