Crab Shell

[Black Pearl]

You know those days when you get the itch to take a photograph but its dull outside and you can't get excited by the same old views on the dog walk - I'm having one of them.

So I picked up a crab shell from the beach and carried it all the way home - I had a plan you see.
Once home I got an old DVD case and smashed a small hole in the centre, placed it between two low chairs, balanced a torch between the legs of my Joby Gorrilapod (it was to hand) and placed it underneath, flipped the centre column of my Manfrotto 055 CXPRO3 horizontal and with the camera, the chairs and as much of the set-up covered by a black coat (my old Jessops soft-shell) as I could manage I took a few shots.



Nikon D300s
Nikon AF 60mm f2.8D Micro
0.5s - f11 - 100iso

[Kodiak]

You know those days when… its dull outside… - I'm having one of them.

Hi Robin,

I've been revisiting this thread at least 3 or 4 times today! I can say this:
great colours, interesting crop, cool contrast, fine details, pure black
background, and a fine frame. This could be a perfect example of… of…
well, nothing!

This is a perfect picture that…
• has no fun factor
• has no eye entertainment
• tells no story and
• though the title says what it is… I don't connect!

Please help me… what am I missing/overlooking here?

[Marie Hass]

Actually, I do beg to differ, Kodiak. The colors are rich. The lighting highlights detail one would not often see in a shell. The lighting from back to front provides a dimensional interest not seen otherwise. Reminds me of a display from the Smithsonian.

'Rie

[Kodiak]

Actually, I do beg to differ, Kodiak.

Hello Marie, please feel at ease and don't beg… all granted!

The colors are rich.

The colours… yes, I noted that

The lighting highlights detail one would not often see in a shell. The lighting from back to front provides a dimensional interest not seen otherwise.

I already noted as well the lighting qualities…
That's all? …really?

This post has had 58 visitors (that's three from me) and our replies! I think
I am not alone to be lost in perplexity. And the confirmation you kindly bring
to my observations does not dissipate the need I feel for grasp this photograph.

Honestly… I don't connect! Thanks for trying Marie :-)

[Wavelength]

Very well done; you have every reason to post your settings..... a book of explanation can be easily replaced ...seeing is understanding

[Loose Canon]

Hi Robin,

I've been revisiting this thread at least 3 or 4 times today! I can say this:
great colours, interesting crop, cool contrast, fine details, pure black
background, and a fine frame. This could be a perfect example of… of…
well, nothing!

This is a perfect picture that…
• has no fun factor
• has no eye entertainment
• tells no story and
• though the title says what it is… I don't connect!

Please help me… what am I missing/overlooking here?

Wow!

Can’t say that I have ever seen such a directly negative and unconstructive comment on a good shot on this Forum until now.

I think the shot is great Robin. Backlighting, detail, BG, it is all happening!

I have never seen a shell shot before! You have set the bar!

[FootLoose]

Well, I think you have been pretty resourceful, Robin, and I like the colours and lighting.

[smcrews]

Hi Robin,

I've been revisiting this thread at least 3 or 4 times today! I can say this:
great colours, interesting crop, cool contrast, fine details, pure black
background, and a fine frame. This could be a perfect example of… of…
well, nothing!

This is a perfect picture that…
• has no fun factor
• has no eye entertainment
• tells no story and
• though the title says what it is… I don't connect!

Please help me… what am I missing/overlooking here?

I would have to agree with Terry on this one. This is a good shot and this comment lacks any constructive criticism while sounding quite pompous. If you don't like a shot, or don't have any constructive criticism, don't comment.

As far as the shot is concerned, the technical aspects of the shot are all fine. What I really like about this is the interesting use of something that was randomly found.

Well done.

[Black Pearl]

Kodiak as you say the title says it all - its a crab shell.

The reason I thought I'd share this photograph was because I had noticed the intricate details of the shells construction, tried shooting it with natural light and wasn't happy so sat back and thought about how I could photograph it a little differently (I hope) and went one step further in trying to get a shot I liked.

If you don't connect that is fine because the world would be a dull place if everyone had the same emotions. I was hoping there was a little comedy in my post (I really was hiding under a coat while shooting this) and thought it might be interesting for others to read about my methods. It is actually a fairly simple set-up for anyone to try and yields results (like them or not) that are a little different.

Thanks everyone for the comments positive and negative, it is from these that we grow our understanding.

[ajohnw]

I sort of see where Kodiak is coming from and feel some other lighting arrangement would give a more interesting arrangement. I reminded of our famous glass photographers early efforts. It took him some time to get the results he gets now.

I see it as a lighting challenge and maybe there are better solutions. Perhaps a more diffuse light from below and additional light on top to bring out detail and pp the background black.

As an aside. I needed a decent small led flashlight. Tried ebay and didn't get what the showed in the listing so sent them back. I went to a local electrical place that supplies electricians - sort of semi trade and they had some small ones made by Mercury. Not expensive and a very even adjustable beam. Bit dearer but Ikea do some led lamps on a flexible stalk either with a base or a big crocodile clip on the end. Very even light again. Not an awful amount but longer exposures are ok on a tripod. A pro photographer I know pointed me at them. He's more of a macro / micro photographer.

John
-

[Kodiak]

Wow! Can’t say that I have ever seen such a directly negative and unconstructive comment on a good shot on this Forum until now.

"I can say this: great colours, interesting crop, cool contrast, fine details,
pure black background, and a fine frame."

Right, very "directly negative comment"???

" …this comment lacks any constructive criticism while sounding quite pompous. If you don't like a shot, or don't have any constructive criticism, don't comment."

Please help me… what am I missing/overlooking here? In my book, is
not a comment but a question… since I don't get it! Like some people
won't get a joke… I didn't get the shot! …but now I know why!

Having my first cup of morning coffee, I realize that what could have given
some "substance" to the shot is the inclusion of the CLAWS!

@Robin:
even in sheer boredom you get creative and don't lose your time, Cool!
As I noted, the technical aspects are fine… but what would be the take had
you included the claws! That would have solved everything!
••••••••••

Come on guys… you should know me by now! ;-)

[Black Pearl]

Ah - but that is the entire crab as I picked it up from the beach. It is tiny and very delicate, almost translucence and having tried to shoot it under normal lighting I thought light coming through it would better capture the delicacy:



I did try another shot last night - easier as I didn't have to hide under a coat just turn out the lights in the conservatory. This time the other side and made up from a few shots stacked in HeliconFocus to increase the DoF.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Robin Even if you hadn't mentioned that these were crab shells I would have liked the images as abstracts. But it can also be seen that they are shells of some creature anyway. So, please be happy with your images , I like the lighting , colors and shapes in the images.

[nimitzbenedicto]

[I]"••••••••••

Come on guys… you should know me by now! ;-)

Hi,

Just wondering if you are also in the Nikonites site.

[FrankMi]

I find it a fascinating image to view and ponder Robin. And the two internally lit images are far more interesting than the normally lit one.

Kodiak, if you found it compelling enough to go back for a third look then it must have had something that captured your interest? An image that either holds your attention or causes you to return several times has sparked something of value for you, even if it is the effort you took to try to understand the image. <smile>

[Kodiak]

Kodiak, if you found it compelling enough to go back for a third look then it must have had something that captured your interest?

Hi Frank, nice to meet you!

Indeed, I could not understand how a photograph with "great colours,
interesting crop, cool contrast, fine details, pure black background, and
a fine frame" could leave me cold and clueless… I just didn't get it!

I never condemned the work or its author, I just wanted to understand.
I've been involved in this art form to know the one cannot be sensible to
and/or understand everything.

[DanK]

Robin,

In my view, your first comment hit the nail on the head: the story is in the fine details. For that reason, I like your second one far more than the first. The first shows less detail, has a lot of detail out of focus, and despite the backlighting, is not all that different from what one would normally see. In contrast, the second is rich in detail, has appropriate depth of field, and shows this in a way that is totally different from the way we normally see these. And the combination of back- and front lighting is very good, with a nice balance. I think the second is a really excellent image, but the first falls somewhat short by comparison. Just MHO.

Dan

[FrankMi]

Hi Frank, nice to meet you!

Indeed, I could not understand how a photograph with "great colours,
interesting crop, cool contrast, fine details, pure black background, and
a fine frame" could leave me cold and clueless… I just didn't get it!

I never condemned the work or its author, I just wanted to understand.
I've been involved in this art form to know the one cannot be sensible to
and/or understand everything.

Nice to meet you as well Kodiak! I understand where you are coming from and applaud your searching for answers. Sometimes I too don't know why an image causes me to take a second or third look. Finding the answer to that question can help you to discover things that may be in your subconscious about yourself.

One of the things I am just coming to realize about myself is why some images attract me more than others. In doing that introspective searching, I am just now starting to develop my 'style' of photography. Hopefully this exercise of yours will help you in a similar way.