Pin Cushion

[topol]

I think the ripples in the background cloth sort of give it a realistic look, considering it's a sewing accessory.
I notice the ISO is lower in the Macro version, which is the pic I prefer.
The pin cushion is about 60 years old - bought in Scotland.

Fuji FinePix SL300

Pin cushion 1.JPG by taffopol, on Flickr
Aperture-priority ƒ/4.6
12.2 mm
1/110
ISO 400

Pin cushion 2 by taffopol, on Flickr
Aperture-priority ƒ/4.8
13.2 mm
1/85
ISO 400

Pin cushion (macro) by taffopol, on Flickr
Auto (set to macro)
ƒ/3.1
4.3 mm
1/45
ISO 200

[Geoff F]

For me, #2 and #3 have the best composition although they are both a fraction tight on the right side. Would #2 take a tiny bit extra brightness?

[Shadowman]

#2 for the exposure and the design effect of the threads.

[Loose Canon]

Hi Norm!

Man, many are the times I feel just like that pincushion!

I think your shots might be a bit underexposed. The macro shot you favor I have at about one stop underexposure. The others at about a stop and a half. Here is a before and after increasing the exposure by around .90 stops.



As for the cloth? What if you were to re-set the scene and used some nice folds/draping for your cloth? That way, it would look more like a purposefully designed set rather than a flat surface with wrinkles?

Get creative and go wild!

[Stagecoach]

+1 to what Terry has said.

How are you lighting these shots Norm, the shadows are good and soft.

[Mike Buckley]

Norm,

Terry mentioned the under exposure. I wonder if you are familiar with how to use your camera's histogram to obtain the ideal exposure. If not, check out the tutorial here at CiC about using a histogram.

[IzzieK]

A bagpipe pin cushion. How cute is that?! I prefer #3 because #2 needs some room at the top.

[topol]

Thanks for the comments - I'll try to answer all your points.
Lighting was natural light from the window behind me - I've haven't explored the intracacies of artificial lighting yet, but will certainly look at the tutorial about histograms.
In my OP I mentioned the ripples in the underlying cloth, but obviously it's not prominent enough.
I think I need a larger surface area than I'm using, 'cos I had to crop closely to avoid unwanted wall - hence the closeness to the RH edge.

Will try the dining room instead of the small bedroom (if I'm allowed )