Aparagus Bouquet

[Mike Buckley]

This image of green and purple asparagus is an addition to my continuing series of photos that displays food in a context that we don't normally experience or at least don't notice.

Please click the image twice to display it at its largest size to appreciate the detail.

Setup
The background is purple art paper slightly lit in the center of the image by a flashlight set to its lowest brightness. A small continuous-light lamp is above the scene on the right side. That lamp is flagged on the back side to prevent light from falling onto the background. A polarizer controlled the glare produced by that lamp. A flashlight set to its brightest light is on the left side shining upward from the bottom. Another smaller flashlight lights the asparagus tips from the left front area to make them a bit less contrasty. A white reflector on the left side adds the reflection to the glass bowl to help define its shape and add some glamor to the scene.

[FootLoose]

Your lighting of the asparagus really shows off the detail. However, while I understand your reason for lighting up the bowl it is a bit too strong for my liking. I find it competes with the asparagus for attention as it is so bright.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Wavelength]

Lovely

[Kaye Leggett]

Love the concept, but I don't like the seemingly unlit spear on the right, especially as the spear behind it has light on it.

[bnnrcn]

I agree with Greg

[Marie Hass]

While I really love this idea, some of the green spears are less than fresh (as evidenced by the wrinkling and deterioration of the one leftmost). Also, if the idea is to showcase the asparagus, there is too much lighting emphasis placed on the vase.

Great concept.

Marie

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks to all for your comments! I'll respond to some of them only to provide my thinking about why I made the image the way I did:

[the light on] the bowl it is a bit too strong for my liking. I find it competes with the asparagus for attention as it is so bright.

if the idea is to showcase the asparagus, there is too much lighting emphasis placed on the vase.

Those two comments go hand in hand, so I'll address them together. The idea of putting asparagus in a vase is so unusual that I wanted to "marry" the vase and vegetables. For me, the lighting of asparagus and vase complements each other, but that's just me. Indeed, for me the bright reflection on the vase acts as a leading line pointing upward toward the tops of the asparagus.

some of the green spears are less than fresh (as evidenced by the wrinkling and deterioration of the one leftmost).

Why does the asparagus have to be perfectly fresh to be appealing? That's not a criterion for me. Just the opposite, I excluded a perfectly smooth spear from the scene because its surface was comparatively boring and lacked interest.

I don't like the seemingly unlit spear on the right, especially as the spear behind it has light on it.

I realize that traditional styles tend to emphasize brighter items in the foreground and darker items in the rear, but that's not always the case of more modern styles. It's that more modern look of the lighting of the foreground spear on the far right that gives the image far greater depth and interest for me.

[mknittle]

I like this image a lot mike. The colors and the vase go together very well.

[Mike Buckley]

Glad you enjoy it, Mark!

[NorthernFocus]

I agree with Greg

Me too. But I've never see asparagus look so appealing.

[ccphoto]

I love the look and taste of Asparagus but I find when I eat it, it tends to hate me a lot...but I do agree the light on the vase is overpowering the subtle light on the Asparagus.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks also to Dan and Chris!

I just now realized why I think the reflection on the vase isn't overpowering for me: the brightest values in the asparagus are brighter than the brightest values in the reflection.

[ccphoto]

It's not bright to bright, it's tonal to tonal.

[Mike Buckley]

It's not bright to bright, it's tonal to tonal.

That makes sense. Perhaps reducing the width of the reflection to limit its size would also have a different psychological effect.

Fortunately, I'm attracted to both the tones and width of the reflection, so I have no need to change it.