Oyster mushroom nailed in place

[Mike Buckley]

Another photo that displays food in a context that we don't normally experience.

When I saw this oyster mushroom in the grocery store, I immediately knew I had to photograph its rear side and I also knew the essentials of how I wanted to photograph it. (Mushrooms weren't even on my grocery list.) Though the nail was added as an afterthought explained below, it adds such an unexpected, dynamic characteristic to the image that I wish I had thought of it in the first place.

Please click the image to display the detail at a larger size.

Setup
The tabletop and background are a single sheet of translucent vellum. First capture: A medium continuous-light lamp was close to the subject and above it on the right side. Positioning it as close as possible created the soft shadow. The mushroom was held upright by a small screw driver inserted from behind that was taped to the tabletop. The screw driver and tape were digitally removed during post-processing. Second capture: Upon completing the first image and then realizing the mushroom looked like it should fall over, the nail was added. The nail from the second capture was merged with everything else in the first capture.

[ST1]

Simple subject, complicated set up that's well described, superb image, well done Mike.

[James G]

Faultlessly executed, and an exellent image,

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Wavelength]

Really majestic

[Manfred M]

You really nailed this image!

I know, bad pun, but it is Monday morning.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

Peter: I was surprised that you described the setup as complicated. It's actually one of the most simple, easy setups I've ever devised. Indeed, I was actually hoping anyone interested in doing tabletop photography would see this photo as an example that attractive images can be made without needing all sorts of complicated, expensive equipment.

I used only one piece of material comprising both the tabletop and background and one light source. No light modifiers. Surprising to me, not even a reflector was needed. The stuff about the screwdriver holding the mushroom in place required simply sticking the screwdriver in the mushroom and taping the screwdriver to the tabletop. Once I decided the image would benefit from the nail, I only stuck it in the mushroom and released the shutter without doing anything else. Contrast that with my previous photo of the stapler that required separate tabletop and background materials, three light sources, five gels, a modifier that reduced the brightness of a light and a reflector.

I know, bad pun, but it is Monday morning.

A barely acceptable excuse but only if you had not had your first cup of coffee of the day.

[DanK]

Mike,

I can only see the second image, but it's a beautiful one. You are inspiring me to try to be a little more creative in choosing backgrounds.

What do you use to hold up your velum background?

Dan

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Dan!

The velum background is held in place by hanging it from an inexpensive boom (has no counterweight) using standard office/home binding clips attached to the boom with gaffer's tape. You could eliminate the binding clips and instead simply tape the vellum directly to the boom. I leave about six binding clips attached to the boom so it is always ready for me to hang anything from it including much heavier boards of foam core or pieces of acrylic.

The leading edge of the vellum (at the front of the scene) is also taped to the tabletop. That's required because the vellum is stored as a roll and, thus, has a strong curl to it that prevents it from lying flat on its own. If it would help to see a photo of that part of the setup, I can make that happen.

You could accomplish the exact same look using instead a sheet of white paper. The reason I prefer vellum is because, unlike paper, it is virtually wrinkle-free even when a klutz like me uses it.

[KimC]

Awesome Mike! Love the mushroom in contrast to the nail.

[DanK]

Mike,

Thanks very much.

Right now, my background is draped over a wooden collapsible clothes drying rack my daughter used to us, balanced on its side. Time to step up a bit, I think.

Dan

Thanks, Dan!

The velum background is held in place by hanging it from a boom using standard office/home binding clips attached to the boom with gaffer's tape. You could eliminate the binding clips and instead simply tape the vellum directly to the boom. I leave about six binding clips attached to the boom so it is always ready for me to hang anything from it including much heavier boards of foam core or pieces of acrylic.

The leading edge of the vellum (at the front of the scene) is also taped to the tabletop. That's required because the vellum is stored as a roll and, thus, has a strong curl to it that prevents it from lying flat on its own. If it would help to see a photo of that part of the setup, I can make that happen.

You could accomplish the exact same look using instead a sheet of white paper. The reason I prefer vellum is because, unlike paper, it is virtually wrinkle-free even when a klutz like me uses it.

[Mike Buckley]

Time to step up a bit, I think.

No need if it works easily and effectively.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you also to Kim!

Dan,

I just now thought of another detail that might be helpful. The advantage of using one sheet of material for both the background and the tabletop is to easily control the type of horizon so long as you don't want a hard, distinct horizon line. In this photo, I used it to eliminate the horizon. If I had positioned the boom differently, I could have controlled the curve of the vellum to create a smooth yet evident horizon by lighting it to display darker or brighter tones on the curve than in the rest of the tabletop or background. Another advantage of using vellum is that its translucent characteristic allows all of that flexibility whether lighting it from the front, the rear or both.

[DanK]

Mike,

Very helpful. I think I will buy an inexpensive boom and a roll of velum to experiment with.

Dan

Thank you also to Kim!

Dan,

I just now thought of another detail that might be helpful. The advantage of using one sheet of material for both the background and the tabletop is to easily control the type of horizon so long as you don't want a hard, distinct horizon line. In this photo, I used it to eliminate the horizon. If I had positioned the boom differently, I could have controlled the curve of the vellum to create a smooth yet evident horizon by lighting it to display darker or brighter tones on the curve than in the rest of the tabletop or background. Another advantage of using vellum is that its translucent characteristic allows all of that flexibility whether lighting it from the front, the rear or both.

[bnnrcn]

Great image Mike. I would never think of a composition like this with a mushroom, very creative

[madcrow]

Awesome image, love the detail and soft light. Another job very well done.

[lovelife65]

So fantastic Really love simple/minimalistic work like this.

[John 2]

Beautifully creative Mike, even to the angle of the nail. Vellum is a good thought. When I photograph my wife's pottery, I normally use a heavy gauge of art paper but it needs two sheets and the texture makes it difficult to lose the join given I use side lighting. Presumably, velum is somewhat thinner and smoother ??. BTW, I find "Blue Tack" and adhesive putty useful in holding the BG in place.

[Rita]

What a fantastic image. It has simplicity, great detail in the mushroom, and the nail just puts the finishing touch on it. I love it.

[Mike Buckley]

Continued thanks to everyone! My thinking at the time that I completed the photo was that most people would not like the nail. At least so far, I am being proven wrong.