Apple with leaf

[bje07]

Mike, your very nice picture gave me an idea as I found in the fruit cup this apple with it leaf.
Setup is simpler than yours, an ambiance light at around 1 meter on the right above the table top, in the same direction a LED desk lamp placed on the table (without diffuser) + some PP
The direction of light give structure to the leaf.
I hope you accept the challenge


# 1


May be I should improve it with a small flash on the stem ?

same apple with walnuts
I removed the desk lamp (and only kept it), the light appears softer (curious, it is a point light)

# 2
I'll send it when tinypic wants to work properly
It works and in addition upload were kept

I had time to take another one from above with an extension tube

# 3

[Mike Buckley]

Stores in my area never sell apples with the leaves attached, so this image is especially interesting to me. I also like that the quality of light strikes a nice balance of displaying the texture of the leaf though creating shadows that are just barely soft enough to be appealing.

Adding light to the stem will make the image look different and might be very appealing. Even so, the texture and shape of the stem are already nicely displayed, so I would have no compelling reason to make a change other than preference for a different look.

I look forward to seeing the image of the apple and walnuts once Tiny Pic is working again.

[Wavelength]

I liked it; but i think a less revealing light that adds mild shadow may be also attempted; just another thought

[madcrow]

Are we going to have a clash of the titans, now that is something to look forward to. Jean, great composition.

[bje07]

Thank you Nandakumar and Maurice, I'm far from Mike, but I'm eager to succeed like him in that specialty, even if I am short in terms of lighting.

[Mike Buckley]

Now that all three photos are displayed, I like the last one best. That's partly because I'm a fan of tight crops but also because the rest of the composition is stronger for me. I also like that the display of the leaf's detail is best in this image.

You mentioned that the light is "softer" in the second image compared to the first one. When using that term in the context of photography, the light is actually much harder in that image. Soft shadows are characteristic of soft light and hard shadows are characteristic of hard light. The second image cries out to me for soft light (soft shadows).

Two ways to make the light softer: One way is to use a relatively larger light source. That can be accomplished by moving the light source closer to the subject, using a larger light source positioned in the same place as the smaller light source, and/or modifying the light source by shining it through a material at a distance from the light source or shining it upon a reflector that then reflects the light onto the subject. The second way is to place diffuse material close to or on the light source, which will soften the shadows by spreading the rays of light in multiple directions. It can easily be argued that doing so is making the light source larger, which explains why it works.

[Mike Buckley]

I am short in terms of lighting.

It's absolutely amazing the wonderful images that can be accomplished using just one light source and a white sheet of paper as a reflector.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[madcrow]

Jean, you might be far in distance but not in photography. I agree with Mike, amazing what can be achieved with so little.

[Wavelength]

Excellent additions; my only suggestion is to add new images separately. Then only things remain sequential; otherwise a new reader gets confused. I have seen many members, after hearing suggestions, replace the first image with the edited one. This is a very wrong practice; the thread, as a study, becomes meaningless. This is probably because we as human beings have an inherent tendency to reveal only the best ....

Regards

[bje07]

Thank you John, Maurice and Nandakumar to follow me and give your comments.

[bje07]

Thank you Mike to take time to visit my threads and give useful tips.

[bnnrcn]

Nice set Jean, the last image is my fav

[bje07]

Thank you Binnur.