Apple -- Take 3

[Mike Buckley]

I typically abhor glare when it disguises color, shape or texture, which is always what happens when it appears on opaque objects. Indeed, in these two photos the glare disguises the color of the apple. However, it also adds a dramatic graphic element to each scene, which explains why I very unusually chose to deliberately create the glare.

Glare is a direct reflection, which is a mirror-like reflection of the light source or the modified light source. It occurs only when the item being photographed creates direct reflections (not all surfaces create them). It was easy to determine during normal everyday use that the apple's skin creates them but I didn't know about the stem because of its textured surface and small size. Fortunately as you can see in the first photo, the stem also produces direct reflections, which in that photo create a nice separation between the stem and the background.

Setup Photo 1
To create the glare, I photographed the apple by applying the exact same concept and setup that I regularly use to define the edges of transparent glass in the bright tones created by direct reflections. The background is black felt (though the image would have looked the same if I had used almost any material of any color including white). A circular diffuser much larger than the background is behind it. A medium continuous-light lamp behind the diffuser and shining toward the subject and camera produced the direct reflections on the side and top of the apple and around the stem. A flag placed forward of the lens on the left side eliminated flare on that side.

Setup Photo 2
All details are the same as in Photo 1 except that a very small flashlight fitted with diffusion material to reduce its brightness was also handheld above the apple. That light overpowered the direct reflections that otherwise would have appeared on the top of the apple and around the stem that are displayed in Photo 1.

[Wavelength]

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike I can see 'Content Protected By Owner' writing on both frames and can't see any images

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Binnur.

Binnur or anyone: Are the two images now being displayed?

[bnnrcn]

No

Thanks, Binnur.

Binnur or anyone: Are the two images now being displayed?

[Mike Buckley]

Are the two images now being displayed?

[NorthernFocus]

Are the two images now being displayed?

I see them.

I really like the first shot, Mike. Not sure what it is about the second one but it is nearly disorienting to look at. Perhaps the outline defined by the glare is a bit too bold? Maybe a bit more subtle glare. Just enough to define the shape.

[Mike Buckley]

Dan,

I wonder if your impression of the second image is because you're viewing it on your latptop, which if I remember correctly is not calibrated. Even if it is calibrated, it's still a laptop with all the attendant problems of viewing photos. As an example, when I view the second image on my television, which is not calibrated, I have the same impression that you described. On the other hand, it's possible that you simply don't like the second photo as much, which would be understandable. Be glad that I didn't make it in monochrome.

[NorthernFocus]

Probably both are true, Mike. I definitely like the first photo better. And viewing on this laptop is sub-optimal to say the least. Actually I didn't bother opening the light box first time I looked. Doing so appears much better, i.e.the glare doesn't look as bright. But I still prefer the first image. Giving it additional thought the symmetry of the second shot may also be bothering me.

[Mike Buckley]

It will be interesting to determine if anyone other than Dan can view my images in this thread and my other thread pertaining to the wine bottle. He can see the images in this thread but couldn't see the image of my wine bottle until he copied a different URL into that thread that is not available on my end.

[NorthernFocus]

It will be interesting to determine if anyone other than Dan can view my images in this thread and my other thread pertaining to the wine bottle. He can see the images in this thread but couldn't see the image of my wine bottle until he copied a different URL into that thread that is not available on my end.

Mike, note the links that you posted here have the suffix "-5". See my other post on the wine image.

[Mike Buckley]

Dan,

The links I posted here have the suffix, "-5," because that was included in Zenfolio's URL. The reason it wasn't included in the URLs that I used in the other thread is because it wasn't included in Zenfolio's URL. Are you suggesting that I should add "-5" on my own if Zenfolio doesn't include it in their URL?

Even so, it is not yet confirmed that anyone other than you or me can view them.

Continued thanks to you!

[Wavelength]

Now i see them; excellent additions to your apple experiments

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Nandakumar!

[Shadowman]

Nicely composed.

[bje07]

Wonderful results Mike.
Very good ideas for rainy days, .... if I have time not to copy slavishly

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to John and Jean!

if I have time not to copy slavishly

Feel free to copy slavishly; I would take it as a compliment with the hope that you improve upon my results.

[bnnrcn]

I too can see the images now. Thanks God! I really like the second image Mike. The glare doesn't bother me at all. It's a beauty