Abstract Pattern

[Mike Buckley]

This is a pair of stainless steel spatulas of the exact same model. Both spatulas are new and unused (except that they've now been used to make a photo ).

At the risk of boring everyone again about the family of angles, this photo demonstrates a great lesson that I had never been aware of prior to making it. I've often mentioned that bright, shiny material will appear bright only if the light source is within the family of angles. Only one light source was used to make this image, so I was surprised, though happily so, to see that one spatula is bright and one is dark. I now realize that that's because the metal's surface has a grain and two grains going in different directions have different families of angles. In this case the two spatulas are perpendicular to each other, so the light source is within the top spatula's family of angles (making it appear bright) but outside the bottom spatula's family of angles (making it appear dark).

I plan to make other close-up images of at least one of the spatulas.

EDIT: After discussing the image with my wife, I realize it might be helpful to explain that the brightest and darkest shapes except the dark shadows are the two spatulas and that the mid-tone shapes are the tabletop.

Setup
Two spatulas of the exact same model are perpendicular to each other. They are placed on a tabletop made of translucent vellum on top of black foam core. The camera is suspended above the scene and a small continuous-light lamp is next to the camera. The color image looks almost exactly like this, but I achieved a tad bit greater uniformity by desaturated to monochrome. I then added a slight blue tint.

[JBW]

interesting

[JBW]

interesting

[Rita]

I like it Mike. Would never have guessed that it was done with spatulas. It was skill that put the bright one on top right ?

[mugge]

Mike, I think that the blue tint made this picture. Seriously.
Cheers Ole

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

I think that the blue tint made this picture. Seriously.

When I want a cold, steely look, I add that slight blue tint. It sounds corny and trite, but considering that the subject is stainless steel, it's no surprise that the blue tint works perfectly.

[bje07]

Very nice results you are the "Master of family of angles"

[John 2]

........................ After discussing the image with my wife, I realize it might be helpful to explain that the brightest and darkest shapes are the two spatulas and that the mid-tone shapes are the tabletop.

Glad you explained that. At first sight I must admit that I assumed that the mid tone area was the second spatula. When you study it though, the mid tone area is the wrong shape (too narrow). Thanks for the info. One more for the knowledge base.

[Wavelength]

Excellent

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Nandakumar!

At first sight I must admit that I assumed that the mid tone area was the second spatula.

I think that's probably because we tend to naturally associate the black shapes with "holes" so to speak. When we do that, that leaves only the mid-tone shapes to be the second spatula.

[kristent]

Thank you for including a abstract. Sometimes I think we all get too focused on "reality" rather than the art of abstractness i.e. Pollack, Rothko, Mondrian. Appreciate the reminder!

[Mike Buckley]

I will be making more and more abstracts, Kris. Lots of fun to make and view! For more of my abstracts, see this.

[Mike Buckley]

Rita noted that the first image was lit to make the top spatula bright and the lower one dark. I thought it might be interesting for everyone to see what the image looks like when I move the light source to make the top spatula dark and the lower one bright. I didn't take the time to attend to either the lighting or the post-processing as carefully as in the first image in the thread, but hopefully this new image is interesting. If nothing else, it shows the very dramatic changes that occur from changing only the position of the light source thanks to the physics of light associated with the family of angles.

As in the first photo, the brightest and darkest shapes except for the dark shadows are the two spatulas and the mid-tone shapes are the tabletop.

[Black Pearl]

Beautifully graphic.

[Rita]

Rita noted that the first image was lit to make the top spatula bright and the lower one dark. I thought it might be interesting for everyone to see what the image looks like when I move the light source to make the top spatula dark and the lower one bright. I didn't take the time to attend to either the lighting or the post-processing as carefully as in the first image in the thread, but hopefully this new image is interesting. If nothing else, it shows the very dramatic changes that occur from changing only the position of the light source thanks to the physics of light associated with the family of angles.

As in the first photo, the brightest and darkest shapes except for the dark shadows are the two spatulas and the mid-tone shapes are the tabletop.

Thanks for posting this version too Mike. When I viewed the first one I was trying to imagine in my head what it would look like reversed like this. Both are wonderfully done.

[JBW]

Rita noted that the first image was lit to make the top spatula bright and the lower one dark. I thought it might be interesting for everyone to see what the image looks like when I move the light source to make the top spatula dark and the lower one bright. I didn't take the time to attend to either the lighting or the post-processing as carefully as in the first image in the thread, but hopefully this new image is interesting. If nothing else, it shows the very dramatic changes that occur from changing only the position of the light source thanks to the physics of light associated with the family of angles.

As in the first photo, the brightest and darkest shapes except for the dark shadows are the two spatulas and the mid-tone shapes are the tabletop.

Until you posted this shot I couldn't actually see two spatulas stacked. Might be like the 'what do you see wine glass or faces' drawings?

[Mike Buckley]

Until you posted this shot I couldn't actually see two spatulas stacked.

That makes perfect sense to me and is exactly in line with my intent, which is that the image is to be an abstract. The only reason I explain how it was created is because the consensus is that thread participants prefer learning all the details in the first post of the thread. Otherwise, I would probably not even explain the object(s) being photographed.

[JBW]

That makes perfect sense to me and is exactly in line with my intent, which is that the image is to be an abstract. The only reason I explain how it was created is because the consensus is that thread participants prefer learning all the details in the first post of the thread. Otherwise, I would probably not even explain the object(s) being photographed.

we are an inquisitive lot ain't we

[billtils]

For more of my abstracts, see this.

Thanks for the link Mike - love these