Apple Core

[Mike Buckley]

This image brings me back to my photography that displays food in a context we don't normally experience or at least don't notice.

Setup
The tabletop and background are a single sheet of black presentation paper. A small continuous-light lamp on the left lights the overall scene. A reflector above and on the right side of the scene lights the bright part of the metal corer. A flashlight fitted with diffusion material to reduce its brightness is behind the apple to light its interior.

[Rita]

By your title I was expecting to see a mostly eaten apple with an unusual twist for the image of the core. This isn't what I pictured, this is way better. I really like that you lit the inside up, that adds something special to the image.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[John 2]

Damned accurate Mike. I always end up missing half the core. Nice work.

[Manfred M]

It seems to me that it took some time to take this shot as I definitely see some signs of oxidation inside the apple. Is this something you did on purpose or is this merely a result of the time between coring and getting the shot you wanted. My wife tells me that rubbing the surface with lemon juice slows the oxidation process.

I moved this thread to the Nature and Architecture thread rather than the Digital Cameras & Equipment. I think it is a better fit there.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

Thanks also for moving the thread, Manfred, and apologies that you had to take the time to do that. I didn't realize I accidentally placed it in the wrong area.

There was actually very little time in between coring the apple and photographing it at least compared to my usual slow speed at getting things done. Lemon juice would probably work well to delay the oxidation process as your wife suggests, as I know it works when applied to avocado. Even so, my philosophy about photographing food is to usually photograph it in its natural state, so the little oxidation that appears in the image is pleasing to me. If I was making a photo for an apple farmer that advertised his product, I would use a completely different approach.

By the way, I don't see any oxidation inside the apple as you do; instead, I see shadow tones. The oxidation is noticeable to me on the outside of the core.

[bje07]

Very beautiful appearance of the skin of the apple.
I 'd have shown the entire core, but it's a detail

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Jean!

I 'd have shown the entire core, but it's a detail

I planned to not only display the entire core but also part of the corer's handle. It didn't work well for me because too much negative space was created in the top right area of the scene. I could have displayed the entire core at a different angle to eliminate that problem but I wasn't willing to accept the compromise that the core would have had less impact.

[Kaye Leggett]

Lovely image as ever. And now that lemon juice has been mentioned - lemon with juicer ??

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Kaye!

And now that lemon juice has been mentioned - lemon with juicer ??

I've never used a juicer. I assume you're thinking of the kind that works much like a garlic press (which I have thought of photographing). I'll keep that in mind.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike. My eyes directly go to the apple rather than the core, but I like the image. Very nice light on the apple

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Binnur!

My eyes directly go to the apple rather than the core

That's my intention. The hole in the apple is the most interesting part of the scene, so I lit it to attract our eye immediately to that part of the image. Maybe I should have titled the thread Apple Core Removed to more accurately describe the photo.

[Wavelength]

Great experiment