JimmyTB

I posted the first picture Wednesday and got several suggestions for improvement. Thanks Linda from Maine, Thomas902, Blenheim Orange, Bluefish, Manglesphoto and goofybruce. You folks gave me the types of response and help I was hoping for.

I should have removed the water from the vase. Or used a level on the stump. When I straightened in Lightroom you can see that the water isn't level. That will bother me every time I look at it

Camera: Canon T5i

This is the image I posted Wed. Although I brightened it considerably in Lightroom this time around. Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro. f/3.5, SS 1/200, ISO 100. Flash on right side diffused with Magmod dome and a reflecter on the left

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Canon 100-400 L @ 400mm f/5.6, SS 1/25, ISO 100 flash same as before with paper napkin over dome. Subject about 15 feet from background

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@ 278mm f/5, SS 1/10, ISO 100. Flash same as above

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@ 278mm f/5 SS 1/20 ISO 100. No flash, rising sun from camera left filtered through trees.

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Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro f/5.6, SS 3/5 (0.6) sec, ISO 100. lit by window light on left. I was going to put burlap over the stool but I don't know where I had put it so I settled for the green cloth

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Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

JimmyTB

Thank you for the thumbs up Frank

joehel2 Loc: Cherry Hill, NJ

Thanks for sharing this exercise, Jimmy. I especially love images #2, 3, 4. Beautifully done.

Caribou Loc: St. Louis, MO

I think the lighting in the last two was the best

JimmyTB

Thank you Joe. Linda from Maine recommended more separation from the background when she viewed image #1 on Wednesday. I only included Wednesday's shot, #1 for reference. I agree with both you and Linda that the blurred background helps. The last shot was in the bathroom that my wife lets me use so there wasn't a lot of room to get it far in front of background which is a hutch built out of old barn boards.

JimmyTB

Thank you Caribou. The last two are natural lighting. Maybe natural light is better or maybe I need to work on my lighting technique

Caribou Loc: St. Louis, MO

Still life is my favorite kind of photography because you can take your time and control the subject so well. I've always found the lighting to be the most challenging part of it. I will generally avoid flash (too harsh) and try to rig up some sort of softer stationary light source if I have to. Good luck with it.

JimmyTB

Thanks Caribou. I may try other light sources as you suggest in the future. I intended to bounce my flash off a diffuser with no direct flash on the subject but I forgot. Maybe next time

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Fantastic to know you found value in our suggestions, kept your interest in the subect, and arrived with these marvelous results! I'm drawn to the darker background, but the natural light (which looks very similar to your less harsh flash) are lovely also.

It's fun to read Caribou's comments about the reasons for his interest in still life. My photo interests are generally the opposite: drive around (often with a theme in mind) 'til something catches my eye, then slam on the brakes

A joy of forum membership is when folks share their varied approaches to our common love of photography.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Nice work there, Jimmy!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

👍🤩👍

Caribou Loc: St. Louis, MO

You are very correct about the forum. I've preferred still life because I think I would have enjoyed painting such as the kind of paintings done by classical artists like Vermeer and others who had the talent to reproduce astounding detail and lighting. But I'm really, really bad at painting. Still life photography is as close as I can get to those kinds of paintings

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

keep up the good work. #1 is too busy. #2 is my favorite

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Beautiful results, Jimmy!