aschweik Loc: NE Ohio

This is my first attempt at this kind of thing and I know there must be glaring errors. I'm not great at Photoshop! I have a speed light on the right and a reflector on the left. I'm still getting shadows. I stuck the plate at the bottom because I thought it looked odd with a sandwich just floating in the air. But I don't know if I like it. If anyone can give me some sort of pointers in lighting, composition, etc. I'd appreciate it. Just looks kind of flat to me. I think the focus might be off. At least it was very fun to do!

Nikon D7200
Tamron 90mm macro

(Download)

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

I like it a lot!

Andy

Revet Loc: Fairview Park, Ohio

Nice job!!! I also like it

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Don't worry too much about the shadows. They give the shot a sense of realism. Without them it would just look like a product of Photoshop.

dave sproul Loc: Tucson AZ

Agree -- the shadows make it look real. Nice.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

Aschweik asked: "If anyone can give me some sort of pointers in lighting, composition, etc. I'd appreciate it."

Your ability to levitate sandwich components is a power you should be careful with. Your ability is more common in eastern cultures ... exploited in India with ropes... but rare in the western world.

Composition... I love the sandwich, colors, and choice of bread with texture. I question the teapot and its relevance the same question regarding the plate, not needed. In the bowel, I would put the yellow cheese, the red tomatoes, and the green lettuce. The sandwich is creating its self as automatic from those components. The brown/tan of the bread is supported by the comfortably out of focus wall. [clone out the dark dots on the tile wall]
Photographic Psychology: Image and Psyche [Note: This free lengthy "book" deals a lot with composition]
http://truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/article_index.htm


Lighting... shadows are an effective component and part of reality. More photographers should save burnt out bulbs which are effective in shining dark-energy on subjects.
Examples, negative images and also vignetting
http://www.truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/vignetting.htm
Photographic Psychology: Image and Psyche
http://truecenterpublishing.com/photopsy/article_index.htm

Aschweik ... The creation of your visual masterpiece is an artistic talent that few possess.

Papa j Loc: Cary NC

Me too

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I think your shadowing is pretty good. As others have said, it adds to the "reality" of the photo. I think the tea kettle is a bit distracting. I think I'd try it without the kettle, having only the bowl of fruit and the sandwich as the two elements in the image. I would then move the sandwich off-center more to the right just a bit for balance. The other thing I'd consider is showing more of the plate. There's a tiny hint of it at the bottom, and I think there needs to be a bit more of it.

Stephan G

For a first attempt you have got a lot right. A heck lot more than many of us who "played" with the concept.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

I think you have done a great job...

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Excellent first try. If this is an example of your work I can't wait for your next one.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

Hey - - My lunch looked JUST like that in the back seat of my F-150 going over the speed bump at 55 MPH
-
GREAT Comp !!

aschweik Loc: NE Ohio

Thanks so much for everyone's input! I'll do a little playing with this shot using advice from this thread and see how it goes.

Great ideas with the composition, dpullum. I hadn't thought of putting the same ingredients in the bowl.

I'll see what I can do about showing more of the plate, too. It is really only a picture of half the plate so I'll see about showing more of it. I added it to this photo later but I do have pictures without the plate. Just couldn't decide if I needed it or not.

Merlin..hope you could scrape that sandwich off your backseat and still eat your lunch...:)

Thanks again, everyone, for all the compliments and advice. I'll do some more playing with it when I get the time.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

The “assembling” sandwich above the plate is a well-@chieved success!

My quibbles are:
the bowl of oranges, though suggested by perspective as about in the same plane as the descending sandwich ingredients and the plate, is incongruously out-of-focus.
...and maybe a bit of table edge to provide a bit of stability to the plate ( And a well-focused bowl of oranges?) could be considered.

Withal, a really good job.

Dave

Nightski

It made me smile the moment I saw it. I think you need shadows for realism. I agree with Dpullum about the other elements in the shot. The bowl of oranges is a distraction as is the teapot. How about a vertical with a little more plate? Having things in the background could work if they are as blurred as the teapot .. things that add to the kitchen atmosphere. The problem is that the teapot is a very large dark shape that steals attention away from the subject. First impression though .. I just loved it!