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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 105 - Two by Two >> C105 - Eligible > Chopsticks *
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17-APR-2006 CJ in CA

Chopsticks *

Canon EOS 350D ,Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
1/15s f/8.0 at 50.0mm iso200 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time17-Apr-2006 12:00:49
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length50 mm
Exposure Time1/15 sec
Aperturef/8
ISO Equivalent200
Exposure Bias
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Programprogram (1)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Rod 20-Apr-2006 12:00
After just writing all this I looked at Paul’s set up shot of the wine glasses which is neither clear or sharp or well lit. So wot's easy for most of us is very hard for boofheads. Though I did detect some feel in the shot…………………Not much mind you,.....................very little really, ................................. but it’s there:-)
Rod 20-Apr-2006 11:49
Mereana would love to get her hands on this so she can make a quilt out of it:-)
Photography is very subjective as you say Carole, but my criticism of this isn't about the beauty of it, I think this looks really beautiful the colours & design are terrific. It's just that I don't like this as a photograph, it looks too easy to place two chopsticks on a lovely looking background & let the background carry the shot. Even though you had to play with the lighting to make the gold stand out it can’t be seen in the shot with no shadows or lighting effects visible except in the chopsticks.
I know that I’m perceived to belittle set up shots couched in humour but I really intend for it to be humorous & not overly belittling hard to do particularly after reading the glowing praises these shots attract. But I can't get over the fact that a lot of these set up shots are quite easy to do, you have full control over the lighting & composition & getting really clear, sharp & well lit shots is nowhere near as hard as shooting what's around us in the world using natural light & trying for the best angle at which to shoot. I find that there's normally some feel in these natural shots that seem to be completely lacking in most cases in set up shots & what’s the worth of a photograph with no feel? These types of shots are used mainly in Graphic design layouts as they don't really want our attention diverted to studying the photo but to absorbing the message of the client aided by the illustration. (picy) I’m generalising as there are always exceptions. Benetton are one of the few companies I know of that seemed to promote a feeling photograph in their layouts, maybe as a sort of gimmick I don’t really know.
So maybe I should have just said ...I think this shot looks terrific with great colours but I don't like it. Doesn't sound right either does it:-)hehe
ctfchallenge19-Apr-2006 14:16
It's all a matter of taste isn't it? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder afterall, and we all look at things differently based on our experiences. When you look at the voting and see the wide spread of votes over many pictures, it's obvious we all look at photos differently. So I guess this means I won't get your vote on this one, huh Rod! No matter. I like how it turned out and I think I'll put a frame and signature on it and send it to Mereana. She's a girl and might like it! ;-) CJ
Rod 19-Apr-2006 08:32
The answer to most of your questions is yes Carole:-) Me tyres were like that in the backyard & not placed for a shot & Jano's feet could not be placed because she was using them to set the camera up before she ran to sit down for the shot. Regardless, even if Jano did set the shot up using someone else’s feet, the shot works, the others you mention even me own tyre shot are a bit on the bland side.. Most set up shots seem to lack a randomness that makes a picy work. Of course there are photographers that can set up still life’s that look great as photographs but most posted here look like product or illustration shots. Not me cuppa tea are they:-)
ctfchallenge19-Apr-2006 03:33
Thanks Alexeig and Abstract! The red lion picture was a little difficult to light as it is shiny lacquar also and I was getting bad reflections on it. The side lighting seemed to work best as it brought out the gold color in the lion and produced the shadow of the chopsticks. :-) CJ
ctfchallenge19-Apr-2006 02:17
this is really good. my favourite thing the lighting that brings those shining colors to life. balancefully composed too. -Abstract
alexeig18-Apr-2006 17:07
Very ornamental and great red color
ctfchallenge18-Apr-2006 15:17
Thanks Britt!
And Rod, are only shots of pictures taken of things quickly snapped while walking around worthy of entering in the challenges? Does that mean that Paul's wine glasses, Gerald's cell phones, Mary Anne's garden gloves and eyeglasses, Jano's posed feet and 2 cent picture and Sander's hot chocolate picture and even your own tires and pots pictures in this challenge all rubbish because items were placed in a position for the photo? Maybe a more random placement might have been more interesting but I never would have dropped them as they were a gift and are expensive, beautiful, lacquar chopsticks. But thanks for taking the time to comment! :-) CJ
Britt 18-Apr-2006 13:49
Very pretty CJ
Rod 18-Apr-2006 11:08
I really don't see the point here me ole Carole. For me I would just let the chopsticks fall on the very red thing & then hunt around trying to compose a shot how they randomly came to rest. The results are normally far better than a static shot like this & turn out looking like a photo taken by someone with an interest in photography & not something quickly snapped off after getting home from bingo.
Apart from all the above, I don't like it:-) BUT, I think I would in ahrtiiiiiiistic B&W:-)
ctfchallenge18-Apr-2006 03:59
Thanks Brent, Jano and Mary Anne! These were gifts from a Japanese exchange student we had and I thought the chopsticks would work for this challenge. An interesting note on chopsticks, the bigger highly decorated ones are for men and the women get smaller, plainer ones! I think the times have changed though! :-) CJ
ctfchallenge18-Apr-2006 03:35
Great colors, CJ. And I like the way you've managed to bring a sense of action to a still life.
--Mary Anne
janewigginsphotography18-Apr-2006 03:24
Very nice CJ - looks like a painting. Well done! jano
Canon DSLR Challenge18-Apr-2006 00:46
Well done CJ, it all balances well to my eye.
-Brent
ctfchallenge17-Apr-2006 22:51
Thanks Paty! :-) CJ
Paty 17-Apr-2006 22:14
The colors are striking and give drama and interest to the photo. Nice.