Still Life - Eggs

Got a thin skin? Then look elsewhere. Post a link to an image that you've made, and invite others to offer their critiques. Honesty is encouraged, but please be positive in your constructive criticism. Flaming and just plain nastiness will not be tolerated. Please note that this is not an area for you to showcase your images, nor is this a place for you to show-off where you have been. This is an area for you to post images so that you may share with us a technique that you have mastered, or are trying to master. Typically, no more than about four images should be posted in any one post or thread, and the maximum size of any side of any image should not exceed 950 px.

Moderators: Greg B, Nnnnsic, Geoff, Glen, gstark, Moderators

Forum rules
Please note that image critiquing is a matter of give and take: if you post images for critique, and you then expect to receive criticism, then it is also reasonable, fair and appropriate that, in return, you post your critique of the images of other members here as a matter of courtesy. So please do offer your critique of the images of others; your opinion is important, and will help everyone here enjoy their visit to far greater extent.

Also please note that, unless you state something to the contrary, other members might attempt to repost your image with their own post processing applied. We see this as an acceptable form of critique, but should you prefer that others not modify your work, this is perfectly ok, and you should state this, either within your post, or within your signature.

Images posted here should conform with the general forum guidelines. Image sizes should not exceed 950 pixels along the largest side (height or width) and typically no more than four images per post or thread.

Please also ensure that you have a meaningful location included in your profile. Please refer to the FAQ for details of what "meaningful" is.

Still Life - Eggs

Postby whitey on Thu Sep 17, 2009 2:18 pm

Been too long since I picked up the camera....

Image

First still life I have done. SB600 through brolly left and SB900 bare bouncing off the roof right.

Happy with the lighting, DOF. Not happy with the green on the egg carton now that I look closely. Also struggling to get CLS working - changed the custom settings a while ago and cant get TTL working properly :evil:

Feedback is welcome as have some time planned for more shooting in the coming day or so.
D80, 50mm F/1.8, 18-70mm DX, Sigma 10-20mm
whitey
Member
 
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:07 pm
Location: Paddington, Sydney

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby surenj on Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:00 pm

I think you've done well with a boring subject!

I can't see anything wrong with the lighting.

Any other compositions that we can have a look at. I think eggs are hard...and boring. I don't have any other compositions in my mind to suggest. I am sure the others will have some ideas.
User avatar
surenj
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7197
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:21 pm
Location: Artarmon NSW

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby whitey on Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:14 pm

Thanks surenj, eggs were what was sitting on the kitchen table. Planning on a few other setups later will post them up as they are done.
D80, 50mm F/1.8, 18-70mm DX, Sigma 10-20mm
whitey
Member
 
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:07 pm
Location: Paddington, Sydney

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby aim54x on Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:33 pm

surenj wrote:I think you've done well with a boring subject!

I can't see anything wrong with the lighting.

Any other compositions that we can have a look at. I think eggs are hard...and boring. I don't have any other compositions in my mind to suggest. I am sure the others will have some ideas.


+1

Are you using your camera as the commander or another flash?
Cameron
Nikon F/Nikon 1 | Hasselblad V/XPAN| Leica M/LTM |Sony α/FE/E/Maxxum/M42
Wishlist Nikkor 24/85 f/1.4| Fuji Natura Black
Scout-Images | Flickr | 365Project
User avatar
aim54x
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7305
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:13 pm
Location: Penshurst, Sydney

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby whitey on Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:36 pm

aim54x wrote:
surenj wrote:I think you've done well with a boring subject!

I can't see anything wrong with the lighting.

Any other compositions that we can have a look at. I think eggs are hard...and boring. I don't have any other compositions in my mind to suggest. I am sure the others will have some ideas.


+1

Are you using your camera as the commander or another flash?


Using Camera as commander, for some reason TTL not working properly and had to push flashes up to +3. Will check it out later.

Seems eggs get the thumbs down though :violin:
D80, 50mm F/1.8, 18-70mm DX, Sigma 10-20mm
whitey
Member
 
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:07 pm
Location: Paddington, Sydney

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby aim54x on Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:45 pm

I am not sure how TTL works with off camera flashes as they really dont know what distance they are from the subject, so I have never thought this behaviour (of chimping TTL to get the right balance of light) is normal, especially since I usually use CLS with a light tent and/or diffuser caps...
Cameron
Nikon F/Nikon 1 | Hasselblad V/XPAN| Leica M/LTM |Sony α/FE/E/Maxxum/M42
Wishlist Nikkor 24/85 f/1.4| Fuji Natura Black
Scout-Images | Flickr | 365Project
User avatar
aim54x
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7305
Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:13 pm
Location: Penshurst, Sydney

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby whitey on Thu Sep 17, 2009 3:49 pm

Not sure how it works either, do know that is was working much better last time I used it. Basically whenever I stop down the apeture ie from 1.8 to 4.0 the flashes arent compensating. So camera is over exposing.
D80, 50mm F/1.8, 18-70mm DX, Sigma 10-20mm
whitey
Member
 
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:07 pm
Location: Paddington, Sydney

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby surenj on Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:10 pm

Could you post a few images with just changing the aperture at the camera with flashes on 0 compensation? Apart from DOF, this should look similar providing ambient was similar between the shots.

Also check that your camera isn't set to compensate for flash. I am assuming that your camera is on manual. PS: I don't own Nikon so I am just guessing. :chook:

PPS: Also for still life with constant light conditions, I would strongly suggest manual camera and manual flash to keep things simple.
User avatar
surenj
Senior Member
 
Posts: 7197
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:21 pm
Location: Artarmon NSW

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby rflower on Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:38 pm

Personally I don't mind it.

I think the exposure is pretty spot on.
I like the reflections in the table (?)
I think the DOF separation is pretty good. The egg in the foreground is nice and sharp, and the eggs behind are nicely out of focus.

I do have a couple of nitpicks though.
The spoon looks dirty (brown tinge in the spoon part ...)

The egg looks a little dirty ... I know they come like that ... but you coulda given it a bath before you took photos of it :-)
The egg cup looks like it is tarnished or something. I almost want to see shiny (stainless steel) surface like the spoon, or a different coloured egg cup ...

The green doesn't worry me though, because it helps to define the top of the egg carton.
Russell
Nikon D700 // 50 1.4 // 70-200 2.8 VRII // 24-120 f4// Tamron 90 // SB-800 // 70-300G
I'm on Redbubble too ... http://www.redbubble.com/people/rflower
If you can make one of my photos look better and you have the inclination ... please do so.
User avatar
rflower
Member
 
Posts: 441
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:01 am
Location: Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby biggerry on Thu Sep 17, 2009 9:57 pm

The egg looks a little dirty ... I know they come like that ... but you coulda given it a bath before you took photos of it
The egg cup looks like it is tarnished or something. I almost want to see shiny (stainless steel) surface like the spoon, or a different coloured egg cup ...


:agree:

I think technically this is looking good, but a buffed up cup and spoon and a pristine egg would go along way - maybe some photochop is required...

good to see some more stuff from ya whitey :cheers:
gerry's photography journey
No amount of processing will fix bad composition - trust me i have tried.
User avatar
biggerry
Senior Member
 
Posts: 5930
Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 12:40 am
Location: Under the flight path, Newtown, Sydney

Re: Still Life - Eggs

Postby whitey on Thu Sep 17, 2009 10:33 pm

rflower wrote:I do have a couple of nitpicks though.
The spoon looks dirty (brown tinge in the spoon part ...)

The egg looks a little dirty ... I know they come like that ... but you coulda given it a bath before you took photos of it :-)
The egg cup looks like it is tarnished or something. I almost want to see shiny (stainless steel) surface like the spoon, or a different coloured egg cup ...


Yeah, now that you say that a bit of silver polish wouldnt go astray. It was all a bit spur of the moment. The missus just had the room repainted and bought a shiny new table and as I walked through this morning I realised it was a big light tent so grabbed whatever was out and shot off a few frames.

biggerry wrote:good to see some more stuff from ya whitey :cheers:


Yeah, been a bit busy. But time should free up a bit now.
D80, 50mm F/1.8, 18-70mm DX, Sigma 10-20mm
whitey
Member
 
Posts: 406
Joined: Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:07 pm
Location: Paddington, Sydney


Return to Image Reviews and Critiques