Paella

[zafra52]

I took this photo last February. I was invited to lunch by my brother and
his wife, Carmina. She prepared this typical Spanish dish. What appeals to
me are the clasing elements red wine with a fish dish, the lack of alignment
and also the the distorting effect of the lens I used 17 - 55 at 20mm and yet
somehow I like it. Does it work for you?

[Mr Darcy]

I'm afraid it doesn't work for me.
I am happy enough with the elements you mention, but the lack of clarity in the dish itself, and the clash between the intense colour of the paella & the washed out tablecloth ruin it for me. Also the formalism of the tablecloth against the chaos in the pan is a negative. Mind you, tomorrow I might think differently.

But that doesn't matter. What matters is that it works for you.

[Geoff M]

The Paella looks very tasty, bur unfortunately the image is not doing it for me either.

[zafra52]

Thank you for the comments.

[surenj]

Zafra, get rid of the vignette and brighten the corners to balance the intense yellows from the dish vs the background.

There are too many elements in this image. I think you need to figure out what the subject is. Then remove all distractions etc...

[Greg B]

Carmina makes a damn fine looking paella.

[zafra52]

By popular request...



Difficult to keep the details of the image and the file small, also the yellow looks like an overcast.

Yes, Greg, Carmina cooked a finger-licker paella.

[Steffen]

No, definitely the original for me! I didn't find that it left any doubt about what the main subject is, mostly because of the vignette which made the paella shine like the sun. The surrounding props make this a very inviting image for me.

The only small niggle I have about the original is the appearance of the paella itself, I would have preferred if the ingredients had been distributed a bit more interestingly.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Mr Darcy]

I definitely think this needs a reshoot. Preferably in Wentworth Falls. I may not be much help with the shoot, but I will definitely help with cleaning up the mess afterwards

[Steffen]

Indeed. A half (or mostly) eaten paella might make for a much better subject anyway - who knows?

Cheers
Steffen.

[zafra52]

Well, I am afraid I will have to bring my sister
in-law, Carmina, from Spain to prepare the
subject and as you suggest we will have to decide
a suitable background.
But in the meantime, may 2010 see you enjoying
lots of parties with good food and drinks in the
company of your family and good friends.