Hi Hugo, Thank you so much for your constructive comment again!!! These paperclips have actually been captured just the way they were lying inside the cup; I didn't touch any of them before shooting. As I'm not used to photographing under artificial light conditions yet, I took the picture by using the automatic program. In my about I forgot to mention the soft filter which I added as there was some dust on the magnet as well as on some clips, which I wanted to get rid of. I guess I shouldn't have done that. Although I have to lay out the paperclips, I'll take the photo again (that time without any dust) and try to consider ALL your suggestions. Appreciated your help!!! Regards, Mireille
Hi Mireille, full marks for the idea and the creativity here! I always like these shots. I do wonder about the approach though. My first thoughts when I take a photo like this are: 1. When shooting from above, choose a wide DOF, and get everything into focus. 2. Stay a way from the edges of the cup, and fill the entire photo only with paperclips 3. Look for patterns in colour and capture them. 4. When shooting from a lower angle, focus on a few interesting colourful matches, and leave the DOF wide enough to capture one paperclip in focus. 5. in the post processing, revive the tones to crisp, saturated and bright.
As this photo differs considerably from what I would've done, I'd love to hear your thoughts. I find it really intersting how you created a feel of heigth by stacking a few paperclips around the red one. Was this done deliberately? I'd only play with the levels a bit more to make the image a bit brighter and more crisp, but I find your approach very original and out of the ordinary (which my photo would inevitably be...;) And yes... It could've been a tad sharper.
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{K:88111} 1/11/2006