This sterling silver pitcher that has been in a friend's family for generations. Post processing in PS included extensive use of shadow/highlights and exposure tools to correct for a poor exposure. Also, use of ISO 1600 was inadvertent as I neglected to check the ISO setting before starting to shoot. A foolish oversight. Minor sharpening was used to make the engraving work more easily seen. Still, I feel that what is seen here is true to the subject, which I had just finished laboriously polishing.
Fantastic light metering and use of this expensive element! I really like your composition. the color tones and the reflection on the silver pitcher(!) are just beautiful. so lovely, even at 1600 ISO!!
Interesting comment about still lifes, Mark. They certainly are less exciting only for the short-time span one second viewer, which doesn't mean you should give up. It takes a lot of careful work to set them up, to get the shapes and lighting right, they are an exercise in aesthetics more than a capture of a place or a moment. But they also reward you with their fine art quality more akin to painting than photography, much like a crafted object vs. a manufactured one :)
Many thanks for your kind word and careful observation, I'm pleased that you like it. I have done very few still lifes in the last year and also intend to get back to them very soon. I find it's not broadly appreciated, and that's perfectly fine, but it's nice sharing it with someone who likes and understands still life as well as yourself! I hope you find your way back to more of it, you're still life work is nothing short of fantastic!
PS - Congratulations for your new lens, you've been spoiled :) I've also added a new lens, a super wide Sigma 10-20mm, for landscapes and for those tall skyscrapers. It makes a huge difference when you want to catch a lot of expanse or height, and it's great for interiors, although the distortion is significant. That pitcher would also look great with white lilies or cala lily.
Hi Mark, you know I love silverware still lifes, and this is a beautiful pitcher. The glass vase is also beautiful, as it picks up the silver color from the pitcher. The flower and greenery add a nice natural and light texture. The wood color and the mottled brown background add warmth to the cool materials (glass & silver) and reflect with a warm glow, as does the window. Great reflection of the vase too! I miss the still lifes I was just about to embark upon my moving... so this fills a gap :) Great work, and I'm looking forward to more - Ina
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{K:56854} 1/3/2007