The 365 journey broadens our individual horizons in so many ways. There have been many unexpected learnings, including an incredible respect for the way the old masters understood light. Artists like Vermeer painted their vision, something more than just capturing what the eye (or camera) could see. They painted their 'memory' of a moment in time, much like Ansel Adams did.
Vermeer painted people - resting or doing things. He did not paint still-life, so why did I chose still-life? ( well, apart from not having a milk-maid readily available...) Vermeer was a master at using light and placement of elements in his scenes.
Still-life is about placement but it is also also about movement - the movement of the light skimming and wrapping around the shapes, textures and colours that have their own ebb & flow.
The lighting was a tiny torch used for light painting for a 6 second exposure.
Two FrenchKiss textures used Labyrinth ( embossed texture filter applied & then overlay 30% mode) for the craquelure, and Fauve Gold (hard light blended at 30%) for the brush strokes.
Dear Mr Grocer,
"You do have such wonderful bagguettes - but can I please have that mis-shappen & slightly burnt one instead? I'll have the pears with the most red colouring please, but oh no! ... are you seriously telling me that this pitiful handfull of shrivelled fruit is the only type of grapes you have?"
Oh well, at least the Emmenthal & the Pinot Grigio made a fabulous dinner.
@redy4et thanks Elizabeth - I learn more about lighting, colour balance & textures every time I tackle still-life. I used to think shooting something that is not moving while the camera is on a tripod 'must be sooo easy'
@deborah63 haha - $7 for artisan wood fire bread & I did not even eat it!! I learnt a lot doing something like this - used a brown pillowcase as background and the cloth is a curtain. It took a lot of experimentation to get the ligght working with the composition properly. ( never got the darn knife right though!!) . Have you tried tethering your camera to your laptop for shots like this?
@ltodd I haven't tried this type of shot before, so this one will be new for me, and I haven't tried to tether my camera to the laptop either. I think I'm going to be busy today.
Wonderful processing as well ! Fav!
@grammyn ha ha!! LOL!!! :)
@redy4et thanks Elizabeth - I learn more about lighting, colour balance & textures every time I tackle still-life. I used to think shooting something that is not moving while the camera is on a tripod 'must be sooo easy'