White on White - Adventures in the Zoning Technique
I had a tough time finding stark white items to use in the shot! Good grief! It amazes me how few stark white items I actually own... a pillow case and this costume fake pearl jewelry. So, the wine glass would be cheating here but I had to add some kind of interest to this shot. I considered it neutral!
What I've learned through the zoning technique for black and white shots, sort of blows me away! To put it simply... 1. for black on blacks and to get "blacker" blacks - What's the least amount of light you can let into your camera without losing your "pure white" in the highlights? That's the key to blacker blacks and at the same time, keeping your "pure white" highlights to keep your photo from going totally "flat!" 2. for white on whites and to get "whiter whites" - what's the maximum amount of light you can let into your camera without losing your "pure black" in the shadows to keep your photo from going totally "flat!"
Both types of photos still must maintain the "pure black" in the shadows and the "pure white" in the highlights to be crisp! The hardest part in getting blacker blacks is keeping the "pure white" in the highlights... the hardest part in whiter whites is keeping the "pure black" in the shadows.
Right out of the camera, except a crop - my pure black is in the crevice of the design in the wine glass. My whites are whiter! Any more light and I would've maxed it out! I reached the limit with lots of trial and error! I think my old photography professor would be proud!
You have GOT to be proud of this one . . gorgeous! And the more I look at it the better I like it. Amazing techniques . . extremely difficult. GREAT job . . . FAV!!
@karenann Thank you so very much, Karen! The white on white was a littler easier than the black on blacks. I will still have to go back and revisit zoning when I can get a better camera with a telephoto lens. You are too sweet to fav this! Thank you!
Wow.. this is superb... thanks for the lesson.. never had any sort of training but I am knowing how hard it is to get all the details of a white duck in sunlight, so your shared experience was great! Beautiful shot.
@princesicita Thank you for your sweet comments, Princess, and the fav! =)
@luvshorses Carol, college was way over 30 years ago! I haven't needed to use most of what I was taught all those years ago until 365. It's made me want to go back and learn what I did with film and apply it to digital as best as I can. Thank you for your lovely, lovely comments!
@luvshorses Carol, college was way over 30 years ago! I haven't needed to use most of what I was taught all those years ago until 365. It's made me want to go back and learn what I did with film and apply it to digital as best as I can. Thank you for your lovely, lovely comments!