Onion Trees

[Mike Buckley]

The first photo was made five years ago (before I had heard of CiC) using a purchased light tent and black felt as the tabletop and background. The second photo was made today in my makeshift studio using a black plexiglass tabletop at a sufficient distance from the black cloth background. EDIT: Photo #3 also made today is now added to this post. Photo #4 suggested by Greg (FootLoose) is also added.

The amount of increased control provided by my makeshift studio, which had not been put together when I made the first photo, is really amazing. I could easily use either lighting style in my makeshift studio but I would be limited to the first lighting style using a light tent.

The three onions sprouted leaves while in the same kitchen bowl that stores onions every day. Yet only one other onion in the past five years sprouted leaves and that one quickly rotted before the leaves barely grew. If anyone can explain to me why some onions sprout leaves whereas most don't, I would appreciate it.


Photo 1: Five years ago using a purchased light tent




Photo 2: Today using my makeshift studio



Photo 3: Today using my makeshift studio



Photo 4: MY REVISED FAVORITE -- Thanks to Greg (FootLoose)

[deetheturk]

I think i can see a small improvement Mike

David

[Shadowman]

Nice.

[chauncey]

I find it interesting the different directions that we take in this hobby and yet, oftentimes, we return to our beginnings. As shown, our first pictures, while may be good, are totally outclassed by our latest.

[Kaye Leggett]

Beautiful both, but have to agree the latter is better.

As to why they sprout....dunno !! But isn't nature wonderful.

[bnnrcn]

Your improvement is encouraging,#2 is great

[mrsmasch]

I love the reflection in the second photo. They are both very nice, but i prefer the latter.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you, everyone!

I have now added a third photo, my favorite of the three, to the first post in the thread.

[Loose Canon]

The amount of increased control provided by my makeshift studio, which had not been put together when I made the first photo, is really amazing. I could easily use either lighting style in my makeshift studio but I would be limited to the first lighting style using a light tent.

An good illustration as to why commercial light tents (boxes, cubes, etc) are unnecessary, undesirable, and actually a disadvantage.

[Kaye Leggett]

Thank you, everyone!

I have now added a third photo, my favorite of the three, to the first post in the thread.

Can I ask why it is your favourite ?

[Mike Buckley]

An good illustration as to why light tents (boxes, cubes, etc) are unnecessary, undesirable, and actually a disadvantage.

Agreed for the most part. The one really nice aspect about those devices, whether commercially made or do-it-yourself, is that they make it easy to begin photographing products and perhaps to help the neophyte product photographer decide whether it might be worth the time and space required to devise and learn how to use less limiting setups.

[Mike Buckley]

Can I ask why it is your favourite ?

Sure, go ahead and ask.

Seriously, I like the interplay of the three very different materials: the wooden handle, the metal blade and the onions. I also like the somewhat diagonal line of the knife and that it both separates and unifies the two onions, rendering the scene less static. The color of the knife handle nicely complements the tabletop and background color and vice versa. Last, I like the idea being reinforced that we know the onions are inevitably going to succumb to a knife.

[kateveber]

Your improvement is encouraging,#2 is great

I'm all about it. The reflection of image #2 is quite effective.

[Loose Canon]

Agreed for the most part. The one really nice aspect about those devices, whether commercially made or do-it-yourself, is that they make it easy to begin photographing products and perhaps to help the neophyte product photographer decide whether it might be worth the time and space required to devise and learn how to use less limiting setups.

I think they make it easier for folks who are not photographers or have any interest in becoming one to get illustrations of their product up on a website when high volume, flatly lit, illustrations are called for and time is more important than quality. I’m not even convinced that these illustrations really sell a product because they are very deceiving color and texture wise and almost never show the attributes of a product well.

Materials purchased for the same price as a commercial light tent (and with the same lighting) can produce much better results outside of a tent. Space is irrelevant unless you have absolutely no more room than the actual tent itself with the lights on the outside. One can shoot better in less than the space of a coffee table and the couch it sits in front of. Or a kitchen counter top. Or a dining room table. You don’t even have to move the couch.

I would never recommend to someone who actually wants to learn photography (as opposed to someone who just needs a quick shot up on Ebay) that they start on a light tent. I can’t really think of any good reason off the top of my head to recommend an inferior way to shoot something to start someone out.

[AndrewMcD]

#3 is bringing tears to my eyes In #2 the onions appear to be having a private conversation. I'm impressed with how you have learned to control the light! Thanks for sharing some of your history.

[Brownbear]

Absolutely gorgeous! The 2nd I would hang in my kitchen (kind of looks like a beautiful flower) If I were a chef or owned a restaurant I would choose the 3rd.

Actually I love the 3rd image, for all the usual reasons (the highlights and detail you captured on the blade of the knife is incredible) but especially because it makes me wonder what happened. ie; why did the person abruptly leave the scene. (inferred by the position of the knife)... loaded with stories!

[Mike Buckley]

My reference to the required space has to do with being able to leave a setup as is, which most people can't do when the setup is in the living room, kitchen or the like. It's really easy to break down a light tent and store it in a small area, especially the commercially available light tents.

The lighting produced by a light tent is inferior for many styles of photography but not all styles. I'm not sure I would have gotten into the kind of photography I'm doing now if I hadn't first begun with a light tent. So, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend using a light tent to someone who seems to have the same needs that I had back then.

[chauncey]

FWIT Mike, you have made a convert...of deserting the kitchen table to one of your rolling carts.
I did go a little up-scale however by picking up a utility cart at Home Depot...gotta go first class.

[Mike Buckley]

I did go a little up-scale however by picking up a utility cart at Home Depot...gotta go first class.

Just wait until I install my cup holder. Once that's done, I'll compare my cart to yours any day.

[NorthernFocus]

Much improved, Mike. I really like the reflective surface.