Wine, bread & cheese "still life"

[Mike Buckley]

It will be interesting for me to see the reaction to this image. I'm intentionally not explaining for now certain choices I made because I don't want my comments to prejudice anybody's impressions of the image.

It was a total pain in the butt to create a scene that met all of the following criteria:

• Satisfying composition
• Satisfying lighting
• Direct reflections produced in attractive locations
• Direct reflections not produced where they were to be avoided

Setup
Two continuous-light medium lamps fitted with diffusion socks to diffuse the light were positioned at a 45-degree angle to the tabletop above the bottom of the scene. A reflector produced a reflection that brightened the knife and metal plate. A camera with an articulating LCD was held above the scene by a boom.

[Shadowman]

Different style of composition, only two items are fully captured. The overhead shot appears as if a night of debauchery occurred and the full lighting makes it look like the morning after when it's time to start cleaning up.

[bnnrcn]

Interesting composition as my eyes are used to seeing the bottles and glasses standing. But I really like the elements of the composition, IMO they are all in harmony Why not trying another shot with a more traditional design?

[Mike Buckley]

I'll get back to the thread later after more people comment, but I've got just one quick response:

Why not trying another shot

I apparently didn't stress strongly enough in my first post how much making this shot was such a pain in the butt. Seriously, I'm not eager to go through that again, at least not for now.

[flashback]

While I can't speak to the technical aspects (lighting), I can address the composition: To me it's just too busy. Kinda the only thing missing is the kitchen sink :-) I believe it's because the compositional layout is a plan view and it makes it look more like an inventory than a (romantic) scene.

[dje]

Hi Mike, I'm not sure what to think about this shot. The lighting is good and the bottle looks great but I do tend to think the elements on the left complicate the scene too much. Of course my eyes are not the most artistic you will ever come across but there is something not quite right about the shot for me. I love what you do in that studio of yours but not so much with this one. Sorry !

Maybe if the glass, matches and cork screw were not there ?

Dave

[Geoff F]

Yes, possibly one of those occasions where less would have been more? Or the same items but not placed so closely together and photographed from slightly further away?

Cheese still in a plastic wrapper!

But I'm not going to criticise too harshly because I always keep well clear of this sort of scene.

Focus and exposure have worked well.

[Brownbear]

Hi Mike,

Beautifully photographed as always... I do love how everything in the image leads ones eye to the next piece.

However, I prefer your simpler more elegant compositions. I'm inclined to want to split the image into two images (through the wine bottle), left and right sides. And I would also prefer the cheese without the plastic wrapper, simply because the image would be far more titillating to my taste buds. (I love wine, cheese and chocolate. And ice cream, too! )

[Mike Buckley]

(I love wine, cheese and chocolate. And ice cream, too! )

All served at the same time? Ya gotta be kidding!

[Brownbear]

Indeed, why not? As far as I know, we only live once!

That said, I forgot to mention grapes, strawberries and a hearty whole grain bread, along with some fine green olives (vitamin k and E, and monosaturated fats to balance out the saturated ones) for nutritional balance.

Come to think of it, I wonder why you've never photographed an image of a glass of white wine with olives alongside...

All served at the same time? Ya gotta be kidding!

[Manfred M]

An interesting and busy still life. Quite a departure from your usual work. Almost two-dimensional (with perhaps the exception of the match that is sticking up).

Perhaps my only complaint would be the cheese, still wrapped in plastic...

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks to everyone for all the detailed responses (though I'm sure all of us could have done without the imagery provided by Christina of eating ice cream while drinking wine ). Your responses have been consistent enough that I'm now happy to explain the decisions I made and why I made them.

I have posted this image at my website along with the caption Getting Ready. Jack really nailed it when he mentioned that the image is closer to an inventory than a romantic scene. That's my exact intention -- that the image conveys the required items that have been thrown together before setting up an area to enjoy wine, bread and cheese by candlelight. That explains why the plastic wrapper is still on the cheese and why everything is fairly cramped.

My biggest complaint about the image is that it appears too organized considering the story I'm trying to tell. That explains the need for the caption. I tried compositions with the items arranged more haphazardly and couldn't come up with anything that was pleasing to me. So, I compromised on that point. If I were something better than a terrible scene designer, I might have been able to pull off a more haphazard appearance.

Binnur mentioned that she's not used to seeing the glasses and wine laid down. In my household, which is getting quite the reputation for breaking glass items, that's the safest way to store them temporarily in an open environment. I also chose to lay them down because I have recently been reading Wine Enthusiast magazine and am surprised that so many editorial photos display the wine bottles and glasses laid down. In fact, I'm going to buy a copy of Wine Spectator magazine to determine if they are doing the same. That style may be the new normal for all I know. Even if it is, I'm having trouble enjoying romantically styled images of wine bottles and glasses displayed that way on a flat table (not in a basket or something similarly inviting).

Having said all of that, I really didn't expect very many people to like this image even once they have been made aware of my caption and intentions. It's the kind of image that is appealing to me. Considering that I didn't make it for a client, that's the only criterion I require.

[Brownbear]

Thank you for the explanation for your creative foray... informative and educational.

I must admit that I've never indulged the ice cream/wine combination, purely suggested for fun... However, you might be interested to know, try, and perhaps photograph one day...

http://www.closmalverne.co.za/restau...m-wine-pairing

http://www.hellovino.com/wine/pairin...anillaicecream

PS You've created a myriad of beautifully designed images... therefore you're a wonderful scene designer...

[Mike Buckley]

Christina,

I can barely imagine successfully pairing dessert wine with ice cream, but not the saki or the dry wines mentioned.

[Mike Buckley]

I just now showed the image to my wife on our large television but I provided her with the caption, Getting Ready, in advance. She's not my client but she's the only person more important because she's my boss. She likes it a lot including the plastic wrapper on the cheese. Whew!

[Brownbear]

Indeed it sounds like a very odd combination... Honestly, I think that mixing the two would take away from the enjoyment of both. (I'm a vanilla ice cream type) I was just having fun with you.

Christina,

I can barely imagine successfully pairing dessert wine with ice cream, but not the saki or the dry wines mentioned.

[NorthernFocus]

Hi, Mike. After reading your OP I intentionally didn't read any other responses etc. in order to provide my first impressions as feedback. I love the center and right hand side of the image. IMO everything to the left of the bottle is noise and the bottle being centered just seems awkward. Framing with the bottle in left of frame and perhaps just a glass exiting frame left may have been a nicer shot.

On edit: seems like I was pretty consistent with the others' input. Wow, that's odd...

[Stagecoach]

As an exercise in lighting Mike it has worked well and now I have read the comments and understand also the purpose of the arrangement I find it appealing.

[bnnrcn]

Mike, I can understand better after your explanation why eveything is laid down But as I said before the elements of the compositon are all in harmony with each other and howmuch ever it is difficult to shoot , these elements (standing or laid down) deserve shooting with different compositions. I love the colors and patterns and the natural look of elements in the composition so much. That's why I would like to see other shots of them. May be you can try later if it is too stressful for you now

I'll get back to the thread later after more people comment, but I've got just one quick response:



I apparently didn't stress strongly enough in my first post how much making this shot was such a pain in the butt. Seriously, I'm not eager to go through that again, at least not for now.

[John 2]

Pack it in Mike, I'm on a diet. Doesn't need the glass or the candlestick holder for me. They pull the eye a bit but otherwise it works for me.