The Yolk is Out

[Rita]

For early September I need an image for the topic of "Inside Out". It would be very easy to stand inside and take an image outside but I can never do anything the easy way. I got the idea of taking an image of an egg breaking and having the yolk and shell flying through the air. Yes, this was a very messy ordeal and in the process I have eaten a lot of scrambled eggs etc. I am posting here my best result, so far, to see what you think. To be honest I just can't decide if I am going to use this image, keep trying, or totally change directions with my idea. I know the final decision is up to me but other peoples opinions can really help. I did do a lot of dodging and burning on this one to darken the background and highlight the egg.

C&C most appreciated

[Shadowman]

Nice effort, good capture of the shells shattering, perhaps needed a different angle to really get a dynamic shatter.

[ccphoto]

I agree with John but think a more neutral BG would help keep the eye better focused on the break.

[Wavelength]

Great; i feel it happens in front of me...a lower point of view may or may not help ....i would suggest the removal of the gray disc seen on the left side

[Rita]

Thanks for commenting John, Chris, and Nandakumar.

John, I will try again tomorrow and see what I can do about the angle. The difficulty I had with that is I was dropping the egg from above the glass plate and there was no predicting which way the splash would go.

Chris, yes, I can try with a more neutral background.

Nandakumar, by the gray disc are you referring to the dish the egg is breaking in?

[JBW]

For early September I need an image for the topic of "Inside Out". It would be very easy to stand inside and take an image outside but I can never do anything the easy way. I got the idea of taking an image of an egg breaking and having the yolk and shell flying through the air. Yes, this was a very messy ordeal and in the process I have eaten a lot of scrambled eggs etc. I am posting here my best result, so far, to see what you think. To be honest I just can't decide if I am going to use this image, keep trying, or totally change directions with my idea. I know the final decision is up to me but other peoples opinions can really help. I did do a lot of dodging and burning on this one to darken the background and highlight the egg.

C&C most appreciated

To me this is Broken rather than inside out? To stick with eggs could you remove the top of the shell and capture the uncooked egg being poured out? Just a thought.

[Wavelength]

Rita, if you look from a slanted angle, you can see a big ash portion on the left top corner, which, i think need be removed

[Mike Buckley]

Nice concept executed quite well for a first attempt. Agreed with all of the above comments. The scene would be more dramatic with a completely black tabletop and background.

[Rita]

Brian, thanks for commenting. I can see how this could be put in the category of broken. My thought pattern is that the yolk has come from the inside of the shell to the outside. I will work on this some more today and will try your suggestion of pouring the yoke out of the shell.

[Rita]

Thanks Mike. I will work on this some more today. The black bg I can arrange but not sure what I will do for a black table top. I will get the brain working and come up with an idea for the table top.

[John 2]

How have you taken this Rita? It looks to be an open shutter with the flash fired manually to freeze the egg burst. Hence the dish is visible through the egg in areas where you might expect the yoke to be opaque. ?? I could be wrong in which case the yoke might be on me but the reason I ask is that an alternative approach might be to set the shutter on high speed continuous with continuous lighting rather than flash (Mike??) and then choose the best exposure. The actual concept works for me.

[Rita]

John, the yolk was all over the place but it is surely not on you I was using a flash trigger to take this (just learning how to use it) the camera was on B mode with the flash being fired by the trigger. So, you are bang on the process. All I have for lighting is my flash. My lighting at home is all built in so I don't have any lamps that I can move around. Might have to look into remedying this. Just about to upload a new version of this image.

[Rita]

This morning I played around with the image and here is the new version. I am out of eggs so I turned to PS. I have replaced the bg with black and added the hint of a reflection to try and anchor the image. Without the reflection the egg appeared to be floating in mid air and didn't quit look right. I also flipped the image and I do like the orientation better. What do you think?

[billtils]

Now that has impact (ouch).

[Loose Canon]

Very cool Rita! And very nice job on the PS work. Looks great and that's the version that works best!

So what are you looking to discuss with your shot?

Should you use it for your original intended purpose? How to shoot it another way? Lighting? Use of the trigger? Use of post-production editing?

Omelet recipes?

This is a really cool concept and I totally applaud your endeavor!

My favorite kind of shooting and my hat is off!

[Mike Buckley]

Huge improvement! The first image was nice considering that it was your first try. The second image needs no such qualifications. Even so, consider taking the image to the next level by digitally ensuring that everything in the tabletop and background is black.

[mugge]

I concur wholeheartedly with Mike. No more to say.
Cheers Ole

[Tronhard]

I must say that I am impressed with the collegial tone used throughout this discussion: contributors have avoided using fowl language.

[Rita]

Thanks Bill.

[Rita]

Thanks for commenting Terry. Having seen the work you have posted here I will take your comments as a great compliment. I am open to any and all discussion on the image, but please, no Omelet recipes. I used 2.5 dozen eggs making this image and I am in need of a change of diet At this point, unless I get something better, I will be entering it at my local photo club in Sept. The assigned theme is "Inside Out".

I have a number of images churning away in my brain so I am looking forward to getting better at using the trigger. It really is a fun toy to play with.