Photographing Tea

[tenuki]

you lose the lid?

[Salsero]

need to fix barrel distortion, but I liked the quadruple division[/list]

I think the barrel distortion makes this a better photo. I loved it when I saw it on your blog. The sun and heat are evident, as is the urban environment within which this experiment is happening. I agree that it doesn't have the impact of your landscape work, but it is effective in the blog context.

If you want to get mad, you could go look at Space's two posts about ice brewing. They are more minimalist and gorgeous. Course, Spacey likes to get about 4 mm away from his subject, but it works.

[trent]

I guess I like the barrel distortion a little bit because it matches the curve of the teapot, but at the same time, I think that it would divide the composition better if it was straight.

About the lid... I just took it off to ice-brew.

[Victoria]

Wow, I'm glad I checked back on this thread, because I love seeing pictures. Not sure if anyone cares or wants my opinion, but I'm offering it as an untrained eye and to just say what appeals to me.

Space - I think the Dragonfly one is very cool. I love the helicopter look of it.
Very unique.

Tenuki - I like your third one best of all. (DSC01936.png) I happen to like angles and this one makes me feel I am right there. The cropped takes that away and reminds me I am looking at a photo. You know I love the water pot shot - surreal and mesmerizing.

GeekGirl - I like your "lines" going the same way. Nice shot. For me, my eye is drawn to the pollen anyway.

Scruff - the pink rose is a stunning shot! It pops!

Photiou - love the pouring shot!

Trent - I like your #2 and looking into the filter.

[Photiou]

Trying to save an overexposed photo by converting it to black&white... not as bad as in color but still bothers me.

[scruffmcgruff]

Tenuki, thanks for the comments. Maybe I'll try that first one again when the light is right.

I love this picture, trent; the colors really work for me, and I think the lines created by the plant are gorgeous.

[tenuki]

I love this picture, trent; the colors really work for me, and I think the lines created by the plant are gorgeous.

I have that same little kyuusu, and I love it.

I meant to comment on this one and scruffs comments on the color reminded me.

The color of the pot is analogous to the color of the leaves ( ie, next to it on the color wheel, supposedly has calming effect compositionally ).

[Photiou]

Have you used grey card or color card to set wb?
They are inexpensive and as there is enough time to set lighting etc. with tea photography they might be useful. :?:

[tenuki]

Have you used grey card or color card to set wb?
They are inexpensive and as there is enough time to set lighting etc. with tea photography they might be useful. :?:

I have for video before, but my still camera is a 130 dollar sony cybershot POS. So no. hahah. I'm assuming you were asking other people with real cameras.

* steps out of the way *

[Geekgirl]

I've used a color card for WB before, it never seems to do what I want it to... PIBCAK, I suppose. User error.

Now I just set the general WB from the menu, and shoot in RAW format so I can adjust it in software before converting to JPG.

[Salsero]

I use a Photoshop Curves adjustment on a neutral (white or gray) spot to set all three channels to the same values. Otherwise, I just shoot auto WB most of the time.

However, lately I've been using Trent's lightbox with incandescents and setting a custom WB based on the color temp of the incandescents in situ. That really seems to work pretty well too.

Gee, ain't it all so fun!

[Space Samurai]

I set my white balance to whatever looks best at the time.

[silverneedles]

im getting a blue haze/tint in most of my natural light pix, i might try to slap on a UV filter see if anything changes, i want a polarizer too...
white/gray card is on the list too, but i cant see it used unless the light situation remains constant...

[Space Samurai]

i highly reccomend using a uv filter. if nothing else its great for protecting your lense.

[scruffmcgruff]

I was hoping for a bit more help, composition-wise. Which of the two do you all think is composed better? I like how you can see more of those lime (?) deposits in the vertically-oriented one, but I'm not sure if helps the image as a whole.





Thanks.