Vegan Friday

[Dream Merchant]

Since I've been doing all meat dishes this past week, I thought I'd give a vegan dish a shot. Also, I decided to fool around a bit with geometrical shapes. Taken with natural light with mirrors and reflectors.

Please let me know which you prefer, and why. C&C welcome, as is editing.

CHEERS!



Version #1

http://clprodn.smugmug.com/photos/175039364-M.jpg




Version #2

http://clprodn.smugmug.com/photos/175039371-M.jpg

[rraman]

I like #2 better, it's a little more sharper and has better contrast.

[ofdphoto]

Nice shots!

#1 for me, it keeps more of the detail in the food (which is, after all, what makes the shot so ... appetising).

Cheers.

[Dream Merchant]

Thanks.

#1 has slightly less DOF. The top asparagus is slightly blurred.

#2 is all sharp, and I there's a little more light onto the dish, so overall it's also slightly brighter.

I was thinking of keeping the sharpness of #2, but editing to get the light effect of #1.

Do you think that would work well?

[macro_mike]

I like #2 more. I am not certain about how well clipping the edges of the bowl works, but this is just what I think, I am no expert by any means!

Mike

[Dream Merchant]

Thanks for the feedback MM.

Could you eloborate what you meant by "clipping the edges of the bowl" please? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that technique.

I was also thinking since I use natural light a lot, and get reflections, I might try using a CPL the next time I shoot food...

[TSEE]

Very nice layout, both works nicely for me...you really have to nitpick I think to find things distracting in them, I lean slightly towards #2 as some of the veggies seem a tad brighter in it.

[Dream Merchant]

Thanks for the encouraging feedback Sue.

I notice that there's a prevalent right-bottom side shadow in most of my shots which some may find terribly distracting or ugly.

I did a bit post work (clumsily) and here's another version with slightly softer shadows on the right-inside of the bowl:

http://clprodn.smugmug.com/photos/175128537-M.jpg




Does it look or feel better this way?

CHEERS!

[Gamut]

[quote=Dream Merchant;3579562] I was thinking of keeping the sharpness of #2, but editing to get the light effect of #1.

I like the first shot, but agree with Dream Merchant.

The clipping they were referring to was the crop. And that's subjective. I like the crop. And I also like the DOF with a little fall off, but in this case, sharper is better.

[Dream Merchant]

Thanks seesponge!

I was wondering if it had to do with the fact that the rim was a highlight, since I thought clipping referred to matters relating to exposure, but wasn't sure.

I tried a looser crop with the entire bowl in, but the pasta looked too small. Decided to go for the tighter crop for more emphasis on the food.

CHEERS!

[macro_mike]

the re-master looks the best to my eyes.

i was referring to the crop, but i will trust your judgement on this one :) looks well, keep posting!

Mike

[Gamut]

Thanks seesponge!

I tried a looser crop with the entire bowl in, but the pasta looked too small. Decided to go for the tighter crop for more emphasis on the food.

Smart move.

[Elphaba]

#2... it seems to draw the eye in quicker (at least, for me).

*is now craving asparagus* :)

[Dream Merchant]

Thanks for the feedback MM, SS and Elphaba. Appreciate it.

Hope I didn't start food cravings and midnight fridge raids! LOL!

Took a slight break over the weekend, and will be back with more.

CHEERS!

[khall]

Version 3 without the shadows in the dish looks much better.

[fi20100]

Great work! All look good, but #2 is my favorite :)

[DanteCaspian]

Very appealing!