Time for tea

[jpetrow]

http://www.hut.fi/u/jpetrow/digit/talven_ekoja/IMG_0723_ed2_small.JPG
http://www.hut.fi/u/jpetrow/digit/talven_ekoja/IMG_0730_pp.JPG
http://www.hut.fi/u/jpetrow/digit/talven_ekoja/IMG_0733.JPG

Some technical info:
#1: Exposure time 1/6s, aperture f/16, iso 100
#2: Exposure time 1/60s, aperture f/5, iso 400
#3: Exposure time 1/60s, aperture f/5.6, iso 200

All shots taken with Canon's 20d and EF-S 17-85mm USM IS.

PIctures are obviously about tea. I've tried to capture the emotions of a intimite tea moment: calmness, stillness, silence, warmth, delight and relaxation.

I'd like to know if I've been able to achieve this. Furthermore, I'm interested in how to improve the technical and communicative side of these shots. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

[edsarkiss]

#1 -- what's that wire going in and out of the cup -- oh it's the tea bag string

#2 -- i like this once since it does indeed show the subject. cool DOF and focus point is fantastic. one thing to add: steam! (this can be tough, but keep the microwave oven close by)

#3 -- i find the detail in the reflection distracting. maybe if you could get a larger reflection of your eager face and two outstretched hands ready to cradle the mug it could have an interesting twist! ;-)

it's fun to play with a setup like this -- lots of things can be learned very efficiently!

[jpetrow]

#1 -- what's that wire going in and out of the cup -- oh it's the tea bag string


Thanks for your opinion. Do you find the tea bag string too annoying? I've got a shot without it as well, but i posted the one with a string because it is about tea after all. Without the string it could be a coffee cup as well (as it is the case in the last shot). I'll post the shot without the string if I find time to post produce it.

#2 -- i like this once since it does indeed show the subject. cool DOF and focus point is fantastic. one thing to add: steam! (this can be tough, but keep the microwave oven close by)


The water was steaming when this shot was taken. But being a crappy photographer I couldn't capture it. Any suggestions how to do it?


#3 -- i find the detail in the reflection distracting. maybe if you could get a larger reflection of your eager face and two outstretched hands ready to cradle the mug it could have an interesting twist! ;-)

it's fun to play with a setup like this -- lots of things can be learned very efficiently!

I also find the reflection in #1 and #3 as the most distracting "flaw". Is there a handy way to soften the reflection with Gimp (or with Photoshop)?

[edsarkiss]

#1 -- what's that wire going in and out of the cup -- oh it's the tea bag string


Thanks for your opinion. Do you find the tea bag string too annoying? I've got a shot without it as well, but i posted the one with a string because it is about tea after all. Without the string it could be a coffee cup as well (as it is the case in the last shot). I'll post the shot without the string if I find time to post produce it.


i think it's good in there if it's readily identifiable as a tea bag string. maybe by getting the little paper square at the end in there would help with the identification.

#2 -- i like this once since it does indeed show the subject. cool DOF and focus point is fantastic. one thing to add: steam! (this can be tough, but keep the microwave oven close by)


The water was steaming when this shot was taken. But being a crappy photographer I couldn't capture it. Any suggestions how to do it?


aww c'mon -- you're not a crappy photog! by the very nature of taking enough interest in what you're doing to post some files and ask for advice you've now risen several notches!

for steam: back / side lighting.



#3 -- i find the detail in the reflection distracting. maybe if you could get a larger reflection of your eager face and two outstretched hands ready to cradle the mug it could have an interesting twist! ;-)

it's fun to play with a setup like this -- lots of things can be learned very efficiently!

I also find the reflection in #1 and #3 as the most distracting "flaw". Is there a handy way to soften the reflection with Gimp (or with Photoshop)?[/quote]

hmmm ... you could select the area and apply a gaussian blur. you could also set up a black scrim with a cutout for the camera's lens to put between you and the subject. that way there wouldn't be much of anything to reflect.

[edsarkiss]

the more i think about it, i think #2 with steam and a tea bag showing (poking out from the liquid, string hung over the side of the mug) would be perfecto.