Zippo!

[UK-Jezz]

Hi peeps, I am new here and have been reading the forum for a few days now, but just decided to post something for your thoughts.
Shot with a EOS 50D and a 18-55mm kit lens, I have only had the camera a week, so this is one of my 1st shots with it. I am totaly new to the world of DSLR's and photography, any hints/tips gratefully received. TY.

http://www.eazitech.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/lighter.jpg
http://www.eazitech.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/lighterinfo.jpg

[Michael1984]

cool shot!

[UK-Jezz]

Thank you.

[tonydee]

One useful guideline is to put things off centre a bit. Here, you can improve the photo by cropping 20 or 30 pixels above the flame, and similarly outside the right edge of the shadow. Getting close often gives a punchier, tighter, stronger visual result. A bit more lighting on the zippo itself would have revealed more details - as is the textures looks a bit soft, and it's hard to appreciate the wear and tear, grunge and grime. It's difficult to shoot a scene with a bright light source in it, as the dynamic range from darkest to brightest element can exceed the camera's ability to capture faithfully. Here, the flame is a pretty featureless white, but luckily the image transitions into that quite softly and smoothly and it looks ok.

Keep shooting... more variety of things the better.

Cheers,
Tony

[UK-Jezz]

Thankyou tonydee, I see what you mean by being center and more detail on the lighter, This was the other shot i took at the time, but dont like it as much because the of the ciggy ruins it i think.
http://www.eazitech.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/zippo.jpg

[VegasBoz]

I think if you cropped the ciggy completely out it would make for an interesting 'artsy' type pic with the reflection still there?

[tonydee]

I think if you cropped the ciggy completely out it would make for an interesting 'artsy' type pic with the reflection still there?

I agree, although having the ciggy there clearly show it's not a design on the lighter, and engages the viewer in comparing the ciggy and reflection. There's a bit of a conflict between staying in close as you have - which provides good detail in the reflection and lighter - versus moving back enough to get the entire cigarette in frame... having it cross out of frame draws the eye out, making the picture look less complete and self-contained. Perhaps angling the ciggy differently (more up on our right) would have satisfied these conflicting demands...? The colours in this one raise the interest levels above that of the first image.

Cheers,
Tony

[jetcode]

I think you did great ... #1 has a lot of great elements working for it

[Dustydeb]

Like the shot and also the way the shadows are quiet strong, brings depth to it. I would have put it down right a bit more. The whole shadow would have fitted in as well then. complete novice here by the way...