J is for Jug. Isolation Alphabet Photo Challenge

May 7, 2020

J is for …

Fujifilm XT-2
60mm Macro Lens
f/2.4
1/60
ISO 500
Big window light to the left. Slight hint of a tungsten light coming from the right.

Comments: Yes, yes, I should’ve gotten the tripod. But to do that I would’ve had to move a big heavy pot plant out of the way to fit it in. As it was, I was crammed in between said pot plant and the couch to get this shot.
It’s one of those shots where you see it in camera and hope it looks as good as you think it does. Or whether you’re just sentimentally attached to it and it’s really crap.

I love the tones and textures in this image. I like the feeling and sense of depth and mystery the shallow depth of field provides by having the foreground leaves out of focus. The movement through the foliage gives it life. It feels windswept. and unkempt. Free! And yet the delicate jug invokes a mixture of fragility and yet a stability that feels safe in that freedom.

Side note: My partner bought me these flowers over a year ago and has been waiting for me to throw them out ever since they essentially passed their prime. He often gives me quizzical looks and patiently shakes his head in a bemused way. I added an extra branch I had found on a daily walk that was laying around just waiting to find a purpose and ‘voila’ that added the extra sweep of leaves out to the right which, I think. provides the essential balance and flow of movement through this ‘still life’.

I is for ... Isolation Alphabet Photo Challenge

May 6, 2020

I is for … Ice and Ivy

Fujifilm XT-2
60mm Macro Lens
f/2.4
1/250 sec + Tripod
ISO 200

Lighting: Reading lamp, candles, torch.
Shot in RAW and Processed in Lightroom.
Comments: Shot in very cramped conditions in a very small kitchen. Ice lit with a torch from behind, Ivy and edge of ice lit with a reading lamp. Bokeh created by candles in the background and a wide aperture. Water drip created with spray bottle. Leaf clipped to a clamp on a bendy wire used for soldering I got from an electronics shop. Ice is sitting on a pizza tray. Teenager is in background happily playing x-box. Partner is hiding in case I ask him to hold something.
Tip #1: Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Tip #2: You don’t need fancy equipment. Use whatever you can find. (It does help if you’re a MacGyver type)

Tip #3: If you plan on using solar powered fairy lights to create the bokeh, make sure it’s a sunny day so they charge up. I did not do this, and couldn’t wait for a sunny day, hence the problem solving solution of using candles.

#debsisolationalphabet

H is for ... Isolation Alphabet Photography Challenge

May 6, 2020

H is for … Handsome human holding a harmonica in his hands. Making harmonies. Hehe.

Fujifilm XT-2
60mm Macro Lens
f/4
1/40 Handheld
ISO 800

Window light
Converted to Black and White in Lightroom.
Comments: I am a huge fan of Contre-jour lighting, which essentially means shooting into the light, or having the sun or other light source behind the subject. In this case the kitchen window. There’s an out of focus plant in the background and I had to change angle to dodge the exhaust fan in the window. I asked my model to turn their hands until the light hit the harmonica. Don’t be afraid to crop tight.

As an side: We do an exercise on Contre-jour lighting in my Level 2 Photography class at RMIT and I recently had a lovely French student who I asked to say Contre-jour as often as possible as it just sounds so gorgeous with an actual French accent as opposed to my Queensland bogan accent. Now whenever I read the word I hear it in his voice.

Photography Challenge - Isolation Alphabet

May 5, 2020

G is for … Indecision. No wait, that’s I. I’m jumping the gun. G is for Gladiolus and Gumnuts. I couldn’t decide so you get both.

Fujifilm XT-2
60mm Macro Lens
f/5.6
0.5 sec + Tripod and self timer.
ISO 200

Shooting into the kitchen window light with baking paper taped to the window
Processed in Lightroom.
Comments: The downside of long flowers in a small space is trying to fit them in! I did manage to get some full length shots but liked this crop better. I interrupted the cooking of dinner to take this shot so I had to work fast.

Tip #1: Try different exposures. I got dramatically different results from under and over exposing. Not better or worse, just different.
Tip #2: Use a reflector (piece of white card board or paper will do the trick) to reflect some light back in to the shadow side.

Fujifilm XT-2
60mm Macro Lens
f/2.4 ( I do like a shallow depth of field!)
1/60sec + Tripod
ISO 200

Continuous tungsten light bounced off the lounge room blind + reflector to fill shadows.
Processed in Lightroom.
Comments: Light, lines, shapes and texture. The KISS principle works well.

Photography Challenge - Isolation Alphabet

May 1, 2020

F is for Figs

Most people like the shot below, but I have a soft spot for these two just sitting in the fading light, having a quiet chat to each other. (Maybe I’ve spent too much time in isolation???)

Fujifilm XT-2
60mm Macro Lens
f/11
1 sec + Tripod and self timer.
ISO 400

Window light + reflector (A4 Printer paper)
Base is an upside down pizza tray. Background is a chopping board leaning on the microwave.

Tip #1 Cut figs long ways. I discovered this AFTER I’d cut mine across. Maybe the tip should be to do your research before, not after.

Tip #2 Always choose a food you like so you can eat it afterwards. (note: food is not always edible after a photoshoot, but it’s worth a try)

Photography Challenge - Isolation Alphabet

April 30, 2020

E is for …

Fujifilm XT-2
60mm Macro Lens
f/5.6
1/15sec + Tripod
ISO 200

Kitchen window light
Processed in Lightroom.
Comments: 5 Minute kitchen shoot before I got shoo’ed out of the way so lunch could be made. A little bit of blu tac makes the world of difference. The colour shot looked good but the black and white was more dynamic.