Still Life #28 Footwear from an Overhead Point of View

[palters]

Jim on my monitor your blacks look excellent, deep, smooth and even. But the shoe whites border on looking blown out especially when compared to your 2nd shot where there is a lot of detail in the white.

Paul

[Brooks]

Here's my entry. I used a single 500w tungsten hot light pushed through a venetian blind, used as a cukuloris, to create a linear shadow and highlight pattern and to simulate daylight through a window. No reflector or fill.

[Jim Milby]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Jim, I also like your last shot, especially because of the angled golf club shafts being used as the surface under the shoes. Nicely done with an interesting graphic design.

Thanks. I was trying to copy the styling of the book, Secrets of Still Life Photography. I've read through it 3 times already. There has been a lot to pick up. I think the emphasis is actually design rather than photography.

Originally Posted by palters

Jim on my monitor your blacks look excellent, deep, smooth and even. But the shoe whites border on looking blown out especially when compared to your 2nd shot where there is a lot of detail in the white.

Thanks, Paul. Good eye. What I though would be a simple change required resetting everything. I was in a hurry doing the shot since it was late in the evening. The flag was out of place so on the right side near the ribbing the whites in a small area hit 255. I didn't noticed until editing the jpg file the next day. If I had time, I could easily fix this by saving another jpg from RAW with the exposure reduced. Then blend the 2 layers using a mask so only the "hot spot white" was effected.
Jim

[Jim Milby]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Here's my entry. I used a single 500w tungsten hot light pushed through a venetian blind, used as a cukuloris, to create a linear shadow and highlight pattern and to simulate daylight through a window. No reflector or fill.

Wow, interesting shot with only hard light and a cuke. Now we have to figure out what the shoes are used for. Volleyball.... ping pong.... tennis.... beach walking? Does the towel give a hint?
Jim

[Brooks]

Jim, they're tennis shoes and those are my stinky socks next to them.

[Erich1B]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Here's my entry. I used a single 500w tungsten hot light pushed through a venetian blind, used as a cukuloris, to create a linear shadow and highlight pattern and to simulate daylight through a window. No reflector or fill.

Brooks,
I learn something new every time I read your posts.

[Brooks]

Originally Posted by Erich1B

Brooks,
I learn something new every time I read your posts.

Erich, so you also thought those stinky socks were a towel ?

Where's that D800?

We've got a new Epson 3880 printer and a box of Moab fine-art rag paper. Bring over an image and we'll make a big print, under 17"x22" that is!

[Erich1B]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Where's that D800?

We've got a new Epson 3880 printer and a box of Moab fine-art rag paper. Bring over an image and we'll make a big print, under 17"x22" that is!

Brooks,
I had to cancel my order with Adorama as some recent medical bills needed to be paid before a camera could be considered.

I now have the funds again, but it would most likely be fruitless to pre-order again from Adorama (or anyone else I would imagine)?

So, I'll keep following along with Best Buy as it seems on Nikon Rumors that many people have had success getting a D800 from them.

In lieu of Best Buy, if I'm no closer to a D800 by August I'm tempted to just pay an additional $700 or $800 to an eBay seller?

At the present, Nikon USA has apparently acknowledged that there has been a D800 lockup issue. While I'm sure the software engineers will come up with a firmware fix, I'm also inclined to wait until the issue is resolved and look to purchase a camera later in the year.

Bottom line......................no D800 for me for a while.

[Brooks]

Erich,

Sorry to hear about the medical expenses. I hope everything's OK now.

I'd also wait until the camera is available later next year. What was the issue with the D800 lockup?

Offer still stands if you want to make a print let me know.

[Erich1B]

Originally Posted by Brooks

Erich,

Sorry to hear about the medical expenses. I hope everything's OK now.

I'd also wait until the camera is available later next year. What was the issue with the D800 lockup?

Offer still stands if you want to make a print let me know.

After 4 months of chronic, unresolving, left hip pain I went to an orthopedic specialist. Had an arthrogram MRI. The MRI indicated that everything inside my hip was fine (which was good news), so I was diagnosed with left hip trochanteric bursitis, and Iliotibial band (IT Band) tendonitis. Very very painful, but has for the most part resolved with physical therapy.

Here's a more detailed discussion of the D4/D800 lock up issues - although I understand that not everyone has experienced this problem with their cameras. Nikon Investigating Issue of D4 and D800 DSLRs Locking Up During Usage; Offers Temporary Fix

I'm comfortable waiting for now. It will give me additional time to save up for the 24mm PC-E. Also the 16-35mm that I want is on backorder and unavailable new right now.

When I do get the equipment, be sure I'll be in touch.

For now, I have enough images from my D700 to spend my time learning Photoshop CS 5 which I recently purchased

Regards,

Erich