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ctfchallenge | all galleries >> Challenge 54 - Food For Thought >> Challenge 54 - Eligible > Breakfast of Champions
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05-MAY-2004 Melissa

Breakfast of Champions

Texas

Canon EOS 10D ,Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
1/20s f/6.7 at 40.0mm iso400 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Nugar06-May-2004 23:51
I posted some pics of my "studio" at the official challenge thread.
ctfchallenge06-May-2004 21:55
Thanks for all of the good ideas. Nugar-it sounds like velour fabric. I guess I need to cut down all of the trees around my house, My parents just live a block away and have great daylight, I can take over their house for the good daylight. Gayle, I actually have the whole base, but I have learned something about making sundaes, you need to leave room for that wonderful chocolate to dribble down between the icecream and the glass, the bottom was so boring, just off white and glass. Too much icecream was in that glass. Then I need to work on the white balance, between the white whip cream and off white icecream, It was a little off. Thanks for all of your suggestions, I will have to get some of those lamps!
melissa
Nugar06-May-2004 16:46
I forgot, the other criteria was that it didn't wrinkle :)
Nugar06-May-2004 16:46
Well.... I actually don't know the name of the fabric in Spanish, much less in English! I chose one that was semi-glossy. At first, I considered velvet or velvet-like, but it was just too expensive. As to quantity, I picked up about 1 1/2 yard. This is because the things I photograph for my store are not taller than 10" and more commonly about 3" or 4"
ctfchallenge06-May-2004 16:17
Melissa, I love your story of how you "posed" this shot (looks like real food to me!). Like you, I have stayed away from such still lifes, but this morning I put a stepladder with an old tablecloth and a glass of wine (well, water with a bit of cranberry juice, if the truth be known)in front of one of my bushes and shot away. I may enter one of them...haven't decided yet.

Nugar, thank you for sharing your tips on indoor lighting. Maybe I'll buy a few of those lamps as a Mother's Day gift to myself. By the way, what type of fabric did you buy for the backdrops? How large?

Mary Anne
Nugar06-May-2004 13:10
About indoor lighting guys: I bought three reading lamps, those that are articulated, that have an "elbow", and some springs, and that attach to the table via a small "press" (I use that word for lack of knowing a better one (well, maybe "clamp" will do)). To each I bought a simple halogen bulb, the kind you screw on a regular socket. And that's it. Each lamp was about USD$9.99 and each bulb about $2.00. To date, one of the lamps broke, so I'm using just one. Also, each lamp had a sort of shade to which I fixed some bleached white coffe filters (Hi-Tech diffusors). And that's about it. I used that for the Loops and Pineapple pics. White balance is importante too with that kind of array. The point is we don't really really need Bee's (or whatever they are called) for most uses, unless we got a challenge where the topic are models! (hope not ;))

And I forgot, the black background is a black cloth, I also have one white and one green. I originally setup this array to take pictures for my Online Store, where I sell small crafts from Panama. If you want to see some of those, please do tell and I'll publish the URL. I will also upload a pic of my "studio".
Garrett Lau06-May-2004 06:44
If this is not food, I don't know what is. As for indoor lighting, I am probably the least qualified to give advice on the subject, but the issue of Petersen's Photographic that contains Lonnit's taxi shot recommends using a north-facing window (assuming the Northern Hemisphere). --Garrett
Paul Sumi06-May-2004 04:47
Melissa, look forward to your other photos. And don't worry about this not being counted as food. Have you seen some of the other "edibles" that made it? LOL.
ctfchallenge06-May-2004 04:23
Melissa, this is a really good try and yeah, indoor lighting is difficult. Try to use as much available daylight as possible.....shoot near a large window if you can. You can get some superb effects from sunlight streaming through curtains or blinds. And a sheer white curtain makes an excellent diffuser.
One more critique.....try not to cut off the base of your subject. I'd love to see the whole thing. And whoa.....this does look yummy!
Gayle
ctfchallenge06-May-2004 02:16
I was trying to get a shot into the challenge and had everything last night but no time to make it. Sooo this morning, first thing after everyone was out of the house, I got to work and after a few very quick shots ( I have a new found appreciation for food stylists), I couldn't just toss it, so this was my breakfast. I hope it still counts as food, having it for breakfast actually lasted me all day without lunch or dinner. Long explanation, but it did make you stop and wonder. Indoor lighting is one of my many areas I need improvement on, but I keep trying. Some day I will have a real "show stopper". btw love the subject of this challenge, I will try again this weekend for a different approach.
melissa
Paul Sumi06-May-2004 01:17
Melissa, I'm trying to figure out the connection between the sundae and the title. When I see "Breakfast of Champions," I think either Wheaties or Kurt Vonnegut. Or cold pizza left over from the night before.