Found an egg

ACW · 02-12-2011, 22:03

I'm sure egg shots have probably been done to death but I had a few spare hours with nothing to do and the s9600 was feeling neglected.

I know composition could do with improving, please give me some pointers. But it's the lighting I would really like some crit on. I'm still trying to get used to it all.

Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr

Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr

Then a random Apple lighting shot:

Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr

and the set up I was using for them. They were all on minimum power, and the softboxes had an extra diffusing layer inside them.

Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr

Thanks in advance!

hilla · 02-12-2011, 22:09

like this alot. the 1st one is great. the green colour doesn't do it for me.

MWHCVT · 02-12-2011, 23:02

I'm really not sure about this

I love the idea of this

but the colours used just don't seem to fit in

I would have liked to see a nice egg yoke yellow somehow that would have fitted in a lot better

The colours on this Apple seem a little off, it seems a little dull or flat, I think it needs a good boost in saturation to really make it come alive

Serious set it though

that's a lot of light for this little still life

Matt
MWHCVT

tom88jerry · 03-12-2011, 00:55

I do love the first pic and agree with MWHCVT for trying a egg yoke yellow

ACW · 03-12-2011, 07:16 **Thread Starter**

Thanks for the comments

, had I had a choice of colours I would have wanted to do a yellow and a blue. Unfortunately all I had was red, green and black food colouring, mixed with a bit of water, glycerin (to try and make it shiny) and flour.

I did try using the actual egg yolk but it wasn't yellow enough when spread out and had a horrible film over it which reflected the flash.

Ideally I wanted to use a nice glossy paint to get a better sheen on the goo stuff, but I didn't want to go out to the shops so decieded I'd have to make do, next time I'm going to try it that way though.

and I'll try giving the Apple a bit of a boost later when I get to the computer, I know what you mean though, it lacks punch.

Digitall · 03-12-2011, 08:01

I love the lighting set up and agree with Matt on the colors, I also think yellow would suit better. I you do this again, then get Crayola kids paint (Amazon). It's acrylic and mixes with water very well, I use it all the time for my paint sculptures.

Just Dave · 03-12-2011, 08:21

Nice Adam, agree yellow would be good and wow that is a lot of lighting, but great idea and well shot

ACW · 03-12-2011, 13:21 **Thread Starter**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digitall

I love the lighting set up and agree with Matt on the colors, I also think yellow would suit better. I you do this again, then get Crayola kids paint (Amazon). It's acrylic and mixes with water very well, I use it all the time for my paint sculptures.

Thanks for the tip, il give that a try, I think I've used that for painting things before and it should photograph nicely when wet.

ACW · 03-12-2011, 13:24 **Thread Starter**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Dave

Nice Adam, agree yellow would be good and wow that is a lot of lighting, but great idea and well shot

Is the lighting too much? I'm after some tips for a better set up too if anyone has any?

SarahLee · 03-12-2011, 18:25

Composition-wise I think the first one is absolutely spot-on and is a lot stronger than the second one. A very creative idea that works very well for me.

As far as lighting goes, I'm no expert, but I think you've got it completely right for the egg shots. Just the right amount of reflection on the coloured goop to stop it looking flat and a nice matt finish on the egg shells.

The Apple is left looking a little flat to me though. I think you could have done with slightly harder light in this instance to bring out some of the texture in the skin and add a little reflection to it.

dade_f · 05-12-2011, 00:55

Ooooh I like it! I agree with Sarah - the first shot is cracking

ACW · 06-12-2011, 15:43 **Thread Starter**

Thanks for the comments

that's the composition I'll use tomorrow when I rest tempt it with yellow. Thinking about using a black background with the yellow paint, really not sure how to light it?

What's the best light absorbing black? Apart from material as I think that will be very messy...maybe glossy black card?

SarahLee · 07-12-2011, 16:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACW

What's the best light absorbing black? Apart from material as I think that will be very messy...maybe glossy black card?

Glossy card will reflect the light back, you really need a matt surface if you want it to absorb light.
As you said fabric will be messy, but maybe some matt black paper?

MWHCVT · 07-12-2011, 16:40

For all mine that you see on a black background I use an A1 sheet of black mount card and find that very good

I the knobs on the cooker to hold it in place as I curve the card up the wall to make a small infinity wall style set up

Matt

ACW · 10-12-2011, 22:06 **Thread Starter**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahLee

Glossy card will reflect the light back, you really need a matt surface if you want it to absorb light.
As you said fabric will be messy, but maybe some matt black paper?

Good point, should have thought that about the glossy paper, and I've found some very matt black card, so look fowards to trying that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MWHCVT

For all mine that you see on a black background I use an A1 sheet of black mount card and find that very good

I the knobs on the cooker to hold it in place as I curve the card up the wall to make a small infinity wall style set up

Matt

And I want to try and get it into an infinity curve but I don't think it's going to be long enough, I'm going to have to PP the line where I improvise and cellotape the two sides together!

GHP · 12-12-2011, 12:10

For a nice matt background, you could try painting a sheet of plastic or acrylic with blackboard paint, that way it would be wipe-able too.

Granarystudio · 12-12-2011, 16:08

Great idea love the first pic

Kav · 15-03-2012, 10:13

EGGstreamily cool! ; )

HWest · 15-03-2012, 17:27

FWIW, I like the red. But then I likes me a bit o' gore.

mattd85 · 15-03-2012, 19:01

I like the egg shots, I was thinking about having a try at this myself.

Matt

02-12-2011, 22:03	#1
ACW Forum Regular Real name : Adam Location: Brands Hatch Posts: 1,458 Camera: Canon 7D	Found an egg I'm sure egg shots have probably been done to death but I had a few spare hours with nothing to do and the s9600 was feeling neglected. I know composition could do with improving, please give me some pointers. But it's the lighting I would really like some crit on. I'm still trying to get used to it all. Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr Then a random Apple lighting shot: Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr and the set up I was using for them. They were all on minimum power, and the softboxes had an extra diffusing layer inside them. Untitled by ACW#, on Flickr Thanks in advance!

02-12-2011, 23:02	#3
MWHCVT Alfie Real name : Matthew Location: Warwickshire, UK Posts: 20,186 Camera: Canon EOS 5D3 Gripped	I'm really not sure about this I love the idea of this but the colours used just don't seem to fit in I would have liked to see a nice egg yoke yellow somehow that would have fitted in a lot better The colours on this Apple seem a little off, it seems a little dull or flat, I think it needs a good boost in saturation to really make it come alive Serious set it though that's a lot of light for this little still life Matt MWHCVT __________________ IDSweek 5-11 April 2013 Light Painting Meets - South East - Northern (N.Yorkshre) Other Meets - NMA Meet (National Meet) - War in the Cotswolds (April) Guides - Light Trails - Star Trails - Wire Wool - Fireworks

03-12-2011, 08:21	#7
Just Dave Strange Real name : Dave Location: TeePee In Chorley Lancs Posts: 25,545 Camera: Eos 7D + Eos 400D + IPad3	Nice Adam, agree yellow would be good and wow that is a lot of lighting, but great idea and well shot __________________ Visit Our Website Clicky Linky My Flickr Clicky Linky Visit My Blog Clicky Linky My 500px Clicky Linky http://twitter.com/#!/DaveFBarker

03-12-2011, 18:25	#10
SarahLee Moderator Airs it out for TP Real name : Sarah Location: South Wales Posts: 6,696 Camera: Canon	Composition-wise I think the first one is absolutely spot-on and is a lot stronger than the second one. A very creative idea that works very well for me. As far as lighting goes, I'm no expert, but I think you've got it completely right for the egg shots. Just the right amount of reflection on the coloured goop to stop it looking flat and a nice matt finish on the egg shells. The Apple is left looking a little flat to me though. I think you could have done with slightly harder light in this instance to bring out some of the texture in the skin and add a little reflection to it. __________________ Sarah. More TP Challenges and Competitions in HERE

15-03-2012, 19:01	#20
mattd85 Feet under the table Real name : Matt Location: Manchester Posts: 2,732 Camera: Sony Alpha A33 SLT	I like the egg shots, I was thinking about having a try at this myself. Matt __________________ My Flickr My Facebook Page.....Please like it My PFBMag online gallery My 2013 12's ETC Challenge

02-12-2011, 22:09	#2
hilla New here Posts: 48	like this alot. the 1st one is great. the green colour doesn't do it for me.

03-12-2011, 00:55	#4
tom88jerry New here Real name : Shih Chieh Lai Location: Notts Posts: 40 Camera: 5D mk ii	I do love the first pic and agree with MWHCVT for trying a egg yoke yellow

03-12-2011, 07:16 Thread Starter	#5
ACW Forum Regular Real name : Adam Location: Brands Hatch Posts: 1,458 Camera: Canon 7D	Thanks for the comments , had I had a choice of colours I would have wanted to do a yellow and a blue. Unfortunately all I had was red, green and black food colouring, mixed with a bit of water, glycerin (to try and make it shiny) and flour. I did try using the actual egg yolk but it wasn't yellow enough when spread out and had a horrible film over it which reflected the flash. Ideally I wanted to use a nice glossy paint to get a better sheen on the goo stuff, but I didn't want to go out to the shops so decieded I'd have to make do, next time I'm going to try it that way though. and I'll try giving the Apple a bit of a boost later when I get to the computer, I know what you mean though, it lacks punch.

03-12-2011, 08:01	#6
Digitall Feet under the table Real name : Allan Location: South Wales Posts: 2,975 Camera: D3s	I love the lighting set up and agree with Matt on the colors, I also think yellow would suit better. I you do this again, then get Crayola kids paint (Amazon). It's acrylic and mixes with water very well, I use it all the time for my paint sculptures.

05-12-2011, 00:55	#11
dade_f Forum Regular Real name : Dade Location: UK & Spain Posts: 790 Camera: Canon 5DMk II	Ooooh I like it! I agree with Sarah - the first shot is cracking

06-12-2011, 15:43 Thread Starter	#12
ACW Forum Regular Real name : Adam Location: Brands Hatch Posts: 1,458 Camera: Canon 7D	Thanks for the comments that's the composition I'll use tomorrow when I rest tempt it with yellow. Thinking about using a black background with the yellow paint, really not sure how to light it? What's the best light absorbing black? Apart from material as I think that will be very messy...maybe glossy black card?

07-12-2011, 16:40	#14
MWHCVT Alfie Real name : Matthew Location: Warwickshire, UK Posts: 20,186 Camera: Canon EOS 5D3 Gripped	For all mine that you see on a black background I use an A1 sheet of black mount card and find that very good I the knobs on the cooker to hold it in place as I curve the card up the wall to make a small infinity wall style set up Matt

12-12-2011, 12:10	#16
GHP Forum Regular Real name : Gary Location: Hornchurch, Essex Posts: 883 Camera: Nikon D700 and D7000 both gripped	For a nice matt background, you could try painting a sheet of plastic or acrylic with blackboard paint, that way it would be wipe-able too.

12-12-2011, 16:08	#17
Granarystudio Forum Regular Real name : Neil Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 647 Camera: Canon 7D and 5DMKii	Great idea love the first pic

15-03-2012, 10:13	#18
Kav New here Posts: 26	EGGstreamily cool! ; )

15-03-2012, 17:27	#19
HWest Forum Regular Real name : Tony Posts: 812 Camera: Nikon d7000	FWIW, I like the red. But then I likes me a bit o' gore.