BLACK & WHITE

Excellent control of lighting and tone. The photo is also well balanced, and the textures are very pleasing. Perfect. However, what is missing for me in this photograph is context. For example, comparing this photo to Rakesh's "hands that toil," in the same folder of still life images, I am instantly tied in to what is going on with the hands and the owner of the hands. Understanding the hands helps you understand the person. With the pottery and garlic, I guess I'm left with an impression of a pleasing image, technically perfect, nobody does it better, but it doesn't really resonate with anything in me. Do others find that they connect with the image in some deeper way? Or is it necessary to connect in a deeper way at all? Hmm.

I find this still life to be antiseptic, there is no back to the construct. Things float on a black backdrop cloth.

 

Any museum has nicer painted still lives from Holland, I am sure.

 

We all ought to look at what painted still lives can be/have been over history if possible; check out Morandi (19...s painter) ...

 

And let us not all fall for antiseptic, ungrounded,... simplistic perfection in the kitchen with poor composition ... just because this is so technically perfect when it has no life. I would give it the 3/3 and be done.

I must disagree with Frank: I like the composition and the light is very nice. The different tones of white and gray on the garlic are stunning.

There is just one thing I don?t like about this picture: the garlic that is supposed to be on the table, looks like as if it was added afterwards with Photoshop. The light on that garlic does not fit in with the picture. If it was really positioned next to the other black pot, then there should have been a shadow on it. It?s a pity, because that just ruined it for me.

Great choise for Photograph of the Week.

 

Colors and lighting are really rare and one of the beststillife shots that I have ever seen.

The whole serial of still life has interesting concept. This is a photo that I'd like to hang it on the kitchen wall. The concept of white garlics and the dark gray potters (background) is speaking the language of a modern Still life. I've never seen before such an excellent work in that field. The lighting is, I suppose, natural, dispersive, which is pleasing to the eyes. The design of a potter and plates is simple and interesting, charming indeed. Though the colours are cold, the whole photo seems to be warm, calling you to the kitchen.

I'm usually not a big fan of "still life" photos. I was prompted to comment on this one due to the uniqueness of the very dry looking textures and super soft lighting.

 

Well done!

Obviously skill and artistry went into setting up and taking this photo. Admirable. In the end,

though, I find the result two dimensional and I find two-dimensional works rather

uninteresting. If this were my photo I would have used/added more light and contrast to give

the composition a more dramatic appeal.

Hi Rakesh is nice to find your work here.

This still composition is fantastic, apart of being one of my favorite themes, the colors on the composition makes this simple but strong and effective...and of course is very well composed taking care of every detail! Congrats on the POW...

Daniella

A nice technical execution does not a great photo make. This photo lost my attention in

about ten seconds. A great photo like any piece of art should make a statement that

captivates the viewer. This photo asks no questions, makes no exclamations, and does not

end with an ellipsis. It's just some garlic on a plate. :/

Technically nearing lighting perfection. Interesting as a brief viewing encounter. Perspective

of the second, empty bowl feels odd to me. I think the angle is slightly too high and the lens

slightly too wide. The lighting is awesome, can we have a diagram and detail of what was

used in the set up please Rakesh?

lots of technique - no taste or sensitivity

The tones may standout, but if there is no real 'content' in the photograph to keep the

viewers attention then it really doesn't matter. Beauty only goes so far.

For me, it looks more like a drawing. Or is it?

An image bursting with extravagant pomposity of technique but an image which is not about anything. It lacks delicacy, it lacks reference, it is just an arbitrary collection of objects which portray nothing of any significance.

I would give ANYTHING to just watch you work. You are an amazing artist. Congratulations and thank you SO MUCH for sharing such incredible work.

 

Sharon Welker

Well done!

I would have picked this as photo of the week also. It is beautiful and I have nothing negative to say or suggestions. Just perfect.

The composition is off. Everything is too close to the right bottom corner. Too much space in the upper left. I hope that wasn't done to accommodate the copyright blurb.

 

This is a B&W shot, burnt or bleached of almost all color. I'm looking for some accent color to give me something to make color worthwhile.

 

I don't get anything from garlic and black plates. If it's supposed to be an abstraction, the detail in the garlic pulls me back into reality.

 

I'd say very contrived and cold.

Beautiful. The lighting is perfect, not easy to capture that black on black as you did so nicely.

Hi Rakesh! Wonderful detail, clarity, & superb use of lighting. :)

Very pleasing to the eye. The black and white is rich in texture. Excellent photo.

I agree with the majority of the folks who responded that this is a very interesting shot. The different shades of blacks and grays, to me, are eye-catching. I would agree that the garlic seems a little bright but overall, a very pleasing photo.

I think your composition is quite good, don't know that I would have done anything to change it. Lighting is excellent, great job.

This pic, like all great pics, is all about contrast; for me that is the root of photography... In this case it's blacks vs whites, mineral vs organic. It's a beautifully composed pic and very well executed.

 

Dave D

Other great light image. Contrast into black and white elements is perfect.