b&w Decanter

It doesn't get any better than this. WELL DONE!

great job! nice lighting

The bottle is bent. was this the way it was made or how was it done? either way, very nice.

The transparency and fluidity of the decanter and the fluids inside enhenses the overall effect of this photograph. Personally i have had a few attempts at photos like this, without much success. Well done.

Lets get things off to a more interesting start

 

One has to disagree with the statement that this is an elegant composition. We have a curved bended bottle which is juxtaposed to bottle top pointing at an angle and badly interacting with the line of horizon' in the background. This same top covers the bottom of the glass. The gentle curve of the bottle is in odd contrast to the cut crystal glass.

The reflection in the foreground is abruptly cut off and as such detracts from the image.

 

The composition most certainly does not flow. It more stumbles along.

 

The bottle is lovely, and would probably be a better composition without the added glass and perhaps a better position of the top.

 

The range of tones in the image are reduced. I cannot make out a true black anywhere. Perhaps deliberate but leaves me feeling this is over exposed rather than high key, or is that the same thing?!. However some true blacks would give the image the touch of class that it needs.

 

Is this being a bit picky? Absolutely. This picture has been taken with a serious bit of gear. The set up is totally controlled. Everything that is on the film is under the control of the photographer. There are no excuses and these images should not be simply good they should be perfect (or nearly so). However I must say too they're very hard to do to a high level.

 

I'm deliberately stirring things early on this week so that people may not be swayed too much by the elves opening comments.

 

Now if you've read this far you will see I haven't just said. Average should be better' or Wow great picture. A comment is much more valuable if you give your reason. Even if its Wow great picture, reminds me of that scene in the Matrix' when the kid bends the spoon'

 

So please give a reason for your praise or criticism.

 

By the way Bradford's portrait stuff is excellent, worth a look.

 

Lots of love

 

John

I admire the efforts to get the required contrast.

But photo as a whole does not impress me. It too looks very bright and not soothing to the eye! Additional dark grey could add soothing effect.

Nice photo. (^_^) I don't see anything wrong with chopping off the reflection - it avoids excess symmetry.

 

One thing which I think would improve its presentation enormously is to get away from this desperately over-spartan screaming #ffffff background. (That's "pure white" if you're an artist, fortissississississimo if you're a musician). If the page background were simply #c0c0c0 (or so), or if the image were given a gentle grey border, I think the eye would be saved some agony.

 

 

I can admire the time and talents that went into this picture. It's probably as good as it gets. The photographer took an incredibly boring, useless subject, and made the best out of it he could.

 

I still believe what constitutes a good photograph is something that stirs the viewer. It makes him happy, sad, curious, etc. It makes the viewer want to be where the photographer is. It makes the viewer feel, rather than see.

 

Of course, based on how my photos have been rated lately, either that feeling isn't shared, or I don't posess what it takes to make that happen. He he he. Of course, ultimately, photography has to please one person. The photographer. And mine does it for me. And if this shot does it for this photographer, more power to him.

 

I'm waxing philosophically now. I had better get off my soapbox. ;-)

 

Chris

A wonderful photo of controlled lighting. The setup is almost perfect. I would have like to see a few drops of liquid near to decanter lid. The light would have played off the drops, giving the whole setup a little more impact. The bent decanter leads me to the rest of the photo. Wonderfully done.

Although I would prefer more definition to the shoulders of the decanter, no reflection, no horizon and a few drops of liquid (as noted above) in place of the stopper, I none the less find this a lovely image. My vision is different from, not better than, that of the photographer. In response to those who find no emotional appeal in the photograph, I see in the decanter and the glass, a reunion of two old friends. They demonstrate differences of style and character, yet they share a common, and longstanding purpose. In fact, I think I'll go visit a couple of my old friends now. A very pleasant composition.

I learned early on that the elves have a very different way of looking at photographs than I do. But alas I am learning.

 

On first glance, second, third and oh well, I have failed to grasp the less is more argument or the fact that the shape of the decanter adds to the composition.

 

There is definitely more white than less and the corresponding lack in tonal variance is under whelming. I also agree with Mr. Marsden in that the reflection's lack of completion or its over abundance of finality, does more to harm the image than enhance it. As to composition, try again: loose the stopper or reposition it, loose the liquid in the glass or lower it and do something with the liquid in the decanter. Say why is it darker that what's in the glass?

 

Though hardly proficient with flash and certainly not schooled in the finer techniques of studio work, I finally decided to approach this photograph for what I thought its purpose was (is) and frankly I would not buy the Port offered in this ad. BUT, much Mr. Carr's other work is outstanding. Pick another elves, he has many to choose from.

 

I like it. It's sort of fun to look at for about 10 seconds. But then some shortcomings start to fall into play. I agree some water drops or pools would have added something. Plus I think the glass, which in no way resembles the smooth and curvy shapes of the bottle, adds nothing and does not seem fit well.

 

But overall the most fantastic, most beautiful photo I think I've ever seen in my entire life!

Average

 

Mainly because it's not my genre. I'm not a big fan of black and white and it's too sterile to elicit an emotional response.

 

Is there a way to play with infinity (An infinite table top instead of a finite one)? It would be easier to do that with Photoshop, but it's not impossible to do that in real life (infinite relative to the camera's point of view).

 

If you had two sheets of glass you could have one object right side up with an upside down reflection and another object upside down with a right side up reflection.

Carr has made the kind of image that I like to shoot just for fun, to get away from the usual things I shoot like news and sports. I find shooting this kind of thing very relaxing and amusing. When I see material like this posted, it often elicits a chain of ideas that can lead me down new creative paths. I like it.

This is the first photo of the week in a while that hasn't immediately caught my eye when I entered the site. Maybe a black border or something to give a frame of reference and contrast for it's white tones against a white background could help. Just a personal feeling though.

I would also be a little more impressed if the equipment list said something like ... pentax k1000 with a 90mm SMC lens then a gagillion dollar piece of equipment. If only we could all have one of those. None the less, you've inspired me to try something similar. Thankyou.

As this is from a "Personal" folder, I guess this pic is primarily experimental or Bradfords's idea of having fun. Not personally wanting to believe the latter, I'll opt for "experimental". My further suspicion is that he wanted to see if he could extract a worthwhile positive out of a difficult neg. The JPEG process and small size apart, I for one am prepared to believe he succeeded. Congratulations on a good rendering Bradford.

 

Others have complained (rightly) about the annoying angle of the table edge, the cut-off reflection etc. etc. In such an antiseptic photograph as this purports to be, such things are vital. Not so fantastic on that score.

 

I just prefer think Bradford was performing an experiment in exposure, lighting and "printing" (whether virtual or paper-based). That this actual picture is not of PoW quality is not his fault, but the elves' - they picked it after all, not him.

 

Many of Brad's other pix are really good (I love the bus and his portraits) - much better than this.

 

As PoW, no. As an exercise in technique, very good.

 

I wonder which photo from his portfolio Bradford would have picked? To extend this question, would it not be a good idea if the elves contacted each PoW winner and asked HIM or HER which photo they would like to have put up as PoW? Or perhaps narrow things down to a short list? In effect should not "Photo of the Week" be renamed "PhotoGRAPHER of the Week"? How about "Portfolio of the Week?" - this is not a bad idea as a body of work eliminates one-off gee-whiz accidents . Perhaps all three? Discussion please.

 

This way we would not all be wasting time evaluating one lonely image that the photographer may be personally unahppy to have up there in lights anyway. We could then all lynch him/her with equanimity, secure in the knowledge that he or she she had put the noose around their own neck.

 

A couple of PS's:

 

Dan....

 

1. How do you know this is port? (looks more like Scotch to me).

 

2. The liquid in the glass is lighter because the bottle has a grerater circumference than the glass.

 

3. More importantly, where is THE REST OF the contents of the bottle? Have one for me, Brad! (for an example of the evils of drink see link below).

 

http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=147681

 

 

Maybe its just me... but I have a wee bit of a problem with the bottle being half empty and the glass being full. If the glass was maybe 1/3 full sitting next to the bottle... I might feel more at ease with the image.

 

I do however think the image need some darkness to sort of balance it out. As it is now, the image is very "tense" to me. Maybe the addition of a crystal ash tray with a lit cigar wafting smoke upwards would give it a bit more balance.

 

I do however like how the image was technically created. I dont think, in my humble opinion, that it could have been lit better. I think the photographer got exactly what they wanted on film.

I like the picture for its clarity. The decanter is a love it or hate it sort of thing, but is definitely intriguing. If I had it, I would probably want to incorporate it into a nice photo like this as well, though I doubt I could do as well as this. I found myself studying its design.

I also like the effect of light through the different thicknesses of liquid, giving a varying range of tones.

I agree with several points made previously. The blurring of the shoulders of the bottle are distracting and I kept looking at the frosting in the neck and comparing it to the shoulder's blurring. The rest of the picture is so sharp and crisp, this feature was confusing. Also, the full glass made me feel a little uncomfortable. A partially filled glass may have felt more realxed...why pour yourself a drink then leave it full on the table?

The drops and the ashtray suggestions may have added a little levity and comfort.

It is a very nice picture.

Wow! You guys are tough. I've been spending a bit of time at another board and I must say that at least 3 out of 5 of you would have been bounced from that board for "harshness". I don't agree with not being able to voice an opinion so I don't patron that site anymore.

 

I like this shot. That is my first impression. It is strictly based on feel. Does it have some technical shortcomings? Yes. But, I still like it. I'm always amazed at to what degree people are willing to analyze something. For instance, I never would have though to question the relationship of how much fluid exists in the decanter versus how much fluid exists in the glass. Does it make a difference? Not for me but maybe for the next guy.

 

I think this image has more going for it than not. I'd be interested in hearing the photographers spin on things.

 

Thanks to everyone who posted -- you guys sure keep it interesting.

 

Kurt

This is a tough subject, and I assume this was a self-assignment, perhaps to have a sample product shot of this type in the portfolio.

 

I really like the high-key lighting and the way black cards have been placed to either side of the setup to outline the glass. I'd like to see more use made of the reflection in the table, not cut off in the middle, but without putting the horizon in the middle of the frame, which would be a risk, perhaps avoidable by moving the setup back on the table.

 

I'm also not sure of the purpose of the white space on either side of the image. I think I might shift the whole thing to the left. In the sort of ad where this kind of image might be used, I see a column of text running down the right side.

 

Now where are all the subliminal images? The death's heads, satanic icons, orgies, hidden genitalia, naked bodies, and such? Oh, I guess someone in the art department is in charge of that.

What? You don't see the obviously phallic stopper pointed at the very feminine and might we add, pregnant, decanter?

 

(I can also see what looks like a very leggy cow in the shadow, but I think I should stop before someone takes me seriously!)

 

As to the photograph: this looks way too much like advertising to me. I could easily see it on the back of my alumni magazine telling me why all the successful grads are drinking whatever this is.

 

It doesn't move me at all the way many of the "Photos of the Week" normally do. It certainly doesn't make me want to go out and shoot some photos, which is what these pictures normally do for me.

 

This isn't to say that it isn't excellent work, just that it isn't "art". Now having said that, I am having trouble determining why (like many others) I really liked the glass that was dunked in liquid that was a previous Photo of the Week. It didn't look like advertising, but it, too, was staged.

 

I don't know -- I guess that it's what makes art "art".

 

I liked the starkness of this photo. It gives me the same feeling I get at the end of "2001." It has emotion, it just isn't warm and cuddly.

Me likes.

First I want to thank the elf's for picking my photo out of the hundreads of thousands on photo.net.

I was shocked! I enjoyed all of the comments some were insightfull and some well! Kurt said it best! I was still very much a beginer when I took this. Tony was right about it being more experimental. I wanted to shoot a elegant b&w shot of this decanter that has been in the faimaly for years. I might reshoot it latter and try some of the ideas that you'll have sugested. But I was and am pleased with what I achived the first time arround. Some of the problems you are seeing with the image as far as tonal quality is b/c of the low res jpg. Yes, the neck of the bottle was frosted. Yes, the bottle was bent like this alreay. And i'm sorry nobody got the liquor correct it is goodold Jack. Being an underage drinker in Texas that was the eaisest to get. This is one of my favorite shots. Yes, I think I have better photos but I still like this alot. Once again thanks for all the feedback and good luck to all of you with future pictures!

 

ps.

 

Checkout Tony Dummett photos. Australia looks to be a wonderfull and beautyfull place!

 

I am also willing to help any one that might have any questions about anything photography related as much as I can.

I'm no expert but i'm allways willing to help. Who knows I might learn something from you.

 

Sincerly,

 

Bradford Carr

I think this picture is amazingly quiet and imressive. like Kurt I think that image is great

but may be improved as said before. try is on color film.

The soft lighting is great, and so is the reflection - if only you could have avoided the 'horizon'.

 

This does seem to have too much white space.

 

While it is a little stark or unemotional, it is very catching. Technically it's close to top standards.

 

It could be something from an Image Bank catalogue - but in colour.

 

And you know, now that others have mentioned it, the glass is too full. Traditionally, one is never supposed to fill a liquor or wine glass close to the top. It is considered inelegant.