Vase, leaf, bowl 7

One of many 35mm b&w studies of same subject from around 10 years ago.

After half a dozen or so prints of this negative, I'm still not sure

whether miniature format was suited to this type of study. Anonymous

critiques welcomed and encouraged (testing recent changes to critique

system, so please feel free to use the anonymous comment option if you

like).

I don't see some shortcoming on this photograph! The transparent leaf opposes the stiffness of the other two objects or vice verse! Nice soft tones, no much noise as for a scan from film or film photo...that would be all! Cheers Lex!

PDE

Thanks, Pierre.  I'm probably hypercritical of my own work because I tend to see what I perceive as flaws.

Using a 35mm SLR and macro lens, it was difficult to get everything in focus without also risking diffraction which became visible in the fine veins of the dessicated leaf.  It looks okay in this JPEG but in the prints of various exposures from this session the photos are either soft overall from diffraction with the lens stopped down for maximum DOF, or out of focus at the extremities from using a moderate aperture of around f/8.

For some reason I can't explain, I tend to associate "miniature format" (35mm film or smaller, including digital cameras) with candid photography and handheld use; and still life studies with medium or large format.  Even with slow ISO 100 film it was difficult to avoid some perceptible grain in 11x14 prints from these negatives.

I'm satisfied with the aesthetics otherwise and used this same group of objects many times in still life watercolor and oils paintings.  It was a good challenge for experimenting with lighting techniques using simple equipment - household lamps, makeshift reflectors, etc.  I still have the same vase and bowl, but need to find another dessicated leaf to try this study again.

I like the leaf and glass vase. I think I would have left out the clay pot. to heavy on one side. 

Very good point.  If I'm recalling I did take some photos without the clay pot using this same white vase but with some daffodils over the course of a month as the flower dried up.  But I think it was against a black background.  It would be an interesting challenge to reshoot this white vase against a white background with a similar leaf - I might try again this autumn as a nearby tree tends to shed some similarly dessicated leaves.

I can't understand combination: vase, "decaying" leaf and bowl - in "Still Life/Studio"... I think, that "decomposed" leaf move that photowork to "Abstract", but it is just my opinion... All the best, Valentyn

Thanks, Valentyn, you make a good point.  It's not always easy to choose a single more appropriate category when submitting photos for critiques or ratings.  I couldn't decide whether to categorize this under the still life or fine art categories.  Abstract might have been more appropriate for some of my other photos in this series, but in this particular photo the elements seem readily recognizable so I wasn't sure whether abstract would be the best choice.

I like it, even the clay pot, because the hardness counters the delicate leaf, and if you look at the pot it has fissures too while the white one has sloping lines. Its artful in its contrasts.

Lex: I detail in the leaf is excellent.  The softness of the leaf vs. the pot makes for a very interesting composition.  Tom

gorgeous lucidity

A beautiful result with very nice lighting and details, Lex!

Very artistic and elegant detail...!

Thanks for the feedback.  It motivated me to dig out the prints from this session and consider framing a few.  They've just been sitting in a storage box for years.  Maybe it'll motivate me to reprint a few, if I can remember where I put the negatives.  ;>

Well done.