The Simplest Meal

[Didache]

HI all

Further to my experiments with duotoning and layering, this is one called The Simplest Meal (I am aiming at a club competition on the theme of "Simplicity").

As always, any comments will be very welcome. The folks who were kind enough to look at my flower layers will note that there is no writing on this one!

Cheers
Mike

[kevinjmay]

Way too much texture for my tastes, this doesn't seem like a simplistic photograph at all. And there isn't enough contrast from the background and where the food is sitting. Just looks like the objects are stuck to a wall.

I'd go with a lighter background, and make sure you put a little bit of shadow and/or reflection coming from the objects.

[Didache]

I never said the image was to be simplistic! Just that the theme is 'Simplicity'. Anyway - here is a more staurated version (which I personally prefer).

Cheers
Mike

[draymorton]

I might prefer the saturation level to be somewhere in between. But given the choice between the above, if pressed, I'd have to go with #2.

Good luck with the competition!

[Overbeyond]

I think the first one is excellent. The extra saturation has side effects; eg clarity lost in the flowers and elsewhere.

[opus]

The one with extra saturation definitely gives the illusion that your subject is bigger. Unless your crop is different, I couldn't tell.

I agree that if you asked me what the theme was, "simplicity" would not come to mind. You've got bread and wine and cheese and two peppers and an apple ... for some, a feast! Plus flowers and a plate. Ten items in all. The "white space" (for lack of the correct term) is filled with nooks and crannies all around the objects ... not simple at all, in fact, quite complex. The texture of the image is also complex.

Don't get me wrong, it's a BEAUTIFUL picture and I would actually like it on my wall. I'm just thinking it's not going to fit the theme "simplicity" well enough to win. To do that, I would remove the apple, peppers and flowers, and maybe the bread. Make the lines of the image flow more smoothly, remove number of elements. You might even be able to keep the texture. I'd also change the plate to something with only two colors or less, like the wine label. Keep the number of colors simple so that the patterns don't get complex.

JMO.

[jetrim]

Hmmm simplicity huh? If that's the goal, I'd risk the implication of going "all biblical" and settle on the wine the apple and the bread. Keep the texture, but lose the accessories.

Now with that said, if you didn't have a specific target audience and theme in mind, I absolutely love the shot as is. The only improvement I would consider is along the lines of what kevinjmay mentioned, and I'd probably introduce a darkened area to denote the table being pushed up to the wall (whether there's really a table or not)

[Frog]

I can't comment on the duo tone or layering but I really like the first one.
I think less saturation fits this subject better.

[Didache]

Thanks all for the input. In the end I have gone for the less saturated version.

I appeciate what you're saying about the relative "simplicity" but it is still just wine, cheese, bread and an apple. Initially I didn't have an apple, but thought it needed a splash of colout. Also, I was kind of forced to put the flowers in because I couldn't make the composition work without them - the size of the bottle unbalanced everything.

Still, it prints up lovely

Cheers
Mike

[Don Schaeffer]

Very poster like. It could use some words. Want some?

[Didache]

Don - not a bad idea! That top right has plenty of space and I can print up to A3+ (13 x 19 inches). It would be nice to do something with it beyond maybe putting it on Viefinder as a joint effort!

Cheers
Mike

[PRB]

For simplicity, I think the less saturated version works best. Both versions are lovely pictures and, I can see this shot making a great wine advertisement.

My Best to You,
Penny

[gahspidy]

Mike, I like the layout and prefer the less saturated version. I think i have issue what looks like the texture that has been used to create the bg is also layering over the subjects sort of flattening everything.
If possible, reduce or erase the texture being applied to the bg from the subjects and see how that works.
Best to you.

[GB1]

Mike -

Hmm. I don't know what to say on this one. I think it fills a very nice slot of the type of art you see in formal settings, sort of retro to another era, Victorian maybe. I prefer the less-saturated version. I think it's as good as anything else I've seen in that style, perhaps better (!!!!). Very well done.

But, something's bothering me the composition. The horizontal centering seems natural and ideal, but the vertical centering doesn't; it sort of makes it seem like a man made creation with that. I would probably leave a little more space above the bottle than below it, to show off its height. Something like that.

Anyway - great creation. Post some more.

G

[shootme]

Mike, thats really good, you are really mastering post processing. Great shot. S

[Alison]

I am not so sure it shows simplicity to me either.
However, I LOVE the image! I love the textures, and that you have made it look like parchment paper that has had an accident with some liquid.
As always, beautiful work Mike.

[Didache]

Thanks guys - I am glad you appreciate it, even with some of the reservations. In the end I have gone for the less saturated version and printed it up at 13" on the long side and mounted it for club use. I have to admit that it prints up really well.

Gary - I did consider that, but on the large print it seems to work itself out, giving a subtle painterly effect, but no more.

Cheers
Mike