“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.” ― Eudora Welty
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Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
Nikon D700| AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D@ f8| 1/200s| ISO 320| Manual Priority| Matrix Metering| Hand-held
Strobist- SB910 at 1/2pwr camera right bounced off ceiling-triggered via Commander Mode in camera
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Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
I’ve been working on the wine bottle shot some more. I changed the wine bottle to one that has wine all the way up to the cork wrap. Oddly enough this bottle doesn’t have a cork though. I was still getting a pretty hard "hot spot" and reflection using the shoot through umbrella, so after days, and many, many frames with only slight improvement I decided to sleep on it. Last night I took the umbrella off and moved my light closer to the white wall to the right of subject and bounced the light to see how that worked. It worked out much better.
I still had a "hot spot" but it was much softer and smaller. I softened it more in post development using the healing brush, and burn tool.
I see I need to invest in a Strip Box. I like this type of photography so it would definitely get used. I’m looking at the Wescot Rapid Box Kit. Does anyone have that kit? If so how do you like it? I would like to have some feedback on strip boxes please.
A note about the wine- We were in a wine club a while ago-one where you received a Red and White each month; this bottle is from the club. I’ve had it in storage. The description reads-
2 Copas 2011 LA MANCHA Denominacion de Origen.
Aromas and flavors of red cherries, raspberry, spices and notes of dark chocolate. 2 Copas is Spanish for 2 wine glasses, which is all you need to enjoy this aromatic and smooth wine. Enjoy 2 copas with a friend, your better half, or a neighbour or even with your mother-in law, but never drink alone, all you need is 2 copas!
I’ll save it for a few more years then share it. 🙂
D700| AF Nikkor 85mm f1.4D @ f5.6| 1/200s| ISO 320| Manual Priority| Matrix Metering| Tripod
Strobist- SB910 camera right high ! 1/4 pwr bounced off white wall, SB 600 camera right front low near subject @ 1/128 pwr background light, flag right of subject to deflect light spill on the label, and white reflector subject left,
Triggered via Commander Mode in Camera
Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
As you may have noticed I’m working on improving my Product, Still-life, and Artificial Lighting photography skills. Developing this skill set has been quite the challenge.
Working with lights is a whole new animal to work with. You have to learn how create light. For me Landscapes are so much easier.
First there’s the composition to make…yes make! In nature I find them ready-made. It’s not always easy to set up more than one object so it is pleasing to the eye. All the rules of composition I learned in art classes are coming in handy when shooting still-life and product images. FYI- I didn’t do well in any art class I ever took but, the rules are proving themselves very valuable indeed with still-life photography! Then one must create the light that one sees in the mind’s eye. Let me tell you…it’s is easier seen in the mind than it is to create!
It took me months to get this composition just right:
I’m sure you’re thinking….what? Months? You’re kidding? Yes months! It just isn’t something that comes to me naturally. I wish it did.
I’ve continued to push myself and create still-life images, and to use my Speedlight, and continuous lights.
One of my recent images was a watch though not magazine worthy I’m happy with it:
My latest self-imposed challenge has been to photograph a wine bottle.
This has proved very hard to photograph. There are several problems to fix.
Here’s my first image of a wine bottle:
Problems with this image I need to fix: the hot spot which showed the light source: a Speedlight (SB910) with shoot through umbrella, (I cloned that out in this image), on the right side of the label there is light spill, the wine isn’t filled all the way up to the cork wrap, and it’s too close to the edge of the frame.
Those of you who are more knowledgeable with product photography may find other issues, but these are the issues that scream at me.
So, today I set up and re-took the shot. I moved my Speedlight with Shoot-Through Umbrella further away from the subject, then placed a black flag near the bottle to block the light from spilling onto the label, and I moved the bottle back an inch or two. Here’s that image:
I still have a hot spot, the flag worked pretty well as did moving the bottle back an inch or two. It’s not the image I hoped to create so I’ll keep working it. Perhaps, the third time will be the charm and I nail it. I am getting closer and that is progress!
Settings Nikon D700| AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.4@ f8| 1/160sec|ISO 320| Manual Priority| Matrix Metering| Hand-held
Strobist- SB910 @ 1/2 power camera right through a shoot through umbrella, white foam core reflector subject left, and black flag subject right.
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Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
There was a little too much fog and not enough sun on this morning to make the image I had imagined, but it was still a pretty morning, and it wasn’t windy!
Nikon D700| AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm @ 32mm| 13 seconds| ISO 200| Manual Priority| Matrix Met| Tripod
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Copyright © 2014 Deborah M Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
I spent the day catching up on laundry and housework today, and in between worked on this still life. My Flowering Plum is almost spent. The pedals are falling off like crazy and the bees are gone. The buds are tender and I hope a March frost doesn’t kill the new leaves.
The little hat and purse in the background are from American Girl. They belong to my Samantha doll. Yes, I’ve never quite outgrown dolls. 🙂
Nikon D700| AF Nikkor 85mm f1.4@ f4| 1/160s| ISO 400| Manual Priority| Matrix Met| Hand-held
Kim Klassen Texture-Teatime| OnOne Corner Border Texture| Tony Kuyper Ortonized
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Copyryght © 2012 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.
A little one from my archives.
Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm @185mm| 1/400s| ISO 500| Manual Priority| Matrix Met| Handheld
P 8/52 Sunrise at Mesa Arch, originally uploaded by CircadianReflections Photography.
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Copyright © 2014 Deborah M. Zajac All Rights Reserved.
I had a blast hanging out with friends Alex, Theresa, and Dali in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks this past week-end.
The first two days were cloudy which put a cramp in our night imaging plans, but we made up for it with hiking and making images in the early morning hours and evening. We discovered new locations to shoot, and a new restaurant we like in Moab. Alex and Theresa loved the Peanut Butter Chocolate pie. I opted for wine instead so don’t know what it tastes like, but they swear it’s fantastic.
On Monday, Feb. 17th, the day we were heading home from Utah the weather was predicted to be in our favor so we rose at 4AM and left the hotel just after 5AM to get out to the Arch. The Meteorologist were right! The weather cooperated so we were able to get a wonderful shot of the sun rising in Mesa Arch.
We were the first group to arrive at the arch at 6AM, but we were followed shortly after by a group of 4 others, and from there on people kept arriving. All in all I think there were close to 30 of us by the time we left.
We drove to and from Utah taking turns driving. It took us 18 hours to get there, and 16 hours to get home. I’d do it again. 🙂
I had a great time, and am so grateful to have been able to make this trip. I’ve missed hanging out with my friends, but I am happy to be home with my Darling He-Man, and family. (feeling very blessed tonight lemmetellya!)
Nikon D700| AF Nikkor 16mm f2.8 Fisheye @ f16| 1/30s| ISO 200| Manual Priority| Matrix Met| Tripod
Circadianreflections Blog 
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