Well, I completely missed last week's Zoom In/Zoom Out. My excuses run the gamut of a rough work week (Board of Director's Meeting, two presentations, Staff Meeting) and pulled muscles in my back on Friday morning that literally had me flat on my back in bed for the entire weekend. Turns out that a combination of Aleve and Flexeril really does make me sleepy! Today is the first day I've been able to stand up straight and walk without pain, so I'm feeling really good about that! It also means that I was absent from blogs for a bit, but managed to catch up over the past few days. You all are a very prolific blogging bunch!
Anyway, I've captioned this as #9 although I totally missed #8, just so I can stay with the group. I actually set these photos up to do the Week 4 Frugal Still Life assignment of creating a still life in the style of the Old Masters painters. I took 29 shots trying to get this just right!
This is my set up. It only took me two shots to realize that I hated the paintbrushes in the vase and I wasn't loving the pillow as a backdrop.
So I pulled the window curtain from behind the bench (still attached to the rod) and arranged that as a backdrop. I love the turquoise and copper in this little vase that I picked up in
Sedona while visiting with Deb. And I love the embossed detail on this antique legal book (printed in 1860!) that my Mom gave me when I passed the bar exam back in 1987... does that date me???
It then occurred to me to add in a piece of ribbon as the "complementary color" for our Frugal Still Life week five assignment. But I wasn't loving the white base of the photos.
So I pulled up more of the curtain and arranged it over the foam board as both a base and a backdrop. Ahh, now we are starting to get somewhere!
But the little peach ribbon wasn't enough to really qualify in the complementary color category and the green sea glass was distracting. So I took that away and added some orange buttons and a prima flower.
After changing my perspective one more time, I finally had a photo that I felt fit the assignment. But I wasn't sure it really looked like anything the Old Masters would have painted.
So I added some textures. Kim Klassen old world on overlay at 50% helped to darken the image, really play up the shadows in the folds of curtain and add more gold tone. Kim Klassen extreme grunge on soft light at 50% helped to frame out the edges. So those of you versed in art history... did I succeed in creating something worthy of the Old Masters? And if so, which one? I'd love to find an image or two of which I could say this was in any way reminiscent.
I am linking up with Helena's Zoom In Zoom Out meme. Click on the link to see what other people are photographing today!
11 comments:
I like the final set of photos - pulling the curtain over to surround the books/vase with the colours/pattern works so nicely.
I like all the components of your photos. The background makes the shots quite interesting. Love the vase.
You did a great job with your still life. That vase is so pretty and I love the curtain backdrop too.
What a great post! I really enjoyed seeing how your still life developed. Love the final version!
I love the final version too. I really liked seeing your thought process with the pictures. The little vase is so pretty.
enjoyed seeing your 'train of thought' through the process - the orange pieces really do add a pop
I love what you have ended up with here - the colours and pattern and overall feel really appeal to me.
I hope you are feeling a lot better soon.
Love the series of pictures leading up to the final one! Very nice.
A stunning arrangement! That curtain is simply gorgeous and goes so well with the vase and books.
Oh Cheri, I love your final image. Of course, I lean towards the darker images but love the way the texture pulled those shadows in! I think you've done a wonderful job!! I worked on an image similar to this in that my background began as yours, only coming halfway into the image and then when I pulled it down and made it the entire backdrop, I like it MUCH better! Love your shots leading up to this final gorgeous image!
visiting from Frugal Still Life Photography - http://cherylmccainphotography.com
I'm way late visiting your ZIZO and frugal still life. You did a great job, especially putting the curtains underneath your items. I actually like the set up with the sea glass best myself, although your final shot is stunning!
Rinda
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