The Meal

[coupekid]

Out for the annual family Christmas meal last night, and as always, all the camera gear came with me

Took this, and thought it lent itself to a bit of 'treatment'

I would be very interested in everyones thoughts

[Ian]

Re: The Meal

That's a very attractive mono conversion, Ben

I must admit I'm now wondering what it would have looked like if the person in the background was in focus and the objects in the foreground were defocussed

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: The Meal

That's a very attractive mono conversion, Ben

I must admit I'm now wondering what it would have looked like if the person in the background was in focus and the objects in the foreground were defocussed

Ian

I'll tell you Ian, it wouldn't have been as good.
If the point of focus had been on the person, the defocussed bottle and candle holder would have spoilt it. This way the story is obvious, we know pretty much whats going on, it conveys the message. Its not about the person, its about the occasion IMO

I think its a good picture Ben and I think you have things just right.

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: The Meal

I like the atmosphere it creates, but would've moved the glasses out of the way that are cluttering the foreground! Less being more!

[John Perriment]

Re: The Meal

I like the atmosphere it creates, but would've moved the glasses out of the way that are cluttering the foreground! Less being more!

I like the glasses and the highlights they contain, it all helps describe the abience of the occasion.

Somehow, I feel, having the figure out of focus actually reinforces the relationship between him and the accessories of the meal that are sharp in the foreground. I don't know if he was posed or simply captured in an offguard moment but his positioning is just right, looking slightly to the side of the camera with the contented expression of contemplation that is so typical between courses or at the end of a pleasant meal.

The only improvements I can think of would be to have a gap between the subject's face and the picture on the wall in the background, and maybe to raise the camera position slightly to prevent the top of the bottle breaking the line of his shoulder, but that's being hyper critical.

This is a well executed study that demonstrates the wisdom of allways taking your camera.

regards,

John

[Stephen]

Re: The Meal

I like the glasses and the highlights they contain, it all helps describe the abience of the occasion.

Somehow, I feel, having the figure out of focus actually reinforces the relationship between him and the accessories of the meal that are sharp in the foreground. I don't know if he was posed or simply captured in an offguard moment but his positioning is just right, looking slightly to the side of the camera with the contented expression of contemplation that is so typical between courses or at the end of a pleasant meal.

[Snipped for brevity]

This is a well executed study that demonstrates the wisdom of allways taking your camera.

regards,

John

I'd very much agree with you John

[coupekid]

Re: The Meal

thanks so much for the positive feedback!

I did try the face in focus, but it just looked like a portrait with a candle stick in the way.

This is actually a quad tone conversion by the way.

I tried several different methods, and this one turned out the nicest.

I also tried to raise the camera as you sugested John, but then I lost some of the forground. I was using the 50mm 1.8 and there was not space to move further back (I would have fallen over the balcony! ) so I made the use of the restricted space I had.

Thanks again
Ben

[Andrew Thatcher]

Re: The Meal

Like this a lot great toning and the focus is spot on.

[Tom]

Re: The Meal

Great idea Ben. For me though the candlestick competes with the man. I think without the candlestick it would be a cracker. The bottle and glasses are well positioned.