About the same time I started doing my photo experiments (See posts here and here), Brenda started her series of photo Studies. While I was focusing on sharing my experience (struggles?) on following steps showed in tutorial videos, Brenda focuses more on the technical side (I hope I said it right.)
I found Brenda’s series very interesting. I tried to join her earlier, but I didn’t find enough free time to take satisfying photos for her study, so I didn’t post any. This week, Brenda’s photo study is about shape. I would encourage you to stop by to take a look at here.
Ted Forbes in his composition study (Brenda has a link to Ted’s video on her post) talks about the following techniques: Cropping, Scale, Fragmentation, focus, lighting, Metaphor, implied shape. The last two are difficult for me. I decided: for me, at this point, in this cold weather, “knowing” probably is good enough 😉
Since I haven’t gone out for a while, we don’t have too many things left in the house (Spring is coming soon, right?) Onion, banana, garlic – not my preferred choices, are my subjects.
Onions:
Cropping:
Scale:
Fragmentation:
Focus:
Lighting:
Metaphor and Implied (Not sure about these, but how about…)
Thank you, Brenda, for a wonderful post. I also like to take this opportunity to say that I haven’t commented on many posts that I would like to comment, and I am sorry (I did read them). It seems like I can only accomplish a couple of things a day. For example, it took me 4 days to complete this post: should I make a trip to the grocery; if not, what could I use; how could I use them? Would photos be interested enough; how about lighting… A lot of thinking time 😉 (What had happened to me? I used to be a happy clicker…)
Thank you for visiting my blog.
HHC Blog 
These are all terrific! Well done. 😊
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Thank you, Tony (hope I get your name right 😉
I have to admit that they turned out much better than I thought. I wasn’t too thrilled when I realized that onions and garlic were my best choices. Ha.
Have a great day.
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Hahaha! Well, they may not smell the best, but they made for terrific subjects.
And yes, you got the name right. But, I’ve often wondered, how do people find my name? You’re not the first who’s done that. Doesn’t freak me out, but just curious. 🤔
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Have you heard of “big brother”?
Seriously, you introduced yourself in one of the comments under your “about” page. That’s one way… 😉 Have a good day.
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Hahaha! Well, leave it to me to forget something. 😏
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Wow! Thank you for showing me the beauty within onions. The egg image creates an interesting combination of shapes. These images are amazing. Did you use natural light? Using the banana for the metaphor…beautiful abstract. And…a bit of humor using the onion as a hat. I need a smile this a.m. For me metaphor and implied is a bit of a challenge.
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Thank you, Brenda. Better late than never, I thought to myself 😉 Garlic, both photos under lighting, and the last photo were taken with natural light.
I was going to go to a grocery store and I even had a shopping list ready, but didn’t feel like to go out. I wasn’t too happy when I found out what we have around the house; I am a little surprised with the result 😉 Good surprise, that is.
Metaphor and implied is a challenge for me, too. I kept thinking of Ted’s examples, and I went back to look at your example a couple of times… I think I got it (I understand and remember what it is) finally.
Thanks again for your inspiration. Have a wonderful day.
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First I saw garlic, then they transformed…🤗
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You know… I went back to stare at that photo… just realize that my subconsciousness only saw shapes when I took the photo. Now I see garlic 😉
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the psychology within photography…is amazing
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Indeed.
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You are amazing Helen.
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Thank you, Rupali. I still remember when I first started photographing, every time my husband mentioned ‘ISO’, ‘Shutter Speed’, “Aperture’, I fell asleep. (True story. 😉 I believe there is this “right time” to learn, and I am glad my time has arrived. Learning is fun. 😉
Have a great day.
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well I enjoyed the house items – a lot!
I used to follow a painter blogger who made money on her onion paintings – more than any other subject. She said she just started painting them one day and where she sets up – people like them and say “Never really see onions!”
and the four days you put into this post shows-
it has a cohesive vibe and was nice.
lastly – in my opinion, taking breaks from commenting can be a positive thing – again – only my take – but some bloggers like when someone is not there every post and every day – I think it can be socially smooth to miss visits and come back at certain times – ya know?
with that said – keep doing what you are doing – cos we really only have so much time and you seem to know when to use it for a post or use it to visit – or use it to chime in….
🙂
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Good morning, Yvette. Thanks for your thoughtful comment. Now I am curious how your friend’s onion painting looks like 😉
I felt a little bad. We heard “Don’t judge people by how they look”, and here I am, I honestly didn’t believe that an onion is a good subject to photograph. 😉 Another lesson learned…
I wonder if it is common… when I focus on doing something, I can only see one thing, think of one thing and do one thing. Commenting can be a challenge when I am working on a project. 😉
We never talk about this… when a post already had generated many comments, and I couldn’t add anything new, I found myself hesitating to comment, because this wonderful blogger had already taken so much time to reply the comments she had received. You know what I mean?
Thanks, Yvette. You always know how to make a person feel good 😉
Have a great day.
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well I think you know I am still ever growing in my blogging mode – and so we can learn together –
and regarding this:
” when a post already had generated many comments, and I couldn’t add anything new, I found myself hesitating to comment, because this wonderful blogger had already taken so much time to reply the comments she had received. You know what I mean?”
— I think I know what you mean –
and a few thoughts with it
1)I think this is why many folks never log in to comment – they are observers and they join in our posts by being readers.
and we must not forgot their value – and why they do not comment is not key, it is the fact that so many just don;t and will not – ya know
2) regarding “everything already being said in the other comments” — well this never really impacts me because I usually do not read all the comments- ((don’t have time))I am there to add my own comment and usually focus on that – and so that keeps me on task (and I only share if I want to share – does that make sense)
however, when I have time to read the many comments a post might have – like on some posts they can build – it is usually at treat when I do – like you know when I have joined in with Raj here – or just other times when I click like or expound on a point – it is super fun and can make things come to life.
but if you ever feel that your comment would be redundant – then don’t leave it – that is going with your gut!
and side note- my pet peeve is when someone bitches or gripes that someone has left a too simple of a comment.
Like “nice photo” or “enjoyed this post.”
For them to get all mad that the quality of a comment is subpar is missing out on the beauty of someone leaving a comment.
to minimize a simple comment is to miss out on someone’s genuine reaching out.
Now of course there are those who leave crap comments and a link to try and promo their blog – but that is another story.
—
2=3( I also noted that some bloggers used to leave a comment on an older post – almost as a way to stay out of the current blog commenting – and so I think you are on to something here – some people do feel “different” or “off” by leaving a comment if there are a plethora of comments.
hhmmmm
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Read this a couple of times…I think time is a big factor. We just don’t have enough time to do everything we would like to do.
Thanks again. Have a great day.
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oh yes- I fully agree – and then also – how much time would really be wise to spend in blogland even if we had “all the time in the world” – ha
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Helen, nicely composed, enjoyed each one.
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Thanks, Sally. I do think more about composition nowadays. It takes a while. Ha.
Have a great day.
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Amazing how far you have come and continue to go with your photography.
These are wonderful.
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Thank you, Dawn. It’s interesting how I studied so hard, but just couldn’t understand a lot about photographing, and then one day I woke up, I suddenly knew more than before. I guess the most important thing is I didn’t give up. (Almost did 😉
Have a wonderful evening.
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You too Helen!
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I think you cheated a tad to get that egg to stand up but I won’t say anything to anyone. great shots!
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LOL. I tell you another secret… I got that idea after watching a video on how to balance rocks. 😉
have a great day.
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Helen–these are beautiful. I was going to participate in this with Brenda, too, but you and she are so far more advanced than what I would post. And I agree with Dawn M. Miller (above)–you are continuing to go with your photography, Helen. That floating garlic–amazing!
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Thank you, Lois.
You are so far ahead in adding humors to photos. I enjoy every one of your posts! I would love to see you participating; you will bring a different point of view, which will broaden my horizons (Have you thought of that?)
Have a great evening.
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That is always where I go–for the fun. I need to buckle down. You and Brenda post these amazing images…I will work on it, Helen.
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It’s hard to pick which one is the best. I must admit onions with dark background made it jump out, the garlic havoring in thin air and finally, the monkey with the hat. Struggle is part of the experience, Helen. Most enjoyable shots, Perpetua
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Thank you, Perpetua. It was a fun experiment. I guess anything can be beautiful if you look at it in the right way. Hmm… I have to think about that… ha.
Have a wonderful evening.
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Wonderful close ups of everyday ingredients in the kitchen. You do bring out the texture and detail in each one. Really love the last shot with the monkey. The onion skin looks like such a great hat for it 😀 It looks like the monkey is a part of something, like a cup or some kind of holder. I think four days to write a blog post is quick. I usually take 2-3 weeks to do one blog post, including photos and usually it takes at least a couple of days for me to decide on and edit the photos.
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Thank you, Mabel. We have several monkeys (not me) in the family according to Chinese zodiac, so monkey is special for me. It is a holder; I put brushes in it.
Brenda does her study once a week. Four days out of a week is a lot, just in time to be ready for the next study 😉 Your writing is different. You cover a lot in your content, not to mention great photos. I was in awe of you every time I read your blog post. I even wonder if I have attention deficit disorder because no way I could spend that much time researching a subject 😉 Come to think of it, maybe when I was young? Nah.
You are special! Have a great day.
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So lovely to hear that the monkey is a holder in your home. It must liven up the place 🙂 Thank you so much for your kind words, Helen. I think four days, you spend on the post and then move on with the rest of your life and do other things. Maybe you are just efficient 🙂
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Wonderful Helen but the garlic is stunning!!!
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Thank you, Paolo. I do look at onions and garlic more affectionately now. Ha.
Have a great day.
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I had a big smile on my face while seeing the monkey! Extremely clever~
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Thank you, 欣蓉. 窮則變, 變則通 😉
Have a great day.
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Thanks for having a great blog to visit! Onions, eggs and garlic have never looked so good 🙂
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Thanks, Julie. I can picture all the nice looking things in your farm. And you did show us many 😉
Have a great day.
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These are very well done!
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Thank you, Hein. Easier than shooting birds 😉
Have a great day.
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Great work, Helen. I think you find excellent solution to the tasks. Even to the most challenging parts. Those images are beautiful.
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Thank you, Otto. Your comment means a lot to me.
I find out that using my brain is as important, if not more, than using my eyes in photographing 😉
Have a great day.
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Well done, Helen. I think this is beyond beautiful! I got my notebook out immediately and made some notes when I started reading your post. Thank you for this inspiring post and the links.
Best regards,
Dina
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Oh, Dina, you are one of my favorite photographers! I can still see your photos from a year or two ago in my head! Thank you for your nice comment. It makes my day!
Have a great day.
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Thank you so much for this wonderful compliment, Helen! Now you have made my evening!! 🙂 ❤
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Beautifully done, and so very creative. I love how you capture the onions, really cool!
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