Tuesday 14 February 2012

Focus On A New Subject

The latest lesson on Kat's class Find Your Eye Journey of Recognition was to find something new to photograph.

At first I wasn't sure what to do but then I remembered about a silver tea set which we inherited from Dan's mum and dad.  
I really love it and once I had cleaned it up (boy did it need some silver cleaner) it looked really good.  
Well what I mean to say is the teapot looked good - I'm not so sure about the pictures!!!



I have to say I enjoyed trying to find different ways to shoot it - but my main bugbear was trying to eliminate reflections.  I always knew I was going to get them but I was trying to find ways to lessen them. 
 After a while I decided the best thing to do would be to take advantage of them.  
So I tried to place the tea set in such a way as to get the best reflective pictures.
 But you will have to excuse the fact that I am in ALL of the pictures lol.




 I also tried to use the lovely ornate handles as I felt they added another dimension to the pictures.


I don't know if I managed to shoot 100 images but it can't have been much less than that - there were a lot of duff shots that I didn't like.  I did finally reach the stage where I didn't know what else to do with them and I did find it quite limiting which I don't usually find when taking pictures of something I know. 
I did enjoy doing this new subject but I definately need more practice and experience with it.






68 comments:

  1. What a lovely shaped silver teapot! The ornate handles really do have a lovely curve to them. I can understand why you would want to bring them into focus. I like the last shot with that curl on the top of the handle. Now Ellie, you could have worn your silver sequined top to blend in with the teapot! As it is, I feel like waving to you to see if you'll wave back!
    Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a lovely pot, Ellie! And you did a great job. If you cannot avoid something, embrace it! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like the photo where the two handles are intertwined to form a decorative shape! Great job experimenting!

    ReplyDelete
  4. You came up with some great shots! I especially like the second one with the handles and reflections, I am pulled into the center of that image as if magnetized. I think one important key you mentioned - instead of trying to fight the reflections, you decided to work with them. When something is inherent to your subject, like these reflections, eliminating is so much harder than accepting. Hmmm... I wonder if there's a life lesson there! Great job of pushing through your frustration and discomfort.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A good choice for the task you were set and some interesting results.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a beautiful little teapot Ellie!
    Love the point of focus in the last shot.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a beautiful set of silver Ellie! Photographing personal pieces like this can give one a new appreciation to owning and using them. I find after photographing something special, I appreciate it even more, because somehow I have seen more than just the teapot, or the cup. There is truly beauty in these pieces, their shine, their shape, and I love the golden inside the cups. Lovely! Enjoy the set, and a cup of tea. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice silver, and what elbow grease you gave it!
    I think you should be using them all the time.
    People save things, why not enjoy them.
    Should I come for tea?

    ReplyDelete
  9. i really love the detail you captured in the last image, great job! what a beautiful teapot!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Ellie,
    What a beautifully shaped teapot and with all your cleaning, it really glows! Refections can be tricky and fun. I really like your last capture! The simplicity of design is striking! I learned from photographing some dew drops, that my clothes added another element of color to consider ahead of time. Afterwards, that seemed obvious to me, but before..... :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the last photo best. Getting closer really centers the focus on the teapot! Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice items to catch through the lense! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think you did very well with this lesson. Hmmm. I'll have to consider trying this. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Beautiful silver service...

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think your shots turned out lovely! Especially the second with all the swirly handles! I know what you mean, I once photographed a teapot with flowers in it and to much my dismay there I was in the reflection! I think I used a cloning tool in Picnik to eliminate myself! Good work at stepping out of the box!

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's a beautiful piece! The last one is my favorite showing the curve of the handle.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It must be difficult taming a 100 pictures of one subject. I sure you are amazed of some of the results. Also thanks for your visit on my blog.

    Greetings,
    Filip

    ReplyDelete
  18. That is a beautiful silver teapot and I admire how you made your photo's, I am planning to go follow those lessons too , just have to see when.

    ReplyDelete
  19. That last shot is brilliant Ellie - oh that reminds me that I could do with cleaning a bit of mine.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've thought of taking that class, but haven't gotten around to it. Looks like good stuff!!! Your last photo is my favorite with the handle almost coming out of the photo.

    ReplyDelete
  21. What a lovely tea set! Your photographs captured the beauty of the pieces so very well! I think my favorite shot is the second one. I like how the handles come together and overlap. I also love the double reflections in the teapot behind the silver tea cups. Stunning work!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nice shots. There is a lot of things you can do even with familiar things. Did you see the reflections? They are quite nice. Different lighting can do wonder sometimes. As can a flower. Lots of opportunities for fun.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful shots, and I love reflection in the photos. I'm always trying to find different angles to shoot..

    ReplyDelete
  24. It is so difficult NOT to find yourself in a reflective photo! I like the handles on the teapot set.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I can see how the reflections would get in the way - but in the end I think you can play with this sort of thing and add it to the picture.

    My brother recently took a series of self portraits in shiney surfaces like tea pots and towel rails! I think he enjoyed himself!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

    ReplyDelete
  26. A lovely series of shots Ellie - there's nothing like shiny silver tea sets and candelabra I say! Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog. Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Hi Ellie; beautiful teaset! It has gained new life just by being the subject of your photography session, that's sweet. You could've aimed this post for meme, Weekend Reflections, all good!

    ReplyDelete
  28. The handles are quite a point of interest. Looks like a fun exercise.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Great subject! Thousands of shots have gone in my trash. The more you take, the more you learn what works. Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog. I'm following!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I think you did a great job. Some very interesting shots.
    Hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete
  31. great job! stunning, reflecting photos. you did capture them at nice angles. i really like all of them.

    they are truly remarkable!

    xo

    ReplyDelete
  32. Lovely. Have a great week. Greetings from Romania

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hello Ellie, Isn't photographing our favourite things just the most difficult thing to do? But I must say you have done a particularly good job here! Goodonya as they say! :)bye for now Jane

    ReplyDelete
  34. ♫♫♪¸.•°`
    Passei para uma visitinha.
    Gosto de fotos com reflexos, amei as fotos.
    A penúltima foto é maravilhosa.
    Bom domingo!
    Boa semana.
    Beijinhos.
    Brasil°º✿
    ¸¸.º°❤
    °º✿

    ReplyDelete
  35. You capture this tea set so well!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I love these photos!! especially the one through the handles of the cream and sugar (?) that are reflected in the tea pot! Very clever!

    ReplyDelete
  37. And I see you.

    So see you again.

    ReplyDelete
  38. I've always thought a gifted photographer can capture any item beautifully. I think you've done that!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I found your other blog through Green Day and now this one through a comment you left me. It really is a lovely tea set.

    ReplyDelete
  40. This is a wonderful teapot. So beautiful !

    ReplyDelete
  41. What interesting points of view! You are learning to see objects from other angles -- which we might not ordinarily focus on, and presenting them to your viewers. Fabulous job and great reflections!

    ReplyDelete
  42. What a challenge! I just might have to try photographing something that many different ways.

    ReplyDelete
  43. A wonderful collection captured!

    ReplyDelete
  44. This is wonderful! I love it! I'll be following along now! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  45. As fotos estão maravilhosas!
    Gostei da composição que você criou!
    abraços
    Zizi

    ReplyDelete
  46. You did a wonderful job with your subject!!! I am not a photographer but I do paint and have had classes that encouraged me to look at things with a fresh eye, to see beauty in objects you might overlook. You did a wonderful job with the reflections of the silver, utilizing a lot of different elements.

    ReplyDelete
  47. That is so lovely...I love that grand old silver. Keep'r polished. a bit of a job.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I like the handles, it is good to break out of our comfort zones isn't it? That second shot is really good, the shapes work well together :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. I must say the photos are all lovely! :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. Now that you have them all shined up, you might play with some reflections in them.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I think that pot is a perfect photo subject, with all those details! beautiful shots!

    ReplyDelete
  52. Nice choice of subject. You took great shots at different perspectives, too. I can see your reflection :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. I just polished my mom's tea service tray to use. A bit of polish sure does make a difference. I love your idea of using the reflective properties of the pieces to your advantage.

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love your tea service...I am a fan of silver tea sets, and I think you did a beautiful job of photographing a somewhat difficult subject. Thanks for stopping by today, so appreciated!!

    ReplyDelete
  55. I just found your site, and you are a great teacher of new photographic ideas. I did try that reflection once, only with the hub caps of a collector car, trying to get the owner's photo in the reflection. They were in a hurry, and didn't give me the time I needed to follow it through. I will again try the concept at the next car show we go to.

    ReplyDelete
  56. I struggle too with eliminating reflections in my photographs. Whenever possible I take my photos outside in the late, late afternoon before dusk. I find the light is softer.

    I think you did a fabulous job on photographing the tea kettle.

    Cheers.
    Velva

    ReplyDelete
  57. Great entry

    Happy New Year, full of joy, health and God’s Blessings!
    BShell

    ReplyDelete


  58. Thank you so much for picking my card as one your winners from the teddies challenge, it is such an honour.
    Thank you for all your hard work in making the challenge so successful, it's a shame that the challenge is ending but I can totally understand your reasons and wish you all the best.
    Sue xx obat penggugur kandungan

    ReplyDelete