Kitchen Still Life

[John R Smith]

I do enjoy making pictures of "found objects" around the cottage. Part of the fun is setting up all the complicated bits and pieces for a tripod shot with the 500 C/M and 120mm S-Planar - the magnifying hood, the bellows Pro lenshade, my nice Nikon cable release, and so forth. I use available light only, so I often have to wait for just the right time of day and weather conditions too. This lens is my second 120mm, and interestingly although both should be identical I think the latest one is slightly more contrasty and a tad sharper.

John

[wolfnowl]

Classic...

Mike.

[popnfresh]

This could be a product shot for the Berio Olive Oil Company. Well done.

[RSL]

Very nice, John.

[Riaan van Wyk]

John, your photo looks "polished" as usual. Lovely Sir.

[John R Smith]

Hmmm

Maybe you are right and I should send a pic to the olive oil ad department 

Many thanks for your comments and replies, as always. Now then, the little thing which interested me was whether any of you would pick up on this - my ex-wife said that the subjects of the picture seem to her like a group of people, and it disturbs her that the jug appears to be facing out of the frame.

I must admit it never crossed my mind until she mentioned it.

John

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

... I must admit it never crossed my mind until she mentioned it...

That's it then... the husband is always the last to know

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Now then, the little thing which interested me was whether any of you would pick up on this - my ex-wife said that the subjects of the picture seem to her like a group of people, and it disturbs her that the jug appears to be facing out of the frame.

I take it to be common courtesy on the part of the jug; it doesn't want to be seen staring at something so blatantly labeled "Extra Virgin."   

I like it. I think it would also work with the jug facing the other way.

Eric

[John R Smith]

That's it then... the husband is always the last to know

I take it to be common courtesy on the part of the jug; it doesn't want to be seen staring at something so blatantly labeled "Extra Virgin."   

One thing you can always rely on around here is high grade humour 

Thanks chaps . . .

John

[WalterEG]

John,

It is photography, pure and simple.  As it should be in my book.  There's far too little of it around these days.

The relationship between the objects is true and shows the power of the photograph to set up a narrative, even where there might not be one.

No surprise that there may be a difference in the 120mm 'Blad lenses.  Were they the same style?  CF or C?  T* or single coated?

There are bound to be variations in such a broad sample manufactured over such a long period of time and production tolerances being what they are.

Cheers,

W

[Rob C]

That's it then... the husband is always the last to know

What, even in the case of 'extra virginity'?

Rob C

[John R Smith]

No surprise that there may be a difference in the 120mm 'Blad lenses.  Were they the same style?  CF or C?  T* or single coated? There are bound to be variations in such a broad sample manufactured over such a long period of time and production tolerances being what they are.

Walter, many thanks for your input, I'm pleased that you liked the picture. The two 120mm lenses are both silver-finish 'C' f5.6 S-Planars, about two years apart in manufacturing date. As you say, it's no real surprise that there are differences. This "new" one (1969!) has just been serviced by Hasselbald UK at Elstree, and they have done a smashing job. The shutter now runs sweetly and the focus ring is like butter.

John

[ivan muller]

Super image, I like everything about it!

[Chairman Bill]

That 'extra virgin' oil appears to have been dipped into (a less than full bottle). Has it thus lost its virginity?

[WalterEG]

John,

I also have an old Makro Planar 120mm 1:5.6 but it is a black T* model.

Strangely, no body at the moment but thinking about one.

It could be good to make a good examination of the differences in the lenses and then use one or the other according to the style of shot you wish to make.  I used to do something similar with film types, using different emulsions for different complexions and skin colours.

Never an end to the permutation of our beloved craft.

Cheers,

[John R Smith]

I also have an old Makro Planar 120mm 1:5.6 but it is a black T* model.

Walter, the T* version should enable you to shoot a little tighter into the light (contre-jour) without getting flare. Which is always a good thing. I've always enjoyed still-life and garden pictures, but still-life around the cottage was a real help last year after major surgery, when I was more or less house-bound for a while. It got me going again on something creative.

John

[Ray]

I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to be the bad boy here. I don't usually comment on photos that I don''t find interesting. I don't like to 'slam' a photo, or discouragte the photographer from pursuing his interest, craft or profession, but I feel strongly in this case that I have to say that this image from John Smith is totally banal and uninteresting.

Perhaps this view is a result of my leading an interesting life. Perhaps I'm unsympathetic to  those who lead a boring life.

I can't help feeling that anyone who thinks this image of an Olive Oil bottle on a kitchen top is interesting, must be leading a terribly boring life.

Sorry if I've upset anyone, but this is my frank opinion.

[Rob C]

Ray, now you understand my white tree.

Rob C

[Ray]

Ray, now you understand my white tree.

Rob C

Not at all. C'mon Rob. A fuzzy monkey amidst fuzzy trees. What's interesting about that?
Okay! There's a certain interest in imagining shapes in the clouds. Maybe there's a face there. Maybe there's a monkey in the fuzzy trees. Crikey! There are far more interesting subjects.

[John R Smith]

. . .  but I feel strongly in this case that I have to say that this image from John Smith is totally banal and uninteresting.

Perhaps this view is a result of my leading an interesting life. Perhaps I'm unsympathetic to  those who lead a boring life.

I can't help feeling that anyone who thinks this image of an Olive Oil bottle on a kitchen top is interesting, must be leading a terribly boring life.

Sorry if I've upset anyone, but this is my frank opinion.

Ray, that's absolutely fine. After all, this is supposed to be a critique forum, where all shades of opinion should have their voice. My brother didn't like the picture either - his comment was "oh, a test shot, is it?" It's also a jolly good thing that you lead an interesting life  

PS The photograph is not actually about the subjects, banal as they might be - it is about light, which is never banal  or uninteresting.

John