Project 52 #12 One light portrait

So for this assignment we were meant to take a portrait of an artist holding something related to their art in their hand. We were to use one light to create a portrait with one side of the face lit, and the other in shadow. The light could be a flash or even the sun. I don't actually know any artists so my daughter agreed, grudgingly, to pose as a jewellery artist!

This photo fits the brief and is lit by the afternoon sun through the window.

It is not the most flattering photo though.

In the next photo I was standing in front of the window, and used flash bounced from the ceiling. I had the diffuser on the flash, as well as the white flag to direct some light towards Emily. It doesn't fit the brief of light and shade on the face, but it is a much more flattering photo.

Project #52/11 macro shot

Assignment 11 was to do a macro shot of an electronics item. Here are my two shortlisted shots:

A-Z 2011- #G is for grater

I didn't really get around to photographing much for the letter 'g', so at the last minute I got out my macro lens and my cheese grater. Here are the results:

Project 52 #10 String Quartet

Assignment 10 of Project 52 was to make a photograph for a CD cover and inside spread, for a string quartet playing Ravel. My major problem with this assignment was not having access to a string quartet, so  requiring me to think outside of the box somewhat. The first thing I did was listen to the piece of music which was somewhat sombre and melancholy. I then had to find a way to represent the mood and the idea of a string quartet. This is what I came up with:
The cover:

The inside

This was taken on my kitchen table. I just pulled the curtain across the table for the backdrop, and lit the candles with a couple of table lamps.
I was quite happy with the results.

2011 A-Z Challenge #F

F is for flowers:

Project #52 recipe ingredients

Another topic for the Project #52 course was to set up and shoot the ingredients for a salad- a shot that could be used in a cookbook. I really enjoyed this assignment. I'm loving the tabletop work. I think I enjoy the arrangements-the making of the still life, as much as the photography.

Here is  my short list:

These were taken in my lounge room. In the last one the sun was coming through the window, and I really like the effect. It was difficult to get the exposure right in these shots-exposing for the white background would have meant the cheese and the onions were overexposed-well they are slightly anyway, but if I had exposed for them, then the white background would have been dull and grey. I know there is a solution, probably to do with using flash in some way..
But I think the ingredients look tasty and inviting, and I guess that's what it is all about!

Project #52

One of the topics for project 52 was CHOCOLATE- a shot with a square crop that could be used on a restaurant menu. This involved me cooking as well as taking photos. Here's the result: