Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

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Archive 2009 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

gardenvalley
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p.3 #1 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

I`ve been following this thread with great interest but had nothing to contribute. This has just occured to me though, could Mr.PA be "painted" with a constant light source and then colour corrected in post? BTW Travis, I hope you`re being well paid for this. Don`t forget to bill for aspirin.

Aug 17, 2009 at 05:35 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #2 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

I hope you`re being well paid for this. Don`t forget to bill for aspirin.

- This is more of trying to impress a local graphic designer, in hopes more more work from them / relationship down the road... But, I am acting like I am getting big $$$ to push myself for results.

What are the thoughts on the last two images? I have resorted to composite work, i.e. blending two pineapples to "fill in" odd looking spots on the surface...

Aug 17, 2009 at 05:47 PM

BrianO
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p.3 #3 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Travis Harris wrote: ...What are the thoughts on the last two images? I have resorted to composite work, i.e. blending two pineapples to "fill in" odd looking spots on the surface...

I think they're pretty good.

Because of the way the individual facets of the pineapple bend light, black cards may be more than you want. Try shooting it again with no cards and with gray and/or colored cards for some different effects.

I really like the second shot. It reminds me of the Holy Grail from the Monty Python movie of the same name for some reason.

Aug 17, 2009 at 07:04 PM

gardenvalley
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p.3 #4 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

I think they`re both great, my preference is for the next to last because it`s a`clean` image which is what they asked for and fulfils the brief. There comes a time when you have to know when to stop and I doubt if you`re going to get it any better. If nothing else, I reckon we`ve all learned something from this even if it`s only `don`t try this at home!`

Aug 17, 2009 at 07:07 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #5 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Thanks everyone!! Yep, the clean look is nice I agree... I'll tell you.. I have looked everywhere on the net for "Crystal" and "Glass" pineapple's including rep able crystal manufactures including Swarovski's website looking for the "standard" in photography. I was very disappointed, and started to feel much better about my images vs. everything else I was finding on the net. I feel as though they all look about the same...

Now, if it were just glass, and was smooth.. then we would have a better and more concise way of judging the results, and recommending a proven setup. This has been a real "shoot from the hip" from the start given the complexities of the subject. Until I see better results from a subject just like this.. I guess what I have is the standard.. and I really hope I find something better, so I can learn more on how to improve it for the next time someone wants a professional shot like this!

Aug 17, 2009 at 07:18 PM

gardenvalley
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p.3 #6 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

the next time someone wants a professional shot like this!

.......it will meet with an `accident`, possible deceleration trauma.

Aug 17, 2009 at 07:54 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #7 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

.......it will meet with an `accident`, possible deceleration trauma

Aug 17, 2009 at 08:14 PM

BrianO
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p.3 #8 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Travis Harris wrote: ...Yep, the clean look is nice I agree...

One final thought: I'm still a bit bothered by some brown smears I see in places. If there's nothing brown in the camera room that's being reflected/refracted, it might just be the various prisms in the pineapple combining colors badly.

You might try experimenting with saturation and/or B&W conversions, and using them alone or in composites with saturated images to see what you get.

I'm going to look around for a crystal pineapple of my own. Your project actually looks like a fun learning opportunity to me.

Aug 17, 2009 at 08:33 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #9 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

I'm going to look around for a crystal pineapple of my own. Your project actually looks like a fun learning opportunity to me.

It certainly has been a fun few days with this thing... I have managed to learn about "Bright and Dark Field" lighting setups, and then on top of that I have learned about mixing another light into this setup at various angles... I had a lot of fun.. and I needed to re-arrange the living room anyway

Be sure to reference this post, with any results you get if you decide to take on "the crystal pineapple"!

- T

Aug 17, 2009 at 08:39 PM

BrianO
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p.3 #10 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Travis Harris wrote: ...Be sure to reference this post, with any results you get if you decide to take on "the crystal pineapple"!

Will do.

In the mean time, here's a test I did using your image. (If you prefer that I not muck around with your work, let me know and I'll delete it.)

I used a Hue and Saturation adjustment layer in Elements 6, and took the Red, Yellow, Green, and Magenta saturation to -100, the Cyan saturation to -25, and left the Blue saturation as it was.

It makes a subtle but noticeable difference in some spots.

2012 © BrianO

Edited on Aug 17, 2009 at 09:16 PM · View previous versions

Aug 17, 2009 at 09:12 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #11 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Ah, yes... good work. I will touch that up before I add to my portfolio. Which one should I display on my website.. the "blue" effects one.. or the one just above it?

- T

Aug 17, 2009 at 09:15 PM

BrianO
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p.3 #12 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Travis Harris wrote: ...Which one should I display on my website.. the "blue" effects one.. or the one just above it?

I like the blue one, but it's a matter of taste and how it fits the rest of the portfolio.

Aug 17, 2009 at 09:19 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #13 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Yep, I too like the blue one... I think I will use this one. I feel it looks a little more "commercial" then the other shots, and hopefully will convey that to prospective clients.

Aug 17, 2009 at 09:24 PM

Garry Burton
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p.3 #14 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Hi Travis,

haha, love these projects. Really makes one think.

Me: I prefer the clean look, Mr Blue is a bit much, sort of a Holy Icon gone wrong ...?? (just my point of view, not a slag off)

Did you try taking Mr Pineapple outside and have a look at what is happeing with reflections and refractions, afterall, there's your singular light source Mr Sun.

Just to mess with your head, no not really just an idea.

I just keep thinking that there should be more highlights here and there coming off those facets (me, always calling them crevices, haha).
I did something similar quite awhile ago and made a couple of mobiles (hanging, dangling things) made up of old CDs (non printed shiny ones) and al foil just out of shot. It was one of those thinking on your feet and make do with what I had.
I've been trying to find an image but I did this at work, where I don't work anymore (some where in a pile discs). Anyhoot, I ended up with a few specular highlights which enhanced the image. Just a thought if you're still set up.

Travis, do you have to have Mr Pineapple on a black BG? I reckon it would zing on black but a brief is a brief. Me, I always give the client an option if i have time.

Might be time for a bit of Pineapple crush ...

Cheers Gaz

Aug 17, 2009 at 09:31 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #15 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Did you try taking Mr Pineapple outside and have a look at what is happeing with reflections and refractions, afterall, there's your singular light source Mr Sun.

Just to mess with your head, no not really just an idea.

Yep, I did as a matter of fact! The issues were working in 91F and keeping random colors off the subject. Truth was, that the results I got were similar to what I was seeing in the studio setting.. thus, I did not keep going much outside. On a side note, I also found a point late in the afternoon where the sun was setting, and I had some nice bright light coming through a window.. I put him on the window sill, and wanted to see what I got using spot meter.. again, results were about the same.. and looked less "professional" then the ones where I had control of the lighting environment.

So.. all in all.. I found happiness with the shots I took, and until I see better I will be able to sleep at night. I fixed some more minor blemishes last night as I prepare to put the little guy in my portfolio...

Side note - I placed a new post for C&C using the bright field lighting setup, of a glass. Please take a look:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/804839

Aug 18, 2009 at 01:06 PM

Garry Burton
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p.3 #16 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Great work Travis...

An excellent example of patience and seeing a job through to the end.
The main thing in what I can see from you work on this is that you've learnt a new skill. Bright/Dark field lighting or more to the point, how to light glass, does ones head until. Hey, that's easy, now that I know how to do it.

I've been out at the second hand markets to find "Son of Mr Pineapple" for my own attempts.

Cheers Gaz

Aug 18, 2009 at 09:52 PM

Gregg Heckler
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p.3 #17 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

It will never be "perfect". It will always be looked at differently between the photographer's and observer's eyes. It should be as good as the client is willing to pay for. Nothing wrong with striving for perfection but there are millions of images out there all of us can pick apart that have produced millions of dollars. Just one tip from me when shooting reflective surfaces, the bigger, closer, and more difussed you can get your light source the better. In many case I will use a 32" translucent reflector held very close over top between the subject and the overhead softbox. That works very well.

Edited on Aug 19, 2009 at 02:25 AM · View previous versions

Aug 18, 2009 at 10:40 PM

Travis Harris
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p.3 #18 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

I've been out at the second hand markets to find "Son of Mr Pineapple" for my own attempts.

HA! I am sure he is out there!! I can't wait for this....

Just one tip from me when shooting reflective surfaces, the bigger, closer, and more difussed you can get your light source the better. In many case I will use a 32" translucent reflector held very close over top between the subject and the overhead softbox. That works very well.

Funny you say that.. I used my "5 in 1" reflector... I unzipped it, and just used the white semi transparent side as my "sheet" for the "Bright Field" lighting on all shots! I can feel what your saying... it's like trying to shoot a little round metal ball.... Chasing the family of angels is going to be very tricky... and the larger the source the better!

Thats my next steps.. to shoot some shiny metal objects! Oh, boy...

Maybe I will find a shiny metal apple!

Aug 19, 2009 at 12:00 AM

Gregg Heckler
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p.3 #19 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Travis, here is an example of what I'm talking about. It was lit with a large 36" X 48" box low overhead with a tranluscent reflector in between. I used another 32" white reflector as close as I could get it to throw a little light into the front of the glass to light the bottom of the marbles. Also, keep in mind you don't have to have a white background unless that's what you want.

Aug 19, 2009 at 02:22 AM

cwebster
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p.3 #20 · Shooting a Crystal Pineapple

Very nice Gregg!

<Chas>

Aug 19, 2009 at 04:08 AM

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