Forks

18 March 2025

This was created for the 52Frames Week 12 prompt (Shallow Depth of Field). I used my projector and a gobo with a single slit in it, which cast the column of light. The forks (fish forks with faux ivory handles) set on a marble cheese board. The flash had its diffusion dome on it, which softened the light slightly. Focus is on the tines of the fork at the front. The final image was cropped slightly to emphasise the strong diagonal from bottom left to top right.

OM System OM-1 OLYMPUS M.12-100mm F4.0 @ 92mm, 1/250s @ f/4, ISO 200, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)

Beginning with F

18 March 2025

Created for my own P26 (a photo a fortnight) challenge using the letters of the alphabet as prompts, this was created using the same lighting set up as the previous image (Forks), this time using one fork and a cream jug with flower decoration in relief. The colour change was effected in post using ASDSee's colour wheels in Develop Mode. The pink gives this a bit of pop and is a fun amendment to reality.

OM System OM-1 OLYMPUS M.12-100mm F4.0 @ 28mm, 1/250s @ f/4, ISO 200, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)

Egg

17 March 2025

Created in my studio for the 52Frames Week 11 prompt using an orange board under the egg, which was supported using Blu-Tack, and a gobo with slits cut into it. This was inserted into a projector fitting that sits in front of the flash unit in a Bowens adapter ring. I used my new Godox V1 Pro flash unit, which has a useful modelling light that is at the front of the flash head and can be used when fitted into an adapter (unlike my older flash head), and this allowed me to position the projector before shooting. No other lighting or means of reflection was used, and I opted for the low key, moody effect.

OM System OM-1 OM 90mm F3.5 @ 90mm, 1/250s @ f/8, ISO 200, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)

Decanter & Flower

06 February 2025

This was an exercise in using polarising gels in front of the flash head and the camera lens to reduce the glare of the flash in the glass of the decanter. I set the decanter and flower on a grey board and used an auxiliary flash head and gel to the rear to cast a matching peachy glow onto a mid-grey backcloth. This worked quite well, although the set could have been made a little more interesting.

OM System OM-1 OLYMPUS M.12-100mm F4.0 @ 24mm, 1/125s @ f/11, ISO 400, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)

Potatoes

11 February 2025

I decided to try the barn doors with my flash head for this shot. The lighting itself worked well enough, but I was far from happy with the composition, so I do not consider this a complete success, despite being an interesting exercise in lighting techniques.

OM System OM-1 OLYMPUS M.12-100mm F4.0 @ 21mm, 1/125s @ f/8, ISO 200, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)

Vase of Flowers

10 February 2025

Taken using a flash with softbox to the left and a reflector to the right against a set of pure whilte. The white balance isn't quite right - the whites have become somewhat grey in appearance, so I'll need to work on this technique again to get the balance correct. Not too bad, though.

OM System OM-1 OLYMPUS M.12-100mm F4.0 @ 20mm, 1/125s @ f/5.6, ISO 200, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)

Blue

06 February 2025

Created for a challenge with a blue prompt, this was a recreation of a shot I had taken once before in my old and cramped studio space. The microphone was lit using a softbox and with an auxiliary flash and blue gel to the rear creating the gradient background against a mid-grey board. This is one of my favourite shots so far - I like the retro vibe.

OM System OM-1 OLYMPUS M.12-100mm F4.0 @ 21mm, 1/125s @ f/11, ISO 400, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)

Red

16 February 2025

Created in response to a weekend red challenge, this was my first foray into building an interesting and convincing still life set. A softbox and reflector were used, and the glow of the candles was enhanced in post by blending two images with different flash intensity - the result was not entirely convincing, but I learnt a lot in the process. I can see that creating the Old Master effect is a lot harder han some photographers make it look!

OM System OM-1 OLYMPUS M.12-100mm F4.0 @ 17mm, 1/125s @ f/5.6, ISO 200, RAW

(developed in ACDSee Ultimate 2025)