Time to Get Up

I'm not particularly proud of this shot.

Part of the "Time" series that I have studied in evening class 'Time to get up' was conceived as a typical image that would depict early morning sunshine and getting up. I imagined a shaft of sunlight shining on my favourite drink - coffee. Do you ever have that feeling that you want something badly but you know in your heart of hearts that things are not working out when you try to execute the plan? 

And you keep going anyway?

This is one of those times.

Concept: cup of coffee with some coffee beans shaped in a heart i.e. One bread board turned oblique so that the diagonal lines give a sense of pace to the picture. Coffee beans purchased from Whittards (coffee shop franchise in the UK). I love coffee. I didn't ask for much.

Could I do a heart?

Could I light it so that everything was in focus?

Time to Get Up

Small flash flagged by two A4 folders on either side so that the light comes through the folders just like a shaft of sunlight. Coffee beans and breadboard + cup/saucer are required

Nikon D700 Nikkor 105mm f2.8 Micro lens: @ 105mm F/13.0 1/13secs ISO 1250

SU200 triggered by an infra red SU800.

The coffee beans in the light are in focus. Those outside are not in focus. This is because this still life, which lends itself well to careful planning and a steady camera, was shot in reality above the bread board hand held. Yes, I know. What was I thinking of? What's interesting however is that parts of the photograph are in focus presumably because the low output flash delivers light quickly around 1/800 second. The areas in shade are less fortunate or forgiving. The yellow tone on the bread board is secondary to ambient light and ordinary household lights on and just above the bread board.

Learning points:

1) Use a tripod for close ups if you have it

2) Attend night class on how to shape a heart out of coffee beans