Do you like these onions? (C&C)

Willem · Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 280 Location: Netherlands

Or is it over the top? I am not sure yet.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

I'd like to see it unprocessed.

Willem · Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 280 Location: Netherlands

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

At first glance nice, if we start pixel peeping less nice , I suggest to you make some variant what you like and we can vote.

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

I like the onions in the bowl and the bowl itself. Those tones and contrasts don't seem to be over the top. The cloth and stray onion are over processed to the point of causing my eyes to strain. Also no sold on the cylinder in the background.

eddieitman · Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Posts: 1246 Location: United Kingdom

Comparing to the unprocessed one you have overcooked it and the towel near the onion just looks a mess.
I like the black and white but try it a different way
Maybe something more like this

Orio
after your comments here is another amended version removing most of what you described on the onion

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

OK, my objection is with the lighting.
You have a rim light, and a main light. The problem is that they don't fit.
In order to use one main light and one rim light, you need to make the rim light coming from
the approximate same direction as the main light. It must be consistent with it.
The fact is that the rim light is perceived by the viewer not as a full light, but as an accent of the main light.
So it must be consistent with it.
If you want to keep it in an opposite position, you need to use a third light, that should be placed not further away
than 45° from the rim light. This third light will become your main light, and the existing main light will become a fill light
(and will have to be lowered in power for that).
The contradiction in your current scheme is already evident when you consider that the strongest light point in your scene
is the rim light, yet, the deepest shadow is the one cast by the main light over the bowl.
This, in the eye of the viewer, does not work.
After your post work, the problem becomes even worse, because the increase in contrast creates a really dark area immediately
next to the rim light, which contradicts it, and fights against a believable perception of the scene.

My 2 cents of course.

POST SCRIPTUM: Eddie Leitmans' version proves the points above. He cut out the shadow from the bowl. This way, the impact
of the main light is really diminished, and might feel more like a fill light (as it should be).
Still not everything is consistent (a strong light accent on the onion remains), but it works better.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

I like the color version and lighting.

Willem · Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Posts: 280 Location: Netherlands

Thank you all for your comments and explanations. This is so helpful.

What i tried to create was the 'feel' of a painting but maintaining the detail of a photograph. The square crop was made because of the shadow of the garlic, wich i didn't like. Now the lighting issue is pointed out, i also see the inconsistency.

I'll go and shoot it again, maybe tomorrow. I think i quite like the postprocessing i did, except in the highlights. I'll have to work on that too.

Again, thanks everybody for your comments, this and practice is the best learning method.

Greetings.

rensA · Joined: 29 Feb 2012 Posts: 26

I gave it a try, I liked the red towel with the red/brownish onions and flask.

I saturated all other colors out.

woodrim · Joined: 14 Jan 2010 Posts: 4060 Location: Charleston

I suppose I'm a simple person; I still prefer the original color version... and think it's quite good.