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Madrone Vessels


	Madrone Vessels f/2.8, 1/20th Second, ISO64, Tungsten, Macro Mode, +.3ev Christian Burchard turns madrone burl root on a lathe, while still green, hollowing the root and scoring parallel rings to form these small vessels. The root then dries out, shrinking and distorting, sometimes cracking unpredictably along the way. The rim of the mouth is then charred or scorched, creating the dark edge. 03/07 Finalist - D&M Chris Budny

- Bob Cournoyer

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Love the lighting/shadows/dof/comp (even thought there are only 2 of them)... :-)

Bob

How big are these?

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March 14, 2007

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thanks, Bob... Believe me, I wish I'd purchased a third (and fourth, and fifth...) when I had the chance! He does some large sets, up to 20 pieces, each one graduated down in size from the last, until the smallest are less than an inch across.
The front vessel's mouth, as shown elongated vertically here, is about 2" top-to-bottom in that orientation; that vessel is about 4.5" at the biggest dimension; the one in back, about 3" at the largest point, with a more rounded mouth, about 1.75" across.

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March 14, 2007

Margie Hurwich

Love your composition and I agree with Bob, the dof (even though there are only 2) is wonderful!

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March 14, 2007

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thanks so much, Margie!
BTW, you've both said "even though there are only 2"---what do you mean?
Is it that more vessels would have allowed for a "deeper" placement of them, thus creating different levels of DOF blurred at the back? Or, two items for composition is not as favorable as three, or a higher number? Just curious...

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March 15, 2007

Sharon Day

Very nice shot, Chris!!! Great job with isolating it on a white background too!

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March 15, 2007

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thank you, Sharon! I shot it in my bathroom, on the white vanity countertop, which butts up to a white wall (that the vessel in back is leaning against.) There is a full-wall mirror just off to camera left, with the traditional bar of 8 light bulbs above it. I also had the bathroom's central overhead ceiling fixture on, and, a small halogen desk lamp, which I tried to direct into the front vessel to try and lighten the interior a bit.
After all that, and with a +.3 exposure adjustment, I still had to do a little levels & Screen Layer work to further brighten the overall whites.

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March 15, 2007

- Dennis Flanagan

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Very good Chris. It has a lot of eye appeal. Ready to get that Canon yet? :-)

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March 18, 2007

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thank you very much, Dennis! I hope all's going well with you!
I just gave a talk/presentation to a camera club in MD, about how "the photographer, not the camera, makes the image"---and felt a twinge of guilt since I continue to think about giving up my Sony! But then I'll see a macro image so fantastically sharp (and with astonishing background blur, and razor-thin DOF) from an SLR w/ dedicated macro lens, and I know that there are limits to my Sony in areas of photography I want to explore further.
So yeah, I probably am ready for that Canon---just still trying to talk myself into it! ;)

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March 19, 2007

Susie Peek-Swint

Great shot Chris ~ I think the choice of just two vessels creates a good balance whilst leaving the right amount of negative space :)
.. fascinating info and process ~ thanks for the BG info and sizes ~ they look much bigger!

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March 30, 2007

chrisbudny.com - Chris Budny

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Thanks so much, Susie!

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March 30, 2007

Carol Teal

Congrats on your finalist Christopher and good luck in the next round!