Inspiring Photo: Madrone Vessels #3538447

Madrone Vessels

Uploaded: March 14, 2007 19:23:30

Description

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

Comments

Bob Cournoyer March 14, 2007

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

Bob

How big are these? #620805

Chris Budny March 14, 2007

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. #4055239

Margie Hurwich March 14, 2007

Love your composition and I agree with Bob, the dof (even though there are only 2) is wonderful! #4055349

Chris Budny March 15, 2007

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... #4056760

Sharon Day March 15, 2007

Very nice shot, Chris!!! Great job with isolating it on a white background too! #4057336

Chris Budny March 15, 2007

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. #4057522

Dennis Flanagan March 18, 2007

Very good Chris. It has a lot of eye appeal. Ready to get that Canon yet? :-) #4067788

Chris Budny March 19, 2007

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! ;) #4069648

Susie Peek-Swint March 30, 2007

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! #4111140

Chris Budny March 30, 2007

Thanks so much, Susie! #4113471

Carol Teal April 24, 2007

Congrats on your finalist Christopher and good luck in the next round! #4205341

Nikki McDonald April 24, 2007

A beautiful finalist, Christopher. Good luck. #4205383

Bob Cournoyer April 24, 2007

Well, so much for my idea about odd numbers.. :-)
Congrats,

Bob #4205410

Gail Vitikacs April 24, 2007

Big Congratulations on this wonderful finalist! #4205661

Holly Shao April 24, 2007

Excellent capture and details, Chris! Congratulation on this wonderful Finalist!

Holly #4205804

Susan Fox April 24, 2007

Wonderful point of view and composition Chris!!! Congrats!!! #4206182

Tamera S. Phillips April 24, 2007

One of your favs for last month! Yeah. Congrats again Chris. #4206425

Chris Budny April 24, 2007

You're right, Tamera; my fav for March! Thanks, everyone! (Bob, glad to know there are exceptions to the rules!) #4206632

Colleen Farrell April 24, 2007

Yay, Christopher, you got a finalist on your favorite for March! Big congratulations!! (We have madrones out here in Northern CA and I love the red bark--I've never seen it used in woodcrafting, though, especially for tiny little bowls!) #4206792

Kaye Burazin April 24, 2007

A hearty congrats Chris . WTG with your wins this month! #4206805

Esther Smith April 24, 2007

Congratulations Chris!! #4207913

Jane M April 24, 2007

Congrats Chris, love the composition, colors and textures! #4208093

Katarina Mansson April 24, 2007

Cool set-up, excellent composition, lighting, colors and textures. Congrats on the finalist! #4208510

Megan p April 25, 2007

Beautiful Comp, color and DOF!! Congratulations!! #4209419

Chris Budny April 25, 2007

Thank you all so much, folks! #4210735

Janine Russell April 25, 2007

Chris, congratulations on your finalist. #4211162

Dr Silly April 25, 2007

WTG Chris, congrats. :O)
#4212577

Sylvia Rossler April 25, 2007

Big congrats Chris :o) #4212691

Chris Budny April 25, 2007

Thanks so much, folks! #4212844

Carla Metzler April 26, 2007

Congratulations Chris! #4216263

Chris Budny April 26, 2007

Thank you, Carla! #4217106

To discuss, first log in or sign up (buttons are at top center of page).

Get Constructive Critiques

Did You Know?

Discussions by Category: You can view photo discussions on various themes in the Community > Photo Discussions section of the site.

BetterPhoto Websites: If you see an orange website link directly under the photographer's name, it's totally okay. It's not spam. The reason: BetterPhoto is the one that offers these personal photography websites. We are supporting our clients with those links.

Unavailable EXIF: If there is no other information but 'Unavailable' in the EXIF (meaning no EXIF data exists with the photo), the 'Unavailable' blurb is not displayed. If there is any info, it shows. Many photos have the EXIF stripped out when people modify the image and resave it, before uploading.

The following truth is one of the core philosophies of BetterPhoto:

I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.

You learn by doing. Take your next online photography class.

You &

Love It!

Copyright for this photo belongs solely to Chris Budny.
Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer. Contact photographer via gallery
Log in to follow or message this photographer or report this photo.

My Profile

My Photo Shows

My Photos

My BetterPholio

My Messages

My Courses

Description

Comments

Get Constructive Critiques

Did You Know?