The following images are my first attempt at table top photography.
They were taken at a meeting of West Somerset Monochrome Photographers Group and lightboxes, reflectors, slave flashes and other equipment were generously loaned by long term member and table top photography expert Basil Helman.
I was very much out of my comfort zone (which is good) as it forced me to recognise my limitations in using my camera Lumix FZ82 in manual settings. The quality of the images are not an indication of the shortcomings of the camera only the operator - in this case me!
Most images are in JPG format as I have issues of vignetting on some raw images I took on the day?
Lessons learnt.
1. Get familiar with all manual settings on my camera.
2. Importance of accurate manual focus, depth of field, and appropriate ISO .
3. Thoughtful positioning and composition of the subjects to be photographed.
4. Correct lighting conditions using both flash and natural lighting
Apologies to the mono group for the colour images :-)
Please feel free to offer advice and critism via the contact link on my main page - thank you.
Ron
My comments; Image of van out of focus, base of globe not squared to lines of background paper. Removal of white specs on image overlooked
Image 1..
I prefer the colour image over the black and white as the back story is perhaps clearer unlike the sign writing on the vehicle?
Image 2.
Different positioning of light source may have given better balanced image?
Image 3.
Rearrangement of light source may have produced a better rainbow?
Image 4.
Image 5.
A view in a garaged vehicles wing mirror?
Image 6.
Image 7.
Image 8.
The two images above are post processed raw files.
Getting better?
I am putting together a light box and some cheap lamps and hope to spend the rainy days improving my skills in desk top photography.
Watch this space!
"Diamond" - taken using Iphone 6
"Empty glass" - experimenting with glass - light and post production - iphone 6.
"Swiss army knife" -rough edges under investigation! Tripod mounted FZ82
The poem below explains perhaps why I chose Post Office Telephone vans as the subject of my first table top photography attempts
Release 92
Written by me on the occasion of my leaving/retiring from BT under their downsizing - Release 92 scheme.
"Written for me-by me -shared with you"
Thirty-three years in a moment
They were spent one by one
They pass in a fleeting split moment
Like a blast from an old shot gun
Each year is a pellet in motion
They spin for a time in the sun
They arc and dive down earthward
Forgotten and now they are done
It started as Post Office Telephones
And finished as plain BT
Service was replaced by a profit
For him but not for me
Poles were measured in sizes
Like 28-foot light
The biggest like sentries standing
A really magnificent sight
In county town and country lane
They stood and held the wire
Following lines of hedges
They passed from Shire to Shire
UAX, CB10 and Non Director
Switched the calls
That told the news
For hours and hours and hours
The relays clicked and did the trick
Of moving wipers round
Magnetic wonders tick, tick, tick
It was a funny sound
The lineman’s van was racing green
With title wrote in white
A ladder rattled on the top
A truly fearsome sight
The colour changed to dashing yellow
And then to business grey
Some turned blue but just a few
What more can one man say?
Exchanges here, Exchanges there
They’re modernised apace
Strowgers out and chips are in
They are even up in space
The profits rose as on their toes
The men all did of their best
They raced from here they raced to there
It was a vital test
As in the East and in the West
Competition started too
Cable phone and TV`s moan
Nothings too good for you
You want a phone inside your home
Its fitted in a wink
A phone, a fax, just anything
It really makes you think
With lines of light
And satellites the voices range the globe
It’s time to go and contemplate
Where all the years did go?
Ron Blundell
PO Engineer & BT Manager August 1959-July 1992
"Coloured balls"
"Nightjar"