Something Old, Something New

© Joan E. Hoffman

Something Old, Something New

Uploaded: January 27, 2012

Description

The Bone handled knife was my Mother's bread knife, it has been around for more than 60 years now. The Zojurushi is my new bread machine. The act of bread making goes back time immemorial, but is now making a resurgence with the advent of these wonderful (but occasionally frustrating) machines!

Exif: F Number: 10, Exposure Bias Value: -1.67, ExposureTime: 1/1 seconds, Flash: fired, compulsory flash mode, return light detected, ISO: 200, White balance: Manual white balance, FocalLength: 44.00 mm, Model: NIKON D300

Comments

Liz blahh January 27, 2012

Great lighting & capture! #1439543

Joan E. Hoffman January 27, 2012

Thank you so much Liz, I really had to struggle with this one!:) #9950521

Christine Lobsinger level-classic January 27, 2012

Awesome shot Joan... WOW! The display/idea and LIGHTING are fantastic!!
Smiling CHRIS #9951294

Christine Lobsinger level-classic January 27, 2012

Oh, I forgot to mention... I even have that knife! Actually, 6 of them..lol!
SMilinG again,
Chris #9951297

Joan E. Hoffman January 27, 2012

Thank you Chris! You know, I think growing up we may have had steak knifes as well.... but I am not totally sure. I have always loved this knife, and its one of the few items I have from my parents house.... when you live in a 5th wheel and travel a lot, you just don't have the space. We had all my mom's beautiful serving bowls at one time... but they all "bounced" out of the cupboard on one trip and broke.... and I was heartbroken along with them. I have a set of dishes... Mott's "the crowning" from Edward the V111's coronation ( you know, the one that had to abdicate because he married Wallis Simpson)... anyway they are in storage at the campground... am totally afraid to look as they go from temps of -50 to 90.... probably all toast by now. #9951348

Rita K. Connell level-classic January 30, 2012

Joan this is a great image your lighting is very nice, the main lighting is on the bread...the knife makes you want to cut a slice. I like it alot! #9956627

Kristin Duff January 30, 2012

cut a slice and toast it! And then layer a warm pat of butter so that it melts thru the bread! Good shot Joan, and I am glad to see you back at it! #9956767

Jeff E Jensen January 31, 2012

Nice work, Joan! I think it's just a tad dark for my taste, but it just might be me. #9957313

Rita K. Connell level-classic January 31, 2012

now that you say it and I am looking at it from my desktop I think it could use a tad lightening. #9957323

Dale Hardin January 31, 2012

Very good still life Joan and thanks for the story.

Like the lighting for the most part but have mixed feelings. Would like to see the original.

If your aim was to highlight both the bread knife and machine, then by all means select the bread and knife and then lighten the background.

But if your aim is to highlight the knife and bread, then darken the background instead, which is my preference for this shot. I would duplicate image and multiply blend it. Then use mask to bring back the light on the bread and knife with a spot light effect on the area around them. #9957340

Carla Capra Anderson January 31, 2012

You've done great. was this taken in the trailer? I too, would like to c dale's suggestion. #9957389

Aimee C. Eisaman January 31, 2012

I see what you were going for in this image with the old and new, but it seems you are comparing apples to oranges. A knife and a bread maker are not really related so without a detailed description along with the image I would have trouble 'getting it'. Not to mention I had thought it was a toaster at first. lol The lighting is lovely and I like the bread and knife on the cutting board, but I think I would have left the bread maker out of it. :~) #9957478

Debbie E. Payne January 31, 2012

Joan - anyway you "cut" it, it is a good story and a good shot but I would have to agree with Aimee that the correlation is off. I would like to see you work on Dale's suggestion but I'm still not sure that that needs to happen. It seems to me that the story here is that bread is timeless but the items that are attached to the breadmaking and eating process are not. If that is the case then the highlighted bread between two very different eras works. PS - send us all a slice! #9957649

Joan E. Hoffman January 31, 2012

The correlation was simply that both items were related (albeit in a different manner) to bread itself. The secondary correlation is that the making of bread which is an ancient art (if that is the correct word) which after many years is starting to emerge again, making it new again...

Anyway my problems with this image were.....

this was taken on the countertop, which is in front of the window.... so I had to close the blinds to get rid of the unit parked next door. HOWEVER, the blinds are not opaque and so you could see the glare of the sun behind them. SO I had the brilliant idea of waiting till dark. Which resolved my problem somewhat, however, then the lights (and or flash depending on whether I shut the lights off or on) reflected badly on the machine.... So I used viviza to take as much glare of the machine as I could. I ended up kinda liking the result, and Dale ... you couldn't MAKE me post the original, ROFL.

All in all Aimee... you are right... should have just used the bread and knife! I will try Dales suggestion to Darken further the background and the machine, and place the emphasis on the bread.

Whew #9957661

Dale Hardin January 31, 2012

LOL Joan. :o) That's funny. #9957782

Beth Spencer January 31, 2012

I like your story Joan, I think I would like to see Dale's suggestions also. #9958183

Michael Kelly level-deluxe January 31, 2012

Wow that is a story Joan. I love the texture of the bread, the cutting board, and the knife. I'm afraid I agree with those who think the bread machine, takes away from the shot. It does tell the story you were after, but photographically it just isn't pleasing to me. Thus I agree with Dale to just take the background down some, and I think you have a winner. #9958265

Ellen H. Robertson level-classic January 31, 2012

I agree about the breadmaker. And maybe I would not feel it should go, if you light was not soooo beautiful on the bread and knife. I see what you were after, but the bread, knife and cut board are so stunning by themselves. #9958297

Aimee C. Eisaman February 01, 2012

The trouble we go to just to take a picture! lol #9958807

Teresa H. Hunt February 01, 2012

I really like this image. Like everyone has said the light on the knife and bread is really great. I'm so so about the bread maker. Like Aimee I thought it was a toaster. :)

WLTSDS :) #9960040

Joan E. Hoffman February 07, 2012

Here is the new shot, sans bread machine....

Sorry to be so late on my adjustments! #9969883

Joan E. Hoffman February 07, 2012

?? well let's try that again #9969891

Dale Hardin February 07, 2012

I like this a lot Joan. My only caveat is that the handle is clipped. #9969961

Joan E. Hoffman February 07, 2012

Agreed Dale.... but it was so faded out in the original I wasn't to worried about it. Anyway.... I do miss the bread machine a bit... (my new favourite toy) however this was my alternate idea and it works pretty good. #9969971

Aimee C. Eisaman February 07, 2012

The bread stands alone! lol I like this version better. :~) #9970225

Joan E. Hoffman February 07, 2012

LOL.... thanks Aimee... this is by no means a great photo.... however, it is a start back. well sorta.... #9970235

Ellen H. Robertson level-classic February 07, 2012

I really this. Good Job! #9970253

Rita K. Connell level-classic February 07, 2012

a slice of toast and hot choc please....looks great! #9970345

Sue C. Cole March 01, 2012

Love the edit Joan! #10017126

Michael Kelly level-deluxe March 01, 2012

very nice edit Joan, looks great! #10017145

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