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HOT CHOCOLATE
HOT CHOCOLATE
hotpasta


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Heat (Advanced Editing IV)
Camera: Nikon D200
Lens: Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon
Location: Melbourne Australia
Date: May 21, 2006
Aperture: F 4.0
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/45
Galleries: Still Life, Food and Drink
Date Uploaded: May 21, 2006

I wanted to do a food magazine type shot. We had Chocolate Cake left over from a party the day before and I wanted to convey the idea of the chocolate being hot. I places a candle behind the cake and kept blowing it out. On some occasions the smoke would wrap around the cake and make it look like it was steaming hot.

I wanted strong, vivid colours and I wanted the tiny oranges to be there because chocolate and oranges are a nice mix.

I used a Sigma 105mm F2.8 Macro in order to get good depth of field. USM, Saturation, some dodging and burning, cloned out some chocolate crumbs, canvas size for white frame, resize for web and a little more USM. I also used a silver reflector to pick up the texture in the cake.

I am happy with this. This is about the forth food shot I have entered and I hope it does better than my other shots.

Is it true to the challenge? I think it conveys heat, and the warmth of the 'comfort food' that chocolate is. Maybe others might use fire and sunsets and steam etc. I think this should do OK.

Now to eat the cake...

Statistics
Place: 62 out of 158
Avg (all users): 5.6724
Avg (commenters): 7.0000
Avg (participants): 5.3077
Avg (non-participants): 5.8899
Views since voting: 1150
Views during voting: 284
Votes: 174
Comments: 14
Favorites: 0


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AuthorThread
06/03/2006 04:05:01 PM
Hello, from the Critique Club. I'm Jon Rowe, and I will be looking at your image today. :)

i like this shot, but personally i think there could be more done w/ the lighting and background. the first thing that jumps out at me is the flat lighting. the colors really don't come through, and the blowout from the window i'm guessing in the background and the smoke kindof don't set themselves apart from each other. it's a great idea, though, and you received a nice score. i think the background takes away from the image.

overall it's nice, and a great photo. keep on shooting.

good luck on your future challenges!
-Jon Rowe
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
05/28/2006 03:20:33 PM
Tut tut, did nobody ever tell you that you should finish your wine before you start your sweet? (pudding wines are normally white). The clarity and sharpness of the foreground is (to me) exceptional! I understand the reason for the 'smoke' coming from behind the cake but think light use of a blow torch on the chocolate would have had a better effect? A good luck bump of 1 :)
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/26/2006 04:22:31 PM
Looks yummy! That is some strange heat coming from the cake......just doesn't look natural...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/26/2006 04:16:34 AM
Ok.... thanks. Now I'm hungry. This is a delicious image. Would have been a great "Still Life" challenge entry as well.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/24/2006 10:04:56 PM
would be perfection without the busy background
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/23/2006 08:06:19 PM
Looks delicious. The contrast of the oranges (or orange things) adds important dimension to the main subject.
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/23/2006 07:17:02 AM
This looks very tasty and a litle humorous. Very nice image though you could argue how well it expresses heat. 7
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/22/2006 11:21:45 PM
Oh man... this is great...
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/22/2006 05:43:57 PM
It's a very nice composition, invitation to bite, but it happens I don't like the choclate on the cake, it makes me taste it all day.8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/22/2006 10:30:05 AM
Well done image! Very sharp and nice colors!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/22/2006 09:26:33 AM
sorry, but I am not convinced. I see the smoke, but....
Nice comp, good color, light flat, nice texture, nice dof
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/22/2006 07:52:26 AM
would be a beautiful photo wihtout the smoke. it doesnt look like its coming from the cake. it looks like its coming from a ciggarette or something. nothing makes food less appetizing as the smell and taste of tar and nicotine. 6
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/22/2006 01:10:54 AM
Vivid coloring makes this shot....8
  Photographer found comment helpful.
05/22/2006 12:59:18 AM
Mmmm... damn I want it. =)
  Photographer found comment helpful.


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