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Negative Returns
Negative Returns
ttreit


Photograph Information Photographer's Comments
Challenge: Negative Space II (Classic Editing)
Camera: Nikon Coolpix 5700
Location: Bellevue, Washington
Date: Aug 17, 2003
Aperture: 4.2
ISO: 100
Shutter: 1/30
Galleries: Studio
Date Uploaded: Aug 17, 2003

 Homegrocer.com was one of the last big IPOs before all the venture capital dried up for the .coms in 1999.

I wanted to try an all black background and this seemed like a good play on a black "negative space" challenge.

I won this mug at a morale event (I worked for Homegrocer.com) at the very beginning of the .com crash. It turned into a dark time for a lot of people since the .com carnage of 1999-2000 left many in the Seattle area unemployed and fighting for jobs at more stable companies like Adobe, Real Networks, Starbucks and Microsoft.

I used several pieces of dark paper on a night stand and a black blanket in the background. I used one 100 watt bulb that I held behind the camera and aimed at the cup. I used the 3 second timer and a tripod to avoid camera shake. I also used the tungsten lighting white balance correction, spot metering and Noise Reduction.

In Photoshop I adjusted colors, brightness, contrast, sharpness, and added a border.

I shot about 100 pictures trying to figure out how to do this relatively well. It was a good challenge to help me get to know my camera.

I'm not sure it's better with the border but it seems less flat and I'd never done a border before.

Statistics
Place: 74 out of 141
Avg (all users): 5.5564
Avg (commenters): 5.8333
Avg (participants): 5.5529
Avg (non-participants): 5.5625
Views since voting: 853
Votes: 133
Comments: 10
Favorites: 0

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AuthorThread
 03/11/2008 08:10:49 PM
Excellent use of thirds and negative space IMHO. And if you do want to learn your camera in a hurry, then definitely do what you did here...shoot, and shoot a lot, until you get what you want.

Other useful stuff for backdrops: bristol board is dirt cheap, comes in large sheets and can be rolled up when not in use. I've also used a black towel draped over a doorway for a terrific, non-reflective bg. You're doing well, keep shooting!
  Photographer found comment helpful.
 Comments Made During the Challenge
08/19/2003 11:26:42 AM
I'm not exactly sure what function the neg space accomplishes here, but I like it and it does give the feeling that there is more to HomeGrocer.com than meets the eye. I think you've achieved perfect balance here. This would make a good ad for HomeGrocer.com.
 08/18/2003 10:14:35 PM
Negative space should have a purpose. This is negative space for the sake of the challenge.
 08/18/2003 06:50:45 PM
very cool use of negative space.
 08/18/2003 03:16:32 PM
6
 08/18/2003 02:38:08 PM
I like the lighting...
 08/18/2003 12:28:30 PM
I am guessing that HomeGrocer.com did not earn profits or something like that... but with dpc, people are from everywhere and perhaps not every1 will 'get it'. [I certainly don't.] If you see what I mean. But this is only for future reference as I think that this was a brilliant shot whether I 'get it' or not. =)
 08/18/2003 06:22:02 AM
HA! extra special for anyone that was burned
 08/18/2003 05:33:43 AM
This is lovely, makes me want to pour hot tea in it - come to think of it this would be a killer shot if something was being poured [10] - Oops! not a member cant vote :(
 08/18/2003 01:10:21 AM
A funny comment on the dotcom bust -- but their website says they're coming back, you might get your returns after all!


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