Hi. I’m Barb, and I am a minimalist at heart.
This is an image inspired by a succulent, a few pebbles, and a polka-dot coffee cup I found in a cute kitchen shop in Quebec. When I saw it I knew I had to have it. I didn’t know exactly what I was going to do with it, but I had to have it.
I especially love white, graphic images, they make my heart sing.
But what a nightmare to get two photos with the same white tones! That’s why I’m only posting one of the dozens of images and edits that I’ve spent (too much time on.)
Have a look-see at the History panel in LR …
As well as adjusting tones, highlights, and shadows, I desaturated almost every colour from blue to red. As I desaturated each colour, I watched the succulent to make sure nothing I did affected it. The only colours I didn’t desaturate were green and yellow. And still, I’m not happy with the white background. I have much to learn.
I’ve written about this before for Friday Finds – Stillness. In that post I mentioned that I follow Mary Jo Hoffman’s blog STILL. She shares her tips and techniques so openly but I still can’t quite get it right.
So I’ve found that only practice makes perfect, and even then, maybe not perfect, but good enough.
Have a wonderful Friday!
Friday Finds at Kim Klassen dot com
really cool!!
Hi Barb, This image is beautiful and so serene. I need to practice this style more as it’s so easy for me to get cluttered and I think that really has an effect on one’s peace…..
So Perfect! I love the white images too, but like you said, it is so hard to get them white. It seems like it should be easy white is white, but it is far from easy. Yours turned out great. I love to visit the blog Still too, so simple and beautiful.
It looks gorgeous to me . .. and I love that cup as well . . . as a photographer I know all too well how frustrating post can be to achieving what was in your mind’s eye. Your result is beautiful.
Hi Barb, I love the clean graphic style of your image for today, I’m really drawn toward a minimalist view as well and I do find the careful and creative placement of simple elements in the frame to be meditative and truly joyful. I share your frustration regarding the issue of the white background. I recently took a great photo of snaps (yes, the little snaps you sew into clothing) scattered artfully across a white background and had a similar experience as yours – working hard to get the white right without affecting the subject. Your final image is beautifully simple and looks perfect to me. Often times I print my images to assess the color situation (even though my monitor is calibrated it still makes most images appear brighter than they actually are – and this throws off the shade of white). Thanks for the link to STILL – I’m loving the view!
I would have to agree with you: trying to get two white background photos in the same light/color is impossible. But you’ve done a beautiful job with the one that you’ve posted. I love the minimalist approach, so calming.
I love the finished result, love the minimalist look, and totally agree with you about the white background !
Hi Barb!
Such simplicity and peacefulness in your picture today… love the diagonal arrangement of your props in a bare and uncluttered setting and a lot of white space… so relaxing! Each object can be admired for itself, it’s clear and neat, and efficient!
I like to visit blogs with very graphic and modern pictures, often home styling pictures, and I think they are so inspiring… thank you for the blog Still, it’s an unusual and inspiring blog…
I rarely use a white background for the reasons you mentioned, unless I will add a texture…
All your efforts paid off. Love the minimalism too
I find minimal to be so difficult and you totally nailed this! The desaturation was perfect and the succulent does stand out! Sweet!
Oh, this is really perfect from my view Barb! But, I know what you mean about getting “all” white. Love the little dots on the cup handle, and the little blueberries. Hope your snow is melting this weekend.
This is gorgeous, don’t be so critical of yourself. It is lovely!!! I am going to check out that blog you mentioned. Always learning!!
Less really is more!! So appealing and beautiful! I checked out the blog you mentioned and found it quite inspiring! Thanks for sharing!