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Wabi Sabi Wood Table Study Part I

November 12, 2015 by Barb 9 Comments

Hello, today I have a little “wabi sabi wood table study” as well as a study of the light and how it changes in our little end-unit condo in Arizona.

When Kim posted the new prompt in The Studio | Online,  I was astounded!

It was exactly what I needed … I’d been thinking I should get some shots of this wabi sabi table before we leave for home, but I hadn’t felt inspired.

Wabi Sabi Wood Table, The Studio Online, studying light, shadows, focusing on tables

kk_Lilly – photo taken at 2:00pm north and east light

Here I am, holidaying in the sunniest state, and yet feeling completely blah about taking photos … specifically still life photos—and not just blah … a bit blue … I think I miss my props :( which is silly because I’ve been gathering many wonderful items for this place as well.

Items like this sweet little Wabi Sabi Wooden Table I found last year at a garage sale for $0.50. The story is comical and fits perfectly with the new hashtag #stillswithstories I’m hosting with Kim on IG (have you checked it out?)

Anyway, after reading the prompt and listening to Kim’s inspirational video, I jumped up and started gathering a few treasures to set on my table. I’m also “studying the light” in our little condo, and I’d have to say it’s abundant … we have an end unit so we get north, west, and east light. Mostly, I prefer an east or north exposure for the cooler light and when I get a corner with both lights … well, I’m in heaven.

So, my table doesn’t have great legs ;) but what I love are the grooves along the edge. Apparently they’ve formed because the softer part of the wood has worn away over time and left the hard ridges.

So that’s where I put my focus, on the rough edge.

Camera Settings **
f4.5
1/100s
ISO 250

Wabi Sabi Table, The Studio Online, studying light, shadows, focusing on tables

kk_Chocolate – photo taken at 2:00pm north and east light

It’s dry as tinder and the top boards fall out if you don’t handle it properly … someone suggested glue, but I think I’ll just leave it and see what happens.

Wabi Sabi Wood Table, The Studio Online, studying light, shadows, focusing on tables

kk_Air

Wabi Sabi Table, The Studio Online, studying light, shadows, focusing on tables

… same image, different crop …

Sweet little oak leaves from our trip to Mount Lemmon …

Wabi Sabi Wood Table, The Studio Online, studying light, shadows, focusing on tables

kk_Lilly

I’m now on a mission to capture this table in all sorts of different locations and lighting situations.

** Just wondering** do you find camera settings helpful when listed on a blog post? Does it ever influence how you shoot?

Updated Shoot Info (for Petra) thank you Petra! Your comment made me think a lot harder about my settings, and I’ve tried to answer in the order you asked ;)

I’d say, that it’s interesting to see camera settings when they are listed on a blog post, I always have a look at them, but generally I don’t find them helpful. They usually represent just part of information, don’t they? You don’t know where and how far from the scene the photographer stood, whether they had a lens hood in place and where exactly the focus was aimed, whether the flash fired and at what power, what metering the camera was set to and what kind of light there was, whether they were shooting in manual or aperture/time priority… Also, if you don’t have that particular lens, you can be sure that with your lens the conditions would be different… Yet I admit that if there is most of the above listed explained, then the data have some value. They may not be comparable with your data but they may teach you some principles. They may not give you a detailed manual but they may show you a way. Well, does it make sense, as contradictory as it seems?

~Petra~

My Camera Settings: (these setting are based on the second photo, although they are almost identical for all the shots.)
f4.5
1/100s
ISO 250

now, in answer to Petra:

  • I was sitting about 3 1/2 feet from the table.
  • focal length 38mm
  • no lens hood
  • focused directly on the edge of the table
  • no flash (I never use a flash)
  • matrix metering (now I wish I had used spot metering!)
  • north and east light (2:00 pm)
  • manual mode
  • 18-105mm lens

Oh my … you just never know how a reader may challenge you! and in a great way – thank you once again Petra. Please feel free to challenge me some more!

Day 12 #nablopomo

Filed Under: Artful Photography, Still Life Tagged With: arizona, kim klassen, lightroom, lightroom preset, nablopomo, still life

Comments

  1. Petra says

    November 12, 2015 at 11:50 am

    It’s an interesting study, Barb, and I like most the last image. I read the story of the table and had to laugh at your hubby’s reaction, what a patient man! :)

    I’d say, that it’s interesting to see camera settings when they are listed on a blog post, I always have a look at them, but generally I don’t find them helpful. They usually represent just part of information, don’t they? You don’t know where and how far from the scene the photographer stood, whether they had a lens hood in place and where exactly the focus was aimed, whether the flash fired and at what power, what metering the camera was set to and what kind of light there was, whether they were shooting in manual or aperture/time priority… Also, if you don’t have that particular lens, you can be sure that with your lens the conditions would be different… Yet I admit that if there is most of the above listed explained, then the data have some value. They may not be comparable with your data but they may teach you some principles. They may not give you a detailed manual but they may show you a way. Well, does it make sense, as contradictory as it seems?

    Reply
    • Barb says

      November 12, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      It makes total sense Petra! Thank you so much for your input. As an exercise, I’m going to try to address all your points!

      Reply
      • Barb says

        November 12, 2015 at 1:11 pm

        OK! addressed – check the revisions on this post and please feel free to ask more!

        Reply
        • Petra says

          November 12, 2015 at 1:51 pm

          Awesome! Thank you for adding the information, Barb. Now I have something to think about!! :)

          Reply
  2. Lynn says

    November 12, 2015 at 2:25 pm

    Beautiful study images , love the light in all of them and the grooves on that table give the second image so much texture . To be honest I don’t know enough about camera settings yet , I do shoot in manual so I understand the first settings . I really need to learn more about the camera . I never use a flash either becuse I like a soft look :)

    Reply
  3. TexWisGirl says

    November 12, 2015 at 2:45 pm

    great textures!

    Reply
  4. Caz says

    November 12, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    Beautiful light and textures. Love your bargain table with the softness of the cheesecloth and your cute little vase !

    Reply
  5. Maureen says

    November 12, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    Beautiful shot’s, and love seeing your camera settings.

    Reply
  6. Beverly says

    November 14, 2015 at 6:26 am

    The table and the simple vessel…and chocolate preset are p e r f e c t! The light sounds perfect too. I do gain something from reading camera settings, and other shooting information, so thank you Petra for asking, and thank you Barb for posting it all. I love the top down view with the leaves and cheesecloth. Enjoy your time in the warmer climate!

    Reply

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Welcome! I'm Barb, and this is where I practice my mantra to "learn something new, try something different". It's my hope that something I do here may inspire you! Read More…

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