On the table at Rosemary's house
Some times the sunlight falls on a favorite object in my house and I run down to get my camera and photograph it. There is a difference in what your eye sees and what the camera sees. I shot this at the beginning of 2011 when I was planning to shoot a photo a day. (hint: it takes up more time than you think).
I found it today when I was looking for something else and thought, maybe I can make this into something if I try. It was too bright and too contrasty before. That sunlight, although beautiful to behold when you are carrying your coffee to your chair by the window, is harsh as all get out once you get it on your computer. And let’s face it the books and vase aren’t that dynamic without major enhancement.
What did I want? Less contrast, more texture, softer light, warmer light, deep rich colors and detail in the black background. I wanted to make the books and vase seem as if they belonged together. I played with all the ideas that I have listed above, then put a golden ‘prism’ as I call it, or texture as others call them, over the entire image. I changed the blend mode to soft light and decreased the opacity. Then used Snap Art 3 and in Photoshop, I used filter>artistic>poster edges. You know that is my favorite and I allowed myself to use it here. It is subtle and adds just the right amount of shadow.