Bill Jennings's Photoblog
First Strawberry
Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 26 April 2009 in Food & Cuisine and Portfolio.
This is one of my favorite photos from the first weeks I had a DSLR. I couldn't even spell depth of field two years back - so had to really experiment to get a sense of what it was.
I was playing with the 85mm portrait lens. Amazing bokeh, and such razor thin depth of field at f/1.2. Probably, technically, the photo should have been shot with one or two stops more DOF (f/2.0 or 2.8 or larger) to get the hand in focus : but I was playing, and it still is a cool photo since he is so intently looking at the strawberry!
Nothing is more succulent and delicious than a fresh organic strawberry plucked from the garden, and relished nibble by nibble while still standing in the hot sun. This photo of my son captures that anticipation of joy.
Nina's shot of Strawberries earlier this month inspired this posting of my son anticipating the first strawberry from our garden.
My favorite macro shot from yesterday was Barbara's Color Burst - as the title tells you why I think it's fantastic. Take look if you haven't seen it.
I am really torn which image I prefer between zOOm's Study in Color and Photosanity's Synchronized Drinking yesterday - both very strong images, with very different impact to me. What do you think?
Just made it home after a month of travel - posted a few photos from my journey to within 48 miles of the antartica circle: at nearly the longest day of the year: hence, there was 21 hours a day of sunlight...
Thank you for your patience while I was out of touch.
I do hope you followed Bob Kelly's blog (my roommate) while he is still traveling - he is now on Easter Island - and will be updating his blog for some time to come - please check it out!
Marie :-); from perth, Australia
What a cherished moment you have here Bill. Lovely. You can just see the urge to eat in her face...... lovely photo.
26 Apr 2009 5:49am
@Marie :-);: It was not staged, and the photographer didn't know his lens or camera - but I love the photo nonetheless. Thanks for recognizing the real emotion on the anticipation of a fresh strawberry.
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
A beautiful moment captured!!! Turned out to be a great experiment:-)!!!
26 Apr 2009 6:20am
@Linerberry: Yes. Shoot at f/1.2 only when you want the unexpected... You will get it. It's a look you don't see often, as it is so rare to get what you want in sharp focus. Thanks for your comments today. Bill
Esther K from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, Malaysia
I am still learning all the technical aspects of my camera and photography but I love expressions on portraits especially the natural ones. This one's a gem. He really look so INTENSE! The way he purse his lips makes me smile!
26 Apr 2009 6:31am
@Esther K: I think you can feel his anticipation - and how he was going to relish every bite. Now he's more aware of the camera, I need to use a 300mm to catch expressions like this - can't use the 85mm any longer!
Karthik from Chennai, India
You've captured the anticipation at the right moment!
26 Apr 2009 6:51am
@Karthik: Thanks Karthik. Thank goodness for large flash cards, and plenty of disk space!
Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco
Great experience, very well captured ...we feel very strong what he is wiating for !!
26 Apr 2009 7:40am
@Marie-Hélène Ammor: Glad you feel the intensity of anticipation from the photo - your comment tells me that you do, and that helps me continue to know why I like this one.
Linda from Riga/Sigulda, Latvia
very beautiful, the strawberry and lips catch all the attention
26 Apr 2009 7:53am
@Linda: Great comment - I think it's the red that draws us to the strawberry first - and then when we look at the photo more criticlally, ws see some flaws. For me, this image has great emotional appeal that holds its own.
DenisSm from Prague, Czech Republic
i think that focus is just in right place and no need to bring more of hands to focus, it's just fine for me...and I want strawberry too :-))
26 Apr 2009 8:13am
@DenisSm: DenisSm, great comment on the focal point - how it works for you, and thank goodness it's strawberry season now - so we can enjoy the fruit ourselves after seeing this.
@rem_la: Merci on the comment on POF.
@Ana Lúcia: thank you Ana Lucia.
zOOm from Paris, France
A great moment and a cute little boy, lots of tenderness here ! Focus is fine for me, the background is enjoyable, and we can't miss this lovely little boy looking at his first strawberry. Well done Bill.
26 Apr 2009 9:39am
@zOOm: Thanks zOOm. Great detail in the comment that really helps me put to words what my gut told me was a good photo. Always enjoy your posts, and your comments - thanks for the time you spend helping me.
Sarah from Suisse, Switzerland
A very sentimental shot which will be cherished by Will when all grown up! Well done - like it very much just as it is.
26 Apr 2009 10:25am
@Sarah: Thanks Sarah - it's a keeper for sure - I just didn't know why, these excellent comments really tell me what my gut felt.
Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada
Agreed, perfect elemental freshness, wow!!! and he's adorable lol...so how's the head this morning?
26 Apr 2009 12:10pm
@Lorraine: The head's better, thanks for asking - and I posted this to food and cuisine, not portrait: because of the impact of the strawberry and how it makes me want to go find one myself to eat.
Barbara from Florida, United States
A sweet and delicious moment well captured, Bill. This is fond childhood memories that your son can be reminded of with this image.
It is so important that children be introduced to the fruits of the earth and mother nature. So many are given the next tech device but not the opportunity to learn about nature.
I like how you have just Will's face in the frame and that concentration for the next delicious bite.
I'm elated to the reference you've made of my Color Burst image. Being among the featured on your blog is inspiring.
Thank you for the recognition.
26 Apr 2009 12:36pm
@Barbara: Would you believe that we have a policy of "no battery toys" in the household? we have one exception, their fisher-price camera. My kids have their own plot of land at our home that they garden in - and they love playing in the dirt, and then eating their fruit later in the year. This year they will help Dad (me) make jam from their strawberries: and they can't wait to help (they are big cooks in the kitchen).
mangAnto from bandung, Indonesia
Lovely moment...Lovely portrait...
Perfect Bill.
26 Apr 2009 12:41pm
@mangAnto: Thanks mangAnto - I now think the moment and the subject make up for the soft focus on the hand. glad you like it.
john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Look at that power of concentration! Neat portrait, Bill.
26 Apr 2009 12:56pm
@john4jack: Thanks Jack. Will's unique gift in life is that he fully concentrates on whatever he does. Even his Waldorf pre-kindergarten teacher comments during parent-teacher conferences that when he looks right at her, and says "yes teacher kim" she knows he is not thinking of anything else - and she says it's very disarming (when she's about to have to censure him).
xavier cardell from menorca-barcelona, Spain
Nice composition. Is the blur captured or post processed? Nice colors
26 Apr 2009 2:19pm
@xavier cardell: This is as captured. I cropped some of the left side to emphasize the vertical, and I added 2 in saturation in RAW processing: ottherwise it's right out of the camera. The softness came from the shallow DOF.
@Yvon: Thank you Yvon. Glad you loved it, and that you added a comment.
@aggie: Thanks Aggie for dropping by and saying what you like about the image. Come back soon.
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Cool shot Bill....nice composition here.
26 Apr 2009 6:04pm
@Susan: Thanks Susan! Good to hear your thoughts on this one.
observing from North West, United Kingdom
DOF is fine Bill, the strawberry is sharp enough and that is the main element. :)
26 Apr 2009 8:33pm
@observing: thanks - that's why I didn't delete it - I must have focused on the strawberry in haste to get the photo - it was a fleeting moment in time.
DaveB from Exeter, United Kingdom
For me, this one might've been improved with a slightly smaller apeture (1.2 at 85mm, what monster are you using? :)), and from a purely asthetic view, if the crud and sleep was cloned or patched out from the wee nes eye? Still an enchanting shot though!
26 Apr 2009 8:39pm
@DaveB: Yes, the sleep in the eye could be cloned out. I may do that. It's ashame I didn't have any lens that had a smaller f/step - its a fantastic portrait lens that may be more than I can handle!
@jamesy: Thanks Jamesy. I love the soft focus of the background, and the intensity of the lips about to eat the strawberry - the red in the shirt to tie it together was just a lucky bonus.
Bruno from Marietta, United States
Talk about Expressing Feelings...... This is great!!!!
27 Apr 2009 1:42am
@Bruno: Thanks Bruno - sometimes it's the feeling that comes through in a photo can overcome any technical shortcomings in the photo. Glad it works for you - and thanks for dropping by and giving a good comment.
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
Wonderful use of "shallow" DOF! The selective focus is just perfect. Excellent framing and colours
27 Apr 2009 4:23am
@Magda: It's rare that such a shallow DOF works, but folks today convinced me that it does. thanks for that feedback.
@Miss Ruthie: Thank you Miss Ruthie.
@Eleftheria: He was indeed happy - loves strawberries.
Uday from Fishers, United States
Beautiful shot. Very good framing. Nice to see the action.
30 Apr 2009 12:49pm
@Uday: Thank you Uday, I especially liked the anticipation on the face - almost the "potential energy" about to be released.
Kris from Superior, United States
Oh, so true about that first strawberry! Nice capture of expression and pov!
1 May 2009 11:07am
@Kris: You can feel the anticipation, and enjoy the first bite with him. thanks for the kind words on the point of view.
@dj.tigersprout: a rite of summer - we enjoy eating the strawberries in the garden
Canon EOS 30D
1/1250 second
F/1.2
ISO 100
85 mm