Bill Jennings's Photoblog
Pecans for Patricia's Pecan Pie
Posted by Bill Jennings ((Bay Area Northern Calif), United States) on 13 May 2009 in Food & Cuisine and Portfolio.
Another attempt at photographing raw pecans, after getting good feedback with the blog post Patricia's Pecan Pie, to take some photos of pecans. The blog entry on May 6th described my wife's delicious recipe for Pecan Pie - which I was anticipating while shelling the pecans. This time, wanted to make sure the subject was clear to the viewer - the former image wasn't as crisp on this.
I have a real appreciation for food stylists after seeing all the pecan dust, etc. on these nuts when I take a photo of them so close with a macro lens. I wasn't as professional, and didn't dust each nut before composition. Always a way to improve an image, isn't there?
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I liked the vastness shown in Gimena Escobar Lastra's The Salt desert- Jujuy
Gary Hart's photo is brilliant: Big Dipper and Moonbow, Lower Yosemite Falls. I would love to capture something this surreal in nature one day. Gary had openings in his May workshop, and I just couldn't make it work for me this time. I will know better next time.
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!
Miss Ruthie from Glendale California, United States
Thoes Pecans sure look good! as am sure your wifes pie is too! Well Done!
13 May 2009 5:56am
@Miss Ruthie: Thanks Miss Ruthie. My wife's pie is divine... Recipe on previous post, if you missed it!
Magda from Vancouver, Canada
This is definitely a very sharp image! :) Fantastic detail! :)
13 May 2009 6:13am
@Magda: Thank you Magda. f/22 for 15 seconds of a stationary object sure helps!
Bill Brown from California, United States
Great macro shot! I love pecan pie so I checked out the earlier post and copied the recipe. Thanks!
13 May 2009 6:38am
@Bill Brown: My wife's pie draws crowds - I highly encourage trying the recipe : it's holiday tested tough. Thanks for the kind comments on the macro shot .
chrissy from uk, United Kingdom
Fantastic detail, hope you enjoyed your wifes pie!
13 May 2009 6:48am
@chrissy: I love my wife's pie. But what's even more important - my friends, and even her Mom loves her pie (and you can imagine the wife/mom dynamic... that's high praise).
Mandy Provan from Johannesburg, South Africa
This is fantastic Bill. The detail is great and I like the bits of dust on the nuts it makes them more "real" for me. There's no mistaking the subject in this shot - great work!
13 May 2009 6:55am
@Mandy Provan: Thanks Mandy - I needed a second try, had such good feedback from before. Glad you like it.
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Agree with Mandy, the bits of dust makes them more real. Very nicely captured.
You can also try; placing couple of them on a piece of white paper or different colour paper for more contrast and try taking some photos. Similar to the one I tried with the Strawberries. Just my opinion.
13 May 2009 8:06am
@Sarito: I will try that, but unless it's outstanding probably won't post another pecan posting for quite some time on AM3. It's not the most photogenic subject... but has interesting textures and colors to play with. paper background, or a colored bowl (or even crystal bowl) may be fun.
P J W Miller from Chase Terrace, United Kingdom
Its a pretty good attempt, I wondered what it was at first, glad you filled me in with the description
13 May 2009 8:09am
@P J W Miller: I think I've had my shot at this, and probably won't do an endless series on pecans: but it's amazing how we never really look at the details until it's up close and personal. thank you for your comment.
Linerberry from Sumner, Christchurch, New Zealand
Wow they are truely amazing!!! Something we never really see close up!! Great work Bill!
13 May 2009 8:50am
@Linerberry: Thanks Linerberry - your response is like some others - in that we don't really see something close up until it's presented this way: and in some ways it is disorienting without a scale reference. At least what I heard here. Thanks again. Bill
Ravi from Bangalore, India
I liked the details. Honestly speaking it is not a bad attempt. Well done.
13 May 2009 11:11am
@Ravi: Thank you Ravi. It's my second attempt, and tells me that I shouldn't become a food photographer: it's just a very complex photo subject that requires emotive skills I would need to develop.
@Onlymehdi: Thank you Mehdi
Btany from Subang, Malaysia
Made me feel hungry :) hehehe..
Yes, your subject really is clear.
13 May 2009 11:59am
@Btany: Btnay, glad you got hungry - I guess that's what food shots are supposed to do? Tnanks for the comment.
Cricket-Tammy from Alabama, United States
This is a great take. Isn't it amazing at the detail that can be picked up from a camera lens. Very nice.
13 May 2009 1:39pm
@Cricket-Tammy: Tammy - yes, I was actually shocked at the details myself. glad you saw them as well. Bill
Mariana from waterloo, Canada
Great macro of Pecans, I can almost smell them :)))
13 May 2009 1:57pm
@Mariana: Thank you Mariana - you're jean photo today was very sensual: you have a natural eye for beauty.
Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States
I love pecans. And this photo of shelled pecans is wild! It first seemed like a photo of the internal organ system of some creature or person. Then I realized what it was! Really cool presentation.
13 May 2009 2:34pm
@Viewfinder: I guess this is a great example of how if we don't have scale or perspective (like a bowl, or next to a pie) - we loose reference and don't immediately recognize something - even if we love it. thanks for the detailed comments.
dj.tigersprout from New York City, United States
yum! let me know when that pie is ready to eat!!! :) and to you note on food photography... maybe pecans in honey? with an added light source? more gloss, more light, more depth? (of course, more hunger pains too!!) :)
13 May 2009 3:00pm
@dj.tigersprout: I like the idea of nuts and honey, the glistening honey would add color and depth. I may try that. Good suggestion.
Susan from Fort Lauderdale, FL, United States
Again, shot seemed a mystery for a moment before I started to read....although it's a nice macro, i think something more in the photo, like a "bowl" of nuts, or just something, to give the shot a different feel......This is surely not one of my favorite shots of yours!
13 May 2009 3:23pm
@Susan: Good suggestions Susan, I appreciate the detailed comments even on something that you don't consider your favorite from my photos: you're a real friend.
Linda from Riga/Sigulda, Latvia
wow, i never paid much attention to pecan nuts before, but you have photographed them in a way which makes them special. The lines on them looks like blood-vessels and the nuts have interesting shapes
13 May 2009 4:03pm
@Linda: Yes, that surprised me as well. I guess we never really look at everything until it's presented as a macro shot... I am learning so much from taking macro photos. It's not a beautiful photo, but it does open up one's eyes.
Ajay from Pune, India
Oh God!!! This close up is really very tempting. Feel like having a handful of them, sit somewhere and eat them all quietly. :-)
13 May 2009 4:53pm
@Ajay: Glad it works for you - hope we can find you some pecans, so you can appreciate them up close and personal.
@vu@granby: I guess it's an effective macro then, thanks for the kind comments.
Marie-Hélène Ammor from Casablanca/Paris, Morocco
It is a good macro details and colors are superb but i would prefer something suggested or not so big ,perhaps ?
13 May 2009 5:37pm
@Marie-Hélène Ammor: Perhaps you're right - I'm going to keep playing with it (perhaps not at the expense of AM3 posts to my friends) - until it feels right to me. your comments help me, thank you.
observing from North West, United Kingdom
I have to admit, at first I thought they were the fingers of a ancient mummie :-0 Perhaps if you had just 2 or 3 pecans illuminated with a spot it might be clearer ?
13 May 2009 8:32pm
@observing: yes, I think you're right: however mummy fingers sounds like a great title...
Barbara from Florida, United States
I consider this attempt flawless. The clarity and natural color is perfection. A very good example of why I am fond of macro, those details in the nut, the veins. Even I don't recall seeing such veins in a nut. Your reply to Linda are my feelings on macro as well.
Patricia's pie recipe and this image have me anxious for the first bite. I will eventually make it.
13 May 2009 11:12pm
@Barbara: Perhaps the pecans from Mississippi have more visible veins? Not sure why these popped out, but they sure did under the macro lens. I did apply linear contrast in curves in PS - perhaps that accented the veins in the pecans? I'm tempted to bake you a pie, and mail it to you: perhaps that's my next new opportunity in business. Thanks for your consistent and personal comments, you're the best. Bill
@jamesy: Thank you Jamesy - Pecans are special to me, as I grew up in Tennessee : and we had a pecan tree on my granddad's yard in Arkansas.
Canon EOS-1D Mark III
15 second
F/22.0
ISO 200
180 mm