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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dangerspouse" data-source="post: 723345" data-attributes="member: 46690">This week's Challenge was "Still Life with Fruit", a subject I've always liked but haven't tried since my college film days 30+ years ago. For this challenge I decided to try a more monochromatic approach, with just one pop of color from a cut kiwi fruit. I've seen 17th and 18th century chiaroscuro still lifes done this way and they've always struck me as being noteable for forcing the viewer to concentrate on composition and lighting, rather than colors. It's a nifty effect when done right, so I thought I'd try my hand at it.Here was the setup. One window, as key light. Opposite is a white plastic tray reflector for fill. A black cloth backdrop, some cedar shingles for the base, and a flat garden rock to elevate the knife a bit:[ATTACH]329058[/ATTACH].[ATTACH]329059[/ATTACH].These three are test shots I did, each the same except for the distance I placed the reflector. It was pretty amazing how much difference just an inch or two closer or farther could could make. I really wanted to do as little post processing as I could get away with to keep it a more "painterly" feel:[ATTACH]329060[/ATTACH]  .[ATTACH]329061[/ATTACH].[ATTACH]329062[/ATTACH].Once I decided on the reflector distance I cut the kiwi and took the shot. (I also changed the aperture to give a greater DoF.) Here's the final shot. I did do a bit more processing than I'd originally intended, but not by much. It's no Caravaggio, but for my first crack at it I'm very pleased:[ATTACH]329063[/ATTACH]</blockquote>

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