Wishes - Collage

A continuation for my post last Friday, as usual, this is a collage of test shots that I've made during the make of this shot. I've tried a number of f-stops for varying shallow depth of field looks. The images here, of course, are unedited and purely out of camera; the original one posted last Friday was edited and enhanced (well, to some extent I suppose).
For the final result, I've settled for f/5.6, but I think f/4 was also good (and maybe even better for the idea as I've envisioned it first). Strangely, though, f/11 was not as sharp as I was expecting it to be, as there is a bit of blur in the background and the matchsticks at the back. This particular setting was shot with the new 35mm lens and without using any extension tube, so it was a bit weird to have such softness at f/11. However, the image I had in mind needed a shallow depth of field so it definitely needed something less than f/8.

#match #matchsticks #wish #wishes #collage #comparison #stilllife #still-life #goodmorning

أَمـانـي (wishes)

I'm posting this one without a description. I'll leave it for you.

#wish #wishes #dream #family #match #matchsticks #project #goodmorning

Outcast - Collage

So, in relation to my post last Friday, and as I usually do, I'd post some test shots or trials in the making of the main shot. This time, though, I'm doing it a bit differently, by posting a collage of a sequence of shots. These 10 shots were shot successively for the duration of the burning of the matchsticks, until the flame was gone. These shots here were edited in terms of basic exposure adjustments and maybe white balance, but nothing else; compared to the original shot that I've posted last week, which was heavily edited to equalize the light levels as well as remove the burn marks (which was almost a disaster!) that you can see here on the left of the matchsticks. These burn marks in the foam were caused by the mini-torch or flame I've used to light the matchsticks all at once.

#collage #outcast #trial #matches #matchsticks #fire #burn #burning #sequence #goodmorning

Emotional Damage, V2, V3.

As usual, with every other Friday, I'd like to post some test shots that were done to create the post from previous Friday. This time though I have two shots. Typically, I don't like posting two shots, but of course there must be some exceptions somewhere, right?
Here, in the first shot, V2, I've used f/2 (not much difference to the original one which was shot at f/1.8). However, it seems that I've skipped looking at this one before of the shadow or dark areas from the corner and my focus was on brightening everything (in fact, I've used a variable ND filter to use flashes with low f-number). Now that I look at it, I think this one could be a candidate too for its dark atmosphere, sort of. Also, there is a touch of light on the tip of the standing matchstick which makes it pronounced more and getting further attention. The thing here, though, is the area of transitioning from dark to light, which pronounces the texture of the surface of the foam as well; something that would take even longer time to work with and fix in PS.

Then we have V3. which is my least favorite one, for a number of reasons, but I'm including it in this post just to see how it would look like if the set was shot using high f-number (f/11 here) and making the depth of field greater to get everything in the image sharp. Surely enough, the story is lacking here and not much drama is added. The standing matchstick shadow is even shorter, and the overall orientation of the heart is not quite "in harmony" (feels going off the image instead of into the image).

So, this is all for now - I'm still trying to find more time to shoot some other projects and still having a block!

#matches #matchsticks #love #emotional #emotions #damage #stilllife #still-life #V2 #V3 #version2 #version3 #goodmorning

ضَـرَرٌ مَـعْـنَـوِيّ (emotional damage);

So, for this week's "side project" post, as the title suggests, it is about all these issues in life that are shattering our subconscious (or unconscious) mind, and that struggle to grow out of these and to start a new life, a new self. All these broken pieces of memories and experiences in the background clutter the heart and the mind, and disturb the character and the psyche altogether. It was a funny meme and catchphrase in Steven He's video and meme, but "emotional damage," I'd argue, is nevertheless a serious issue for many, and many got their path in life rendered impossible or going around in circles, because of such issues that shattered their security and self-image.

The configuration here was shot using a shallow depth of field (f/1.8) to drop the background out of focus as much as possible and keep the main matchstick standing (let's say, our hero). Despite that, though, and because the camera was tilted and not completely vertical over the set, there is a portion of the set that went slightly into focus; somewhat like the effect of a tilt-shift lens. The broken matchstick resembles that individual with broken heart and mind, and that long shadow is piercing out of these broken memories in the background, as a trial to overcome all these broken pieces from the past, to start a new life.
I did make some test shots using a greater depth of field, and I might see if I can post them by next Friday, as usual. Have a nice day!

EMOOOOSHENAL DAAMEJ!!

#stilllife #still_life #emotional #emotionaldamage #damage #project #matches #matchsticks #minimal #minimalism #minimalistic #goodmorning

Emotional Baggage V2.0;

As I do in every other Friday, I'd try to post another version of the shot I've posted the Friday before; just for comparison. Now, while the one posted last week didn't have a strong minimal touch to it, the 2nd version here seems to have it. However, I'm not sure if I like the complete simplicity here, as the shadows in the first version (in the lower half of the image) kind of provided some dynamics to the image, or drama so to say. Yet, I do like this version as well for its "cleanliness" and simple terms. Also notice that the first version was actually flipped horizontally for some reasons I've mentioned in my post last Friday.
This said, I'm working on a new item in this series, and I think I've actually finished it already, but I'm also considering redoing the whole thing. We'll see till next Friday!

#emotional #emotions #baggage #stilllife #still_life #matches #match #matchsticks #feelings #V2 #goodmorning

مَـتـاعٌ عـاطِـفِـيٌّ (emotional baggage);

It's Friday! Time for something from my "side project" (which I hope I can keep on doing with all the hurdles in my life already). So, the topic of this one as the title shows, emotional baggage, and what would be better than a heart to express the emotional side of things? Please tell me you see a heart there? (Please? ).
I had some hard time pondering about how to depict this, and I've tried making a heart-shape with the sticks but I failed miserably many times. Finally, I've found some discarded piece of rubber and crudely cut out a heart shape and used it as a mold. Tried to perfect the shape further in PS, but it was nearly impossible; this said, I made little adjustments to enhance the shape. Made many shots (and I might post one more of them next week), and I've finally settled on this one for the direction of the shadows in general. Originally, the image was flipped the opposite way, but I've made it this way later just because, well, to let things flow from right to left kinda, as this is the way we read Arabic actually.
I leave interpreting the image for the dear viewer. I guess, this concept is not weird at all for most people (if not all people). It is closely related to the concept of "burden" which I've made a shot about some weeks ago, but let's say, the concept of "emotional baggage" is just the "emotional" side of this burden which we drag on from one relationship to another (or even stop having relationships because of it). The shadows at the bottom of the image is a mimic for the dark side to which one would walk into with such baggage, and the burned matchstick is a symbol of a burned out mind and body because of all of the failing experiences in the past. Now, all that is left for us to think about is, what kind of scissors that would cut that thread and free us…

#stilllife #still_life #matches #matchsticks #emotional #emotionalbaggage #baggage #reflect #reflection #feelings #goodmorning

إِصْـرْ (burden);

Well well well, 3 days of "vacation" passed already and I've almost got used to it and forgot to post here! We had some drama during this vacation so, it's like I needed more days. Sorry for not checking your amazing art folks, but hopefully I'll catch up soon.
Anyway, here is a shot I've made in the last week of 2024, and posting it now. The idea is about the "unnecessary" burden that we (or, most of us) might carry on our shoulders from the culture, the community, or family, as we go on in this life. The burden is not necessarily enforced, I'd argue, but sometimes it is just how we believe things should be for some issues in this life based on what or how our environment shaped us when we were younger. So, we keep on carrying that burden and drag it all along however messy it can get. Sometimes, the burden can be, simply put, a trauma or a negative experience, that we just can't or try so hard for years, to get rid of.
Technically now, I've decided to shoot this one with my macro 100mm lens instead of my usual 50mm, and the composition, well, definitely not a minimal one. Putting the whole thing in style of the previous shots probably would make it lose dimension and depth, and because of the structure itself, I had to put the camera in a lower level to get a glimpse of the carrying matchstick.

#stilllife #still-life #burden #miniature #impression #impressionism #impressionist #sticks #matchsticks #goodmorning