Ex-Love (version 1.0);

As I typically do with every shot I post here on Friday, I would post an early version of the shot that I didn't like (say, a test shot), just for comparison. I've envisioned this shot to be a minimal one, and with simple (hard) shadows with everything being white for simplicity. This, of course, would take out the depth in the image. Like version 2.0, or the one I've posted last week, this one was also made of layers of different shots to merge the lights from different angles (and even here, I couldn't make the shadows in different directions in the same shot, probably needed a snoot).
Anyway, after re-doing the whole thing, and adding a dark side and shadows as in the one posted earlier last week, I think I do prefer version 2 over this one. Maybe I've broken the "minimal look" somehow, but I guess the emotional approach in that one is more appropriate and more impactful than in this one here.

#stilllife #still_life #matches #matchstick #shadows #love #ex #exlove #impression #impressionism #impressionist #goodmorning

حُـبٌّ سـابِـقٌ (ex-love);

Interrupting my macro posts, to post one from my "side project". I had quite a (technical) struggle with this one. As the title suggests, it is a reflection on the several break-ups I had earlier in my life (and probably for the best of my interest when I look back). Some people noted or thought that the matchstick is "wearing a jacket"! Actually (if it is not clear yet), it is a band-aid for little wounds, which I had to even cut in half to use it on the broken matchstick (deliberately broken as a mimic to a broken heart). Strangely, the matchstick, after applying the band, doesn't look to be broken at all! I just hope the visuals are clear here, or I might have to do this for a 3rd time (this one here is a 2nd trial).

Initially, the idea was to light the whole setting in two different directions to yield out two shadows in two different directions. However, technically speaking, it was almost impossible. The direction of the shadows is a mimic of the outlook towards life, where the one with broken heart looks forward to that missing love, while those who broke up with them and departed put things behind their backs and already being with someone else. Anyway, to overcome the problem, I've tried to shoot several shots and combine them together but even that failed. In the end, I had to settle with a half lit set (just to show the main shadow) while merging the bright matchsticks from a distance from another image. I guess the band should have been smaller!
My first trials were to shoot with 50mm with an upper level a bit, but quickly changed to 100mm macro to emphasize the size of the closer matchstick better. Things didn't work as I wish, so I lowered the level further to the one here. The rest, of course, is a history of editing and contrast enhancements.

#stilllife #still-life #love #ex #exlove #match #matchstick #macro #macrophotography #mimic #life #relationships #relations #goodmorning