The Canon Magazine 55
ABSTRACT REFLECTIONS
PROJECT 3
VIDEO ALSO ONLINE
http://bit.ly/pp_156_301 PICK YOUR PAPER
A repeating pattern like our polka dot design works
well. Position a table next to a wall and tape the paper
to the wall so that it hangs down and curves across
the table to create a seamless background.03 PLACE THE SPOON CAREFULLY
Holding the stem of the spoon, position it on the
paper and make sure it’s perpendicular to your wall,
so it’s dead-on to the camera. The closer it is to your
camera, the easier it will be to blur the background.05 DIAL IN THE SETTINGS
With the camera in aperture priority (Av) mode,
set the ISO to 100, then choose a relatively small
aperture of around f/16 to get some definition in the
background. Turn on the two-second self-timer.02 BUFF YOUR SPOON
For the best reflections buy a new spoon so you don’t
end up with loads of dings and scratches. Breathe on
the spoon to create condensation and then buff it
with a microfibre cloth to work it up to a mirror shine.04 COMPOSE AND FOCUS
With your camera on a tripod use a macro lens or the
55mm end of a kit lens, and get the camera level with
the spoon. Go into Live View and hit the magnify
button, then manually focus on the spoon.06 ACHIEVE EVEN LIGHTING
Shooting next to a window will cause directional
lighting which can result in a harsh shadow. To
diffuse this and create more even lighting, reflect
light back in with a reflector or a white piece of paper.STEP BY STEP DOUBLE TROUBLE
Construct this abstract still life setup at home for simple, yet creative results
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SHARP SHOTSCanon’s Image
Stabilization is a
fantastic mechanic that
corrects some of the
movement experienced
when shooting hand-
held. But place your
camera on a tripod
and it’s possible that
the stabilzation will
continue to try to correct
movement even though
there isn’t any! For the
best results, and to
avoid this risk, it’s best
practice to disengage any
stabilization, whether in
the lens or on the sensor,
to avoid blur creeping
into your shots when
shooting on a tripod.VIEW^ TH
E^ VIDEO