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tleach0608 — Christmas Martinis
Published: 2010-01-04 16:56:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 2037; Favourites: 61; Downloads: 0
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I had two separate ideas for my Martini series with the winter--this was actually the first iteration of my idea for the Winter series, but getting the new glass needed a whole different setup. So instead this is Christmas Martini!Some may find this a little too busy with the white lights in the front and the colored lights in the back but I like the festive nature it brings to the photo. My only regret was that to get the beautiful starred effect on the lights in the foreground I had to keep my aperture at F/8 which didn't give me a lovely bokeh effect and I'm too proud to start doing layers on my photos to achieve those results.
The only lighting is what came from the white lights--I experimented with a little fill light but it just didn't look as dramatic.
Others in the Martini Series:
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Comments: 25
You've been featured here!! -->
Art Feature #2 - Appletinis!Appletinis are my absolute favourite drink are they also happen to be a very attractive drink. I'm glad to say I've found several photographers who have depicted them very well in one form or another! Since the subject of these amazing drinks doesn't seem to get enough attention, I thought I'd feature them.
Make sure you show these artists some LOVE!
Appletini Reflection by Vickithtoria
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I love this! Creative, colorful and so very festive....
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Thank you!!! I really enjoyed setting this up and getting the right shot on it. And of course there was the enjoying of my subject after I was all done shooting it.
I need to come up with a new idea for another in the series though, I haven't shot one since Valentine's!
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It's going to be tough to match this one!
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What a beautiful shot and such a great series of images! I really like how you handled the light here. I have to ask, were you using a star bokeh filter in order to get the dramatic shapes on the lights from the Christmas strand? I need to work on teaching myself how to light indoor still life shots and I think I can find a lot of inspiration from your work.
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Thank you! I found out quite by accident that you get this nice starred effect on lights like this when using an aperture of F/8 or smaller and then I used that accidental knowledge to set up this shot to get that cooled starred look. What I don't know yet is if you can get the same type of effect on other, larger lights such as like a streetlight for night shots but this summer I think I'll play to find out.
One thing that has really helped me figure a lot of things out was doing a 365 project starting in the winter where I HAD to come up with neat things indoors, and so I've been having a lot of trial and error with lighting to figure out what works. My trusty side-kicks are a couple of desk lamps from Target with 60 watt bulbs (maybe $15 each) and a couple of lights with umbrellas.
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I'll have to keep this technique in mind when I get a chance to play around. I have tons of old strings of Christmas lights hanging around and may have to put them to use creatively.
The 365 project sounds like it would be very challenging. Do you have a set theme or are you just attempting to do a shot each day?
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The 365, at least the first few months, has been challenging! In the winter I leave when the sun's still down and get home when it has set, and having been more of a nature/animal type photographer, I've had to do a lot of creating my own shots which has been extremely challenging. And yet at the same time I think it has really helped me to grow and get outside my comfort zone. I've had to think about how to set up the shot, what to put in it, the angles, the lighting, everything! I'll admit, I "cheated" a couple times and took some snapshots of my cats, and I've missed a few days, I think...probably around seven?...just due to travel, holidays and whatnot. And no...no particular theme--if I think that I have to do a certain type of photo it just ends up falling flat. I just photograph what inspires me that day. 
If you're mildly curious you can see the results of my torture here: [link]
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It's a really nifty idea though and kudos to you for sticking with it. I can see you progress as an artist through web gallery. I think challenging ourselves as artists is definitely the way to go.
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Thanks so much!! I was so proud of how this turned out and I had such fun setting it up (and then drinking it after 
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V.nice! A perfect Xmas special of the famous Martini series! - Was it difficult setting up the lights around the glass? sometimes these lights just dont want to sit in the possition you leave them, and I imagine a martini glass isn't much of an anchor.
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Thanks!! The lights weren't as challenging as I was anticipating--like you I imagined I might have had one heck of a time wrapping them and whatnot. This was the end of the strand where the female end of the plug was, and with some nifty angles, you can't even tell it's dangling behind the glass, and I think that helped me since the end was so light it wasn't dragging the lights down or anything.
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Clever! I wouldn't have guessed.
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Thank you! It all started two summers ago on a hot day when the martini glass was sweating and now I look for new and interesting glasses to make for my next in the series. Last night my husband said "Boy, you have too many martini glasses!" LOL That's okay, I forgive him because he wants to put those photos up in our house.
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Another shot like this one and I'll find your house and ask to have one of your jewel martinis
A wonderful work indeed, a great way to taste art
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LOL Thanks!! And I always keep the house stocked with the stuff to make these...in fact I'm enjoying this very drink right now!
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awwwww why you told me!
Enjoy!
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Yep, like this one as well 
The star effect on the lights really helps to take away the harseness of the white light. If you wanted the bokeh effect I would have taken a seperate shot of the background lights, without the glass, and then just masked it in.
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Yeah, I have some others with the bokeh...but I really can't bring myself to start messing with it like that, I like the imperfections in my photos, it gives me something to complain about.
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What imperfections would they be then
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