Flatware Simplicity

06 Feb 2012

Flatware Simplicity

ISO100 50mm f/11 1/30sec

I’ve been really inspired by extremely simple fine art lately and have been meaning to give a go at it. Having been in Cutco Cutlery sales for some time I knew just the subject and was quit enthused about bringing my passion for the worlds finest cutlery to my passion of creative expression.

Usually when I come to a creative project like this, I only have a general idea of what I may be going for, however with this project I had the end result in mind and went to town setting it up to get just the right outcome. I actually originally had this idea to shoot a dog on a seamless white back drop and have the front half to one side and the back to the other. I still look forward to creating that, but found the same inspiration for this project. I think I may turn it into a series eventually.

Posted in Black and White, Canon EOS Rebel t1i, Creative Trials, Daily Photo and tagged Daily Photo, fork, Photography

57 thoughts on “Flatware Simplicity”

Luke on February 7, 2012 at 12:44 am said:

See, that is great, I would hang a series of that in my kitchen any day.
How did you achieve the lighting?

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 1:01 am said:
  
  Thanks Luke! I have a light box that I put together (Planning on posting a tutorial soon) and have two clamp lamps with daylight bulbs in them to each side. Then I just shoot through the top of the box.
  
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  - Joseph de Lange on February 7, 2012 at 9:18 am said:
    
    clever little set up. The result is beautiful.
    
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    - Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 9:27 am said:
      
      Thanks Joseph 🙂 I appreciate that!
      
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  - Luke on February 7, 2012 at 5:37 pm said:
    
    Looking forward to that tutorial. I can see a lightbox will be my next project 😉
    
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    - Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 5:38 pm said:
      
      Its a fun project. I just put a bunch of pics together for the tutorial. My goal is to have it up tonight 🙂
      
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SL Schildan on February 7, 2012 at 12:59 am said:

Nice!!

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SL Schildan on February 7, 2012 at 1:01 am said:

I actually thought it was two pieces of flatware. The dog photo would be great fun. Hard to do sans shadow with a wiggle pup. Maybe a hunting dog that points..? 😉

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 1:04 am said:
  
  Good “point”! haha had to say it.
  
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Dana on February 7, 2012 at 3:28 am said:

I love Cutco! But you have to know the contrast on this image is extraordinary! Can’t wait to hear about your light box. And I really need to get daylight bulbs in my my clamp fixtures. Good post.

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 8:44 am said:
  
  Thanks Dana! Cutco is absolutely amazing!!! Thanks for your kind words!
  
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John Milton on February 7, 2012 at 5:29 am said:

Great post, thanks Nick. I can’t wait for the light box tutorial.

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 8:45 am said:
  
  Absolutely John! I will find a spot in my schedule to get it posted this week.
  
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photosfromtheloonybin on February 7, 2012 at 6:56 am said:

So simple and yet so beautiful!!

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 8:45 am said:
  
  Thanks Cindy!
  
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Corrie on February 7, 2012 at 8:55 am said:

I look forward to your light box tutorial. I built one this past weekend but I’m still tweaking it and feel there’s definitely room for improvement. I’m interested to find out what type of diffuser you use.

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 9:11 am said:
  
  Tissue Paper. Works great! Other good materials are, white plastic trash bags, I’ve heard wax paper can work well, and when I do big lighting I use a thin white plastic table cloth that I got for a buck or two at Party City. You just want to make sure your getting white white materials otherwise you’ll have a nasty color cast over your shot.
  
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misty maples farm on February 7, 2012 at 8:58 am said:

Simple elegance. 🙂

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 9:07 am said:
  
  Thanks Misty! You know, that was the original title to the photo. 🙂
  
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3rdCultureChildren on February 7, 2012 at 9:26 am said:

I totally agree with Mysty – simply ellegance! Thank you for coming by my blog and subscribing to it… hope one day I´ll have a good eye for beauty, like yours… Beautiful photos! Greetings from (currently!) Recife, Northeastern coast of Brazil! http://3rdculturechildren.com

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 9:29 am said:
  
  Brazil!! Wonderful, I love when people share their location. I still find it great that my creative work is able to reach across the world! Thanks so much for your kind words 🙂
  
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Seduire Boudoir on February 7, 2012 at 9:29 am said:

This is awesome! I’d hang this shot up in my kitchen as well. Very simple and clean photography. Love it.

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 9:31 am said:
  
  Thanks so much! I may be releasing it as a print in the next couple months, so maybe youll get your chance haha 😉
  
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The Blissful Adventurer on February 7, 2012 at 10:38 am said:

I think this is quite elegant and elucidating. Is your light box portable, as in, easy to bring on a plane?
My wife would adore a series like this shot as she is a big fan of flatware.

Cheers!

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 10:41 am said:
  
  Hey Michael! Right now its not portable, but I have an idea for a more portable version. Ill put it together one of these days and let you know if it works out 🙂 Thanks for your kind words!
  
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enframephotography on February 7, 2012 at 12:37 pm said:

love this! would be great art for a restaurant, too . . . just sayin’ . . . 😉 love the lines and shapes and a little bit of reflection(?) in the tines of the fork.

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 12:38 pm said:
  
  Thanks Rachel!! I agree, maybe we can get some restaurants to order a line of them haha
  
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Ninali on February 7, 2012 at 12:37 pm said:

Love Cutco and LOVE this shot… I keep telling myself, “gotta make myself a box and experiment” can’t wait for the tute!

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 12:39 pm said:
  
  Hey Nina! Yes I cant wait to see what you guys come up with after the tut for the lightbox is uploaded! Thanks for the kind words!!
  
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Ari de lucia on February 7, 2012 at 12:50 pm said:

Very nice, I like the simplicity of the photo coupled with the black and white.

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 12:51 pm said:
  
  Thanks Ari! I feel the same way!
  
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Pablo Buitrago on February 7, 2012 at 1:23 pm said:

Magnifiscent composition Nick!

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 2:42 pm said:
  
  Thanks Pablo!
  
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jdlarkin on February 7, 2012 at 4:56 pm said:

Great idea, simply beautiful!

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 5:22 pm said:
  
  Thanks Jenna!
  
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Purely.. Kay on February 7, 2012 at 4:56 pm said:

I love what you did with this. You really did a great job. It’s very simple but effective

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 5:23 pm said:
  
  Thanks Kay!
  
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Bella Remy Photography on February 7, 2012 at 6:32 pm said:

This is a great shot Nick ! Just curious, did you intend the gray feel to the pic?

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 6:45 pm said:
  
  Thanks Bella! Yes, I chose to add a subtle vignette. On my Apple Retina screen its still pretty white with just a touch of gray.
  
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Pingback: LightBox Tutorial « Nick Exposed
tomwhelan on February 7, 2012 at 9:30 pm said:

Beautiful graphical and spare, excellent compositional idea. Love the contrast and B&W processing.

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- Nick Mayo on February 7, 2012 at 9:40 pm said:
  
  Thanks so much Tom!
  
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Dave on February 8, 2012 at 3:07 am said:

Hi, Nick. You’ve mentioned in several posts that you aim for simplicity and I know that’s one of the reasons I enjoy visiting your blog. You don’t clutter things up, but stay with a few strong compositional elements that define the meaning of your images. “Less is more, more or less.” (I seem to recall that from some old high school drama).

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- Nick Mayo on February 8, 2012 at 3:51 am said:
  
  Haha, thanks Dave! I always appreciate your comments! I think there is a certain strength in simplicity.
  
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jmpix on February 8, 2012 at 6:02 am said:

beautiful lighting and crispness….good enough to eat with 🙂

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- Nick Mayo on February 8, 2012 at 11:06 am said:
  
  I agree, in fact I ate dinner with it immediately afterwards haha.
  
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MD Photography on February 8, 2012 at 9:16 pm said:

it really looks like that clip art in microsoft word, which as a photograph means it looks surreal.

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- Nick Mayo on February 9, 2012 at 12:38 am said:
  
  Haha, Ill take that as a compliment. I don’t know if Microsoft clipart comes to mind when looking at it, but hey thanks for the comment 😉
  
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chicalarusse on February 9, 2012 at 7:43 am said:

I think you should, that’s beautiful, simple and sharp. Looking forward to see you develop that concept more

http://chicalarusse.com/

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- Nick Mayo on February 9, 2012 at 12:06 pm said:
  
  Thanks Dani! I agree, I love the beautiful simplicity and think it will work for making a good series.
  
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Judy sederof on February 12, 2012 at 1:53 am said:

Great shot Nick love it so simple

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- Nick Mayo on February 12, 2012 at 2:31 am said:
  
  Thanks Judy!
  
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absinthefiend on February 14, 2012 at 12:31 pm said:

My girlfriend was once a part of the Cutco sales cult, so we appreciate the fine fetishism of any and all cutlery. Well done!

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- Nick Mayo on February 14, 2012 at 2:46 pm said:
  
  Haha, It is a fantastic product line! I am so proud to be able to say I’ve had the opportunity to be a sales rep! I still sell off and on as a hobby haha
  
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lensandpensbysally on February 16, 2012 at 9:58 pm said:

Great imaginative shot–thanks so much for Following my blog. I plan to watch your journey too, Sally

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- Nick Mayo on February 16, 2012 at 11:08 pm said:
  
  Thanks Sally!! I welcome all who are willing to share the journey 🙂
  
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