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.

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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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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