Harry Pottery

Artist: David McMahon
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Card: US$9.97
Print: from US$42.75

Harry Pottery

A display of glazed pottery stretches – or so it seems – to infinity.

This was shot at F5.6 and 1/30th of a second. Taken indoors at the Cheetal Grand, a major landmark on the highway from New Delhi to Dehra Dun, in late December 2007. The light here was very low, but I figured it was also soft enough to capture not just the bright colours, but also the more subtle tones in the middle distance and background.

I shot five frames here, four of them close-ups to emphasise the beautiful shapes. But for some reason this long shot is my favourite, simply because of the depth of field and the use of diagonal perspective that seems endless.

I adjusted my focus ring to concentrate on the third piece of pottery, so that the viewer’s eye would be led along the row as it vanished beyond the frame.

I do not crop, enhance or post-edit my images in any way. Shot with a Pentax K100D using a Sigma 18-125mm lens. F5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO 800, focal length 78mm.

Featured in TECHNICAL PHOTOGRAPHY, August 2009.

Featured in THE COLLECTORS’ CORNER, September 2009.

Harry Pottery belongs to the following groups:

50 tHiNgS.....(Please include 50), ! 100% !, *A Beautiful Blur, All Around the Styles, Alright, what is it?, Amazing Asia, aqua, lime or indigo, At The Store, Authentic India, Bits and Pieces , Blast from the Past, Depth Of Field (2 images per day) - Read Group Rules Please, Everyday Life, Globes, Spheres and Curves - 2 per day, If it doesn't belong, Images & Ideas, Incredible India, Mood & Ambience - Strictly Photos, PENTAX , Perspectives, Shapes & Patterns - Limit of 2 images per day, Style! Class! Elegance! Excellence!, Technical Photography, The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The Collector's Corner, The World, This Is Relevant (2 per day), Tuesday Afternoon, Unlimited Quality, Untouchables, Vanishing Points and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

IndraniGhose

I liked the perspective. It does stretch endlessly to infinity.
David McMahon replied

Thank you, Indrani. There were so many ways to frame this shot …. and the art of India is so vibrant.
Lois Bryan

COOL!!!! OOOO … David … YUMMY photography … perfect lighting and detail … and LOVE the bright color .. I love this kind of image … what fun!!!!!!!! I agree with you .. the long shot has tons of visual interest!!!!
David McMahon replied

Thank you very much, Lois. The lighting was very low, which actually worked in my favour because the pottery was so colourful.
Jan Fijolek

Very nice capture, great perspective and repetition ;)
David McMahon replied

Thank you, Jan. I’m glad you liked the shot. I was actually looking for something else when I saw this display of pottery!
AniaR

Very nice picture,
David McMahon replied

Thank you, Ania. I couldn’t resist taking the shot.
Kate Purdy

Great title and wonderfully executed!
David McMahon replied

Thanks Kate. The title just popped into my head as I was taking shots of the pottery!
Anni Morris

Lovely bold shiny colours, great angle :) ~ Anni
David McMahon replied

Thanks very much, Anni. There were a couple of close-ups that were fairly decent, but this one just had the edge in composition.
Emma Collins

Really lovely :o) Would you be so kind as to share the camera settings you used, I find it very difficult to get the light right in indoor low light … Thanks, Emma
David McMahon replied

Thank you, Emma, glad you liked the shot. Yes, I’ll give you all the technical details this evening. No problem at all. For the moment, though, it was shot with a Pentax K100D and I was using a Sigma 18-125 lens.
Emma Collins

Thanks David, I look forward to hearing more :o)
David McMahon replied

Hi Emma, it was F5.6, 1/30th of a second, ISO 800 and focal length of 78mm. (I think I sent you an RBmail saying it was 125mm, but that figure was wrong.)
Emma Collins

Thanks – I think i need to slow down my shutter speed, i just find it tricky if i haven’t got my tripod … Did you use a tripod or have yoou just got a very steady hand :o)
David McMahon replied

I’ve never used a tripod, Emma – and I don’t intend to!
Christophe Testi

Nice perspective.
David McMahon replied

Thanks very much, Christophe. Glad you liked the shot.
Prasad

Great capture!
David McMahon replied

Thanks very much, Prasad. The light indoors was a bit of a challenge, but Indian pottery is amazing, so I had to take the shot. After all, I was born and educated in India!
MsLynn

Wonderful colors
David McMahon replied

Thanks very much, MsLynn – that fact and the graceful shapes really caught my eye. I was grateful that the interior light was very soft and muted.
JayneLogan

Fabulous .. great title
David McMahon replied

Thanks very much, Jayne. Glad you liked the title as well !
Marjorie Wallace
David McMahon replied

That’s great news, Marjorie. Thanks so much for featuring this image – and thank you, too, for letting me know.
LouJay

This is rather lovely – love the repetition and perspective!