kitchen scales — Words — Andrew Barrow

Posts tagged kitchen scales

As with the Washing Line Series, some of the Kitchen Scales images work better than others. Raw Sausages might be great as an advertisement in a butchers but not so desirable on a kitchen calendar perhaps. One comment I have received is that, while technically good, the Scales series does not demonstrate the same level of quirkiness as seen in my other still life work.

As with all sets of photographs they develop and mature with each addition and adapt to criticism and feedback. Some work, others don’t. I’m hoping this ice-cream image brings back a little of the quirkiness; it’s the latest addition to the series.

It took a few attempts to get it right. Initially, I was after an ice-cream cone that you get from the vans at the seaside. A highly whipped soft ice cream which, obviously, has to have a flake in it. I don’t live near the sea and I haven’t seen a van in town like, ever. So an attempt was made using whipped double cream piped into place as an attempt to replicate the soft waves seen in the originals.

I wasn’t sure it worked. A talented photography friend agreed and put their finger right on it; the cream doesn’t look wet enough. Looking at it today it just resembles shaving foam rather than ice cream! I resorted to ‘normal’ ice cream, the actual stuff, a soft scoop from the local supermarket. ‘Wetness’ was there, important as it needed to look slightly melted, for drips.

The next issue my friend pointed out in the second image was the size/scale of the flake. It’s huge and looks like it is just there propping up the cone. In a real ‘99’ the flake is half-sized. At this point, the cone and its contents had been consumed and the set-up cleaned. Really liked the arrangement of the ice cream and its drip though and lacking time to restyle the whole still life I resorted to a little play in photoshop.

Another flake was chopped in half and photographed on the scales at pretty much the same angle as the original. Photoshop was then used to mask out the old one. I don’t think you can tell.

Some good comments received over this image. It is available as a print on Etsy.

Now I just have to ensure the level of ‘quirkiness’ is maintained.

In the StudioAndrew Barrow28 June 2021still life setup, food photography, kitchen scales, ice creamComment

I WILL Use that Set of Red Scales

From the kitchen ‘man draw’, I retrieved a screwdriver and simply removed the cradle from the red kitchen scales. For those who know me personally having me actually owning a screwdriver might come as a surprise… but there it was. Still in its original packaging…

The oversized red scales look lovely but the cradle and tray is large enough to hold a small child and proved impossible to use in the Kitchen Scales series of food pictures. Removing part of it means it doesn’t work as a scale anymore but I don’t think that matters in terms of being a photo prop.

For the first image, I went with Sausages from my local butcher. They are simple herby sausages, they call them Farmhouse Sausages, and are a firm favourite. I just used a tray from one of the other scales and am rather pleased with the result.

Having uploaded the image to Instagram and put the print up for sale on Etsy, if the background is a bit ‘muddy’ and I should have gone for a cleaner green texture…

The Kitchen Scales series is progressing well. The intention is to construct two calendars - one focusing on fruit and vegetables, a meat-free version if you like, while the other has a mix of fresh produce and meat/fish and so on.

In the StudioAndrew Barrow30 March 2021kitchenalia, kitchen scales, prints for saleComment

Hot Cross Buns on Vintage Kitchen Scales

I was reading a little inspirational book the other day, one targeted at photographers and artists. One passage jumped out at me “There’s an intuition that you only gain through the repetition of practice”. It struck home as I struggled to use that large red kitchen scales in an image.

It just was not working. I couldn’t get the angle right, the tray positioned so the 16 (!) hot crossed buns inside displayed as I wanted. Intuition told me it just was not going to work.

I had to prop the tray up at the back so the rull array of buns was fully visible. But in doing that the tray became detached from the scales supports. To hide this I slide the camera along seeing that the little and would fix the issue in photoshop. But no, intuition kicked in and I abandoned the idea.

Actually I abandoned the scales rather than the idea by replacing them with a different set. A few test shots later - trying to get balance with buns outside the weighing tray - and I was happy. The final image is now up on Etsy. Hot Cross Buns on Vintage Kitchen Scales by AndrewBarrowPhotos https://etsy.me/2Qto8iv

In the StudioAndrew Barrow21 March 2021kitchenalia, kitchen scales, food photographyComment

More Scales!

Yesterday I described my EBay spree on acquiring several different vintage scales. I had five on the shelves and, in fact, had already used each in a photo. This number would give me plenty of options for the series of images I had planned. I even checked EBay to ensure I had no further bids that would result in more such scales arriving.

Then two more were delivered.

I had no idea I had been so extravagant (aka reckless). Am I really the only person with an interest in these things that no one else bid on them?

The first to be delivered was a nice little creamy yellow number. Not certain the dish is original but it matters not. (The Comet Scales I used for the doughnut shot is obviously missing its plastic tray. But this doesn’t matter as it would obscure the contents inside I think).

Latest New Scales - perfect size, lovely cream colour.

It is the second new set of scales I am having problems with. I seem to have underestimated its size. The tray is more like a coal-scuttle! I imagine it was used for scooping large quantities of flour or seeds or something. But it is huge. I have no idea how I am going to be able to utilise it in a photo!

I could drill a hole in the back of the tray and use it as a plant holder. But this rather defeats the point of buying it…

The photos below are all unprocessed. I’ve included one of my little studio for those who enjoy seeing ‘behind the scenes’. One moan, however - the sender of the red scales used a huge amount of packing tape and stuck it directly to the scales. On peeling, even gently, the tape removed the gorgeous red paint.

In the StudioAndrew Barrow4 March 2021kitchen scales, studio, still life setupComment

Kitchenalia

Enjoyed a little eBay indulgence last week. Seemed to have ended up with five different kitchen scales. All are old and battered as I was after a certain vintage kitchenalia vibe. If I am honest I only wanted one or two of these sales; NO IDEA how I ended up with five… I’ve just checked eBay to ensure I haven’t bid on any more!

Now they are all here I have enjoyed a few hours of using them combined with various food items. Some didn’t work - spinach for example looked like wilted weeds pulled from a central reservation. But the ones below I am happy with.

Production is similar to my other studio work, but I’m using a flash rather than natural light. Small flash and a huge softbox. The ability to move the light so it wraps around the subject is vital here when compared with the natural light of, say, the Washing Line images.

One thing I did learn from submitting the Washing Line images to the RPS for the Fellowship is that the subject must be instantly recognisable. Spinach didn’t. Doughnuts, flour, lemons and the rest do.

I have also dipped my toe into the world of Etsy selling and have added these to my new store. Would be lovely if someone made a purchase! Food Related Fine Art Photography Prints by AndrewBarrowPhotos (etsy.com)

In the StudioAndrew Barrow3 March 2021kitchenalia, kitchen scales, food photography, prints for sale, etsyComment