Monday, October 09, 2006

Oeuf means egg


The shell of an egg is a perfectly engineered example of nature. Lightweight and incredibly strong in precisely the right places, it protects and nurtures its precious cargo before it gives way and allows new life to take flight.

I was being my typically annoying self in the kitchen this weekend when I spotted a few eggs in the fridge. Before I could stop myself, I popped them into a bowl and brought them to the table. Our kitchen has a south-facing set of windows, so anything that sits on the happy end of the table is bathed in nice, even light. Just right for my strange brand of still life photography.

I tossed the camera on the tripod and experimented with some long exposures (this one's a five-second shot). All I wanted was a simple, monochrome illustration of shape and texture. Yet for some reason, the simplest compositions seem to be the ones that I stare at for the longest period of time. What gives?

Your turn: What's in your fridge? Is it photo-worthy?

Your turn #2: Bonus points if you can identify the source of this entry's title.

21 comments:

Mike said...

Another interesting picture. as to our Refrigerator it is mostly empty which is why Thumper and I have to buy groceries tomorrow.

Here from Michele

utenzi said...

Michele sent me, Carmi.

I need to get a tripod. Mine broke and I've not replaced it yet. The eggs came out perfect--doesn't that sound like a food review?

Were I to compose a pic from my fridge, I think I'd take some green bell pepper slices I have (unfortunately I don't have other colors on hand) and put them over some sliced onion. Then to the side I'd have a small mound of sweet relish with a few dabs of mustard next to it. That would give some textural interest and a bit of color to balance the green dominated photo.

Quote? Steve Martin talking about how the French seem to have a word for everything?

Thumper said...

Evidently I am grocery shopping tomorrow... but there are lots of soft drinks in the fridge. Line 'em up and that would be a good shot...

Here from Michele's again :)

Anonymous said...

Well actually Carmi, I took a photograph (no where as near as beautiful as yours!) yesterday of the fresh fruit and vegetables I had just bought, which are now residing in my fridge. Yes I did it for the purpose of a Post...

I'm here via Michele today...

SzélsőFa said...

I love how you make the most boring subjects into a good and watchable picture.
Is it the ling exposure? The good eye? a good camera?
In my fridge? lots of food. Eggs, veggies, different sorts of cheese.

Catherine said...

I have some red capsicums in my fridge, and green beans that might make a nice composition. I don't think I have practised my photographer's eye as much as you have, though.
I have a poem on my blog - I think it was a couple of Thursdays ago - that mentions the strength of eggs.
Michele sent me.

Anonymous said...

I think Oeuf is French for clean, simplistic design.

I need to ravage my fridge for some photo opportunities, inspired by you.

Michele sent me this time.

Linda said...

my fridge is not worthy of photography...but I love these eggs!

For some reason, this photo brings to mind a gameshow that my mom watches (if it's still on the air)...La Poule aux Oeufs D'or (pardon my butchering of the french spelling of eggs). My daughter and son SO enjoyed watching this show while we visited mom she lives in a predominantly French community in Maine, where they actually have several French stations broadcast!). I think that other than mama and dada, Oeuf was my son's first word! We would all chant it during the show, lol!

aprilbapryll said...

... it's like the French have a different word for everything!"

Michele sent me, and my fridge is a mess. But I do have a beautiful pile of chocolate chip cookies on the stove ...

Thanks!

Shephard said...

Yeah, I remembered that Steve Martin quote. He cracks me up. "The French have a word for everything."

I just ran to my fridge to find something photo-worthy. I didn't find anything as "a-peeling" as those pure white eggs. But I did find a snack.

I like this photo a lot. I like how clean and fresh it feels.

Michele sent me!
~S

Kristal said...

Most of the time, my fridge is rather bare. My kids eat a LOT! I have taken a few pictures of it, but none were artistic. Here via Michele...

Karen said...

Carmi, Michele sent me back today and I'm so glad! I saw this photo earlier - it's amazing. Truly! You could be an advertising photographer. It's scary how talented you are.

I have no clue what the title means except that it reminds me of Project Runway when Heidi Klum says: "In fashion, one day you're in, the next, you're auf." (Well, I know she says "out," but it sounds like "auf" when she says it!

Have a great day!

Carli N. Wendell said...

The only way what's in my fridge is photo worthy is if the health department wants evidence against me. Really, it needs a good clean out. There's aged cheese, and then there's green Kraft singles.

Sandy said...

Michele sent me back over - and yet I still didn't have the time to clean the fridge enough to make a darn thing in there photo worthy. Oh wait. That was photos from the contents, not in the refridgerator. Umm, well, I still got nothing.

I do love these eggs however.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful picture. I absolutely love photography.... off to the fridge. How about long, lean green onions??? Something simple about them. Or a new package of sesame seed bagels.

Hen Jen said...

I love the eggs photo, they look so clean and oval. I have beautiful "Martha-Stewart green" eggs in my fridge from our hen, I would try to photograph them, but I only have a basic camera and could not mess with timing or F stops or anything like that. I really enjoy your photography, you have inspired me to look around me more and try to capture what I notice. I ran out today just to take a photo of a tree in bloom next to a church...( I would have felt the urge to in the past, but would not have done it).
So, thanks for sharing your love of photography with us.
Jenny in Ca

Mrs. Falkenberg said...

This is a great shot! I love black and white, so your latest facination is really calling to me.
For some reason, the eggs are just so...peaceful looking!

srp said...

We are going on a trip. Mind you, it is a short trip. Actually, it is a long trip in a short time. Drive 15 hours on Friday. Stay 24 hours. Drive 15 hours back on Sunday.

But (now here is where it ties into eggs) in order to go on this long, short trip my mom has to clean out the refrigerator. Why? Because someone is house sitting. So yesterday the table was covered with more stuff than I thought could be crammed into a fridge. It is amazing to see what we have in there, and a bit frightening too; especially the stuff stuck way in the back.

And I always wondered why I was so obsessed about cleaning my garage before a trip.

Max Sartin said...

Great egg shot, and a blast from the past. Fits well with our little egg shooting side-exercise.

21 Wits said...

Oh the french do know their eggs! I do believe you mastered this family of eggs Carmi, and yes I can see the rough surface of the ones up front of the pack...this is quite a group of stunning eggs and a wee bit of shadowing..very cool. It's funny in my recent play with eggs and those who fear brown wouldn't work, possibly not with complete white...but the brown ones now have me wondering...need I say more?! Thanks for giving me this link, eggstlant photo!..and for bringing it to the table for us all! Enquiring minds press on!

Bob Benedetti said...

Your title comes the early days of Tennis scoring. they originally used a clock face to record the scores and love was originally "l'oeuf" french for "the egg" ie zero