In the previous post, I introduced the basic curve for still life photography. The critical part of it was the S curve hook to balance out brightness, contrast, and exposure. Today, it's a continued post, #2: Master the abnormal curve for still life photography.

I took those photos at the backyard of the flower shop, Flowers for Lena, a couple of weeks ago. Randomly pumpkins were left on the ground, and I felt this is the sense of the fall season starts.

For the curve session today, like last time, I leave the original photo in Raw and the point curve graph to show how I edited to make the fall mood on the photo.

As you see, the hook here is the not following the S curve hook theory. However, this curve also a format/form

This photo has a focus on objects, which are pumpkins, the background is dark, and there is no any particular thing to add the bright sense look. Therefore, I set each curve almost on the straight line to keep the moody look, not strong contrast or highlight. That emphasizes the fall pumpkins from the background.

On each point of curve lines, I left the ⇧ sign to see that the width of each end on the y-axis is getting to be narrow up to the top. Also, only in box #13, they have two points, which are a ‘starting point’ and ‘the second starting point.’ The role of the second starting point is to add vintage-polished essence by making the point be at the same y-axis level.

(By the way, the box #s are listed in the description of the first curve session. Please check.)

Beside that point, the curves do not interact with the center line. It's deviation from the standard straight line, even the S curve hook.

Let’s go review

1. Keep the points by the following format. (Almost no curving points)
2. Make the first starting point and the second starting point to polish the photo mood you want.
3. No interaction with the center line on the graph.
(*I made the ending point on the box #4 cross the center line to close the curve… but it’s not necessarily crossing the center line to conclude your curve.)

Ok, I think that's it for today.

Thank you for reading, and it will be the last post of the series, master the curve.
See you—