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Mustang Grapes
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Mustang Grapes

by Howard Cheek

Gallery: Weekly ChallengePosted April 17, 201383 views5 comments
Mustang grapes are the first to ripen in the summer here in Texas. They have a thick skin surrounding a very tart, gelatinous inner. This tartness makes them unpleasant to eat off the vine. Every year we make some into a jam, and their skins are a great source of pectin.
F/6.3, 1/30th, ISO 500, 1D M3, 300mm f/2.8

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Carolyn Derstine on April 17, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Oh my. . .this challenge is making me hungry! Even though you say they are not good off the vine, they still look delectable. . .and jam sounds great too. :smile: Well taken shot of these grapes, Howard. I like the dark blurred background, the contrast of colors, your DOF choice, your comp, and the touches of water on the grapes and leaf. Very nice. . .now I'm going to see if we have any grapes in our frig after viewing this (and right before this, Johns' image). . . :wink:
Registered on February 16, 2011, 610 Posts, 3684 Comments
Comment posted by John Clulow on April 17, 2013 at 4:15 PM
Very nice shot, Howard. I like the diagonals and accenting the vertical line of the bunch on the right sde. I also like the "catch lights" of specular reflectance that tells the viewer ther is liquid water on the grapes and grape leaves.

Also, in addition to the lovely blue color of the grapes, I really like the contrast between the red stem and the green leaves; a visual treat if not a delectable one. But I bet that jam is pretty darn good!
Registered on November 1, 2012, 155 Posts, 1079 Comments
Comment posted by Mark Seaver on April 17, 2013 at 10:30 PM
I can remember picking these to make very good jelly. Great look and how nice to have some rain on them.
Registered on January 23, 2011, 1103 Posts, 17270 Comments
Comment posted by RL Potts on April 19, 2013 at 11:59 AM
Edible wild fruit is good to see in this challenge. This image certainly has an untamed character. I like the colors and the background.
Registered on November 24, 2003, 188 Posts, 985 Comments
Comment posted by Jim Lockhart on April 20, 2013 at 7:55 PM
Howard, lots of interesting lines in your photo; the main stem running diagonally, and the grape clusters shooting off from the stem. Water on the berries and leaves adds a lot of interest too, with little reflections on the berries. I enjoyed it!
Jim
Registered on February 19, 2013, 91 Posts, 500 Comments