Critique Hot Chocolate Break

[Mike Buckley]

Now that I have a brand new hot chocolate maker, I plan to enjoy photographing hot chocolate as much as drinking it.

Setup
The tabletop and background are pieces of old wood. A medium continuous-light lamp was above the scene on the right side.

Focus Stacking
Five focus-bracketed images at Nikon step size 3 were stacked in Helicon Focus at default settings.

Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

 

[dburanich]

I was wondering when we would start seeing the reviews on the new toy.
Anxiously waiting for your input until I take the plunge.
I couldn't really tell from the website but are they good for lactose intolerant individuals?
Depending on which one you buy of course.
Oh!
And the photo looks great.

 

[Louis Champan]

Cool shot, could tell all sorts of stories.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Dave and Louie!

I was wondering when we would start seeing the reviews on the new toy.

Copied and pasted from my post in an earlier thread:
"WOW! I absolutely love this system! Most people make hot chocolate way too hot to my taste but this device automatically brings it to my ideal temperature.

The 70% chocolate is also a great starter version of their chocolate. I also have a variety pack that includes most of the flavors they sell and I look forward to trying them out over time. I'll also experiment with adding my own spices to their chocolate.

Just by coincidence, it makes the perfect amount for two servings using my ceramic mugs that are inserted into Armetale (metal) mug holders."

Also consider that the reason I have the hot chocolate maker is because Richard raved about it.

I've now tried two flavors and both are excellent: Classic 70% Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Praline Chocolate. The latter is a bit lighter.

I couldn't really tell from the website but are they good for lactose intolerant individuals?
Depending on which one you buy of course.

I don't know for sure but I think it has to do not with the flavor of chocolate but the liquid you mix with it. The website says the liquid can be dairy- or plant-based mlik, or water. Best to check that detail out carefully if lactose intolerance is an important issue.

 

[Palouse]

A fabulous setting and so very suited to the star. Hope the HC is not tepid!

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Nick!

Hope the HC is not tepid!

Not at all tepid, at least not after I warmed it up in the microwave oven.

When making the hot chocolate and not making a photo of it, I put water in the ceramic mug and warm that up in the microwave oven. I do that to warm up the mug. I then pour out the water and pour in the hot chocolate. It works like a charm!

 

[Mitchell]

I need some steam, marshmallows or whipped cream. Great setting you conjured here, Mike.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, Mitch!

I need some steam, marshmallows or whipped cream

If it's steaming, it's too hot to my taste. Great hot chocolate is like great bread; if it needs anything else to make it better, it wasn't great in the first place.

 

[dossy]

Mike, I think this is one of my favorite of your images! The comp and lighting is wonderful, it tells a story, and it just pulls me in with a warm feeling. Emotion is everything!

 

[...Daniel...]

Great image!

All the brown colors goes well together and makes the attention go to the lighter middle part.
I like the shadows and mood of the image.

 

[Bart]

Marvellous work, Mike!
I came upon this thanks to it being featured on the home page.

I'll just imagine it's an espresso. Better for my calorie intake

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you also to dossy, Daniel and Bart!

My childhood friend returned from a hike an hour ago that was so cold that she wore several layers and didn't remove any. When she returned home still feeling a bit chilly, she saw this photo. That motivated her to make her own cup of hot chocolate. Gotta love that!

 

[jbailey930]

I wish I saw these hot chocolate threads before Xmas! I would have bought my youngest one of these as she loves it and her taste have moved on from swiss miss!

 

[kilofoxtrott]

Now that I have a brand new hot chocolate maker, I plan to enjoy photographing hot chocolate as much as drinking it.

Setup
The tabletop and background are pieces of old wood. A medium continuous-light lamp was above the scene on the right side.

Focus Stacking
Five focus-bracketed images at Nikon step size 3 were stacked in Helicon Focus at default settings.

View attachment 1676305

Genius!
Mike, all the pictures you're showing here are marvelous. But this one is outstanding. It's absolutely worth the featuring.

All the best for 2021
Klaus

 

[Walter Rowe]

Excellent use of matching brown color background.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you also to John, Klaus and Walter!

 

[Lance B]

Great shot! Now I really want a hot chocolate! ?

 

[Binnur]

Very nice presentation Mike. Everything is in harmony in the photo.

 

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Lance and Binnur!

 

[Kry27]

I won't show this to my kids

Cup after cup after cup... of hot chocolate, this holidays