Breakers kitchen
The kitchen in the Vanderbilt Mansion, Breakers, in Newport, RI
The kitchen in the Vanderbilt Mansion, Breakers, in Newport, RI
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PENTAX *ist DL 
Aperture 35/10 ISO 400 Shutter 1/15 Focal Length 18/1 
Newport, Rhode Island, US
Sep, 2017Views
105
Likes
Awards
People's Choice in Any and All Kitchens Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This is the kitchen in the Breakers, the Newport, RI "cottage" of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. We toured the mansion during a one-day stop here in Sept. 2017.Time
This photo was taken at the end of the tour of the mansion, in the late morning.Lighting
Considering that this room is actually in the "basement" of the mansion, it was surprisingly well lit. Not only were there lots of windows providing natural light, but there was also artificial lighting in use (you can see reflections of these lights in the floor tiles and some of the copper lids). The natural and artificial light combined for a nice exposure.Equipment
This photo was captured using a handheld Pentax *ist DL camera and a Pentax DA 18-55 mm zoom lens. The camera's auto-exposure controls opened the aperture to the maximum 3.5 and pushed the ISO up to 400, and still required a 1/15th second shutter speed, so holding the camera still to avoid blurring was an issue, since this camera does not have any stabilization. It took me several shots to get a nice clear photo. While a tripod or monopod would have made this much easier, they are not permitted on the tours inside these mansions.Inspiration
The tour of this mansion is a self-guided audio tour, and as I listened to the narrative in each room, I was trying to shoot anything that caught my eye. This was near the end of the tour, and while the kitchen doesn't have the same kind of luxury on display as we found in the upper levels, it appealed to me because I enjoy cooking. I found myself fascinated by the idea of preparing fancy, multi-course meals for large groups in this kitchen, with its coal fired stove, and other 19th century tools.Editing
Surprisingly, this photo did not need any post-processing. This is how it came out of the camera.In my camera bag
This was the last trip I made using my trusty Pentax cameras. By this point, I was routinely carrying almost identical cameras: a Pentax *ist DS and a Pentax *ist DL, with a different lens on each. This allowed me to switch focal lengths by changing cameras, without having to swap lenses. However, I only brought the *ist DL with me on the tour, simply to minimize the amount I had to carry.Feedback
Interior shots like this are a challenge with a camera that lacks image stabilization, especially in a location like here where tripods and flash are not permitted. It takes patience and a steady hand to get a clear shot without any blur. One trick I used was to frame my shot, then slowly exhale and then press and hold the shutter release at the end of the exhale. Only after the shot was complete would I inhale and take my finger off the shutter release. I found this made it easier for me to hold the camera still for longer exposures. I now use a camera with image stabilization, which makes shots like this *much* easier to capture.
