Reviving Classic Elegance: Jiayi Lu's Vintage Afternoon Tea

Golden A' Design Award Winner Transforms Photography into Olio Painting

Jiayi Lu's Vintage Afternoon Tea is not just a photography project; it's a journey back in time. The inspiration for this project came from a work of table setting, designed to emulate the style of vintage afternoon tea. The goal was to create a visual effect reminiscent of old olio paintings, capturing an aura of elegance and indolence. The idea was sparked by the olio paintings of Rembrandt Harmenszoon, but instead of a traditional canvas and brush, Lu used a digital photo camera to 'paint' a work akin to Rembrandt's.

What sets this project apart is its unique approach to photography. It's a work of table setting captured in the form of contemporary photography. To complement the vintage table setting, Lu manipulated lights to create an atmosphere akin to an olio painting. The result is a stunning image that transports viewers to a bygone era, all while maintaining the sharpness and clarity of modern photography.

The technical realization of this project involved the use of digital photography to capture the frames, followed by post-processing in Photoshop and Lightroom. The final image, after cutting, measures 6677 x 4456 pixels, with an exposure of 1/200s (f/4.0), an effective focal length of 100mm, and an ISO of 80. The image was captured with flash to enhance the depth of color and create a rich, painterly effect.

Lu's work is a testament to the power of research and creative exploration. The project was born from a deep dive into classical paintings, using Google Images to study lighting techniques used in these works. The biggest challenge was creating the right atmosphere, one that would evoke the same feelings as a classical painting. But with careful planning and execution, Lu was able to overcome this hurdle and bring her vision to life.

The Vintage Afternoon Tea project was completed in March 2017 in Shanghai. It has since been recognized with the prestigious Golden A' Photography and Photo Manipulation Design Award in 2017. This award is granted to exceptional, trendsetting creations that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.

In conclusion, Jiayi Lu's Vintage Afternoon Tea is a triumph of design and innovation, blending the old with the new to create a work of art that is both timeless and contemporary. It's a reminder of the power of creativity and the limitless possibilities of technology when used as a tool to express one's artistic vision.