Antc's 52 - UPDATED 19/07 Week 29 - "Capital One, Nottingham"

Just a quick one this week. Been very busy with other things and not really had time to take photos! This weeks image is of a Daffodil from my back garden, we have hundreds of them and its a great sight! I like spring personally, its the beginning of the nights getting lighter, lots of colourful plants and new wildlife around all of which I like taking photos of so bring on spring i say!!

Week 13 - Spring Daffodil

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I have been going through a few images from last years motorsport events that I attended and re editing. This weeks image is of Shane Shakey Byrne from the 2008 BSB round from Cadwell Park. I particularly like the diagonal composition of this image through the frame, I think it shows good motion in the wheel spoke and tyre blur whilst still keeping a sharp rider with details on his leathers and the bike. If you look close you can see the information on his digital dashboard as well!

Week 14 - Shane (Shakey) Byrne

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Catch up time for me. :)

The studio shots of Cat - Like the pose in the first one, and the clean white background. The h&s shot - you've caught a lovely expression in her eyes but for me the lower haf of her face is a little over-exposed/processed - and if that's what you intended that's great. It looks a bit Venure-ish to me. btw, hard to believe this is your first time in a studio. :thumbs:

Sam - I like the lighting - very moody and contrasty and works well with a black bg. It's potentially very sexy, provocative lighting and I think it would look great with a sexier pose/expression. But again, it's a very small niggle.

Week 12 - I like the 'behind the scenes' feel to this (even though it's out of doors). Everyone looks occupied by the task in hand and I like the little touch of the RAC being printed inside the bonnet. :D

Week 13 - lovely colours and great composition. This would make a good illustration for a gardening article in a glossy mag! :clap:

Week 14 - I can imagine how hard it ws to get that shot and I like the feeling of speed and the ground wizzing by. Unusual angle too - the photo, not Shane. :)

Jean
 
Week 14 ticks all the boxes for me :thumbs: although tbh all i can think it how do they not fall over ;)
 
jeangenie said:
Catch up time for me. :)

The studio shots of Cat - Like the pose in the first one, and the clean white background. The h&s shot - you've caught a lovely expression in her eyes but for me the lower haf of her face is a little over-exposed/processed - and if that's what you intended that's great. It looks a bit Venure-ish to me. btw, hard to believe this is your first time in a studio. :thumbs:

Sam - I like the lighting - very moody and contrasty and works well with a black bg. It's potentially very sexy, provocative lighting and I think it would look great with a sexier pose/expression. But again, it's a very small niggle.

Week 12 - I like the 'behind the scenes' feel to this (even though it's out of doors). Everyone looks occupied by the task in hand and I like the little touch of the RAC being printed inside the bonnet. :D

Week 13 - lovely colours and great composition. This would make a good illustration for a gardening article in a glossy mag! :clap:

Week 14 - I can imagine how hard it ws to get that shot and I like the feeling of speed and the ground wizzing by. Unusual angle too - the photo, not Shane. :)

Jean
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I know what you mean with regard to catching up! Its hard to keep up with all the great shots in peoples blogs! With regard to the different model poses this is something i am still learning, in not so great at directing models so have started keeping a scrap book of different poses which i shall take along with me on shoots.

With the Cat shoot i did go for a venture ish style, that was my very first shoot as well so very happy with the outcome.

I wanted the BTCC shoot to look like it was photographed as a sort of team shot, advertising kinda shot in a way. I think it came out well and as you say everyone is doing something in the shot, lots to look at.

This weeks shot of Shane is tricky in a way, once you have mastered the art of panning its just dependant on your subject. Bikes and f1 cars are way tricker than say normal racing cars as they move a heck of a lot quicker. I find focusing on the riders helmet seems to work quite well to get sharp shots of the bikers.


Toothie said:
Week 14 ticks all the boxes for me :thumbs: although tbh all i can think it how do they not fall over ;)
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Haha yes indeed, they are moving so fast they manage to lean to some incredibly low angles!

dellipher said:
The whites look a little tad blown on the RHS of him however not shot motorsport, dont care to, so it looks good ! :thumbs:
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Thanks :thumbs:
 
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Today saw round 2 of the Buildbase Mallory Trophy at Mallory Park. Forecast weather was sun, which in reality was grey skies and drizzle! For me this was my first motorsport event of the season, so time for some practice and boy did I need it! Rusty is not the way to describe how bad my panning techniques had become over the winter months! Anyway here is one of the better efforts from my not so productive day out. Its not normally the done thing to have such a tight crop on a motorsport shot, but I like it.

Week 15 - Buildbase Mallory Trophy rider

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antc said:
. Its not normally the done thing to have such a tight crop on a motorsport shot, but I like it.
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I like it too, even though I know nothing about the subject. The rider and bike are good and sharp, the wheels are clearly moving fast, and I don't understand why you shouldn't crop so tight - this gives a nice crisp, clean shot with nothing to distract from the subject. And the subject has obviously found the solution to defying gravity. Excellent. :thumbs::thumbs:

Jean
 
jeangenie said:
I like it too, even though I know nothing about the subject. The rider and bike are good and sharp, the wheels are clearly moving fast, and I don't understand why you shouldn't crop so tight - this gives a nice crisp, clean shot with nothing to distract from the subject. And the subject has obviously found the solution to defying gravity. Excellent. :thumbs::thumbs:

Jean
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dellipher said:
I prefer the newer Bike shot Coming towards you :)
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Toothie said:
nice sence of movement on the bike, its good to see him coming towards you :)
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Thanks guys! Means a lot. I had a really off/bad day, didnt feel i was capturing things as i wanted or know i can.
 
This week saw the Hollyoaks lads take on AC Broxtowe for the third time in a charity football match held at Notts County FC. There was a great atmosphere around the ground, by far the most screaming girls I have ever seen at a football match too! I wonder why that was?! So not such a great game for Hollyoaks, they lost by quite a few goals, think it was six or seven to one.

Week 16 - Calvin Valentine played by Ricky Whittle

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antc said:
This week saw the Hollyoaks lads take on AC Broxtowe for the third time in a charity football match held at Notts County FC. There was a great atmosphere around the ground, by far the most screaming girls I have ever seen at a football match too! I wonder why that was?! So not such a great game for Hollyoaks, they lost by quite a few goals, think it was six or seven to one.

Week 16 - Calvin Valentine played by Ricky Whittle

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I've never seen Hollyoaks and know nothing about football but if he is a character in Hollyoaks weeeellllll - (looks for swooning emoticon) ....... what channel is it on? :D

Well captured. :thumbs: It's a pity he's so close to the bg - the shadow's a bit distracting, but I don't suppose you had the option of ask him to move!

Jean
 
jeangenie said:
I've never seen Hollyoaks and know nothing about football but if he is a character in Hollyoaks weeeellllll - (looks for swooning emoticon) ....... what channel is it on? :D

Well captured. :thumbs: It's a pity he's so close to the bg - the shadow's a bit distracting, but I don't suppose you had the option of ask him to move!

Jean
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Thanks for the comments jeangenie. For your info its on chanel 4 weekdays at 6.30pm.

I agree on the shadow, but didnt really have the chance to move him. Shame really but i still quite like the image and its my first real "celebrity" image.
 
antc said:
Thanks for the comments jeangenie. For your info its on chanel 4 weekdays at 6.30pm.

I agree on the shadow, but didnt really have the chance to move him. Shame really but i still quite like the image and its my first real "celebrity" image.
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Right - 6.30 tomorrow - I'll have to persuade Mr JG the news isn't worth watching!! :)

Anyway, congrats on your first real celebrity - definitely one for your portfolio, methinks. :)

Jean
 
Another model from me for this weeks blog shot. Had a shoot with a great model called Fran last Monday. It was particulary interesting as this was the first meeting at our new venue so new surroundings and props to use. All in all I think the shoot went well, I got some great images from it and again learnt more about working with models.

Week 17 - Fran

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jeangenie said:
She's a gorgeous model and it's always strange working in a new environment.

Rather than me making comments (easy for someone else to say 'why didn't you do this or that'!) can I ask, what would you do differently?


Jean
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Wow, thats a tough question as i am still new and learning so much about model shoots.

Looking at the photo the reflection of the light in the window needs removing. Personally i would have liked to have a different prop for her to site on and perhaps have taken the shot against a plain coloured back ground.

So i would have changed too much hahaha.

Be interesting to hear your thoughts though!
 
Been revising hard for an upcoming exam and decided I would take a break and get some fresh air so headed to a local wood to take some pictures of the bluebells flowering. What a great site it was, the place was literally covered in them! Was all going very well until it rained on me. Managed to get a few good shots and after a little tweaking I rather like this one. I really love the colours in this, from the different shades of green on the bluebell flowers stems and the tree leaves to the colour of the bluebells themselves. Going to go again shortly hopefully with some different lighting conditions and see what I can capture.

Week 18 - Bluebells of Spring

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dellipher said:
Some lovely colours in there Ant :)
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Thanks Dell, i certainly agree with you. I have been wondering if i should take a slither off the top of the image to make it slightly less half and half and more 2/3 and 1/3 if that makes sense?
 
Ahh - they're back!

Fran: Yep, I definitely get rid of the flash in the window. I think the bg is ok but it might look good if you throw it out of focus a bit more - and sit her on a simple dark wood chair (something to work with the dark wooden window frame and the stripped wooden floor). A chair would give you lots of posing options too. The ring on her right hand is a bit distracting, imo - it's just catching the light.

I'm sure you took lots of different poses and it would be interesting to compare the lighting - it's a little bit flat on her face (when you guys get to look at her face :)) but probably works well in other poses. So, yes a great effort and you've put thought into the next session. :)

Bluebells: I like the composition as it it. The large tree in the right foreground works well, imo, and I think cropping the top would make that out of proportion (if that makes sense!) Well worth the break from revision. :thumbs:

Jean
 
loving the bluebell shot Ant, nice colours, it is a shame you cant see more of the tress though did you try it in portrait fromat?
 
jeangenie said:
Ahh - they're back!

Fran: Yep, I definitely get rid of the flash in the window. I think the bg is ok but it might look good if you throw it out of focus a bit more - and sit her on a simple dark wood chair (something to work with the dark wooden window frame and the stripped wooden floor). A chair would give you lots of posing options too. The ring on her right hand is a bit distracting, imo - it's just catching the light.

I'm sure you took lots of different poses and it would be interesting to compare the lighting - it's a little bit flat on her face (when you guys get to look at her face :)) but probably works well in other poses. So, yes a great effort and you've put thought into the next session. :)

Bluebells: I like the composition as it it. The large tree in the right foreground works well, imo, and I think cropping the top would make that out of proportion (if that makes sense!) Well worth the break from revision. :thumbs:

Jean
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Images dissapeared temporarily due to someone mounting a DDOS attack on someones website that my web hosting company looks after, it seemed to effect myself and some of my mates websites who are also with the company! Should all be ok now.

Thanks again for the comments. I did take some other shots, still learning so trying out all sorts of things. I have been noting down all these little issues and ideas from everyone so hopefully as i go along i can improve.

Enjoyed the bluebell shot, was good to get some fresh air and even better when i passed the exam on tuesday! Wahoo :)

Toothie said:
loving the bluebell shot Ant, nice colours, it is a shame you cant see more of the tress though did you try it in portrait fromat?
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Hi Ruth, I did take a few variations of the shot inc one in portrait but i prefered the composition of the one i posted. I felt the near and far tree trunks carved the image up nicely into thirds, perhaps i could have tried a slightly lower perspective. Going back shortly again to take some more.
 
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Well, perhaps not so ugly but this little fella was taken at a local nature reserve. He was out for the day with the rest of his siblings plus mum and dad, for a morning paddle around the lake.

Week 19 - The Ugly Duckling

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He isn't ugly. Quite sweet in fact. I love the detail around the face.

My two thoughts are: things are a bit fuzzy off the centre of the picture. Maybe try a narrower f-number, maybe that would help.
Also his positioning in the frame isn't quite right for me. His tail is falling off the edge. I think it'd look better either taken back a bit to give a little room round the edges, or closer in to concentrate on detail around the face.
 
Toothie said:
awww thats not ugly definate awwww factor and a lovely DoF :thumbs:
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Thanks, he is a little cutie really!

The Matt said:
He isn't ugly. Quite sweet in fact. I love the detail around the face.

My two thoughts are: things are a bit fuzzy off the centre of the picture. Maybe try a narrower f-number, maybe that would help.
Also his positioning in the frame isn't quite right for me. His tail is falling off the edge. I think it'd look better either taken back a bit to give a little room round the edges, or closer in to concentrate on detail around the face.
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Yeah im not quite sure what happened with the slight fuzzyness. His tail has just (be a mill or so) gone outta the frame but is still a slight annoyance i will conceed.

Thanks for commenting!
 
Well had some really great weather for the last week or so. Shooting opportunities have been extremely limited. Decided I would do some still life/indoor work today and have been testing with various items from cds and water to cake and graffix cards. Finally settled on the above image for this weeks blog. I like the colours in the cd from really deep blue to a nice green and the water droplets and the reflections they have picked up.

Week 20 - Sunday afternoon abstract

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This shot can also be found and commented on @ my blog - http://www.anthony-clay.co.uk/blog
 
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