Attempt at my own 52 - Week 8 - Lead

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I am a complete beginner! :help: I don't have an DSLR (Panny FZ38 instead) and I don't really understand the paintshop software that I have BUT I needed to have a "goal" so I have started my own photo a week challenge. For inspiration, I am using the theme list for 2010 but my OH is drawing them for me each week - hope that doesn't break any rules!

I wasn't going to publish my photo's on here but I figure nothing ventured nothing gained. So here they are. Please feel free to offer any constructive critism - I am on a very steep learning curve and seem to be getting results by trial and error more than anything else!

Week 1 - Peace. Tricky one to start with - and I am afraid not totally original.



Week 2 - Handmade. I knew what I wanted to do but don't have any lighting equipment so tried to reflect the light from the kitchen spotlight with a piece of white card!



Week 3 - Transform. Again, I knew what I wanted to do but not sure I have all the skills to pull it off! Learnt a bit about masks though!



Week 4 - Post. Mmm. This one had me a bit stumped. :lol: I can't decide which of these 2 work best - neither are particularly good.






Thanks for looking. Any advice about how I can improve will be greatfully received!
 
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Good luck on your 52 - A good start - I like the composition of #1, could perhaps have been over exposed by a touch to make the white whiter and focus on the tip of the stamen thingie! I like the knitting in #2, perhaps try one piece of white paper and then you won't have the line where the floor joins the wall, or photoshop that out. The shadows are also very harsh in it, if you could move it away from the background that would help soften the shadows a little.

Hope that helps for starters, don't want to overload you!!
 
Thanks for your comments Sara. I know they are not great but as a beginner I'm not always sure why or how to improve them. I think the processing of #1 was a little OTT - but I wanted to show the texture of the petal. I mght have another go. I was disappointed with the harsh shadows in #2 but again, with limited equipment and even less knowledge couldn't figure out how to avoid them - I pinned the sock to the mounting board but should've found some way to stand it up away from the background. (although socks tend to need a foot in them to stay upright!):lol:

Please don't feel you have to go easy with me - honest critique is the only way I think I will learn to get better! Keep 'em coming!
 
Welcome to the 52's, and good luck with yours.

#1 is nicely composed, but the focus is back a little from the end of the bit in the middle (I don't know what it's called ;))... it may not be quite pure white, but take it too far and it easily goes from not quite white to blown and you have kept the detail in the petals.

#2 The knitting works, I do agree with Sara's comments, but, whilst the Panasonic does good images, you are going to struggle to get the same Depth of Field with it, as can be achieved with an SLR, however, if you move the sock etc forward away from the wall that will help a lot.. perhaps a bottle behind it, and pinned to a cork at the top... see if you can get the knitting to cover the bottle, that will reduce the shadows... and if you get a sheet of white kitchen roll, and hold it a little way in front of the flash, that will diffuse it and help even more with the shadows. Of course, by this point, hands may be at a premium ;) It's amazing, what props get used to get pictures at times...

#3 I like it, it's a nice interpretation of the theme. and well processed. The hairbrush, being chopped a little at the side, I'm not so keen on... and I think the same is true for the bright line around the window... Not sure what you could do about that, except possibly rearrange the room, but that's a pain

#4 Post, of the two... the pillar box works best for me. The second post, just doesn't seem to have enough interest in it. What could have worked well in both of these, is to push the camera in as close as you can (use the macro mode possibly), and get some close up detail.. perhaps the Post of the pillar box for instance... something to play with...

I hope that's all of some help, sorry if any of that sounds a bit negative, it's not intended to be.
 
Thanks for taking the time and for your very helpful comments John. Just the sort of advice I needed! I will be using the postbox as my final image for Post.

G
 
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Week 5 was Twisted. I had a little bit of play with lighting and backgrounds and this is what I came up with. Still not sure if I got it right.



I think oneof my problems might be my indecision! This is the alternative for Twisted.



As always, please let me know what you think. I do appreciate any comments - good or bad!

G
 
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Not a terribly interesting photograph but it did challenge me - which is the whole idea of doing a "52" - it's a good way to learn my camera and editing skills! So are your comments - please! :)

G


Week 6: Electric

 
Gai, sorry, I thought I'd commented on twisted... no clue as to why I didn't...

Of the two, I very much prefer the first... it's got more mystery to it, and I prefer the gentle curves. The second works, but it could do with a bit more seperation from the background, I'm not sure whether you could easily though.

Not the easiest of things to shoot, but you've done a good job on it. The reflections and the light in the filament look well controlled.

It would be worth getting your thread added to

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=191930
 
Thanks again John for your comments. The twisted brick pillar is right in front of a huge conifer tree but I see what you mean about it not be seperated fenough rom the background. The electric light bulb certainly was tricky - I took loads of shot's - this was the only one that worked well enough but at least I have managed to figure out why and learnt a bit more about my camera in the process!

I've sent a message to the thread as you suggested - thanks!

Gai
 
Hi Gai: wave:!

Sorry I haven't been here before. These look very promising. I like your first 'Twisted' shot very much - intriguing shapes and nice clean lighting. Personally I would like to see it a symmetrical item like this dead straight and central but that is JMO.

Electric works well too - it must have been really hard to light but you have managed very well. Again I am not so keen on the position in the frame - if you don't want it central then I think it needs to be more off to one side, perhaps in a landscape format instead. At the moment it is neither one thing nor the other and as such irritates me (I keep wanting to move it) but that could be me just being obsessive!

Keep up the good work!
 
Thankls Tracer. I do struggle with composition especially when it's a single subject - I was always told not to put things bang centre but sometimes that's the most obvious place and I quite like symmetry! Now you have pointed it out I also want to move the light bulb when I look it!

G
 
I was really brave today and got my camera out in public! This week's theme was Mobile which he would be if he didn't have two flat tyres!



and this is my alternative for Mobile now that I have received some c&c from my first street photography attempt - so a b&w conversion too!

 
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The first one for mobile made me smile, well done for getting out and about. This is another one, that seems to have not quite a shallow enough depth of field, but I think you're doing well with the camera. A couple of things you could have done (in aperture priority mode) to help with this one. The shutter speed of 1/40 is a bit slow, but it looks like the ride was stationary so you got away with it. If you opened the lens up from f/8 to as wide as it gets, this would have reduced the depth of field (I'm not sure how far with your camera) but would have allowed a much high shutter speed.

I like the second, it fits the theme well.
 
Thanks for your helpful comments John. I understand exactly what you mean about a wider aperture and faster shutter speed for the ride photo - I think I was so taken up with actually using my camera in public on my own taking pictures of strangers that I didn't think enough about the technical aspects - and just concentrated on focus mainly. The ride was moving but fairly slowly! I have to say that although I was a bit nervous at first I really enjoyed my first stint at "street photography" and hope to have another go - hopefully with even better results!

G
 
So this week the theme was "Lead". I was after a cute photo of my puppy Jack Russell with his lead in his mouth before he goes for his walk but he wouldn't co-operate. This was a snap really but it fitted the theme. I had to clone out a post and cropped it a bit to tidy it up - perhaps too much? I am quite disappointed with this actually.

Week 8: Lead



C&C welcome please!

G
 
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There is a lot to like in this shot - they look a very cheery bunch and the horse with the coat is very amusing. It may be a snap but there is nothing wrong with a reminder of a happy day out, and it certainly fits your theme.

It is a bit overexposed which is a shame, as the colours look a little washed out, and you have lost detail on the white bits of the horses. Maybe you should experiment with a bit of exposure compensation when the light is as bright as this.

The bottom edge is just cropping the welly boot which is a little irritating. However I know only too well that it is difficult to get the framing right when people are walking towards you.
 
Thanks for commenting Tracer. There was some harsh low sunlight and I just had one chance because they weren't going to lead them back up to the fields and home again just for me! I really need to learn to think quicker! I thought I could rescue it a bit in PP but my skills aren't really up to it yet! I also have only a crappy lap top monitor which doesn't help! I may have inadvertently cropped a little too close to the welly boot! I may try and have another go at this PP. Still, it's all a learning curve I guess.

I know these don't compare to some of the stunning shots on this forum but I will only improve with honest criticism and help, so thanks again.

Gai

G
 
The shot itself is good and interesting, I like the fall away of the horses to the corners (if that makes sense), the crop works (except the welly... it needs a little more room). The biggest thing is the exposure levels... it's a bit too high and as Tracer said, you've lost some detail in the horses head. I don't know if your Pany can shoot in raw, but if it does that would allow you a little leeway for this sort of thing. I'd be tempted to boost the contrast a bit as that will pull out the colours more, but will cause even more detail to go in the highlights. Still... well done...

It might be worth having a look through the other 52's in here as well... you'll probably get a few others popping in... also add a link to the thread in your signature.
 
Thanks John. I took a few photo's that day (bright low sun) and all have blown highlights - it really is an area I need to work on. The Panasonic can shoot in raw - I will have to give it a go - which will be another first!

I've been looking at the other 52s of course - I don't really feel qualified to comment but will give it a go as you suggest - it's not fair to expect others to comment on mine otherwise is it?

Gai
 
Gai, you are doing remarkably well for a beginner. There are some really nice shots here. The one that stands out most for me is the first twisted. The lighting and reflections are excellent. I would agree with Tracer that it would look better centred. Sometimes it is better to break the rules!

I also like the composition on "Lead", but as the others have said, the whites are a bit blown. I am incapable of taking photos with whites and blacks in sunlight and try to avoid them. I suggest that you should try tweaking the "levels" a bit to improve the contrast. I find I use "levels" more than any other form of PP.

Great start to your 52 :thumbs:

Jenny
 
Gai said:
I've been looking at the other 52s of course - I don't really feel qualified to comment but will give it a go as you suggest - it's not fair to expect others to comment on mine otherwise is it?

Gai
Click to expand...

Seriously, don't worry about it... we won't bite ;)... best I can offer, is try and think what it is you do and don't like about an image and just say that. If you don't like it and aren't sure why, that's fine too... just say so. You might be surprised to find that looking closely at others images, and working out what it is about them you like/don't like, helps with your own photography. Of course, finding the time can be a real challenge... :bang:
 
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