weekly blakesters 2014 52 - Retired Gracefully

[Allan.H]

Hi Iain, like the perspective you have and the processing pity the flowers where dying off as it would have added a little extra touch of muted colour

 

[mr.si]

Hi Iain, I like your idea for the theme of dream/dreamy. I think it works well. Contrary to others' opinion, I don't think there's anything missing at the end - the perspective makes it. Very neat.

 

[blakester]

HI Iain,
Love the arch, I agree about a figure of some kind at the end to draw the eye tho'

Thanks Judi
Yes, maybe a couple walking through hand in hand would have lifted it.

Looking at the arch it looks like it needs a little something just to lift it a little.

Cheers Mark
I agree, it needs lifting.

Hi Iain .... A catch up from me ....
Texture....it has to be the heart in hands, I find the long fingernails at the top a bit jarring against the softness of the image, but I think the b&w suits it well and I really like the idea for the theme.
Wild....is a nice image, it would be good to have some more clarity on the damsels but then it may spoil the overall image with the lovely white lily.
Dream ...that looks like a mega long tunnel, I think it would take a little more softening for the theme, but I like the idea and the hanging remains of the flowers do give it a dreamy feel.

Thanks Susie
Your kind comments are much appreciated.

Catch-up time...

Texture - I like both and for different reasons. Top one is so obviously textural, you can almost feel it. The second is a much more interesting composition/photo, even if the texture element is slightly weaker. I really like both!

Wild - I like everything you have in shot and the DOF, lighting etc... but I'm struggling with the composition a bit. Not sure why, but it feels as if the insects are being overcrowded by the lilies etc. Had there been more space between them and the flowers (some negative space around them) it might work better for me?

Dream - great subject and choice for the theme (which is a difficult one). I like it. A more washed out look (see Blondie606's) might suit this? More haziness at the end of the tunnel, perhaps? Great spot though...

Thanks Paul
I appreciate your catch up, all good points too cheers.

 

[blakester]

Hi Iain, like the perspective you have and the processing pity the flowers where dying off as it would have added a little extra touch of muted colour

Thanks Allan
Yes, a little late on the timing of this shot, I agree.

Hi Iain, I like your idea for the theme of dream/dreamy. I think it works well. Contrary to others' opinion, I don't think there's anything missing at the end - the perspective makes it. Very neat.

Thanks Simon
i can see both points of view, there are merits to both

 

[blakester]

Week 25 - vertical, a little late again
I have more than one offering this week, all from various visits to London during this week. I like each one for different reasons, definitely a green theme running alongside the 52 theme

C&C welcome as always.
I am making it my mission to get around others threads, I have been so slack with my involvement in the 52 apologies one and all.

Vertical - Lloyds Building by iain blake, on Flickr

Vertical - Glass Towers by iain blake, on Flickr

Vertical - Power of Three by iain blake, on Flickr

if I were to pick my favourite I think it would be the last one with the three tall/vertical planters.

 

[LauraJ23]

Hi Iain, sorry not popped in for a while. 3 nice pics there.

Great reflections in the lloyds building set this off really well. I like the overall composition. I'm wonder how it looks in a b+w?
The bottle, I like this too, it does feel like it's sloping a bit, unless it's an optical illusion, I would crop the rhs out just next to the church to lose that bit of building.
The tall plant pots are my fave of the 3, lovely vibrant colours and the composition works well.

 

[Nortdog]

Ye I agree with you Iain, I like the 3rd best. The two dominant colours go really well and it's a nice clean image.

 

[Allan.H]

Hi Iain, has to be the 3rd one for me the brightness of the plants and planters against the dull concrete and glass is superb, very eye-catching
bit off the pavement for me crop wise but thats really picky

 

[blakester]

Hi Iain, sorry not popped in for a while. 3 nice pics there.

Great reflections in the lloyds building set this off really well. I like the overall composition. I'm wonder how it looks in a b+w?
The bottle, I like this too, it does feel like it's sloping a bit, unless it's an optical illusion, I would crop the rhs out just next to the church to lose that bit of building.
The tall plant pots are my fave of the 3, lovely vibrant colours and the composition works well.

Thanks Michael
I did look at it in B&W but didn't really like it tbh.
It may well be sloping
Plant pots are my favourite of the three too, I should just have posted that up.

Ye I agree with you Iain, I like the 3rd best. The two dominant colours go really well and it's a nice clean image.

Thanks Adam
Plant pots it is then

Hi Iain, has to be the 3rd one for me the brightness of the plants and planters against the dull concrete and glass is superb, very eye-catching
bit off the pavement for me crop wise but thats really picky

Thanks Allan
I did wonder about the bottom bit of pavement

 

[pjm1]

Hi Iain... more great photos - you're not giving us an easy time with our crit, are you?! Can you just do a rubbish one for a change?

Joking aside, I like the three verticals in order third, first, second - crit as follows:

1. I really like this and it would be top of my list if it weren't for the tree which I find clutters the scene a tiny bit. We're talking real marginal stuff though. Brilliantly executed shot. Maybe a square crop losing the right 1/3 (i.e. the tree) would work even better?

2. Nice and on theme but simply not as strong as the other two. In a way the shallower DOF doesn't work as well for me, here. Which is odd, because I'd expect it to...

3. Superb. The only thing which could possibly make this fantastic composition marginally better is to clone out the diagonal flagpole from the reflection and perhaps a slight pavement crop as others have said. It's about 98% of being a totally perfect image for me - and that last 2% is easily rectified!!

Great work.

 

[overbez]

has to be the third one for vertical, of the planters, nicely held verticals thoughout too.

a great splash of colour in an otherwise muted scene. Big numbers add nice interest too.

 

[d00d]

.... liking all three Verticals. Great view of the Shard & surrounding buildings all with that pronounced dreamy effect ... did you clone out any buildings over that side of the river?




EDIT .... HA HA ... just found THIS

on Google Street River View

so WYSIWYG

 

[posiview]

Last one for me. The green really pops and 3 pops works well.

I'm on a crappy works email and for some reason it isn't showing so I'm commenting rom memory

Cheers.

 

[blakester]

Hi Iain... more great photos - you're not giving us an easy time with our crit, are you?! Can you just do a rubbish one for a change?

Joking aside, I like the three verticals in order third, first, second - crit as follows:

1. I really like this and it would be top of my list if it weren't for the tree which I find clutters the scene a tiny bit. We're talking real marginal stuff though. Brilliantly executed shot. Maybe a square crop losing the right 1/3 (i.e. the tree) would work even better?

2. Nice and on theme but simply not as strong as the other two. In a way the shallower DOF doesn't work as well for me, here. Which is odd, because I'd expect it to...

3. Superb. The only thing which could possibly make this fantastic composition marginally better is to clone out the diagonal flagpole from the reflection and perhaps a slight pavement crop as others have said. It's about 98% of being a totally perfect image for me - and that last 2% is easily rectified!!

Great work.

Thanks Paul
Your comments/suggestions are spot on, the general consensus seems to be on #3.
Re the cloning out of the flagpole, I am not sure my photoshop skillset is up to that

has to be the third one for vertical, of the planters, nicely held verticals thoughout too.

a great splash of colour in an otherwise muted scene. Big numbers add nice interest too.

Thanks Graham

.... liking all three Verticals. Great view of the Shard & surrounding buildings all with that pronounced dreamy effect ... did you clone out any buildings over that side of the river?




EDIT .... HA HA ... just found THIS

on Google Street River View

so WYSIWYG

You've answered your own question David, thanks

Last one for me. The green really pops and 3 pops works well.

I'm on a crappy works email and for some reason it isn't showing so I'm commenting rom memory

Cheers.

Cheers Andy

 

[Judi]

Hi Iain,
yes the planters for me too, I like them all but the cheery colours of the planters get my vote

 

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Hi Iain, I was thinking about you on Saturday, we went to the Barbican and I saw those big cables & nuts you shot a while back... Regarding Vertical, its the first one for me, nicely disorientating.

 

[Dark Knight]

Hey Iain

Blimey... sorry didn't realise I was quite so behind with your submissions

Texture -m Really thought I had commented on this one Super detail, love the different colours and the close crop, the face really does pop from the screen !!!

The sandy heart is a beautifull idea, again loads of fine detail, minor crot from me would be the sand in her nails (needs a good blow) other than that lovely depth of field and a very pleasing B&W conversion

Wild - Now that is wonderful, I'm amazed how I missed them ponds!!! the letterbox crop suits very well, perfect focus on the dragon flies and the DoF separates them from the background just enough, lovely colours too, love it

Not sure what the blue artefact is below some of the lily petals ??

Dream/Dreamy - That's a cracking lens Iain, really like the low composition of this shot and where it is taken from, my only observation is wondering if the sky highlights could be lowered a tad more ?? although it could be said that adds to the dreamy effect

Vertical - A choice from you YAY !!!

For me it has to be the last one, although 3 very striking images, I like the unusual angle of the Lloyds building with good reflections and diagonal line of the roof tops, and the bottle shot mirroring the shape of the building behind it is a very powerful image, the green bottle stands out beautifully against the blu tones of the buildings, a very effective DoF too... but for me them upright green planters are fantastic, again super composition, liking the inclusion of the building number and the planters to one side !!!

All in all a cracking set mate

One tiny bit of crit, looking at the last shot again, is it slightly on the squif looking at the lines LH side and the shadow RH side ??

 

[Tango32]

Hi Iain a little behind

Wild - love the dancing damsel flies dof is spot on

Dreamy - works for me give a perfect dreamy feel

Vertical - 3rd for me really like the green / purple makes them stand out wonderful

 

[blondie606]

Hi ya

I love coming to your thread each week.....always different & for me always excellent images & this week is no exception.......all good shots but the stand out one for me is #3....the vibrant green of the planters & popping pink of the flowers makes it jump out of the screen.....love it

 

[susiejb]

Hi Iain .... Number one for me this week, purely because I like the aspect with the unusual angle for the shot , but all excellent as always.

 

[blakester]

Hi Iain,
yes the planters for me too, I like them all but the cheery colours of the planters get my vote

Thanks Judi
Yes it was the colour of the planters which first attracted my eye to them.

Hi Iain, I was thinking about you on Saturday, we went to the Barbican and I saw those big cables & nuts you shot a while back... Regarding Vertical, its the first one for me, nicely disorientating.

Hey Brian
Thanks for looking in and commenting, much appreciated.

Hey Iain

Blimey... sorry didn't realise I was quite so behind with your submissions

Texture -m Really thought I had commented on this one Super detail, love the different colours and the close crop, the face really does pop from the screen !!!

The sandy heart is a beautifull idea, again loads of fine detail, minor crot from me would be the sand in her nails (needs a good blow) other than that lovely depth of field and a very pleasing B&W conversion

Wild - Now that is wonderful, I'm amazed how I missed them ponds!!! the letterbox crop suits very well, perfect focus on the dragon flies and the DoF separates them from the background just enough, lovely colours too, love it

Not sure what the blue artefact is below some of the lily petals ??

Dream/Dreamy - That's a cracking lens Iain, really like the low composition of this shot and where it is taken from, my only observation is wondering if the sky highlights could be lowered a tad more ?? although it could be said that adds to the dreamy effect

Vertical - A choice from you YAY !!!

For me it has to be the last one, although 3 very striking images, I like the unusual angle of the Lloyds building with good reflections and diagonal line of the roof tops, and the bottle shot mirroring the shape of the building behind it is a very powerful image, the green bottle stands out beautifully against the blu tones of the buildings, a very effective DoF too... but for me them upright green planters are fantastic, again super composition, liking the inclusion of the building number and the planters to one side !!!

All in all a cracking set mate

One tiny bit of crit, looking at the last shot again, is it slightly on the squif looking at the lines LH side and the shadow RH side ??

Hey Dean
No apologies necessary
Thanks for your catch up comments, all valid points, taken on board but onward and upward, must keep shooting away to keep up with the 52.

 

[blakester]

Hi Iain a little behind

Wild - love the dancing damsel flies dof is spot on

Dreamy - works for me give a perfect dreamy feel

Vertical - 3rd for me really like the green / purple makes them stand out wonderful

Thanks Craig

Hi ya

I love coming to your thread each week.....always different & for me always excellent images & this week is no exception.......all good shots but the stand out one for me is #3....the vibrant green of the planters & popping pink of the flowers makes it jump out of the screen.....love it

Hi Lynne
Wow such kind comments, I am flattered, really am
The planters seems to be the popular choice thanks again

Hi Iain .... Number one for me this week, purely because I like the aspect with the unusual angle for the shot , but all excellent as always.

Thanks Susie
Your choice is balancing the vote, thank you

 

[blakester]

Week 26 - Yum a little late as usual and with this submission, you may have to stretch your imagination for it to fit into theme

mmmm chips! Albeit woodchips

C&C welcome as usual.

Week 26 - Yum (mmmm chips) by iain blake, on Flickr

 

[posiview]

Hi, I can see vertical number 3 now and I rather like it. Pity the number wasn't 111

Yummy, cracking lighting. Really well done there. The perspective could not be better, also the detail and overall focus. A subtle hint of shadows and a nice drop shadow frame.

No crit, and believe me I looked for a while

Cheers.

 

[blakester]

Hi, I can see vertical number 3 now and I rather like it. Pity the number wasn't 111

Yummy, cracking lighting. Really well done there. The perspective could not be better, also the detail and overall focus. A subtle hint of shadows and a nice drop shadow frame.

No crit, and believe me I looked for a while

Cheers.

Thanks Andy
Maybe a bit of photoshoppery should have been in order on the number?

Yum, it is all natural lighting, I put the props in open shade and reflected it back to lift the shadows.
I paid particular attention to the histogram, pushing it as far to the right as I dared before getting blinkies.
I was shooting in manual, the exposure meter showing it over exposed but the blinkies saying otherwise.

 

[blondie606]

Hi Iain

what can I say........super lighting , cracking idea ,excellent POV & perfect focus.....frame compliments as well....Perfect as always

 

[blakester]

Hi Iain

what can I say........super lighting , cracking idea ,excellent POV & perfect focus.....frame compliments as well....Perfect as always

Thanks Lynne
It's such a simple set up/lighting technique, this is the second time I've used it, first was on the eggs shot for fresh.
I do like the look that it gives.
You are very kind not mentioning it's not exactly on theme

 

[Greengo]

haha Iain... Again I really like your take on the theme... its your impression and it counts...

 

[blakester]

haha Iain... Again I really like your take on the theme... its your impression and it counts...

Thanks Colin
My impression, I like that cheers

 

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Another brilliantly clever image Iain. Just wonderful.

A little bit bright on the far side of the "plate" perhaps?

Another seller!

 

[blakester]

Another brilliantly clever image Iain. Just wonderful.

A little bit bright on the far side of the "plate" perhaps?

Another seller!

Thanks Brian
As I mentioned above in my technique for this shot, I maybe pushed the histogram a little too far to the right causing the brightness.

 

[pjm1]

Quick one from me - but great shot and brilliant idea. Love the humour. Lighting is nice (difficult to crit owing my current laptop monitor issues) and POV works well for me. Hard to imagine how it could be improved - super!

 

[Phil-D]

Its got to be your first vertical shot for me Iain, love the pov, really gives a feeling of hight. The detail in both the building and reflection looks excellent and the tree just adds to it
The only thing I thought, but that was down to the weather, was its a shame there wasn't a bit more blue and some nice white fluffy fair weather clouds to show in the reflection

Great take for yum, detail, lighting and humorous

 

[Judi]

Hi Iain,
I have to agree with Lynne on all counts, it looks yummy too if a little wooden

 

[posiview]

Got yourself a moniker there, Iain

Cheers.

 

[blakester]

Got yourself a moniker there, Iain

Cheers.

Haha so I have, I never noticed that
Think it is because of my use of the. Smiley in another thread.

 

[blakester]

Quick one from me - but great shot and brilliant idea. Love the humour. Lighting is nice (difficult to crit owing my current laptop monitor issues) and POV works well for me. Hard to imagine how it could be improved - super!

Thanks Paul
I am glad you see humour in it, that's the spirit in which it was intended.

Its got to be your first vertical shot for me Iain, love the pov, really gives a feeling of hight. The detail in both the building and reflection looks excellent and the tree just adds to it
The only thing I thought, but that was down to the weather, was its a shame there wasn't a bit more blue and some nice white fluffy fair weather clouds to show in the reflection

Great take for yum, detail, lighting and humorous

Thanks Phil
Yes shame about the weather/sky in that shot, it would have helped it along.

Hi Iain,
I have to agree with Lynne on all counts, it looks yummy too if a little wooden

Thanks judi
A little wooden indeed

 

[Pinkbikerbabe]

Vertical - lovely images for the theme, if I was to choose a fav I would go for the last image with the planters.

Yum - good take on the theme, nice clean composition nicely lit good work.

 

[superpippo]

Hi Iain

Vertical
#1 - excellent perspective and i do like the steely colours set against the muted green of the tree. Very sharp, which must have been difficult taking account as to how you are holding the camera
#2 - does nothing for me, altho I think that i understand what you were trying to achieve.
#3 - another super shot. Like the comp and the crop. Again nice handling of the colours with neutral tones offset by the punchy green. Agree with others about the pavement, not because of the comp but the messy lines in it.

Yum
Creative, humorous and very much on theme. Well lit and good attention to detail Very minor crit would be that it looks a touch bright on my screen and i would like to have seen the blocks arranged in such a way that I could not see the words - however i don't know that game and there may be a connection that i am missing.

 

[overbez]

Well up to usual standard, agree with all other points bar any part being too bright, looks fine to me.

How about having the chips a bit farther left, leaving room for a nice shiny dollop of tomato ketchup, yum.