weekly Blondie606's 52 2013 Wk 52 Water-The End :-(

[superpippo]

Hi Lynne

Below - as DK says, looks better on Flickr. Not sure what it is but lacks something - maybe a lower sun and a little off the top?. Comp is good tho with a nice diag from right leading into curve

Size - spot on that is worth a wall hanging. Beautiful colours and exc ellent focus. Can't find anything that I don't like about it.

 

[blondie606]

Hi Lynne

Under, well it is on theme it just seems a bit busy and the lack of cars dont help but at least its in and you have time to think about it for a reshoot

Size is excellent superb colour, perfect focus and composition, thats so much better than mine and quite right you should be pleased with it

I also have learnt the same things from macro.

Hi matey...thanks for popping in ,the idea was good...the execution not so....time to try again with a reshoot no doubt Glad you like the Size image...really pleased that it turned out just how I saw it in my minds eye

Below, on it's own it's a nice urban B&W shot but I think you need a lot more height for it to be more on theme.

Cheers Mister...that's the tallest building I had access to in Rotherham...think Sheffield may be a better bet for the reshoot !

Below, isn't as bad as you think. Nice detail and the b&w works well. I'd agree, a higher elevation would have helped.

Small, cracking detail, composition and lovely muted colours.

Now, put your feel up for the rest of the week (photographically speaking )

Cheers.

Cheers matey...glad you like Size....yayyy , got the crop right as well

 

[blondie606]

Hi Lynne

Below - To be honest I wasn't so sure, but it does look much better large on Flickr, maybe the black background stops it looking washed out

Size - Love that, what great pastel colours, excellent composition - a cracking shot

Thanks Dean...not gonna linger on Below, good idea just needs better execution.... Thanks for the positives on Size

I like the Below Lynne, bang on theme. Below, fantastic summery image with nice colours and composition

Cheers Mister..

below - like the clouds

LOVE the bug on the flower for size... WOW - even if it were a big flower - the bug would be small, but as its a small flower....

Great soft colours - well done getting her in the same focal plane as the stamens, DOF working for you here - rather than against due to this fact.

Cheers Graham...least I got the clouds good yup , Size actually came out as I envisaged it

Hi Lynne

Below - as DK says, looks better on Flickr. Not sure what it is but lacks something - maybe a lower sun and a little off the top?. Comp is good tho with a nice diag from right leading into curve

Size - spot on that is worth a wall hanging. Beautiful colours and exc ellent focus. Can't find anything that I don't like about it.

Many thanks Alan....you could be right on the wall hanging...may just get Size printed & on the wall

 

[NickD]

I get the idea of below, but there's so much going on, and so much to follow that I get pulled up to the horizon, and from there the interest in the sky draws me up to the top of the frame... So it kind of has the opposite effect. I like it though. The brightness and harsh shadows work really well.

Hard to offer anything for size. It's just lovely from edge to edge.

 

[Martin80]

Love the size shot. Lovely colours, comp, BG, all good. Very nice work.

 

[The goblin]

Hi Lynne,

Movement, I couldn't decide initially but I think the B&W is winning me over.

Below, I think the shot itself is okay but it doesn't fit the theme for me. Maybe one was needed from under the bridge

Size, just perfect I know it's a green for and probably not the most attractive bug but the muted colours are lovely, as is the dof on the stamens Definitely get this framed.

 

[cowboy]

Size, love it.

Bang on theme, big flower meets small fly

 

[Allie]

Love it!!!

 

[blakester]

A bit of a cop out comment/critic wise from me Lynne but "size" is simply perfect and just to echo what everyone else has said.

Another wall hanger for sure, great work missus

See you next week

 

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Lynne I your size shot. All bases covered, spot on theme, lovely comp, excellent colours, well shot & presented:

10 out of bloomin' 10

 

[anitacv]

Hi...sorry its taken me a while to comment. Trying to catch up now

Pattern: Love the simplicity of the leaf shot. Well done on butterfly-great detail

Movementrefer the b&W...i see movement in blades and in clouds across sky

Below:lots to look at and like choice of b&w

Size:wow...beautiful.

 

[blondie606]

I get the idea of below, but there's so much going on, and so much to follow that I get pulled up to the horizon, and from there the interest in the sky draws me up to the top of the frame... So it kind of has the opposite effect. I like it though. The brightness and harsh shadows work really well.

Hard to offer anything for size. It's just lovely from edge to edge.

many thanks Nick....like your thoughts on Below...perhaps I should have called it the View below the Sky Glad you like Size

Love the size shot. Lovely colours, comp, BG, all good. Very nice work.

Thanks Martin

Hi Lynne,

Movement, I couldn't decide initially but I think the B&W is winning me over.

Below, I think the shot itself is okay but it doesn't fit the theme for me. Maybe one was needed from under the bridge

Size, just perfect I know it's a green for and probably not the most attractive bug but the muted colours are lovely, as is the dof on the stamens Definitely get this framed.

Many thanks Marsha , appreciate you popping in given how manic your life is

Size, love it.

Bang on theme, big flower meets small fly

Cheers mister

 

[blondie606]

Love it!!!

Thanks Allie

A bit of a cop out comment/critic wise from me Lynne but "size" is simply perfect and just to echo what everyone else has said.

Another wall hanger for sure, great work missus

See you next week

Many thanks Iain...only 5 sleeps & we'll be there

Lynne I your size shot. All bases covered, spot on theme, lovely comp, excellent colours, well shot & presented:

10 out of bloomin' 10

Many thanks Brian ,really pleased with it myself

Hi...sorry its taken me a while to comment. Trying to catch up now

Pattern: Love the simplicity of the leaf shot. Well done on butterfly-great detail

Movementrefer the b&W...i see movement in blades and in clouds across sky

Below:lots to look at and like choice of b&w

Size:wow...beautiful.

Many thanks for the catch up Anita...appreciate you popping in

 

[puckers]

Below: Its on theme and thats what counts!

Size: Fantastic shot, love the colours. Not keen on the greenfly, ruddy things get all over my flowers but lovely detail! Shows size perfectly!

 

[blondie606]

Below: Its on theme and thats what counts!

Size: Fantastic shot, love the colours. Not keen on the greenfly, ruddy things get all over my flowers but lovely detail! Shows size perfectly!

Cheers Lisa...been scouring the plants for more of them but think this was a loner thankfully

 

[blondie606]

WEek 24...Process sounded simple but had a cameraless day yesterday & managed to leave work late again today so spent 5 mins in the garden with 1/2 an idea.......spent 2 of those min's chasing a bee around hopeing for a shot of him gathering pollen but he was too darn quick.

Settled on this...not certain about the being on theme......the process of flowering from bud to full bloom This maybe a placeholder as hoping to get my wanted shot in Cumbria


Wk 24 Process by llj666, on Flickr


Just noticed the bits sticking out behind the full bloom....darn it...shouldn't have rushed but...post & be dammed ;-)

 

[posiview]

spent 2 of those min's chasing a bee around hopeing for a shot of him gathering pollen but he was too darn quick

Sounds like a Monty Python sketch

Process, "1. A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result..."

Works for me and fills the theme.

Great soft colours and good DOF. I might have been tempted to do a horizontal flip so the bud was on left.

Cheers.

 

[ams99]

Spot on. Fantastic shooting. Particularly like the "pinkness" against the green background. Very well done.

 

[Dark Knight]

Hi Lynne

Process - Love the colour of that flower, for me that would work for the theme better if flipped horizontally so the buds were on the left, still great detail and spot on DoF

 

[overbez]

Great colours - DOF making the open flower really stand out from the background....

Kinda also agree that the bud should be to the left, but it doesn't really work as well as you;d think it would, you have the same layout as my daffodils for Juxtaposition, and I think in reality its the better of the two, as otherwise the flower is looking out of the frame.

 

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

I am looking for the aphid. Where did it go?
Well, it;s nicely exposed and focussed and I like the shallow DOF separating the both subjects from the BG so it's a from me.

PS, if you flipped it the flower would still be looking into the frame, just from t'other side!

 

[Allie]

Lovely shot, I particularly like that you have both the flower, and the bud in the same shot. Gorgeous colours, great depth of field and spot on theme for me.

I only noticed the bits behind the petals because you mentioned it. Doesnt distract me at all, as the flower holds my eye.

 

[NickD]

I'd have never thought of the flip had no-one mentioned it... but now they have...

DOF is spot on, beautifully subtle colours, and the detail in the flower is really nice.

 

[ChrisR]

Lynne, sorry I am waaaaay behind! I hate doing crit when I'm way behind with my shots, but by the time I've almost caught up there's so much crit backlog it's daunting and before I know it I'm way behind with my shots again...

Movement: really like this, the mono version for me as it captures the motion blur much better.

Below: well like others I get the idea, but even with more traffic I think this shot would be far too "busy" to make its point, sorry. Maybe with a telephot and get right in there?

Size: that's an absolute cracker. A little more depth of field would have been nice but difficult to achieve; perhaps a camera with a much smaller sensor and a good macro mode? Or focus stacking? But it's picky detail that doesn't take away from the shot and the excellent focus on the bug itself.

Process: I really like this! Yes, maybe it could profit from a flip (which might also make the closeness of the flower to the edge of the frame less of an issue), and maybe cloning out those stray elements behind the flower would help, but it's a great shot anyway...

 

[puckers]

Very pretty shot, love the pastel colour of the flower. Good on theme for me.

 

[cowboy]

Nothing to add, just a very good image

 

[blondie606]

Sounds like a Monty Python sketch

Process, "1. A series of actions, changes, or functions bringing about a result..."

Works for me and fills the theme.

Great soft colours and good DOF. I might have been tempted to do a horizontal flip so the bud was on left.

Cheers.

Cheers Andy....comment re the flip duly noted In the memory bank for future use

Spot on. Fantastic shooting. Particularly like the "pinkness" against the green background. Very well done.

Thanks Alan...quite partial to these little pink flowers

Hi Lynne

Process - Love the colour of that flower, for me that would work for the theme better if flipped horizontally so the buds were on the left, still great detail and spot on DoF

Cheers DK...flip duly noted for future reference

Great colours - DOF making the open flower really stand out from the background....

Kinda also agree that the bud should be to the left, but it doesn't really work as well as you;d think it would, you have the same layout as my daffodils for Juxtaposition, and I think in reality its the better of the two, as otherwise the flower is looking out of the frame.

Thanks Graham ,I do tend to overlook the obvious at times....flipping the image in pp would have worked better

 

[blondie606]

I am looking for the aphid. Where did it go?
Well, it;s nicely exposed and focussed and I like the shallow DOF separating the both subjects from the BG so it's a from me.

PS, if you flipped it the flower would still be looking into the frame, just from t'other side!

ha...it got bored waiting for me to take the shot

Lovely shot, I particularly like that you have both the flower, and the bud in the same shot. Gorgeous colours, great depth of field and spot on theme for me.

I only noticed the bits behind the petals because you mentioned it. Doesnt distract me at all, as the flower holds my eye.

Thanks Allie....I really do need to take more time in editing to make sure I spot every last detail like the stray petal

I'd have never thought of the flip had no-one mentioned it... but now they have...

DOF is spot on, beautifully subtle colours, and the detail in the flower is really nice.

Cheers Nick....glad you like the shots

Lynne, sorry I am waaaaay behind! I hate doing crit when I'm way behind with my shots, but by the time I've almost caught up there's so much crit backlog it's daunting and before I know it I'm way behind with my shots again...

Movement: really like this, the mono version for me as it captures the motion blur much better.

Below: well like others I get the idea, but even with more traffic I think this shot would be far too "busy" to make its point, sorry. Maybe with a telephot and get right in there?

Size: that's an absolute cracker. A little more depth of field would have been nice but difficult to achieve; perhaps a camera with a much smaller sensor and a good macro mode? Or focus stacking? But it's picky detail that doesn't take away from the shot and the excellent focus on the bug itself.

Process: I really like this! Yes, maybe it could profit from a flip (which might also make the closeness of the flower to the edge of the frame less of an issue), and maybe cloning out those stray elements behind the flower would help, but it's a great shot anyway...

No worries Chris...I know what you mean , sometimes it's hard enough to keep up with posting images let alone commenting so I really appreciate your mega catch up . Your crit taken on board & agreed with

Very pretty shot, love the pastel colour of the flower. Good on theme for me.

cheers Lisa , glad you like the image

Nothing to add, just a very good image

cheers mister

 

[superpippo]

Hi Lynne,

Process - that is a very nice shot. Clear, good colours and good comp with the flower dominating only because of its colour - the buds have a nice comparable size.

Its strange about the number of comments about the layout because is it a western thing that we read from left to right and therefore see images that way I wonder.

 

[blondie606]

Hi Lynne,

Process - that is a very nice shot. Clear, good colours and good comp with the flower dominating only because of its colour - the buds have a nice comparable size.

Its strange about the number of comments about the layout because is it a western thing that we read from left to right and therefore see images that way I wonder.

Thanks Alan , the comments on layout baffled me a bit as well .....I understand that for this image , the flower comes after the bud & so it should work better if I flipped it cos of the old brain reading left to right but.....for some reason I prefer it as is... not sure why though

 

[blondie606]

Wk 25 & Rock.....another seemingly easy theme but trying to think how to make it interesting had me a little stumped for a while . Eventually I settled on this shot
after a very long 20 min walk ( felt more like 1 hour !) we finally tracked down the Millenium Stones at Keswick....felt like a real Famous Five adventure

Had a play with the 10 stop & black cloth ( cheers Mark ) & came away with this.....


Wk 25 Rock by llj666, on Flickr

Quite pleased with it overall but my own crit :

the pp seems to have made the left rock in particular almost look pasted in

My 1st attempt at dodge & burn isn't brilliant but I gotta start learning somewhere

Even after trying to correct the slope it looks a smidge on the squiff but when I put a grid over it , it is actually straight

What I learnt / like :

I'm liking milky water effect

I now know how to use the Black Card ( cloth in my case ) technique & was quite surprised it work so well

I need to sue a top watch in stead of counting in my head....guessing to be exact

So , over to you guys n gals to fill in the crit I've missed

TTFN

 

[overbez]

Love this Lynne - even go so far as to disagree with your own crit, are the two rocks actually supposed to be one that's cut in half? If so, the left rock thoroughly deserves to be there, can't see any evidence of dodgy D&B'ing....

I'd like a slightly wider more panoramic view, but don;t want to give up any sky or foreground, so I'll have to just love it as it is!

 

[blakester]

Hi Lynne
Apologies I never got to comment on process in the week you posted it.
Just to say I think it's perfect, you've really mastered the art of flower photography through seeing the image/composition to execution

No crit to add, just simply to say, I love the deep colours and pastel shades.

Rock, I feel your pain with finding these
I am sure that lovely woman in the gift shop who gave us directions must have been a triathlete in her spare time if that was a 20min walk to her

Your processing really suits the subject, contrasty B&W,
I, like Graham can see no trace of dodging and burning, so cracking job there.

 

[ams99]

Its difficult to crit to be honest. Detail is excellent and B&W suits the scene perfectly. Love it.

 

[Allan.H]

Thats a great pic , the left rock is fine the detail on the carved rock is really nice. You have done a great job considering its your first go at dodge and burn, I have no idea what that is will have to look it up.
you are a bit too self critical that would be my only crit

 

[SarahLee]

Hi Lynne,

Wow you're really on the ball with rock and I like this . . . a lot!!!

The B&W conversion is lovely - suits the image perfectly, and the dodge and burn that you've done in the foreground has really brought out the detail. I would never have guessed that it was your first attempt.

:nono: Way, way too overcritical of yourself.
Not looking pasted in to me at all, and I sort of see what you mean about it looking a bit on the squiff but I think that's just the angle of the shoreline and TBH until you mentioned it I wouldn't have noticed.

Only bit I'm not too keen on is the really heavy black clouds at the top - they're making the whole image feel a little unbalanced to me.
Were they really like that or is it a little overdone with the burning maybe?
Either way, I'd actually be really tempted to go for a pano crop with this anyway and eliminate that part completely.

BTW You must enlighten me on this mysterious black card method. Never really played with long exposures and it sounds intriguing

 

[Dark Knight]

Hey Lynne

Rock - That's a super picture, as all above I can't crit that at all, love the sky, the water and Rock, nothing else to add but Love It

Oh... apart from wish I knew how to Dodge and Burn, time for another youtube lesson

 

[blondie606]

Love this Lynne - even go so far as to disagree with your own crit, are the two rocks actually supposed to be one that's cut in half? If so, the left rock thoroughly deserves to be there, can't see any evidence of dodgy D&B'ing....

I'd like a slightly wider more panoramic view, but don;t want to give up any sky or foreground, so I'll have to just love it as it is!

Many thanks Graham....it is ( I belive ) one rock sliced in half with a matching pattern on the other half . Only did a wee bit of doge/burn to ose a piece of badly blown sky impressed that you can't see it

Hi Lynne
Apologies I never got to comment on process in the week you posted it.
Just to say I think it's perfect, you've really mastered the art of flower photography through seeing the image/composition to execution

No crit to add, just simply to say, I love the deep colours and pastel shades.

Rock, I feel your pain with finding these
I am sure that lovely woman in the gift shop who gave us directions must have been a triathlete in her spare time if that was a 20min walk to her

Your processing really suits the subject, contrasty B&W,
I, like Graham can see no trace of dodging and burning, so cracking job there.

Cheers Iain.....think we need to pay that nice lady a visit next time...bet she had a great giggle at us when we left

Its difficult to crit to be honest. Detail is excellent and B&W suits the scene perfectly. Love it.

Many thanks Alan

 

[blondie606]

Thats a great pic , the left rock is fine the detail on the carved rock is really nice. You have done a great job considering its your first go at dodge and burn, I have no idea what that is will have to look it up.
you are a bit too self critical that would be my only crit

You're too kinf Allan...but thank you anyway

Hey Lynne

Rock - That's a super picture, as all above I can't crit that at all, love the sky, the water and Rock, nothing else to add but Love It

Oh... apart from wish I knew how to Dodge and Burn, time for another youtube lesson

Cheers Dean....I did a quick study on dodge & burn from a cd I got with Digital Photo mag...not convinced I did it exactly right but it appears to have worked ...can see it getting used a lot now

 

[blondie606]

Hi Lynne,

Wow you're really on the ball with rock and I like this . . . a lot!!!

The B&W conversion is lovely - suits the image perfectly, and the dodge and burn that you've done in the foreground has really brought out the detail. I would never have guessed that it was your first attempt.

:nono: Way, way too overcritical of yourself.
Not looking pasted in to me at all, and I sort of see what you mean about it looking a bit on the squiff but I think that's just the angle of the shoreline and TBH until you mentioned it I wouldn't have noticed.

Only bit I'm not too keen on is the really heavy black clouds at the top - they're making the whole image feel a little unbalanced to me.
Were they really like that or is it a little overdone with the burning maybe?
Either way, I'd actually be really tempted to go for a pano crop with this anyway and eliminate that part completely.

BTW You must enlighten me on this mysterious black card method. Never really played with long exposures and it sounds intriguing

Many thanks Sarah , appreciate you popping in on one of apparently better weeks

A pano type crop just for you....


Wk 25 Rock pano crop tiff by llj666, on Flickr

works better me thinks so thanks for the advice

The black clouds were black but not quite that black.... ran it through photomatix as a single exposure then tweaked from there in ps , I find it brings the details out better
Dodge & Burn.....I only did a wee bit (1/4 inch )on the sky where photomatix created a blown spot , didn't touch anything else .

As for the black card technique....I read about it in the ETC challenge & thought I'd try it. No black card on me so I used my black lens cleaning cloth , folded & held over the area I wanted to hold back the light on...tried it 1st when shooting a waterfall where the sky was peeking through the tree's....already had a 10 stop & polariser on but as it was fairly bright thought it might allow a longer exposure on the darker areas...& it did