weekly Blondie606's 52 in 2014 Wk 52 Support-THE END :-)

HAd a quick play ( well, an hour or so ! ) downloaded some brushes & got badly carried away with them !! Reined it in a bit & got this :

Wk 35 Sparkle jpeg by Blondie606 Photography, on Flickr

Still not 100%...not keen on the lighter patch just behind & to the lhs of the figurine now :banghead: But hey....every day's a school day :D
 
Hi lynne...I rather liked the first one ...I thought it was really nice composition....a tad too many stars in the second one for me ....but I do love that big one on the top of the statue, that one looks perfect. That's a lovely statue by the way :)
 
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susiejb said:
Hi lynne...I rather liked the first one ...I thought it was really nice composition....a tad too many stars in the second one for me ....but I do love that big one on the top of the statue, that one looks perfect. That's a lovely statue by the way :)
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Quite agree Susie....I did get a little carried away :oops: :$

pjm1 said:
I'm with Susie, Lynne: I preferred the first one :)

I think it's great to experiment though... that's the whole point of this 52 (at least for me). Keep it up because 99% of your shots are spectacular!
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Yup...everyday's a school day :)
 
Yes Lynne, that's the one. Classy and sparkly. Well done. :clap:
 
Hi Lynne sorry not been around before now, just been a busy time for me, anyway here goes in trying to catch up with some form of comments.

Architecture, wow these are some buildings the first one is my favourite I have no cc as would not know where to start if there was any to give!

Promise works for me but as said the ring would have been enough.

Sharp works for me in two ways yes the knife is sharp but so is the lemon.

Pure - Yip works well on theme and does look like a brochure shot.....nice car by the way.

First sparkle doesn't really work for me as there is not enough sparkle but its a very nice image and I do like how you have highlighted the statue/ornament. Your second take is much better for me nice image and the sparkle is spot on. :clap:
 
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Hi Lynne the last version of sparkle is so much better the other two looked a little overdone but this one works really well, nice lighting on the ornament too I must add (y)
 
Hi Lynne

Pure - echo all that has been said. Lovely saturated red in #1. Different takes on the theme #1 shows bright, power, money, class. #2 shows moody, fast, a bit sinister. Like them a lot.
Sparkle - #3 for me as it is the most subtle and the sparkles relate more to the thoughts and actions of the figures rather than being a random scattering of starbursts.
 
overbez said:
Yes Lynne, that's the one. Classy and sparkly. Well done. :clap:
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Thanks Graham...I'm much happier with this one...more the look I was aiming for , just took a while to get there :-)


Crtm said:
Hi Lynne sorry not been around before now, just been a busy time for me, anyway here goes in trying to catch up with some form of comments.

Architecture, wow these are some buildings the first one is my favourite I have no cc as would not know where to start if there was any to give!

Promise works for me but as said the ring would have been enough.

Sharp works for me in two ways yes the knife is sharp but so is the lemon.

Pure - Yip works well on theme and does look like a brochure shot.....nice car by the way.

First sparkle doesn't really work for me as there is not enough sparkle but its a very nice image and I do like how you have highlighted the statue/ornament. Your second take is much better for me nice image and the sparkle is spot on. :clap:
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No worries carol.....I know the busy feeling only to well:-) Thanks for the catch , appreciate you popping in (y)

pjm1 said:
Hi Lynne, that last sparkle is the one! Brill composite :)
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Cheers Paul.....I get there eventually :D

susiejb said:
Much nicer Lynne :)
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Thanks Susie :)

alsjazzera said:
Hi Lynne the last version of sparkle is so much better the other two looked a little overdone but this one works really well, nice lighting on the ornament too I must add (y)
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Thanks Allan, the ornament is not something I'd usually go for but the colors & simplicity of it appealed

superpippo said:
Hi Lynne

Pure - echo all that has been said. Lovely saturated red in #1. Different takes on the theme #1 shows bright, power, money, class. #2 shows moody, fast, a bit sinister. Like them a lot.
Sparkle - #3 for me as it is the most subtle and the sparkles relate more to the thoughts and actions of the figures rather than being a random scattering of starbursts.
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Cheers Alan ....your comments have put in to words my thoughts on the images (y)
 
Ok , figured I really out to post my Fall shots......taken last weekend on a fab trip out in the Consett/beamish area with Marc aka @Southdowns :)

I've done the 2 classic interpretations of the word.......

1st off we have the Americanism......possibly a little to early in september as the leaves on the tree's not really turning color as yet but there's leaves aplenty on the floor

wK 36 Fall 4 by Blondie606 Photography, on Flickr

Then we have a Waterfall.........did think about B&W but didn't look quite right

Wk 36 Fall 2 by Blondie606 Photography, on Flickr
 
Final Sparkle is by far the best.

#1 Fall, I'll forgive the Americanism, thought I'd seen this somewhere else then remembered it's Beamish. Lovely colours and detail, the path leads nicely to the bench.

Nice textures and detail in #2, but the Fall is a little over shadowed by the bridge.

Anyway, Mojorca is getting closer :)

Cheers.
 
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Yeah I suppose the leaves on the floor have fallen, be better for this interpretation of the theme has come a few weeks later though. But the path does create a lovely lead through the trees.

Although some of those lagging behind may well find they get to it at the perfect time. :thinking:

The waterfall is a lovely looking scene, agree with Andy though in that the fall is a little lost within the shot. Find the almost square crop a little uneasy, something to the side you wanted rid of, or trying to off centre the bridge and fall?

Plenty of other really nice ones on your flicker too. Liking the processing on the 'shops', just the right side of 'too far' for me. Love the abbey at sunset too, I can't think of a way to make that fit fall either. :)
 
:wave: Lynne, sorry, not called in for awhile :oops: :$

Architectural- 1st, interesting looking buildings in the first, a bit sci-fi maybe :thinking:.......great pov, like the moody sky, suites the processing (y)

The 2nd I prefer rotated 90deg to the ( I'm guessing that would be the right way up?) for me it works better. The right way up I would have said it was my choice of the 3 :)

The 3rd just makes mi eyes hurt :LOL:

Promise- Have you used daz white on that bg :p:D very clean and white (y) the rose is a nice touch, plenty of detail in the leaves,..:thinking: ...I don't know if its just me, but detail looks a little lost in the petals :)

Sharp- yep,that knife looks sharp, like the way you've sliced through the pips, lemon stands out well against the cream white looking tiles :D great image (y)

Pure- Definitely the 2nd image for me, pov, dof, (y).....:thinking: for me though, it could have done with a bit of grill above the Merc emblem like the bottom :)

Sparkle- Last one for me too Lynne, the sparkles aren't just random, leading in to the statue's good (y) good lighting and excellent PP (y)

Fall- 2 good images, think the 1st, its certainly looks autumnal to me, good leading line with the path (y)
 
Hi Lynne, both work for "fall" for me but I think I prefer the first one the second one the waterfall seems somewhat hidden by the bridge which dominates,
the first one just the few leaves and the path winding its way say the start of autumn to me (y)
 
Hi Lynne

Two good shots. Being super critical, I'd probably crop the first down perhaps into a square and lose a chunk of the foliage but as it stands is a very pleasing image with a good balance of shadows & highlights - exposure spot on.

Second is interesting (and also on theme) but I agree with the others, I'm not focusing on the waterfall as much as I think I should. I think for me the shadow could do with lifting - in particular the detail of the rocks are difficult to make out. I find I'm drawn to look at the highlights from the leaves - it looks like you had pretty difficult lighting conditions there...

Two good shots but you always set the standard so high, you probably receive "unfairly" harsh critique from us all sometimes when your shots are still very good but not exceptional!
 
Hi Lynne....that's a super angle of winding path in the first one ...there's a big contrast between the colour of the trees and the leaves...I guess we are still at the very early stages of Autumn.

The second one is s really lovey image...although the waterfall doesn't perhaps dominate, it makes a smashing stand alone shot.
 
Sparkle - I prefer #1 over #2 or #3. I like the idea of the sparkles although the big one seems to have suffered a little in PP. However the lighting on the subject is sublime. Some lovely rim lighting really sets it off against the background.


Fall - My preference is #2 for the theme. There's not much water there but it looks a great location. Worth going back after some rain.
 
Latest sparkle looks quite good Lynne, nicr use of pp and the stars dont look out of place. Nice lighting.
Fall. The 1st one for me, composition works well and the leaves have started to fall.
Not too sure on the waterfall, am viewing in my phone so it may well look better large in the laptop.
 
Sparkle 2 and Fall 1 for me Lynne...

Sometimes less is more and it works in your second image for sparkle for me...
The eye is nicely drawn in for Fall 1... good composition...
 
Hi Lynne so very sorry I haven't popped in for a while, but my lack of Internet for two weeks or so has meant I have fallen behind on several things. I have had a speedy look at your images and as normal you have some great work with some good use off pp work. I do hope by next weeks theme I will be all caught up and things will go back to normal.
 
posiview said:
Final Sparkle is by far the best.

#1 Fall, I'll forgive the Americanism, thought I'd seen this somewhere else then remembered it's Beamish. Lovely colours and detail, the path leads nicely to the bench.

Nice textures and detail in #2, but the Fall is a little over shadowed by the bridge.

Anyway, Mojorca is getting closer :)

Cheers.
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Thanks Andy.....yup , the bridge is very prominent but , for whatever reason ( & I'm sure I had one at the time :rolleyes: ) I wanted to frame the waterfall with it :thinking:

overbez said:
Yeah I suppose the leaves on the floor have fallen, be better for this interpretation of the theme has come a few weeks later though. But the path does create a lovely lead through the trees.

Although some of those lagging behind may well find they get to it at the perfect time. :thinking:

The waterfall is a lovely looking scene, agree with Andy though in that the fall is a little lost within the shot. Find the almost square crop a little uneasy, something to the side you wanted rid of, or trying to off centre the bridge and fall?

Plenty of other really nice ones on your flicker too. Liking the processing on the 'shops', just the right side of 'too far' for me. Love the abbey at sunset too, I can't think of a way to make that fit fall either. :)
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Cheers Graham.......The Abbey st Sunset almost did fit the theme...when my camera nearly fell of the wall trying to get the shot ! Glad you like the Shop shot...wanted an olde worlde feel to it & think I almost got it right :) As for the square crop...I dodn;t notice to be fair but to the left of the bridge was not a lot , to the right of the bridge was a bloomin tree stump
& I did want the fall off centre :)

Phil-D said:
:wave: Lynne, sorry, not called in for awhile :oops: :$

Architectural- 1st, interesting looking buildings in the first, a bit sci-fi maybe :thinking:.......great pov, like the moody sky, suites the processing (y)

The 2nd I prefer rotated 90deg to the ( I'm guessing that would be the right way up?) for me it works better. The right way up I would have said it was my choice of the 3 :)

The 3rd just makes mi eyes hurt :LOL:

Promise- Have you used daz white on that bg :p:D very clean and white (y) the rose is a nice touch, plenty of detail in the leaves,..:thinking: ...I don't know if its just me, but detail looks a little lost in the petals :)

Sharp- yep,that knife looks sharp, like the way you've sliced through the pips, lemon stands out well against the cream white looking tiles :D great image (y)

Pure- Definitely the 2nd image for me, pov, dof, (y).....:thinking: for me though, it could have done with a bit of grill above the Merc emblem like the bottom :)

Sparkle- Last one for me too Lynne, the sparkles aren't just random, leading in to the statue's good (y) good lighting and excellent PP (y)

Fall- 2 good images, think the 1st, its certainly looks autumnal to me, good leading line with the path (y)
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No worries Phil....I'm struggling with commenting as well so really appreciate you popping in (y) Had to laugh at the DAZ comment....I'll try that next time :LOL:
 
alsjazzera said:
Hi Lynne, both work for "fall" for me but I think I prefer the first one the second one the waterfall seems somewhat hidden by the bridge which dominates,
the first one just the few leaves and the path winding its way say the start of autumn to me (y)
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Thanks Allan ,yup the bridge does dominate , which was the intention for reasons I can't remember:thinking: but glad you like the 1st one...just wish it had been later in the year....

pjm1 said:
Hi Lynne

Two good shots. Being super critical, I'd probably crop the first down perhaps into a square and lose a chunk of the foliage but as it stands is a very pleasing image with a good balance of shadows & highlights - exposure spot on.

Second is interesting (and also on theme) but I agree with the others, I'm not focusing on the waterfall as much as I think I should. I think for me the shadow could do with lifting - in particular the detail of the rocks are difficult to make out. I find I'm drawn to look at the highlights from the leaves - it looks like you had pretty difficult lighting conditions there...

Two good shots but you always set the standard so high, you probably receive "unfairly" harsh critique from us all sometimes when your shots are still very good but not exceptional!
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Thanks Paul ( I think ;) ) I didn't want the waterfalls to be the 1st thing you saw in the shot , more the bridge stone work then the falls....dunno why but it seemed like a good idea at the time :rolleyes: Lighting was...interesting...shafts of light coming through the tree canopy & landing on the foliage & water rather than the rocks but I still like the scene :)

susiejb said:
Hi Lynne....that's a super angle of winding path in the first one ...there's a big contrast between the colour of the trees and the leaves...I guess we are still at the very early stages of Autumn.

The second one is s really lovey image...although the waterfall doesn't perhaps dominate, it makes a smashing stand alone shot.
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Cheers Susie...... (y)

Delta Skies said:
Sparkle - I prefer #1 over #2 or #3. I like the idea of the sparkles although the big one seems to have suffered a little in PP. However the lighting on the subject is sublime. Some lovely rim lighting really sets it off against the background.


Fall - My preference is #2 for the theme. There's not much water there but it looks a great location. Worth going back after some rain.
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Yayyyyyy ,Thanks Peter.....someone like #2 :kiss: The big sparkle ( I presume you mean the top left one in version #2 ?) This was how the brush created it , honest :) As for rim lighting :thinking: natural light, reflector waved around in the general area & a dose of contrast in pp.......
 
michael23 said:
Latest sparkle looks quite good Lynne, nicr use of pp and the stars dont look out of place. Nice lighting.
Fall. The 1st one for me, composition works well and the leaves have started to fall.
Not too sure on the waterfall, am viewing in my phone so it may well look better large in the laptop.
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Cheers Michael ..the water fall is losing but about 5-1 :D

Greengo said:
Sparkle 2 and Fall 1 for me Lynne...

Sometimes less is more and it works in your second image for sparkle for me...
The eye is nicely drawn in for Fall 1... good composition...
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Thanks for popping in Colin , agree that less is more , it just took me a while to get there :D

Pinkbikerbabe said:
Hi Lynne so very sorry I haven't popped in for a while, but my lack of Internet for two weeks or so has meant I have fallen behind on several things. I have had a speedy look at your images and as normal you have some great work with some good use off pp work. I do hope by next weeks theme I will be all caught up and things will go back to normal.
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No worries Mandy , appreciate you popping in & catch up at your leisure :)
 
Right , best I catch up with shots before I fall even further behind !

Really wanted an old style telephone box but failed to find one then couldn't get inspired , then got an idea but spent the whole of last week up to my ears in Moto x shots so did a rush job today for last weeks theme !

Communicate......I hope I've got these the right way round:eek:

My crit....found it quite hard sit behind the camera & stretch my arm round in front of the lens hence the framing isn't quite 100% on each hand ! Thinking about it I should have zoomed out leaving more space around my hand to crop each identically...or something like that . Didn't fiddle to much with levels, just converted to mono using a preset in either Nik silver fx or Nik HDR fx..can't remember which one now :oops: :$ That's why , partic on the 2nd letter my fingers are lost in the darkness.....

Wk37 Communicate by Blondie606 Photography, on Flickr
 
& week 38...Dark

I used Dark chocolate for this theme last year & very nearly gave in & did it again ! Then decided to do a product type shot.....possibly using the crowbar a bit here.....another of those " that's a good idea " moments which now I'm not so sure of ! The main niggle I have is the light area around the shutter button but no matter what angle I held the reflector at I struggled....one light patch gone , another appeared , so settled with this.....not bad for a shot taken at 2.45pm in a very light conservatory :) What did I learn....I really should dust the props :D

Wk 38 Dark by Blondie606 Photography, on Flickr
 
Hi Lynne

Two very solid shots. Yours are always up there, so I'll be deliberately picky if you don't mind :)

Communicate - great concept, well executed and superbly shot (as always). Exposure spot on for me. The only thing I like less is the post processing... I find the clarity is ramped far too high for me and it detracts from the hands. I don't mind the dark shadows although perhaps a touch of shadow recovery would benefit? But ignoring small tweaks in post, it really is a super shot and a great concept. (y)

Dark - I once shot a very dark camera and made a right hash of it, so well done for doing a FAR better job :) It certainly is dark but I'd perhaps be slightly tempted to play with the curve at the bottom end of the exposure just to get a touch more detail out of the area inside the "hand grip" all the way down from the AF light to the tripod.

The only thing I reckon would (for me) absolutely nail that photo would be some strong back/rim lighting behind the camera. Something to separate it from the background, especially the left edge (as we look at the image) and perhaps the flash. It wouldn't affect the darkness of the image, but would really bring it to life and make it pop.

But two more really good shots and great thought process as well!
 
Top idea for communicate... Now I don't know the first thing about sign language but I'm pretty certain that would be T A L K there. :) as you say the only slight niggle could be the framing. Do you really not have a remote release? Then set up and lock off the camera, hold your hand in the same position and one two three four done. Although I often seem to enjoy making things harder than they need be.

Dark fits the theme nicely, I think I do agree with Paul about the benefit of a rim light here, i'm also expecting to see a bit of a catchlight or reflection in the lens itself?
 
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Hi Lynne, nice idea for communicate though I would say that, at least i had a hand model so it wasn't as hard for me but you have done a good job, nice B+W PP (y)

I like "dark" enough light for me there, what colour that is in there is excellent great red and gold, I think it works really well as a product shot
 
Communicate - Good thinking for the theme and a nice use of the long crop. Again converting to black and white is a nice touch which probably makes the image stronger than the original colour version

Dark - Super shot and very well exposed. Those blacks are certainly black without losing any of the detail. Big thumbs up from me.
 
Hi, Communicate, couldn't you find your remote ;)

The composition, that is the placement, works well, as does the border and BG. Little tight for me, though. The shadows are a little harsh. I tried something similar but but didn't work so :thumbs:

Dark, well composed and nice deep black BG,the gold a red really pop, but I'm not ken on having the flash up.

Nice camera, though :)

Cheers.
 
Hi Lynne really sorry did not realise how far behind I was with your thread :(

Promise - Well composed and I quite like the addition of the rose it adds some nice colour to the image

Sharp - like it works on two levels sharp knife / sharp lemon and the yellows are fantastic

Pure - 2 wonderful shots prefer as most the 1st the reds are a winner

Sparkle - you have nailed the 3rd image perfectly love it well done and fair play to you for sticking to it until you got an image you were really happy with - I really need to start listening to the comments and doing the same only way i will learn.

Fall - leaves on the floor is nice and like the way the path leads you into the image a lovely range of colours, The waterfall as mentioned is a lovely looking scene but the bridge does overpower the water

Communicate - Fair play Lynne you have some great idea's I really like what you have done think the positioning is spot on and the border works well

Dark - another excellent shot the background is great the camera blends in great just enough light in there :clap:
 
I think you're being very hard on yourself Lynne! Communicate is a really original idea for the theme and I think you've got some great strong images.
Dark - I don't know if you've cloned out the dust you mentioned, or if I've just conditioned myself not to see dust any more - anywhere :D I think the lighter patch around the shutter button adds detail and context and provides contrast to emphasise the darkness of the rest of the camera body and background :clap:
 
Hi Lynne

Your work seems to get better and better!

Sparkle - the last one is great lovely composition and just the right amount of sparkle.
Fall - two cracking shots - the Waterfall is my preference and has the right amount of blur to the water. Well done.
Dark - good product shot and difficult to execute especially in a bright conservatory!
 
Hey Lynne - Time for a catch up AGAIN :)

Pure - LOVE both of these... and I thought I had commented on them :thinking:

The coloured one is a corker, beautifully clean, great shine, no 'Lynne' reflection that stands out and liking the text
The B&W... now this is my fav of the two, ignoring the little clip and not feeling the text box works at all on this... but I just LOVE the DoF and angle of this one :clap:

Sparkle - Sorry, not liking any of these, until I saw the last one, it sure looks like you were having fun though :D - the last of the three works and does have a touch/feel of class about it, nice sparkles (y)

Fall - Really liking the winding path through the trees, a lucky find with no people on it ??

The waterfall - A great image, I wish the waterfall was a bit more prominent, but hey it is framed really nicely with the foot bridge, some nice light on the water helps it shine... Like it :)

Communicate - Quite a clever thought this, I think the frame could be a bit lighter and the spacing a tad more even, other than that I think the lighting is good and some great detail !!!

Dark - Oooo the dark side for sure !!! The light button is fine for me, over all the lighting is very nice, I would like a bit more space to the bottom and a slight straighten to get the Nikon level ?? other than that the detail in the lese and body is great, also liking the red and gold splashes of colour (y)
 
pjm1 said:
Hi Lynne

Two very solid shots. Yours are always up there, so I'll be deliberately picky if you don't mind :)

Communicate - great concept, well executed and superbly shot (as always). Exposure spot on for me. The only thing I like less is the post processing... I find the clarity is ramped far too high for me and it detracts from the hands. I don't mind the dark shadows although perhaps a touch of shadow recovery would benefit? But ignoring small tweaks in post, it really is a super shot and a great concept. (y)

Dark - I once shot a very dark camera and made a right hash of it, so well done for doing a FAR better job :) It certainly is dark but I'd perhaps be slightly tempted to play with the curve at the bottom end of the exposure just to get a touch more detail out of the area inside the "hand grip" all the way down from the AF light to the tripod.

The only thing I reckon would (for me) absolutely nail that photo would be some strong back/rim lighting behind the camera. Something to separate it from the background, especially the left edge (as we look at the image) and perhaps the flash. It wouldn't affect the darkness of the image, but would really bring it to life and make it pop.

But two more really good shots and great thought process as well!
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Thanks Paul......I've just discovered ( thanks to a comment you made on my Dark shot) the curve thingy in ps, not used it before but tried it on some moto x shots so could maybe use it on Communicate if/when we get a reshoot .

As for my Dark shot....whilst I agree totally with your comments re rim lighting( not that I'd have a scooby how to do it )..........my intention was to create a dark image, seeing just how dark I could go whilst still leaving enough light on the subject that it didn't blend completely in to the back ground....the image is not exactly how I want , I'd have preferred less light on the left handside & top....leaving only the shutter button , red flash , flash , gold work & NIKON lettering standing out.....something to try again with more time available I reckon (y)

overbez said:
Top idea for communicate... Now I don't know the first thing about sign language but I'm pretty certain that would be T A L K there. :) as you say the only slight niggle could be the framing. Do you really not have a remote release? Then set up and lock off the camera, hold your hand in the same position and one two three four done. Although I often seem to enjoy making things harder than they need be.

Dark fits the theme nicely, I think I do agree with Paul about the benefit of a rim light here, i'm also expecting to see a bit of a catchlight or reflection in the lens itself?
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Cheers Graham........ya know....I hate a smart *** :D Never even considered using the remote :banghead: I have this on my list of theme's to reshoot & have written " remote cable" in big letters next to it

The glass of the lens in the Tamron macro is approx 1.5 inches inside the barrel so from that angle you can't see the actual glass to get a catch light on it.....sorry ;)

susiejb said:
Hi Lynne ... good choice for dark...although the good thing about shooting chocolate is that you get to eat it :) Looks like a good product shot ...only thing is I keep wanting the word Nikon to be straight, but maybe not possible at that angle.
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Cheers Susie....darn it......now all I see is Dark being on the squiff :banghead: :D
 
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