Blondie606's Photo52 2011-Wk 52 Glass & Nature,Challenge Complete

[kennysarmy]

Expose looks spot on to me....nice idea for a tricky theme too.....

 

[Sterling Archer]

Having spent the week without my camera (off being cleaned) I'm a touch late posting up for this theme .

Struggled for ideas , did a quick google for inspiration & came up with this :

All thing in moderation , also known as " a moment on the lips , a lifetime on the hips "
Played around with exposure settings for the 1st time whilst taking this so hope I've got it about right ?

Now , having had that cake on the worktop in it's box for a whole week I'm gonna say "sod moderation "

Great image. Love the clean background too.

 

[PatrickO]

Great shot for "moderation". Excellent focus, composition, lighting. I can almost taste that cake.

 

[Marts]

Hi Lynne, Great take on theme and well executed. Your exposure is fine. Nice idea to include the tape measure . Nice one, Enjoy your cake, you've earned it.

Martin

 

[Photogo!]

I just read through the entire of this thread.. some really interesting images.. the suggestions picked up along the way were extremely usefull.. thankyou for such an interesting read!

 

[blondie606]

Expose looks spot on to me....nice idea for a tricky theme too.....

Cheers Jeff

Great image. Love the clean background too.

Thanks Mark , I'm amaze the backgrouund came out so well , no pp this week just a crop & sharpen ,trying to get it right in camera & think I managed quite well this tme but it was a fairly simple shot

Great shot for "moderation". Excellent focus, composition, lighting. I can almost taste that cake.

Hi Patrick & thanks for commenting , you're right , the cake was scrummy

Hi Lynne, Great take on theme and well executed. Your exposure is fine. Nice idea to include the tape measure . Nice one, Enjoy your cake, you've earned it.

Martin

Cheers Martin , good to know I got the exposure right , took this as my homework task for the DSLR Boot Camp , exposure is the project & this is the 1st time I've played with that little button

I just read through the entire of this thread.. some really interesting images.. the suggestions picked up along the way were extremely usefull.. thankyou for such an interesting read!

Cheers for commenting

 

[Barrysprout]

Lynne that's a brilliant idea for moderation and out of the shots i have seen this week i think you have the most on theme shot. The cake with one slice out would have been good but the tape measure just nails it.
Very well done!
great exposure too.

 

[LauraJ23]

That's perfect for the theme! Great bit of thinking, can't fault it.

Any spare cake?

 

[blondie606]

Lynne that's a brilliant idea for moderation and out of the shots i have seen this week i think you have the most on theme shot. The cake with one slice out would have been good but the tape measure just nails it.
Very well done!
great exposure too.

Many thanks for such positive comments Barry , much appreciated

That's perfect for the theme! Great bit of thinking, can't fault it.

Any spare cake?

Hi Michael , thanks for popping in but sorry , cake all gone now..I had resisted for a whole week

 

[posiview]

Moderation is the theme yet you ate all the cake..:nono:

Great take and well executed.

My only quibble (love that word!), is with the edges of the cake...did you cut out the back ground?

Cheers.

 

[blondie606]

Moderation is the theme yet you ate all the cake..:nono:

Great take and well executed.

My only quibble (love that word!), is with the edges of the cake...did you cut out the back ground?

Cheers.

Hi ya eagle eye's The edges of the cake are real & not smart enough to cut out a background yet...gimme a chance ,I've only just sussed selective coloring There was a shadow to the left mainly because the top sponge overhangs the bottom one ( cause unknown but possibly due to it's journey home in my car down a winding lane at slightly less than ideal speeds ) . It was buggin me so I got rid of it , in a fashion

 

[Leokull]

Hiya Lynne
Just had a look through your 52. They're all great but I'm really enjoying the later photos you've taken. The picture for knowledge is my favorite. Really made me think of the classic B&W times square at night picture with selective colouring on the taxis. Can't wait to see your photos for the rest of the year.

 

[RedTele]

Hi Lynne, like both your trio photo and moderation photo.

Great idea with the tape measure, conveys the theme really well. The photo is very sharp and well exposed. Great work!

 

[drodd]

Hiya Lynne,

How dare you tempt me with something as delish as that (and then still sling a tape measure next to it to remind me why I shouldn't)

Indeed just that one slice would probably add 2 inch to my waistline ..... I wonder how many inches would be added if I ate the whole cake? Not that that would stop me

I think you have done a fab job here, but can't imagine how that lasted a week on your worktop, hats off to you for resisting temptation

You have got this one spot on

Cheers

Dawn

 

[sparrow]

Great 'moderation' shot - making my mouth water

 

[Mentalblock]

I'm so glad my children ate my cake before I could take a photo, otherwise people would think we are copying each other after our knowledge photos!

However, had I gone with the cake, my take on the theme wouldn't have been as good as yours. As has been said, the tape makes the shot.

So, is the cake still around or is the box 'empty'!

 

[blondie606]

Hiya Lynne
Just had a look through your 52. They're all great but I'm really enjoying the later photos you've taken. The picture for knowledge is my favorite. Really made me think of the classic B&W times square at night picture with selective colouring on the taxis. Can't wait to see your photos for the rest of the year.

Thanks for stopping by Liam , I think the Taxi shot is one of my fave's so far, gotta resist the urge to s/c everything form now on though !

Hi Lynne, like both your trio photo and moderation photo.

Great idea with the tape measure, conveys the theme really well. The photo is very sharp and well exposed. Great work!

Thanks for popping in & commenting Kaz , appreciate it
My 1st play with the exposure button so pleased to know I got it right

Hiya Lynne,

How dare you tempt me with something as delish as that (and then still sling a tape measure next to it to remind me why I shouldn't)

Indeed just that one slice would probably add 2 inch to my waistline ..... I wonder how many inches would be added if I ate the whole cake? Not that that would stop me

I think you have done a fab job here, but can't imagine how that lasted a week on your worktop, hats off to you for resisting temptation

You have got this one spot on

Cheers

Dawn

Many thanks as always Dawn Had to be very restrained to not eat that cake before I got the camera back

Great 'moderation' shot - making my mouth water

Thanks Joan,it was scrummy & didn't last long once the shot was taken

I'm so glad my children ate my cake before I could take a photo, otherwise people would think we are copying each other after our knowledge photos!

However, had I gone with the cake, my take on the theme wouldn't have been as good as yours. As has been said, the tape makes the shot.

So, is the cake still around or is the box 'empty'!

Many thanks Neil ,I'm sure your take would have been as good or better having looked at your thread - some great pictures in there Google has to take the credit for the idea as I was a bit stumped , just glad no-one else posted up a similar shot before I got the camera back.Thought about using the empty box for this weeks theme then had a mad tidy up & binned it !

 

[blondie606]

Empty.... cake box got binned by mistake so that was the end of that idea !

Had a shot I've wanted to try for ages (boring shot but fancied ago anyway ), had a friend helping me for the 1st attempts but he got bored (quickly) & was using the wrong background so got lots of shadows

Just had another try on me todd & got somewhere near what I'd got in my mind , after lots of jiggling & faffing about . Quite a challenge for me ,trying to get the focus right (still not quite there) & catching the important last drop whilst trying to keep my right hand still & near the target to avoid too much mess:bonk: Was using the remote release but kept pressing on the bottle instead of the trigger button

So....just enough to fill the glass then the bottle was Empty

Got a bit frustrated that I couldn't get the focus quite right on the label but as a whole I'm fairly pleased

 

[drodd]

Hiya Lynne,

Well done lass, a great shot .... your perseverance has paid off (and your descriptions always make me laff .... so thanks for that I needed it to pep me up).

Now I just hope you didn't waste that coke and added it to something a bit stronger after all of that

The out of focus Coke label doesn't bother me too much as the main focus is on the last drop.

The background is a bit 'splodgy' in places .... but otherwise all considering I think you have done an ace job and right on theme.

Well done

Cheers

Dawn

 

[TinaC]

Well done there is a theme growing here, cake for moderation, coke for empty

I take it you need a clamp now to be able to suspend items such as the coke bottle the kit we 'need' just expands and expands...

 

[LauraJ23]

Hi Lynne, thats a cool idea, and a big well done for sticking with it,

 

[blondie606]

Hiya Lynne,

Well done lass, a great shot .... your perseverance has paid off (and your descriptions always make me laff .... so thanks for that I needed it to pep me up).

Now I just hope you didn't waste that coke and added it to something a bit stronger after all of that

The out of focus Coke label doesn't bother me too much as the main focus is on the last drop.

The background is a bit 'splodgy' in places .... but otherwise all considering I think you have done an ace job and right on theme.

Well done

Cheers

Dawn

Thanks for commenting Dawn...not sure what happened with the background as looked far better on the camera display:shrug:

Well done there is a theme growing here, cake for moderation, coke for empty

I take it you need a clamp now to be able to suspend items such as the coke bottle the kit we 'need' just expands and expands...

Hi Tina , thanks for popping in ,much appreciated . No clamps just a longer arm would help

Hi Lynne, thats a cool idea, and a big well done for sticking with it,

Cheers Michael

 

[weirdfish]

Lovely shot. As already mentioned the background could do with a little help from photoshop but otherwise a very good shot & nice idea for the theme. The slightly oof label is good as it helps draw the focus to the last drop.

 

[Marts]

Hi Lynne, really like your Knowledge shot. i am a fan of selective colouring and it really works in this

 

[Marts]

You have every right to be pleased with your Empty shot. I had similar ideas but couldn't figure how to pour it and capture it, despite having a remote release.
Really well captured, nice one

 

[blondie606]

Lovely shot. As already mentioned the background could do with a little help from photoshop but otherwise a very good shot & nice idea for the theme. The slightly oof label is good as it helps draw the focus to the last drop.

Thanks for popping in Darren Had another try with a different background today but the lights was nowhere near as good as yesterday, one for a re-shoot week me thinks ! I'm slightly worse than useless with editing

Hi Lynne, really like your Knowledge shot. i am a fan of selective colouring and it really works in this

You have every right to be pleased with your Empty shot. I had similar ideas but couldn't figure how to pour it and capture it, despite having a remote release.
Really well captured, nice one

Cheers Martin . Set up was fairly easy , put tripod about 1ft from glass , focus in general right area with the lid on the bottle , almost empty bottle then place it over glass ,put head in to really awkward position to see through veiw finder whilst remembering not to tilt bottle up , focus & press the release cable button - or in my case press the bottle & wonder why the camera didn't fire

 

[posiview]

Well done for sticking to it - I know how hard these shots can be!

BTW, is it me or can I see a rather sad fish in your glass...

 

[Marts]

Cheers Martin . Set up was fairly easy , put tripod about 1ft from glass , focus in general right area with the lid on the bottle , almost empty bottle then place it over glass ,put head in to really awkward position to see through veiw finder whilst remembering not to tilt bottle up , focus & press the release cable button - or in my case press the bottle & wonder why the camera didn't fire

Thanks for the walkthrough Lynne. I am still laughing though about you pressing the bottle with no results, lmao

 

[Mentalblock]

Excellent idea.
The last drop nails the shot

 

[blondie606]

Well done for sticking to it - I know how hard these shots can be!

BTW, is it me or can I see a rather sad fish in your glass...

Andy , I'm starting to worry about you ! Just how much Costa are you drinking these days....

Thanks for the walkthrough Lynne. I am still laughing though about you pressing the bottle with no results, lmao

Cheers Martin , good to know I can raise a chuckle or 2

Excellent idea.
The last drop nails the shot

Many thanks for your comments Neil , much appreciated

 

[captures.in.time]

Hi Lynne

Your last shot is simply perfect for the empty theme! Well timed... great shot... I would not worry about the label on the bottle... or the sad fish!

Inspired shot... keep up the good work.

Take care,

Mark

 

[blondie606]

Thanks for the positive comments Mark , much appreciated

 

[blondie606]

This week has proved a real headache for me ! Lots of possibilities with such a broad theme but nothing really sparked my interest

Finally decided to go with the 2 below , 2 of my fave objects in the house...bit of a Dragon freak thanks to the excellent series of books by Anne & now Todd McCaffrey . Took the opportunity to practice exposure as per the Bootcamp for this month . Still not sure I've mastered it though

This is a Small mountain Dragon , lovely colors & expression .Not 100% happy with the background as seems to have a blue tinge to the left but is the closest to white I could get

This fella is a Large Snow Dragon , again great detail in the scales , he is slightly dark in places in reality but generally a lovely creamy color & the rock he's on isn't pure white . Iffy background again I'm afraid !

I hope next week's theme is easier...or maybe harder....depending on how you look at it

& no , I'm not really happy with them as Theme photo's but really couldn't come up with anything better :-(

 

[Barrysprout]

Hi Lynne, second one for me. Don't think the background is iffy on the second one either. The second dragon looks more like the wild ones we have in Scotland which is maybe why i prefer it. Lighting looks very good on both.

 

[weirdfish]

Hi Lynn. I too prefer tue second one as it has better contrast than the first. I see what you mean by the background but it's only a small amount of blue towards bottom right in the 2nd pic so doesn't spoil the overall image. I think it works well for the theme.

I too had a hint of blue in my White background for the bootcamp shot (African Warrior in the bootcamp gallery). Not sure why this is ? Perhaps the card isn't pure White? I used natural light coming through a window so nothing to diffuse or tint it in any way, strange.

 

[posiview]

#2 for me, Lynne, you're retained some nice detail in the scales. The dragon's pose is much better - the first one looks like s/he's clinging on for dear life...

Minor point but a pure black BG through out would be great on #2, looks a bit gray bottom right...???

Cheers.

 

[drodd]

Hiya Lynne,

A woman after my own heart, I love dragons too Although I don't have any miniatures of them, but do have quite a number of items with dragon images (mainly Chinese items). Like your reference to Anne McCaffrey (hence my usual online username i.e., Crystal_Singer .... at the time of joining TP I couldn't use the name so had to go with Drodd .... that is why my flickr is crystal_singer (drodd))

So you are also doing the Bootcamp ..... I'm going to try to do it this year too. Signed up last year for it but didn't get anywhere as it was still early togging days for me and I just didn't have the time, so hopefully this year I will be able to stick with it.

Onto your photos for this week .... I like both, but #2 definitely gets my vote.

The first image does have a tinge of blue in the background, something that I have had a problem too with white background .... and hopefully soon will be able to master that art. I'm still trying to figure out why that happens, and when I find the answer I will let you know.

Now the second dragon is just gorgeous. Agree about the background, but also think that the image would benefit from a bit of a lighting adjustment, contrast tweek, very slight sharpen (to bring out some of the fab detail) and then an old fav of mine to lift the shadow slider to darken the background. I hope you don't mind, but I had a bit of a play to demonstrate what I have just mentioned:

[/url]
Lynne's dragon black by crystal_singer (drodd), on Flickr[/IMG]

You know the drill, if you want me to remove the image just shout.

Otherwise I think you have done alright with these two and the theme.

Cheers

Dawn

 

[blondie606]

Hi Lynne, second one for me. Don't think the background is iffy on the second one either. The second dragon looks more like the wild ones we have in Scotland which is maybe why i prefer it. Lighting looks very good on both.

Hi Colin ,I've been to Scotland a fair few times & never seen one....you must let me know the best places to visit for a glimpse of one Thanks for the comments,the Snow dragon is by far my fave too

Hi Lynn. I too prefer tue second one as it has better contrast than the first. I see what you mean by the background but it's only a small amount of blue towards bottom right in the 2nd pic so doesn't spoil the overall image. I think it works well for the theme.

I too had a hint of blue in my White background for the bootcamp shot (African Warrior in the bootcamp gallery). Not sure why this is ? Perhaps the card isn't pure White? I used natural light coming through a window so nothing to diffuse or tint it in any way, strange.

Hi ya , thanks for popping in & commenting ,much appreicated .That Bootcamp assignment is bugging me as well

#2 for me, Lynne, you're retained some nice detail in the scales. The dragon's pose is much better - the first one looks like s/he's clinging on for dear life...

Minor point but a pure black BG through out would be great on #2, looks a bit gray bottom right...???

Cheers.

Hi Andy , I did mention that the background is a bit iffy , shot in natural light last night on a jet black background but could'nt get rid of the little bit of light bottom right . On the up side I only cropped & sharpened the image so overall quite pleased .

Oh by the way , Blue Dragons are She's

 

[blondie606]

Hiya Lynne,

A woman after my own heart, I love dragons too Although I don't have any miniatures of them, but do have quite a number of items with dragon images (mainly Chinese items). Like your reference to Anne McCaffrey (hence my usual online username i.e., Crystal_Singer .... at the time of joining TP I couldn't use the name so had to go with Drodd .... that is why my flickr is crystal_singer (drodd))

So you are also doing the Bootcamp ..... I'm going to try to do it this year too. Signed up last year for it but didn't get anywhere as it was still early togging days for me and I just didn't have the time, so hopefully this year I will be able to stick with it.

Onto your photos for this week .... I like both, but #2 definitely gets my vote.

The first image does have a tinge of blue in the background, something that I have had a problem too with white background .... and hopefully soon will be able to master that art. I'm still trying to figure out why that happens, and when I find the answer I will let you know.

Now the second dragon is just gorgeous. Agree about the background, but also think that the image would benefit from a bit of a lighting adjustment, contrast tweek, very slight sharpen (to bring out some of the fab detail) and then an old fav of mine to lift the shadow slider to darken the background. I hope you don't mind, but I had a bit of a play to demonstrate what I have just mentioned:

[/url]
Lynne's dragon black by crystal_singer (drodd), on Flickr[/IMG]

You know the drill, if you want me to remove the image just shout.

Otherwise I think you have done alright with these two and the theme.

Cheers

Dawn

Hi Dawn...I knew your Flickr name rang a bell but couldn't put my finger on why ! Newver read that series as far to hooked on the Dragons , Anne & Todd really draw you into the story & create greate images in my mind I have about 15 Dragons in my collection of varying sizes

I've figure out that the blue tinge on the left of the 1st image is the reflection from the wings so no idea how to stop that:shrug:
Both images were done around 7pm last night using only natural light so maybe I should try some additional light to the left of the 1st one ?

Snowy is by far my fave & quite pleased as no PP done except for cropping & sharpening though think I may have been able to sharpen it a bit more . The aim for a change was no PP as want to practice getting it right in camera hence the lighter black bit across the base . Like what you have done & I can /will do a reshoot at some point to see if I can get nearer to your version without "playing" in pp to much

The Bootcamp is goiing to help me no end I'm sure but exposure is driving me nuts at the moment !

Roll on Saturday for the next challenge

 

[SamuelSlade007]

lynne.. right now... all i can look at is week 12... and think of how .. yummy that photo looks... can almost...taste the fluffy texture of the sponge...mmmm... and love your empty... i can't say i have the patience yet for that sort of art...