Bluesmachine's photo52 2011 (Up to date now)

Hello, just popped in to say I'm not dead, although I've felt like it. I've been ill for almost 6 weeks, finally leaving me stuck in bed for a week with that oh so lovely noro virus.

I've been collecting bits and pieces to take a photo for moderation & empty. I'll try and get something done for the rest in the week. My physio gave me the green light to return to the gym this week, so it's going to be busy!
 
Look forward to seeing what you come up with. Ease yourself back in gently though. Plenty of time to catch up, not even a third through the 52 yet.
 
I dragged myself around Chirk castle today. Good grief it was hot today! I've taken a few shots, but I was amazed at how much strong heat does to ruin images. I've also realised that I really do need to buy an IS lens, so I think I'll get the 70-200 2.8 IS after a bit of saving. The F4 non IS is nice, but the lack of IS cost me about 10 shots today :(

I'm thinking that the shot of the statue I took today (on my flickr page) could be used for 'wrong' under the flimsy pretence of people complaining about nudity in statues. Being ill for weeks, and trudging around Chirk castle for hours today has left me overly hot and my knee is protesting!

I'll be back! :D
 

Vacant by Niall Allen, on Flickr

To be honest I couldn't make up my mind which theme to use this for, I've decided to use it for moderation. This is in relation to how much sunbathing you should do. Moderate your exposure to the sun to a minimum to prevent skin cancer.

Oh, and the fence bugged me, but I couldn't crop the photo without it looking odd. I've already cropped it so you can't see the bypass to the left, which is a shame as the photo looked nicer with a tree that's now missing, in it.
 
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Object by Niall Allen, on Flickr

Object. I've no idea what this thing is, but I'm guessing that it's a cats toy that's been destroyed. Either that or some weird fishing lure!

I could have taken this from the opposite angle so my shadow gave it a uniform shade, but I think the tree shadow adds a little more messy confusion to the already vague subject we were given! As usual, the images look better when viewed on Flickr so you can see the larger image.
 

Statue B&W by Niall Allen, on Flickr

Wrong. I've decided to use this after all. I was watching a programme on TV a week or so ago on the Sky arts channel about sculptures in graveyards, which was about lesbian statues/themed sculpture. During the programme they mentioned how nudity in art is often frowned upon. This photo was taken while I was recovering from being ill for weeks, when I went to Chirk castle. It's not the best shot as I've had to do a LOT of cropping and tinkering, plus I've added a sky which doesn't scale well. It's wrong for so many reasons, so technically I win :D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallallen/5607047902/in/photostream/lightbox/

This is a better photo, but I wasn't sure that it fitted the theme as well as the other one did, despite being a poorer shot. Still, I did about 5 miles on foot that day. Up and at 'em :D
 
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Blue moon by Niall Allen, on Flickr

Paradox. The night sky moon, in daylight.

Sorry if this doesn't fit but I honestly can't think of anything else, other than a bishop holding a sign saying "child minder looking for work", and I doubt I'd pull that one off :D I've had a quick google on moon in daylight, and there are several mentions of the moon in daylight being a paradox, so it holds together :D

I've edited this so the blue has actually darkened (playing with blacks) to bring out more detail in the moon surface. As you can see, it's a little soft. This is due to using the Kenko x2 extender which isn't the best extender you can buy. I'm seriously considering shelling out for the Canon version.

Anyway, after a LONG illness, I'm back up to scratch. Please accept my apologies for keeping you waiting for my immensely average photos!
 
Hey dont be... prolly slipped off under the weight of other pictures.

Been browsing through your 52, and looking good. Dispite the illness you've done brill and I'm using the 52 as a guide, no pressure on time, but good to shoot for a theme.

Moon shot is good, although usually on black... blue seems to work too!

Statue is good, perhaps a little more blur in the sky to match the focal distance (for next time) ? Also (this is my opinion btw) a bit more contrasty on the black and white, if you can without blowing the detail too much.

Object works for the theme

Empty is themed well, and the moderate is ok. That fence doe bother tho and if you have time perhaps see about mirroring the tree line and post processing over the top of the fence... we don't go there and wouldn't know... Might make it more natural?

The Daffodils is reallly good. Ok so there are some bright spots in the back, but you can either ps them out or dim/darken them down. Really liked this shot.

Keep up the shooting :) !
 
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I love the moon shot for Paradox, really nice capture and goo detail on the moon surface. What lens did you use for that one?
 
Hi Naill

just having a quick catch up on your thread , some great shots in here so apologies for missing so many of your weeks :'( Hopefully you're all recovered now?

Brill shots of the moon , Knowledge works really well & such a great shot ...well done you :clap:

I'm still thninking about Paradox but love your take on it & again , another stunning shot ...begining to get envious now :lol:

Your shot for wrong is also great though must admit your reasons behind it made it a lot clearer...great thinking mister :thumbs:
 
Hi, Niall, I'm impressed with your moon, and more so by the placement of the moon to the very right edge, well almost.

I'm not sure about the blue, but if it's unavoidable, what can you do.

Cheers.
 
Hi Neil, glad your feeling better and well done for catching up. A big well done on your moon! I have found when photographing it on the blue sky, it is very easy to overexpose the moon. Your processing looks very good. :thumbs: I reckon I have been thinking that hard, that I have fried my brain!
 
Thanks for the feedback, I was feeling all left out :D

The moon shot is taken with a Canon 70-200F4L non IS lens, with a kenko x2 extender. The extender softens the image a LOT, so I have to play about a bit with sharpening, clarity, vibrance, etc.

I'll be honest, a lot of what I've taken I don't like. The themes on the photo52 leave me baffled a lot of the time. I know it's to expand your photography, but with limited time, some of the themes seem a little over complicated. Or maybe I over think things. I prefer an image to show what the theme is, rather than add a paragraph explaining why I took what I did. My first moon shot was a total cop out as I was feeling more and more stressed as each Saturday came and went, and I thought that I have to do something, or my hobby becomes a chore!

Make this Saturday's theme musical instruments. I've just bought a Martin D15, and that's lovely :D
 
Bluesmachine said:
Thanks for the feedback, I was feeling all left out :D

The moon shot is taken with a Canon 70-200F4L non IS lens, with a kenko x2 extender. The extender softens the image a LOT, so I have to play about a bit with sharpening, clarity, vibrance, etc.

I'll be honest, a lot of what I've taken I don't like. The themes on the photo52 leave me baffled a lot of the time. I know it's to expand your photography, but with limited time, some of the themes seem a little over complicated. Or maybe I over think things. I prefer an image to show what the theme is, rather than add a paragraph explaining why I took what I did. My first moon shot was a total cop out as I was feeling more and more stressed as each Saturday came and went, and I thought that I have to do something, or my hobby becomes a chore!

Make this Saturday's theme musical instruments. I've just bought a Martin D15, and that's lovely :D
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Niall... don't knock your efforts... i think your composure of the statue was great... very up front..

as for the themes..yes they can be very stretching... and leaving you wondering how lengthy you need to explain them,... there are always wildcards... and if you feel brave..defect to a 365.. and take anything you fancy.. which i have been tempted by that dark side once or twice recently..

:thumbs:

Kev
 
Hiya Niall,

Glad to see you are back with us and feeling better.

Well done on catching up too.

I've had a peek at your latest photos, so will do a catch up here:

Moderation: Hope you don't mind, but I did a bit of an edit on this one as something about it was bugging me ... think it was the fence to the right. I know you say you did a crop and it didn't look right .... but I've tried a bit of a crop and also sharpen, and cloned out the shadow behind he bench then added a frame .... what do you think of this:

5639804863_d5279aa4ae.jpg
[/url] 5627933470_f78413b9c8 by crystal_singer (drodd), on Flickr[/IMG]

Empty: I take it this is another angle of the moderation shot, and definitely looks empty. The sunshine and colours look very inviting .... I guess everyone had gone to watch footie instead :D

Object: :thinking: can't figure out what that is either, so definitely fits the bill as being an 'unidentified object' which is definitely not flying :D

Wrong: Not a bad photo .... although I prefer the one in your link to the other pic.

Paradox: This was another one I was thinking of to post and took a few photos for the same Paradox ... if I get chance I might still compose it. Indeed taking photos of the moon against a blue sky can be challenging, but I think you have done alright with this one.

Considering you have not been so well lately, I think you are doing a brilliant job at keeping up with this project. Indeed the themes are very challenging at times ..... but that is all part of making us think and to broaden our venture into photography to improve out skills.

Look forward to seeing the progress you make with this project .... I can see how you have improved over the weeks.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
There's something about that bench shot that bugs me, but I can't figure out what it is. It may be the angle I took the shot at, I'm not sure. I couldn't really get a crop I liked with it. The fence was in the way, and I think I'd prefer it if I'd have been standing further to the left, but that would have included someone's drive up to their house, which spoiled the effect of an open field look. That area is just a small patch of land at the bottom of my cul-de-sac estate :D

I was actually toddling about trying to take photos using different focus points as I don't normally do that, which has previously limited me.
 
Hi Niall. I really like Blue Moon. In fact moon shots seem to be your forte. It is something I can't seem to achieve so this is very impressive to me. As I said, Moon shots seem to be your forte, to be honest looking through the whole of your 52 they are the only ones that really grabbed me. Hope that doesn't offend:) Blue Moon I hasten to add looks outstanding
 
Marts said:
Hi Niall. I really like Blue Moon. In fact moon shots seem to be your forte. It is something I can't seem to achieve so this is very impressive to me. As I said, Moon shots seem to be your forte, to be honest looking through the whole of your 52 they are the only ones that really grabbed me. Hope that doesn't offend:) Blue Moon I hasten to add looks outstanding
Click to expand...

I'm inclined to agree with you. I've got better photos on Flickr, but I came into the photo52 arena to try and force myself to see things in a different way. I'm not sure it's working as well as I'd hoped, but still, I'm learning. My favourite type of photos is generally a nice sharp photo using my Sigma 50mm on my 30D, to try and capture an honest look to an event. I'm keen to try candid photography, but as I live in an area with people that I barely trust, I'm reluctant to wander around the town taking photos. I am however hopefully attending a BBQ today, so if it's sunny I'll take my camera with me.

The themes almost force me to do things I normally wouldn't, and while that sounds like I'm saying I'm unhappy with it, I'm actually not! I tend to over think things, and if someone has already posted an idea I was planning to do, I'll then have to think of something else, which does add to the frustration, but I don't like doing the same as others have already done on the photo52. As a result of those two things, I find myself at a loss as to what to take a photo of, nearly all the time.

As for the moon shots, I think people like them more as they are things that a lot of people wont normally do due to not having a lens long enough to do it, so they hold additional interest. I've taken a photo of the super moon, and that for example has over 150 views on Flickr, while the blue moon has much less than half of that. I'm not really doing it to please people as I'd drive myself insane if I kept that train of thought, but simply to take photos of what I like. Sadly, with the exception of my first photo and the moon shots, I really don't like anything I've done. I do like the sharpness of the daffodils, but composition is a little out. I'd have preferred it to be on a more grainy, used looking shelf. Sadly everything in my house looks more clinical, so I rarely get to take a photo indoors, that has a look that I like.

The positive is that I am learning, albeit slowly, which is at least keeping me happy. If I accidentally produce a good photo, then all the better :D

Oh, and the only thing I can think of for tropical is to take a photo of a pyramid of cans of Lilt :D
 
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Mini person by Niall Allen, on Flickr

As everyone loves a baby photo, I thought this would be perfect for the 'Tropical' theme. I was at a BBQ yesterday http://www.flickr.com/photos/niallallen/sets/72157626573279958/ <-- set here if you fancy a nose. I could post any one of them really, but this photo, whilst looking only okay at this size, looks rather nice at full resolution I think. It's got really nice catch light in the eyes. Not sure if others can see the full size shot though, although the image isn't too bad at large setting when viewing under lightroom on Flickr.

It only took me 4 and a bit hours to process 80 photos, 20 of which I decided not to keep :D

My head looks all reddy purple today. Think I was out in the sun too long!


100% kid by Niall Allen, on Flickr

There we go, a 100& crop. For some reason Lightroom wouldn't open it, so I've had to process in Elements, which has given it a slightly different look.
 
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niall,, fantastic capture here..yes most *** go goo-goo for the baby shots...but baby with malice thats a bonus./..

looked at your set and you'vemade what looked like a friends BBQ where snapshots might have been expected into defo something more..and event even.. i do like your composition and PP..the guys playing the guiatrs (hero i'm guessing) .. the mirrored shades..Serious Steve..

you got a great bundle there..everyone should take a deeper look on flickr..

:thumbs:

Kev
 
Hiya Niall,

Nice take on the theme for Tropical. I also had a browse through your pics from the day .... some really good shots there and looks like you all had a great time.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
SamuelSlade007 said:
niall,, fantastic capture here..yes most *** go goo-goo for the baby shots...but baby with malice thats a bonus./..

looked at your set and you'vemade what looked like a friends BBQ where snapshots might have been expected into defo something more..and event even.. i do like your composition and PP..the guys playing the guiatrs (hero i'm guessing) .. the mirrored shades..Serious Steve..

you got a great bundle there..everyone should take a deeper look on flickr..

:thumbs:

Kev
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Thanks :)

Steve is a mate of mine, and is an annoyingly talented guitarist. They've just started a folk band as they got bored with metal/rock, etc (not much of a switch eh?!).

I didn't actually notice the shades until processing, but was wishing I'd taken my 70-200 with me for that reason. This Sigma 50mm1.4 is an absolutely ace lens. I'd recommend it to anyone!

drodd said:
Hiya Niall,

Nice take on the theme for Tropical. I also had a browse through your pics from the day .... some really good shots there and looks like you all had a great time.

Cheers

Dawn :)
Click to expand...

Ta! :)
 
Bluesmachine said:
Thanks :)

Steve is a mate of mine, and is an annoyingly talented guitarist. They've just started a folk band as they got bored with metal/rock, etc (not much of a switch eh?!).

I didn't actually notice the shades until processing, but was wishing I'd taken my 70-200 with me for that reason. This Sigma 50mm1.4 is an absolutely ace lens. I'd recommend it to anyone!



Ta! :)
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folk...from metal...?? :bonk: ..no..not much of a switch...

i'll have to look at one of these sigmas baby's... thanks :thumbs:
 
I really REALLY like how sharp that baby photo is. I don't know if you've looked at the maximum size on Flickr, but it's so smart. I'm so chuffed with it :D It's downhill from here baby! (pun intended :D)
 
Lovely photo, just a great capture & perfect for tropical. You've captured her expression and gaze superbly. I love the shallow DOF too.
 
Thanks :)

I normally avoid kids (annoying things :D) but I remembered someone on these forums posting 1.4 shots focusing on the eyes, which was one of the things that made me buy the lens, and shooting away I went. I just need an upgrade in camera now for better noise handling. Wish Canon would hurry up with all their new stuff!
 
Hi Niall, Having seen you Tropical post I take back what I said last week about most of your good shots being moon ones. These are absolutely fantastic. Popping over to flickr in a mo to see the rest. Lovely work.
 
Thanks very much :)

I need to learn to frame properly. I'd forgotten that I crop a lot of shots to suit, or remove things for composition. I just took up the offer from, I think snapfish of 50 free prints, and about 10 of them were cropped by the printer due to me cropping in the first place. Still, you live and learn!
 
I'm not dead. Feel like it though. Lots of cardio in the gym in the last 2 weeks, and I'm waiting for my 60D to arrive, which has a status change today from dispatched to "backorder". Not sure how that works, only that Jessops are rubbish. They still haven't replied to my email nearly a week ago and their support line closed at 6pm :(
 
yes, tropical hat, good call, really like the cropped one, bless her, great capture!!

think its the best of your 52s so far, tho am keen on the cat pic too but then cats always make for good pics, especially in boxes :0)
 

Country power by Niall Allen, on Flickr

As I was up at just gone 5am today, I went for a toddle about. Only got a few I liked (in my half awake state, I forgot to alter the aperture on a few shots. Doh!). This shot isn't really my favourite, and I'm starting to wonder if I need to send off the 12-24 for calibration as it seems to be a little soft suddenly.

Not sure what I'm going to do for last weeks theme yet. I was hoping to see something this morning, but nope. I suppose I could be lame and use my other B&W shot I took as the skies opened up on me (divided? :D) whilst I was wandering around!
 
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