Chris's Photo52 2010 (Part 2) - Weeks 31 & 32 Post #19, Page 1

[chris321]

Continuing from my first part HERE

Week 24 - "Metal"



I'm not going to lie, I've got a bit behind and am now in catch-up mode! I found a nice pen when I was clearing my desk, and thought it might make a nice shot. The B&W conversion was due to bouncing the flash off a green wall, leaving a nasty colour cast.



Here's an index so each week's shot can be found without having to trawl through this entire thread!
Week 24 - "Metal" (#1), Week 25 - "Grunge" (#2), Week 26 - "Beginnings" (#3), Week 27 - "Art" (#10), Week 28 - "Relaxation" (#11), Week 29 - "Grace" (#12), Week 30 - "Endings" (#13), Week 31 - "Electric" (#19), Week 32 - "Transform" (#20)

 

[chris321]

Week 25 - "Grunge"



Not sure if it fits the theme completely, but at our summer ball this year we has Wheatus (probably not really 'grunge', but they were heading in that direction)

 

[chris321]

Week 26 - "Beginnings"



My girlfriend got a kitten this week! It's adorable, but exhausting at the same time. Requires a LOT of time and energy, but it's worth it. She seems to like me (the kitten, not my girlfriend.....well her too, but you get the point), so hopefully it's the beginning of a good friendship . I swear she's smiling in this shot too....

 

[clud17]

Well done for the catch up Chris, its easy to get behind, ive struggled a bit myself. I think your Metal shot is a peach, nice and crisp on the tip and i think it would only be bettered if you managed to get a drop of ink hanging off.
Grunge is grunge but doesn't do much for me as a shot, saying that i couldn't find one myself so ill shut up.
Beginnings is great and indeed the start of a good relationship, although speaking from experience cats often take but don't do a lot of giving, lol that's why i have a dog now. I'm pretty sure you could have posted this shot for "relaxing" too.

 

[chris321]

Yeah, it's been really busy, moving out of my house at uni, getting home, going on holiday, all have left me a long way behind, but I've got today and tomorrow to get up to date before work starts at least!

Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment too! I quite liked the 'metal', sadly there's no ink in it, and it takes strange and massively over-priced cartridges so there's not much chance of that happening any time soon

I'm not too keen on grunge either, so don't shut up by any means . It was literally the only thing I could think of to fit the theme, taken on a P&S in terrible lighting! Getting to re-visit my childhood with 'Teenage Dirtbag' was worth it though!!

Eurgh, I'm definitely a cat person, dogs and I don't get on at all! And she actually gave a lot I'll have you know! She gave me scratches all over my hands, arm, and a bite mark on my thumb

Cheers

Chris

 

[SarahLee]

Great catch up Chris.

Nothing I can say to fault metal. It's a cracking shot. Lovely detail and a really imaginative take on the theme.

Grunge - another good one. Crisp and sharp in all the right places. The pose could perhaps be a bit stronger. The microphone is obscuring part of his face, but given the circumstances it was taken in I think it's a job well done.

And beginnings . . . awwwww!!!!
So many cute animal shots for that week, but this one is lovely. The composition with your hand coming into the frame makes it totally unique - and yes, I think he is smiling at you

 

[Tracer]

Three good shots here, Chris - Metal is a cracker.

Grunge is good, even if he looks as if he's forgotten the words . Personally I would crop out the gantry at the top but maybe you want to keep it in as part of the scene.

As for the kitten - so cute! You will have your work cut out, though!

 

[chris321]

Nothing I can say to fault metal. It's a cracking shot. Lovely detail and a really imaginative take on the theme.

Grunge - another good one. Crisp and sharp in all the right places. The pose could perhaps be a bit stronger. The microphone is obscuring part of his face, but given the circumstances it was taken in I think it's a job well done.

And beginnings . . . awwwww!!!!
So many cute animal shots for that week, but this one is lovely. The composition with your hand coming into the frame makes it totally unique - and yes, I think he is smiling at you

Thanks as always for going into such detail, it's so hard to do when there are so many people doing these! Metal I'm very happy with, grunge less so, and 'beginnings' makes my smile! I had some with a better pose for grunge, but they were out of focus or suffering from motion blur, so I chose sharpness over composition. I'd have killed for my 85 f1.8 there and then, but it wouldn't fit in my DJ pocket

Three good shots here, Chris - Metal is a cracker.

Grunge is good, even if he looks as if he's forgotten the words . Personally I would crop out the gantry at the top but maybe you want to keep it in as part of the scene.

As for the kitten - so cute! You will have your work cut out, though!

Cheers I think he may well have forgotten the words . But it was fine as there were a few hundred drunk students reminding him! And fortunately the kitten is my girlfriends, which means she puts in the hard work and I get to turn up and play with it

I've fallen very much behind on commenting on other people's 52s, very bad of me, so I'll get round to it when I've got used to this 'working' malarkey, and aren't permanently shattered Cheers all

 

[jgs001]

Good work catching up Chris.

Metal, that is a very nice shot. Good DOF and very well composed.

Grunge, not particularly grungey to my mind... but ... I like it, nice portrait of the band

Beginnings... are bless... what a cute little kitten, and she probably is smiling at you, as you're doing what she wants you to.

 

[chris321]

Right, it's big update time!!!

Week 27 - "Art"



This week I've been sorting out my cupboards and I've found my old Tae Kwon-Do (a martial 'art') kit! I'm excited about taking it up again in October, I couldn't do it the year just gone as I had a few too many other commitments, but next year I'll be getting back into it!

I really struggled with this theme, nothing I saw said 'art' to me whatsoever. Maybe I was looking too hard, and/or in the wrong place though!

 

[chris321]

Week 28 - "Relaxation"



Relaxation? Chance would be a fine thing. I've started work now, and to describe it as gruelling wouldn't even get close. Starting at 7:30 every morning, 10 hour shifts doing fairly physical stuff leave me so exhausted by the evening that I just want to sleep. So I'm playing my first 'joker' of the 52, hopefully it'll be the only one!

 

[chris321]

Week 29 - "Grace"



Having had no time due to the job, I've been looking over some of my older shots. I really liked this one, taken in the Lake District aquarium, this guy was just floating around, so very different to how they move when out of water (which really can't be described as 'graceful' at all!

I liked the colours and the composition (i was using an 85mm prime as light was terrible), so to get a shot at all made me very happy!

 

[chris321]

Week 30 - "Endings"



This week I've sold the last of my crop-sensor compatible lenses!

I'm so close now to having the right lens lineupto make to move to the 5D, just need another week or two's pay to come in and I'll be all set!

Hopefully it'll bring in a new start to my photography, I'm shifting towards people and portraits, hopefully I'll be doing a few fashion shoots next term, and see where it takes me! No real C&C on this one required, I was doing an experiment at the time with a 70-200 and some extension tubes, it's a bit under-exposed as the thing was so long it shielded the subject from the flash!

 

[SarahLee]

Well done on catching up Chris
It's tough fitting this in along side work, but you've done a good job.

Art / martial art . . . works for me.
Very strong composition in this one and the B&W works brilliantly. You've also judged the DoF perfectly.

Grace : It might be an old shot, but I like it.
Agree with you on colours and composition working well . . . just a bit of a shame about the dirty glass (not much you could do about that though)

Endings : Nice close-up shot and wishing you all the best of luck with the 5D when you get it.

And your joker?
It's upside down
But actually quite a strong, graphic shot in its own right.

 

[jeangenie]

Well done from me on your big ctch-up Chris - it sounds as though everything in your life is at an 'all change' stage. But it all sounds good (apart from the work hours!)

Art: Good clean image with plenty of punch (pun unintentional - honest )

Relaxation: Made me smile. I used a shot of a crowbar for one theme so I can only applaud your play on words. Again, a good clean shot - I wonder though if it would have been better on a black b/g. Either way, well done.

Grace: I can imagine how difficult it was to get that shot, and you even got eye contact. The pose is quite graceful, too.

Endings: It doesn't look under-exposed on my monitor - and more light and the gold would be too bright. I hope you get the 5D soon.

Jean

 

[jgs001]

Agreed... Well done on catching up Chris.

Shame about the Joker, but I do understand completely... All good images, and congrats on endings...

 

[Tracer]

Art: martial arts had never occurred to me! A cracker of a shot - ouch!

Relaxation: you're not trying hard enough! Joker = playing cards = relaxation. Sorted - you don't even need a crowbar. And it's only upside down because you are so shattered that you don't know if you are standing on your head or your heels.

Grace: aww - cute, and lovely colours and expression.

Endings: a nice angle and lighting. It sounds very exciting - I look forward to seeing what you do with the new kit.

 

[chris321]

Well done on catching up Chris
It's tough fitting this in along side work, but you've done a good job.

Art / martial art . . . works for me.
Very strong composition in this one and the B&W works brilliantly. You've also judged the DoF perfectly.

Grace : It might be an old shot, but I like it.
Agree with you on colours and composition working well . . . just a bit of a shame about the dirty glass (not much you could do about that though)

Endings : Nice close-up shot and wishing you all the best of luck with the 5D when you get it.

And your joker?
It's upside down
But actually quite a strong, graphic shot in its own right.

Argh, I know about the upside down joker, I tried to flip it, but it just came out looking very wrong! And thank you very much for the nice words about the other shots!

Well done from me on your big ctch-up Chris - it sounds as though everything in your life is at an 'all change' stage. But it all sounds good (apart from the work hours!)

Art: Good clean image with plenty of punch (pun unintentional - honest )

Relaxation: Made me smile. I used a shot of a crowbar for one theme so I can only applaud your play on words. Again, a good clean shot - I wonder though if it would have been better on a black b/g. Either way, well done.

Grace: I can imagine how difficult it was to get that shot, and you even got eye contact. The pose is quite graceful, too.

Endings: It doesn't look under-exposed on my monitor - and more light and the gold would be too bright. I hope you get the 5D soon.

Jean

Cheers, it's all go here! Nice pun too . As for the black vs white background, I still haven't quite worked out what to do with black backgrounds. I can deal with white, but black is more of a challenge. I also took a bit of inspiration from a shot I saw a while ago of a few dice on a white background, so all you could see were the dots, which I thought was really cool. Didn't quite pull it off here though!

Agreed... Well done on catching up Chris.

Shame about the Joker, but I do understand completely... All good images, and congrats on endings...

Cheers John

Art: martial arts had never occurred to me! A cracker of a shot - ouch!

Relaxation: you're not trying hard enough! Joker = playing cards = relaxation. Sorted - you don't even need a crowbar. And it's only upside down because you are so shattered that you don't know if you are standing on your head or your heels.

Grace: aww - cute, and lovely colours and expression.

Endings: a nice angle and lighting. It sounds very exciting - I look forward to seeing what you do with the new kit.

Well I'm not a very 'arty' person in the traditional sense of the words! I have to admit I'm pretty excited about getting back into it properly, nothing is as satisfying as spending a few hours using your friends as human punchbags then all going out for a pint

 

[chris321]

Week 31 - "Electric"



I was struggling with this theme, having used my plasma ball for Week 1!

This electric raquet has been a saviour over summer, I loathe wasps and this is a very handy way of quickly dispatching them!

 

[chris321]

Week 32 - "Transform"



O.K, so this wasn't taken this week, but it seemed to fit the theme and I haven't showed it to anyone yet!

It was taken a few weeks ago at X-Fighters (where Battersea Power Station was 'transformed'), and it's (shock horror) a dabble in HDR!

I think it's a little dark, but I was aiming for a bit grungy and moody. I'd really like to hear anyone's view on this!

 

[dlh]

I do like the big curve running through electric. The whole image is nice and simple but it seems to be missing something and I'm not sure what. You have succeeded in introducing me to electric raquets though and I shall be searching for one later this morning

You've done a good job with transform. You've definitely succeeded in getting the grungy feel across. The first thing I thought when I saw it was Metropolis (not where Superman lives). The HDR treatment is very nice as well. Nice job

 

[SarahLee]

Electric racquet????
I had no idea that there was such a thing !!!!

Technically a very good shot. Well exposed, good DoF and all round nice composition. Like Darren though I feel like it could do with something else to give it a bit more punch . . . I can't think what either though

Transform : Absolutely needs to be viewed bigger to really appreciate it, but I like this a lot
It is a little dark, but I think that actually works with it. You've judged the HDR well too - it complements the image rather than overpowering it.
Definite from me.

 

[jgs001]

I agree with the comments about the Electric racquet... it does need a little more... perhaps a wasp on it... Bet you had some this year. We have one of those, and it's quite satisfying when you catch one and here it click away...

Transform, that's excellent, the processing really suits, and I agree about the Metropolis feel mentioned by Darren.

 

[chris321]

I do like the big curve running through electric. The whole image is nice and simple but it seems to be missing something and I'm not sure what. You have succeeded in introducing me to electric raquets though and I shall be searching for one later this morning

You've done a good job with transform. You've definitely succeeded in getting the grungy feel across. The first thing I thought when I saw it was Metropolis (not where Superman lives). The HDR treatment is very nice as well. Nice job

Possibly it's just a bit too simple, I was really struggling! I wanted to get some lightning, but the weather was far too good for a change!

I'm very glad you like the HDR though, I was pleasantly surprised, possible the difference is because I took it with that processing in mind, rather than using it to try and rescue a below-par shot!

Electric racquet????
I had no idea that there was such a thing !!!!

Technically a very good shot. Well exposed, good DoF and all round nice composition. Like Darren though I feel like it could do with something else to give it a bit more punch . . . I can't think what either though

Transform : Absolutely needs to be viewed bigger to really appreciate it, but I like this a lot
It is a little dark, but I think that actually works with it. You've judged the HDR well too - it complements the image rather than overpowering it.
Definite from me.

Oh yes, they definitely exist . Be warned, the message on the front saying 'DO NOT TOUCH RAQUET WIRES' is like catnip to any male that may be in the vicinity.

Again, very glad you like this HDR lark, perhaps it's not all bad after all?!

I agree with the comments about the Electric racquet... it does need a little more... perhaps a wasp on it... Bet you had some this year. We have one of those, and it's quite satisfying when you catch one and here it click away...

Transform, that's excellent, the processing really suits, and I agree about the Metropolis feel mentioned by Darren.

Yep, we were overrun a few weeks ago.... no longer though! If there'd been a wasp around then it would definitely have made it into the picture! Cheers for the kind words about 'transform' too. I can't believe I hadn't commented on your 52 so far, there's a nice long post waiting for you now though

Thanks everyone

Chris

 

[holryn]

Chris, major catchup time.

Metal - lovely shot. And it looks great in B&W too. Just the right amount of DoF.

Grunge - blimey it has been a long time since I looked in on your thread. Good picture, nice detail. Not sure it says 'grunge' to me but I'm not familiar with the band.

Beginnings - A cute little kitten. Nicely composed

Art - Didn't get the connection until I read you comments. Again well composed and the B&W works nicely.

Relaxation - OK you're playing your joker - but again it's a well composed and lit shot in it's own right.

Grace - Good take on the theme. It's not doing a lot for me I'm afraid, but it's not easy shooting in aquariums.

Endings - Good composition again. And reading your comments has made me a little jealous - I'd love to go to a full frame camera, being poor will hinder that a little I suspect, oh and you could have given the casing a bit of a clean before taking the shot.

Electric - Glad you explained what it was as I wouldn't have guessed. Interesting abstract - again B&W works well.

Transform - Love it. Loads of details, great sky and a very moody atmosphere.