Darkslinger's 52 Week Challenge - 2023

[overbez]

You've got this technique nailed Bill!

The B&W is great - love the way you have the background "clearly" visible, the picture frame, wall, door handle, lattice screen with foliage!

Awesome!

 

[Darkslinger]

You've got this technique nailed Bill!

The B&W is great - love the way you have the background "clearly" visible, the picture frame, wall, door handle, lattice screen with foliage!

Awesome!

Thank you Graham, I appreciate the kind words.

 

[Peter123]

Another excellent image Bill.
Yes, B/W one does stand out.

 

[Darkslinger]

Another excellent image Bill.
Yes, B/W one does stand out.

Thanks Peter!

 

[Darkslinger]

Week #7 - Letters

Decided to go for a walk in the rain around the city on Monday as it was a local Statutory Holiday.

I liked this simple graffiti in an alley off of Robson Street:



And I've shot these large metal letters in Robson Square few times but I like how they "point" to the couple standing on the steps of the art gallery:



I did have a shot in mind as I walked up to the Waterfront Skytrain exit on Granville Street. This is two shots combined, one ICM and one a static image. I was just lucky to get there as the woman was standing looking at her phone and the man with the notable outfit was exiting the escalator:



As I walked down through an alley to Gastown, I thought that this graffiti stood out:



And, finally as I exited the same alley I spotted this sticker on a post so I shot it looking back the way I had come:

 

[Cloudforest]

A well seen set again Bill. I like the one you’ve chosen as it puts the emphasis on the letters. I’m fascinated about the back story in pic 1. We may never know

 

[Boots]

I like your chosen shot (out a strong set) - it's very graphic and dynamic. Nice control of DoF.

 

[FlyPhot]

I like them all, a nice set of urban images each with its own story. Any of them would make the grade IMHO.

 

[Peter123]

Good series Bill. The bokeh in your chosen shot gives context.

 

[Darkslinger]

A well seen set again Bill. I like the one you’ve chosen as it puts the emphasis on the letters. I’m fascinated about the back story in pic 1. We may never know

Thanks Pete, I'm with you. The graffiti isn't that artistic but the message does make you wonder...

I like your chosen shot (out a strong set) - it's very graphic and dynamic. Nice control of DoF.

Thanks Paul.

I like them all, a nice set of urban images each with its own story. Any of them would make the grade IMHO.

Thank you Jim, I appreciate you comments!

Good series Bill. The bokeh in your chosen shot gives context.

Thank you Peter, there were two young women taking portraits with the graffiti in the background and you can just make them out at the other end of the alley.

 

[Darkslinger]

Week #8 - kitchen (in the) and tech

I originally was going to try to do a flat lay of kitchen utensils but wasn't feeling inspired after my first attempt. Then I thought that I'd try to work in the tech with a combo of metal utensils with a plastic one.

That was kind of cool with the textured green placemat underneath so I moved on to spoons:


When I saw the reflection in the bottom of the spoons I figured I was onto something so I kept adding. Three:


Five:


Then I remembered the tech again:


And finally ended up with this one;

 

[n1kcy]

I really like all of these, great to see you working the subject.

 

[-Oy-]

Nice set. Just the three spoons works best for me as a pic - but the chosen one nails the tech

 

[rpn]

That's a nice set of shots you've captured there, Bill. I think you've chosen the right one for the theme and tech. My first thought was why the plastic spoon until I read your narrative. I like the reflections and shallow depth of field.

 

[nog]

Good set and great to see how it developed

 

[Gav.]

There's some nice layouts, always tricky to settle on one choosen image works

 

[Peter123]

Great shot Bill. I like the symmetry.

 

[Don153]

I enjoyed going through the images one by one. My favourite - and I don't know why - is the one labelled "five".

 

[overbez]

Nice set for both of the last 2 themes.

Like letters looking back up the alley. Great use of selective focus on the posts and nice elements of dark, light, and color to the rhs.

Love how you arrived at your chosen one for Kitchen, and think you made the right choices along the way. Incredibly shiny spoons!
The texture in the mat really adds. Especially as it recedes into blur for your BG.

 

[Allan.H]

I like the ones without the plastic cutlery but I understand why it had to be included

 

[Adamcski]

I like the chosen image and for me the reflections set it off nicely. I also like the image of the 5 spoons without the white on but balancing spoons can be hard as I tried similar shots last year.

 

[Cloudforest]

Nice set Bill and those reflections work well. Have to say, I like the one with the three spoons the best.

 

[Darkslinger]

I really like all of these, great to see you working the subject.

Thanks Nicky, whenever I'm stuck with trying to create something to shoot (rather than just happening on it as I'm out) I find that I have trouble settling on a composition so I'm forced to work the image more.

Nice set. Just the three spoons works best for me as a pic - but the chosen one nails the tech

Thanks Dave, it was hard to chose but I had to get my tech submission in so...you know...

That's a nice set of shots you've captured there, Bill. I think you've chosen the right one for the theme and tech. My first thought was why the plastic spoon until I read your narrative. I like the reflections and shallow depth of field.

Thanks Stan.

Good set and great to see how it developed

Thank you Keith.

There's some nice layouts, always tricky to settle on one choosen image works

Thanks Gav!

Great shot Bill. I like the symmetry.

Thank you Peter.

I enjoyed going through the images one by one. My favourite - and I don't know why - is the one labelled "five".

Yeah it was a toss up for me Donal. It was only trying to get the tech portion of the theme the tipped it towards the one I posted.

Nice set for both of the last 2 themes.

Like letters looking back up the alley. Great use of selective focus on the posts and nice elements of dark, light, and color to the rhs.

Love how you arrived at your chosen one for Kitchen, and think you made the right choices along the way. Incredibly shiny spoons!
The texture in the mat really adds. Especially as it recedes into blur for your BG.

Thanks Graham, the spoons are a set we have in storage and have never been used so have stayed as shiny as the day they were given to us
I originally chose the mat because of its colour (bright, neon green). I wasn't even thinking about using the texture until I saw it on my camera screen

I like the ones without the plastic cutlery but I understand why it had to be included

Thanks Allan, I'm with you but needs must...

I like the chosen image and for me the reflections set it off nicely. I also like the image of the 5 spoons without the white on but balancing spoons can be hard as I tried similar shots last year.

LOL, I cheated with the balancing...I used a little piece of scotch tape on the handles of the spoons

Nice set Bill and those reflections work well. Have to say, I like the one with the three spoons the best.

Thanks Pete!

 

[Darkslinger]

Week #9 - Broken

I had an idea to shoot the cracks that occur in roadways and sidewalks but wanted to see if I could make them visually interesting/appealing in some way, so I set off to the city. These are some of the images that I took:



But (as is often the case these days) it was the last shot I took and not on the street but rather inside the Waterfront Seabus station that I liked the best:

 

[Allan.H]

All very good, hard to choose one that stands out, they work really well as a set.

 

[overbez]

Excellent set and commentary Bill - I see why you've chosen the one you have. The crack making its way up through the light reflected from the doorway is really pleasant and well composed.

If I can be contrary - I'd really like a combination of the first two. The crack in the first doesn't have a (albeit blurred) distant 'focal point', which the second does but the crack is meh!

A combination of the two looks great. Out of respect to your request to not edit your images, I won't post, (unless you'd like to see my idea)...

Really enjoying your work here Bill.

 

[Darkslinger]

Excellent set and commentary Bill - I see why you've chosen the one you have. The crack making its way up through the light reflected from the doorway is really pleasant and well composed.

If I can be contrary - I'd really like a combination of the first two. The crack in the first doesn't have a (albeit blurred) distant 'focal point', which the second does but the crack is meh!

A combination of the two looks great. Out of respect to your request to not edit your images, I won't post, (unless you'd like to see my idea)...

Really enjoying your work here Bill.

Thanks Graham, I forgot all about that setting in my profile. I have no problem with you taking a whack at my images. I'm actually really interested in seeing what you come up with.

I'm a big fan of double exposures but don't have a lot of experience in compositing images in a way that makes them appear to be a single image.

 

[Darkslinger]

All very good, hard to choose one that stands out, they work really well as a set.

Thanks Allan, I appreciate the kind words!

 

[Cloudforest]

An interesting idea and well executed across the set Bill. I like the one you’ve chosen and number two runs it a close second for me as I like the oof splash of colour in the hi-viz vests.

 

[Peter123]

Good set Bill.
For me the 5th is the most interesting.
You have nearly as many cracked pavements as us over here.

 

[overbez]

Thanks Graham, I forgot all about that setting in my profile. I have no problem with you taking a whack at my images. I'm actually really interested in seeing what you come up with.

I'm a big fan of double exposures but don't have a lot of experience in compositing images in a way that makes them appear to be a single image.

Thanks Bill. I think you have the skills to do it from what you've shown so far. I'll >> link to my quick result << rather than post directly. And here's the 3 for > comparison <

2 layers, mask, and paint through the big crack.

 

[Gav.]

Nice shots, I like your picked image

 

[Boots]

An interesting project - I would have chosen the same as you did. Good work!

 

[n1kcy]

A great set, they all work together really well. You've done a great job here.

 

[-Oy-]

Crackin' set Bill

I like having a theme when I'm mooching about a place. I may well steal this one

 

[Darkslinger]

An interesting idea and well executed across the set Bill. I like the one you’ve chosen and number two runs it a close second for me as I like the oof splash of colour in the hi-viz vests.

Thanks Pete, yeah, I was lucky a couple of city workers picking up trash just happened to walk by as I was taking the shot.

Good set Bill.
For me the 5th is the most interesting.
You have nearly as many cracked pavements as us over here.

Thanks Peter, lots of rain followed by freezing weather makes for lots of subjects for me to choose from

Nice shots, I like your picked image

Thanks Gav

An interesting project - I would have chosen the same as you did. Good work!

Thank you Paul.

A great set, they all work together really well. You've done a great job here.

Thanks Nicky

Crackin' set Bill

I like having a theme when I'm mooching about a place. I may well steal this one

Steal away Dave!

 

[Darkslinger]

Thanks Bill. I think you have the skills to do it from what you've shown so far. I'll >> link to my quick result << rather than post directly. And here's the 3 for > comparison <

2 layers, mask, and paint through the big crack.

What a great result Graham, I wouldn't have even thought of that but I can see how it would work. Two similar scenes, in a similar colour palettes, taken from a similar angles. I like your final image a lot.

Thanks for doing this for me, it's going to make me think going forward.

 

[HelenC]

An interesting take on the theme and a good set of options. However, I'm with you on the chosen shot - the offset person with the central door makes a great composition.

 

[SimonH]

Great idea Bill. All good, but your chosen one is spot on for me. Very nicely composed and shot.

 

[Adamcski]

Good theme and with the state of the roads around here, you could have had any number of images to choose from.