weekly Delta Skies 2014 TP52 - Week 51 Extravagant & Week 52 Support (that's 2014 done)

[Richard Gill]

Strong - I like your thinking! Nicely composed image.

Texture - technically can't fault it.

 

[Allan.H]

Hi Peter, I see why you opted for this version than the close up, the blue and green of the BG add a little colour to the bullrush which has plenty of detail
Close up I think people would have been asking what it was
having not seen the close up version, I am sure you are right with your choice

 

[susiejb]

Hi Peter , I agree with Allan above....a good choice for the theme

 

[blondie606]

HI Peter

Strong....inspired title & different take on the theme which works compositionally & technically.....top job

Texture.....yup , good as good can be in technical terms....can't help wondering if a bolder portrait crop might work as well ?

 

[Dark Knight]

Hey Peter

Strong - Now that is a strong image, love your imagination, super fine detail, bang on corner to corner crop/lining up, great background to boot - Perfect

Texture - Real nice image again, love the negative space to the left, real nice detail, the evening sun seems to be the perfect light for the bulrush, my only crit - where are the white fluffy clouds

 

[Delta Skies]

I know you appreciate a bit of honesty Peter... And again I applaud the technical and compositional "perfection" of the image, (that bullrush is exactly on a third isn't it?).

I much preferred the more daring composition of your sausage dinner a few weeks back, or the real world unseeable view of your two b&w long exposures.

Now I know the "correct" composition is that for a reason but... (and I'm noticing the same in my set-up shots) over use becomes obvious and therefore less striking.

Not sure if I'm questioning myself more than you here... But I wonder if a less perfect, but more "real", or emotional image would carry more of a wow factor. If I may cite an example.... It would be your Sarah's shot of her father a few weeks back.

As said, this may well be an outlet for my own thoughts on myself rather than a direct critique of your work. And obviously the themes themselves as well as other factors such as time and other responsibilities dictate where our shots end up.

Cheers.

Graham,

I really appreciate this. For me this has been one of the strongest crits in the 52 threads I've seen this year. Not only have you shown some honesty and a willingness to be open but you've provided an insight into your view of photography and the need to operate at times outside the rules we too often adhere to.

More importantly you have not just challenged me but also yourself. I not saying I will easily be able to take heed but it is certainly something I've thought about since reading this the other day. I'd already taken my wild image (I'll post it in a few minutes) as it was taken on the same trip out as the bulrush - in fact it was only a few metres away - so there won't be an immediate change but maybe your words are why I've stalled on producing an image for dream/dreamy. That's not a negative comment - quite the opposite. What can I do that's different? I may have to resort to type to keep up with the weeks but I may well come up with a start of something

Again many thanks for making me stop and think.

Cheers

Peter

 

[Delta Skies]

Strong - great detail and composition works for me

Texture - agree with the above a nice image but could do with a bit closer

Thanks Craig

Strong - Very good detail in the string fibres, nice compositionally as well

Texture - Nice detail in the rush, good blurring of the background.

Thanks Mark

HI Peter

Strong....inspired title & different take on the theme which works compositionally & technically.....top job

Texture.....yup , good as good can be in technical terms....can't help wondering if a bolder portrait crop might work as well ?

Thanks for the feedback Lynne

Hey Peter

Strong - Now that is a strong image, love your imagination, super fine detail, bang on corner to corner crop/lining up, great background to boot - Perfect

Texture - Real nice image again, love the negative space to the left, real nice detail, the evening sun seems to be the perfect light for the bulrush, my only crit - where are the white fluffy clouds

Thanks Dean. Mmmmm Fluffy clouds? Maybe a bit of extra PP required?

 

[Delta Skies]

Week 23 - Wild

Northern Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza Purpurella) by Delta Skies, on Flickr

Taken on the same trip out as the last image, I found this wild flower - in fact it's a Northern Marsh Orchid - only a few metres away. I tried a few apertures but settled on f5.6 to blur the background enough. Again it was using natural light.

 

[overbez]

Graham,

I really appreciate this. For me this has been one of the strongest crits in the 52 threads I've seen this year. Not only have you shown some honesty and a willingness to be open but you've provided an insight into your view of photography and the need to operate at times outside the rules we too often adhere to.

More importantly you have not just challenged me but also yourself. I not saying I will easily be able to take heed but it is certainly something I've thought about since reading this the other day. I'd already taken my wild image (I'll post it in a few minutes) as it was taken on the same trip out as the bulrush - in fact it was only a few metres away - so there won't be an immediate change but maybe your words are why I've stalled on producing an image for dream/dreamy. That's not a negative comment - quite the opposite. What can I do that's different? I may have to resort to type to keep up with the weeks but I may well come up with a start of something

Again many thanks for making me stop and think.

Cheers

Peter

Thankyou Peter, for taking that in a constructive way. You're right in that I was challenging myself as well as you.

The main reason that I have "gone round again" is to, quite simply, get photographs I want to look at again, and keep. A few weeks go by where they tick a box, but no more than that and frustration and resentment of the challenge begin to creep in.

Don't change what you do, certainly not for me! But nothing wrong with stopping and thinking once in a while.


Where does that leave us with the Marsh Orchid, I really like the central, vertical composition, balanced by the two curvy leaves on the right, easy to say the right one of the two should have been plucked, or cloned out, but I like it, un-centering the balance of the composition.

Colour, sharpness, detail, all go without needing to be said.

 

[Pinkbikerbabe]

Wild - beautiful image, nicely blurred background zero crit from me as I love it.

 

[pjm1]

Really nice shot of a lovely flower. Only tiny thing for me is it's a tad too central, horizontally. I might have had it very slightly to the left?

 

[posiview]

Texture world well. Good detail and nice bile sky. Wonder what a lower composition would looks like, ie removing the sky.

Wild, good colours and detail. I like to prune, as in bend distractions out of the way, but I'm glad you left the two lower right leaves (?) in.

Cheers.

 

[Delta Skies]

Thankyou Peter, for taking that in a constructive way. You're right in that I was challenging myself as well as you.

The main reason that I have "gone round again" is to, quite simply, get photographs I want to look at again, and keep. A few weeks go by where they tick a box, but no more than that and frustration and resentment of the challenge begin to creep in.

Don't change what you do, certainly not for me! But nothing wrong with stopping and thinking once in a while.


Where does that leave us with the Marsh Orchid, I really like the central, vertical composition, balanced by the two curvy leaves on the right, easy to say the right one of the two should have been plucked, or cloned out, but I like it, un-centering the balance of the composition.

Colour, sharpness, detail, all go without needing to be said.

Thanks Graham. I did feel it needed the two leaves left in. OK it gave it a little off centre feel but I think it adds a little more of what the plant is about

Wild - beautiful image, nicely blurred background zero crit from me as I love it.

Thanks Mandy

Really nice shot of a lovely flower. Only tiny thing for me is it's a tad too central, horizontally. I might have had it very slightly to the left?

Thanks Paul. Maybe it's those leaves that do that?

Texture world well. Good detail and nice bile sky. Wonder what a lower composition would looks like, ie removing the sky.

Wild, good colours and detail. I like to prune, as in bend distractions out of the way, but I'm glad you left the two lower right leaves (?) in.

Cheers.

Thanks Andy. I'm a bit worried about the "bile" sky though. I must say I didn't do any pruning but I did push some of the surrounding grasses out of the way. I'm sure they'll have grown back into shape soon enough.

 

[blondie606]

Hi Peter

Beautiful use of DOF ,lovely light , like the central comp & the 2 stray leaves.....the purple really pops off the screen

 

[Delta Skies]

Hi Peter

Beautiful use of DOF ,lovely light , like the central comp & the 2 stray leaves.....the purple really pops off the screen

Thanks for the kind words Lynne

 

[Judi]

Hi Peter,
Lovely Marsh Orchid, good dof and lit well, it only might be better with a bit off the left side

 

[cowboy]

Hi Peter

Beautiful use of DOF ,lovely light , like the central comp & the 2 stray leaves.....the purple really pops off the screen

Yep, got to agree.

 

[susiejb]

Hi Peter , wild is a really super image, lovely sharp detail in the flower even when zoomed in in really close. Background is perfect ...very nice indeed.

 

[Delta Skies]

Hi Peter,
Lovely Marsh Orchid, good dof and lit well, it only might be better with a bit off the left side

Thanks Judi

Yep, got to agree.

Cheers Mark

Hi Peter , wild is a really super image, lovely sharp detail in the flower even when zoomed in in really close. Background is perfect ...very nice indeed.

Thanks Susie

 

[Allan.H]

Hi Peter, nice and sharp, good colour, Bg is excellent and I like the two leaves bottom right
central composition works for me

 

[Delta Skies]

Hi Peter, nice and sharp, good colour, Bg is excellent and I like the two leaves bottom right
central composition works for me

Thanks for the comments Allan

 

[Tango32]

Wild - excellent colours and detail in there Peter and the back ground suits it well

 

[Delta Skies]

Wild - excellent colours and detail in there Peter and the back ground suits it well

Thanks Craig

 

[Delta Skies]

Week 24 - Dream/Dreamy

Dreamscape by Delta Skies, on Flickr


@overbez - Well Graham! - How's this for stepping out of my comfort zone?

I was determined to do something different and take notice of some very valid comments. The recipe is a sunset at a local nature reserve, some stones, a field, a tree, a lamp post, a perspex globe, a tennis ball, a golf ball and add lots & lots of editing. Thanks goodness for the Wacom tablet is all I can say.

It'll definitely be a marmite shot but what the heck it's different and has pushed me well out of my comfort zone. Have I learned anything from this? Yes including respect for the comments previously made by Graham to make me stop and think, a load of editing techniques not used before, how difficult it is to pull a set of various images together, just how big PSD files can get, and most of all I need to concentrate on getting images like these SOOC

 

[overbez]

Brilliant peter, as dreamy as a dreamscape can be.

I struggle to see how this can be seen as a Marmite shot though. I foresee you having a very sore back from all the pats coming.

I love it and really appreciate how much effort goes into creating something like this, even more so when you have to learn the required techniques as well as doing the work too. Much respect from me,

Love the base photo and the additions of the tree in the bowl with the fantastically over scaled lamppost work brilliantly. The light glow from the lamp really brings it into the photo, rather than simply being an added item.

Top work, in more ways than one.

Edit... And loving the crescent golf ball moon.

 

[Judi]

Hi Peter,
I like the original image very much, the one you have created? a real fun image that you have put a lot of work into, it does have a dreamy effect. well done

 

[blondie606]

Hi Peter


hell's bells.......from a pp stance that's very impressive ,everything blended perfectly , excellent use of layers......would love to be able to create something that good...1st thought was DALI , one of my favourite artists

However.....it doesn't quite gel for me but I can't quite pinpoint why ? I think it's the reeds but don't know what you could replace them with

 

[Delta Skies]

Brilliant peter, as dreamy as a dreamscape can be.

I struggle to see how this can be seen as a Marmite shot though. I foresee you having a very sore back from all the pats coming.

I love it and really appreciate how much effort goes into creating something like this, even more so when you have to learn the required techniques as well as doing the work too. Much respect from me,

Love the base photo and the additions of the tree in the bowl with the fantastically over scaled lamppost work brilliantly. The light glow from the lamp really brings it into the photo, rather than simply being an added item.

Top work, in more ways than one.

Edit... And loving the crescent golf ball moon.

Many thanks for the kind words Graham. It certainly was an interesting exercise in bringing it all together - both in thought process and execution. It's funny a couple of the things you mention, the light glow and the crescent (the golf ball was there but I thought creating a crescent improved it) weren't in my original plans and were only added quite late in the process

Hi Peter,
I like the original image very much, the one you have created? a real fun image that you have put a lot of work into, it does have a dreamy effect. well done

Thanks Judi. For me the original wasn't strong enough to do anything with unless something drastic like this came along.

Hi Peter


hell's bells.......from a pp stance that's very impressive ,everything blended perfectly , excellent use of layers......would love to be able to create something that good...1st thought was DALI , one of my favourite artists

However.....it doesn't quite gel for me but I can't quite pinpoint why ? I think it's the reeds but don't know what you could replace them with

Thanks Lynne. It won't gel for everyone - as I said I think it might be a marmite shot because it doesn't convey reality. The reeds (and swan) are part of the original shot that started all this so would be difficult to change but appreciate the comments.

 

[mr.si]

I don't know how you do it, but it's brilliant.
Certainly looks like a dream.

 

[d00d]

hell's bells.......from a pp stance that's very impressive

 

[pjm1]

I love the idea and think you've done an amazing job with all of the PP aspects. It's brilliant.

Could it be improved? Sure, but I'm sure as certain that I couldn't do it... and if you're still learning a lot of these effects then you need some room for improvement Superb.

If you think this is genuinely out of your comfort zone, then I'd respectfully suggest your comfort zone might actually be wider than you think! Really good job and you clearly have the PP skills to go with your photography ones.

 

[posiview]

Much kudos, Peter must have taken a long time. I've had PSD files over 1GB

Really, well composed, obviously dreamy and as said Dali did spring to mind.

Crit, well after such a submission it ain't easy. For me, a little more work on the blending. Can't really articulate, but maybe, slightly softer blending.

The moon really made me smile.

Good show.

Chests.

 

[Delta Skies]

I don't know how you do it, but it's brilliant.
Certainly looks like a dream.

Thanks Simon

Thanks David

I love the idea and think you've done an amazing job with all of the PP aspects. It's brilliant.

Could it be improved? Sure, but I'm sure as certain that I couldn't do it... and if you're still learning a lot of these effects then you need some room for improvement Superb.

If you think this is genuinely out of your comfort zone, then I'd respectfully suggest your comfort zone might actually be wider than you think! Really good job and you clearly have the PP skills to go with your photography ones.

Many thanks Paul

Much kudos, Peter must have taken a long time. I've had PSD files over 1GB

Really, well composed, obviously dreamy and as said Dali did spring to mind.

Crit, well after such a submission it ain't easy. For me, a little more work on the blending. Can't really articulate, but maybe, slightly softer blending.

The moon really made me smile.

Good show.

Chests.

I'm not sure about your "chests" remark but thanks for the feedback Andy. I did wonder whether to cheat with the sun and moon and just create a shape is PS. In the end I decided it was quicker to take a photo of a 3D object than try and create a 2D object and then attempt to put a bit of shape to it. I also thought it amusing to use a couple of balls that the dogs will have brought back from their walks. I put a red filter on the green tennis ball but felt the golf ball could be left as it was especially as the dimples look like craters.

 

[Phil-D]

Definitely only in a dream Peter well done on the pp, I wouldn't know where to start. I like the idea and think it all works well together ............ don't think it needs the swan.............possibly something that you wouldn't expect to see swimming in the lake to keep with the dream feeling

 

[Pinkbikerbabe]

Dream - Love it wonderful use off pp skills and very fitting for the theme.

 

[superpippo]

Hi Peter

Strong - simple and decent comp - like the muted tones and the detail in the elements - b/g tile works really well.
Texture - again a simple idea which comes across well. Good blurred b/g and I do like the rush on the third the 'rule' still has its usefulness!
Wild - central comp works well for this flower. Focus, detail and colour all good
Dream - I do like the thinking behind this and your hard work on the PC has paid off. I find it humorous and interesting throughout. i like the contrast between the natural - the horizon, sky, rushes and swan - and the supernatural - the boat, lampost and tree - and the way that you have managed to assemble them. The glow around the lamp is excellent and the golf ball moon is inspired. My two points of crit would be that the red ball top left seems superfluous and not at the same level of expertise as the rest of the shot. And the level of the 'boat' is such that the tree and lampost have a confusing base - either arising from the land from the boat or from the land of the horizon behind. But this does not spoil the overall shot which overall is excellent

 

[Delta Skies]

Definitely only in a dream Peter well done on the pp, I wouldn't know where to start. I like the idea and think it all works well together ............ don't think it needs the swan.............possibly something that you wouldn't expect to see swimming in the lake to keep with the dream feeling

Thanks Phil. But the swan was really there

Dream - Love it wonderful use off pp skills and very fitting for the theme.

Thanks Mandy

Hi Peter

Strong - simple and decent comp - like the muted tones and the detail in the elements - b/g tile works really well.
Texture - again a simple idea which comes across well. Good blurred b/g and I do like the rush on the third the 'rule' still has its usefulness!
Wild - central comp works well for this flower. Focus, detail and colour all good
Dream - I do like the thinking behind this and your hard work on the PC has paid off. I find it humorous and interesting throughout. i like the contrast between the natural - the horizon, sky, rushes and swan - and the supernatural - the boat, lampost and tree - and the way that you have managed to assemble them. The glow around the lamp is excellent and the golf ball moon is inspired. My two points of crit would be that the red ball top left seems superfluous and not at the same level of expertise as the rest of the shot. And the level of the 'boat' is such that the tree and lampost have a confusing base - either arising from the land from the boat or from the land of the horizon behind. But this does not spoil the overall shot which overall is excellent

Many thanks for the catchup of critiques Alan. Useful feedback regarding the tennis ball and horizon comments on the dream shot. I enjoyed pulling this together and may well try something similar in the future so all feedback is gratefully received.

 

[susiejb]

Hi Peter ....I think it's all been said ....very well done ....a lot of hard work in there. I really like the idea of doing something 'different' and not being afraid to think outside the box. It certainly has a dreamy feel ...the little 'bowl with the stones, the lamp, and the tree is interesting.....I can't help but wonder what made you choose those particular objects !

 

[Dark Knight]

Hey Peter

Dream/Dreamy - Blimey, you have put a LOT of work into this mate, love all the elements, soooo much happening in the shot, and the blending/layers or what ever it is you have to put these together is excellent, I particularly like the reeds in the foreground - a lovely bright dreamy world

 

[Allan.H]

Hi Peter, lot of work there, i like how you have used different objects for the moon and planet,

have to say I am with Lynne on it not quite gelling, but as its a dream image, well its your dream.
top marks for stepping out your comfort zone and you have used the layers to great effect