dlh's 52 for 2010 - Week 16 Stare

[robp]

I think you've managed to shoot metal well, given all the potential reflection difficulties.
I like the composition and the interpretation of the theme, but to me it seems a little dark and too tight to the left and above.

 

[dlh]

Didn't think too far outside the box today and wanted to try something with minimal processing for a change to prove I don't need to go overboard.

Was going for monopoly to start with but there was only one die left, so shot forgotten and moved onto the chess board. I didn't like focus on the front or back, so focus is on the black pawn in the middle (in case you can't spot it). Hope it works and hope you like.

Lessons learnt this week - doing a better job in camera rather than relying on PP is definitely something I want to work on.

​

 

[Nick T]

It's a nice idea, and I like it - but I was all about to say 'it's a shame it's not completely in focus' until I read the bit about the black pawn. I think to pull that off, there needed to be some sort of spotlight on the pawn to draw your eye there with the rest of the pieces ever so slightly darker?

Like I say though - nice idea

 

[jollyjack]

I agree nick, at first it was all blurry, i had to look around to find the focual point. Great idea but requires something to draw your eyes to the black pawn.

 

[Rich E500]

Maybe if you were to have one of the larger peices as the focal point? Other than that, a great idea for this weeks theme.

 

[dlh]

It's a nice idea, and I like it - but I was all about to say 'it's a shame it's not completely in focus' until I read the bit about the black pawn. I think to pull that off, there needed to be some sort of spotlight on the pawn to draw your eye there with the rest of the pieces ever so slightly darker?

Like I say though - nice idea

I agree nick, at first it was all blurry, i had to look around to find the focual point. Great idea but requires something to draw your eyes to the black pawn.

Maybe if you were to have one of the larger peices as the focal point? Other than that, a great idea for this weeks theme.

Thanks for your comments guys. I thought it stood out enough (granted subtly) as it's slightly lighter and in focus. Perhaps that's just because I knew where it was focussed (intentionally I might add ). I can see where you're all coming from though, but intend to stick with this as firstly I don't have a spotlight small enough to throw light onto it and secondly I didn't want to go overboard in PP and have a more natural shot. Hopefully someone will agree with me at some point

 

[blakester]

Darren, I like the perspective you have taken on this image, the lighting too is good. I am with the others on the focal point though. It is distracting having the oof pieces to the front of the image.
Would this work without the black chess pieces in the foreground, I mean having the pawn (or perhaps a higher piece) central on the board in focus but with a clear board in the foreground? Just my observations FWIW.
On theme well done, roll on tonight for a new theme.
Iain

 

[jgs001]

Darren, it's on theme, and very nicely lit, but I have to agree with the others about the focus point being not easy to identify, sorry.

 

[dlh]

Darren, I like the perspective you have taken on this image, the lighting too is good. I am with the others on the focal point though. It is distracting having the oof pieces to the front of the image.
Would this work without the black chess pieces in the foreground, I mean having the pawn (or perhaps a higher piece) central on the board in focus but with a clear board in the foreground? Just my observations FWIW.
On theme well done, roll on tonight for a new theme.
Iain

Darren, it's on theme, and very nicely lit, but I have to agree with the others about the focus point being not easy to identify, sorry.

Thanks for the ideas and no need for anyone to be apologising for having an opinion (even if they are wrong ). No seriously, I take it all on board and appreciate what everyone so far has said. I guess I'm too close to the shot to see it.

The board does make a great subject though so I am planning to give it another go shortly. May well pop a selection up before next week. Of course if I can squeeze it into next week's theme all the better

 

[louise-knight]

I'd love a game of chess.. I haven't played for so long! I like the low key lighting and the spot you've chosen to focus on, you will be happy to know that I spotted it before I read about it

 

[dlh]

I'd love a game of chess.. I haven't played for so long! I like the low key lighting and the spot you've chosen to focus on, you will be happy to know that I spotted it before I read about it

The defence rests Thank you for restoring my sanity Louise

 

[holryn]

I too spotted the focus Darren. Maybe only because we had similar ideas but the pawn does stand out to me. Lighting is spot on too.

 

[dade_f]

Hey Darren - good idea for the play theme. Nice colours.
The blur for me doesnt work - its a nice focus on the pawn (an important piece in its own right, but not the most important) and given the head on angle it obstructs the view slightly to other sides pieces.
An idea could be shoot through the pieces as thats and good angle, but turn the board slightly not 45 degrees but maybe 20 so you get the see the other side too, and perhaps keep the focus on the pawn but also bring in the back line pieces

 

[dlh]

I too spotted the focus Darren. Maybe only because we had similar ideas but the pawn does stand out to me. Lighting is spot on too.

Thanks Paul. I didn't realise this was going to be such a marmite shot

Hey Darren - good idea for the play theme. Nice colours.
The blur for me doesnt work - its a nice focus on the pawn (an important piece in its own right, but not the most important) and given the head on angle it obstructs the view slightly to other sides pieces.
An idea could be shoot through the pieces as thats and good angle, but turn the board slightly not 45 degrees but maybe 20 so you get the see the other side too, and perhaps keep the focus on the pawn but also bring in the back line pieces

It's not the most important piece but it was the one I intended to show as having been played. Perhaps a hand in the frame would have helped but I felt that would take away from the image a lot.

I will add your thoughts to the list for a possible reshoot (if and when it happens) and give them a try. But for the moment I intend to keep this as I like it Thanks for your comments

 

[Stephen Ramsay]

The chess idea is brilliant. Although the foreground in focus is very popular it works well with only the one main piece in focus.

Strong background and great colours on the board. Great DOF, really shows what is trying to be played next.

I dont like comparing 52s as it is a personal challenge, but this isnt far off Sarah's week 9...both very different but on the same take.

I love it

 

[jeangenie]

11lbs lost in 3 weeks. Two slimmers of the week and slimmer of the month. Glad I didn't eat the rolos Congratulations - good weight loss and public acclaim for putting the evil temptations of rolos behind you.


I'm of the opinion (and hoping it's not delusion) that whilst my images aren't great yet they are improving the last few weeks. You've produced some brilliant images, and the images where you learn a new technique (or something to avoid next time) are just as valuable. I get the feeling you're enjoying your photography much more than you did. If I start taking more time over them instead of rushing for a result I'm sure they'll improve more (crosses fingers).

Maybe if you were to have one of the larger peices as the focal point? Other than that, a great idea for this weeks theme.

I kind of agree with Rich, but am I right in thinking that the first moves in a chess match are all important? And the pawn is in the front line of attack (or defence). So, from a chess players point of view I think the pawn was a good choice for the point of focus. An interesting problem for the photographer - speak to the chess experts, or the general (non-playing) public?

Whatever else, Darren, you've provoked a lot of discussion.

Jean

 

[Ambermile]

I like it... technically from a photographic pov it's great, from a chess pov, white moves first...

Arthur

 

[dlh]

The chess idea is brilliant. Although the foreground in focus is very popular it works well with only the one main piece in focus.

Strong background and great colours on the board. Great DOF, really shows what is trying to be played next.

I dont like comparing 52s as it is a personal challenge, but this isnt far off Sarah's week 9...both very different but on the same take.

I love it

That's praise indeed. Thank you very much Stephen

I kind of agree with Rich, but am I right in thinking that the first moves in a chess match are all important? And the pawn is in the front line of attack (or defence). So, from a chess players point of view I think the pawn was a good choice for the point of focus. An interesting problem for the photographer - speak to the chess experts, or the general (non-playing) public?

Whatever else, Darren, you've provoked a lot of discussion.

Jean

Thank you Jean. I wasn't expecting to divide opinion, I just honestly thought it looked better there. I still do

I like it... technically from a photographic pov it's great, from a chess pov, white moves first...

Arthur

Thank you Arthur. I was too concerned with getting the angle and lighting right. I also know I wanted white in the background. It wasn't until afterwards that I realised I'd forgotten to move white first. I will call it artistic licence. Or just pretend one of the white rooks' pawns has moved first

 

[foggy4ever]

Chess seems popular this week good use of a narrow dof, the angle and lighting is just right. The only thing I could add would to have mage the in focus pawn totally visible making it a little more obvious when you first view the picture.

 

[Ambermile]

...Or just pretend one of the white rooks' pawns has moved first

Ooo - terrible opening gambit...

 

[Harlequin565]

I like the shot Darren. I like the DoF and I didn't have to hunt too much to see the subject. When I did find it, it was a nice surprise that it was a pawn.

My cup of tea this.

Ian.

 

[dlh]

Chess seems popular this week good use of a narrow dof, the angle and lighting is just right. The only thing I could add would to have mage the in focus pawn totally visible making it a little more obvious when you first view the picture.

Thanks Scott. I don't like to be Mr Obvious But I am saving up all these ideas for a rainy day.

Ooo - terrible opening gambit...

And I'm sticking to it too

I like the shot Darren. I like the DoF and I didn't have to hunt too much to see the subject. When I did find it, it was a nice surprise that it was a pawn.

My cup of tea this.

Ian.

Thank you Ian. Much better than my cups of tea, which are particularly awful.

 

[mich66]

no idea how to play chess.. hate marmite.. but like the shot very much, great lighting and I quite like the focus on the pawn

 

[RichM]

I thought i'd make a quick post here even though i don't have anything to add that hadn't already been said. Some selective lighting on the piece that is in focus would work great here

Like the idea though and the low angle works well, i'd just work on the lighting to make it obvious where to look

 

[SarahLee]

Well I spotted it straight away too!

This goes to show exactly why I never look at other people's shots until I've got my week done. If I'd seen this first I would have felt like I had to try to come up with something different.
Anyway, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who played around with different focal points on the chess board this week . . . and I see that yours has prompted some debate too

Perhaps predictably , I happen to like this a lot.
I think that you've chosen the perfect piece to focus on by going for the pawn. What I'm seeing in this shot is that little tiny pawn being pushed out there onto the front line with all the other pieces looming around it.
OK, that might be a bit over-imaginative, but it's how it feels to me.

The lighting's worked fantastically and I think that there is just enough definition and difference in lightness in the pawn to make it stand out.

My only suggestion would be to try a more angled composition (just a touch to your left) so that the pawn was framed centrally between the King and Queen.
It might make it stand out a bit more . . . although I don't know if the angle might look odd. :shrug: I think it's one of those things that you might actually need to try to see how it works out.

Either way, that's a minor point for me. As I said, I noticed the pawn straight away and I like this just the way it is

 

[dlh]

Thanks Sarah. After a week with many points of view I'm still happy with it and I'm glad a few others like it too.

I'm now stuck on what to do for chemistry. Haven't got a bloody clue

 

[Rob Bartley]

Nice clean simple shot Darren, just wish it wasn't just the pawn in focus though.

Cheers, Rob

 

[Rudders]

I like your Play shot, I did spot the focus on the pawn before reading about it (but I did have to "search" the photo for it )

I like the fact it's a pawn in focus, it looks intimidated by the other larger pieces somehow, the only suggestion I'd make is to try a tighter crop in portrait mode rather than landscape so you still get the depth of the fore/background but the pawn should attract the eye more :shrug:

 

[Tracer]

I like the overall idea, and the colours and the lighting. I'm afraid I didn't spot the pawn at first though (getting tired) - it might have worked better for me with a larger aperture so that the OOF pieces were more blurred.

 

[dlh]

I like your Play shot, I did spot the focus on the pawn before reading about it (but I did have to "search" the photo for it )

I like the fact it's a pawn in focus, it looks intimidated by the other larger pieces somehow, the only suggestion I'd make is to try a tighter crop in portrait mode rather than landscape so you still get the depth of the fore/background but the pawn should attract the eye more :shrug:

Thanks. Idea added to my growing list. Waiting for a rainy day now to give them all a go

I like the overall idea, and the colours and the lighting. I'm afraid I didn't spot the pawn at first though (getting tired) - it might have worked better for me with a larger aperture so that the OOF pieces were more blurred.

Thank you. I can see where you're coming from with the larger aperture. I actually shot this with the 24-105 so f/4 was was as wide as it got. I thought I'd need the zoom to help me get right in there. Had I known I'd settled at exactly 50mm I'd have swapped in the nifty to give it a try. Silly me

 

[dan_yorkshire]

Good shot Darren,

Like others I struggled to find the focal point but once found it jumps out and your eye is then drawn to it every time you look at it.

You've shown good camera skills to shoot it.

Dont know whether its my monitor but there is a minor highlight at the top which I think could be coloured completely black to concentrate more on the pecies.

Well done!

 

[dlh]

Good shot Darren,

Like others I struggled to find the focal point but once found it jumps out and your eye is then drawn to it every time you look at it.

You've shown good camera skills to shoot it.

Dont know whether its my monitor but there is a minor highlight at the top which I think could be coloured completely black to concentrate more on the pecies.

Well done!

Thanks Dan. Skills wouldn't be a word I'd use for what I do You're right about the highlight. I thought noone had noticed but now you've mentioned it I've burnt it out so it should look a lot better now. Thanks

 

[dlh]

I've been totally clueless this week and have been putting this off hoping inspiration will strike. It never did.

So this is all I could manage. Fire and water (the reflection), more alchemy than chemistry, but close enough. Not what I had in mind when I took it but it's late and I'm uninspired.

​

Lessons of the week -

Work is a pain in the arse.

 

[Lynton]

I like where you are coming from, mixing 2 of the basic 4 elements, (earth, air, fire, water) but to me, the reflection of the candle/ tea light isn't strong enough... cannot really see the water element (other than the reflection)

I notice you have the "edit" box ticked, and feel free to tell me to foxtrot oscar, but wondered if the chemical (fuel) triangle of fuel / oxygen (air) / ignition might work as well....

If you don't like it, will happily remove it.....

 

[dlh]

If you don't like it, will happily remove it.....

Feel free to play as much as you like. Although I've taken your comment on board and enhanced the reflection a bit. Thanks

Oh and it's a 4 inch high candle standing in a wok full of water I would have liked it to be lower in the water but the water was already up to the edge and I'm still finding puddles on the floor.

 

[robp]

Play - the first thing that struck me about this was the perspective, which I think is great. I like the lighting. I also like the focus on the little pawn, shoved into the midst all on its lonesome. The thing I like about the focus is that it made me view the image for longer than I perhaps otherwise might have done as my eye searched for and then settled on the focal point. Most satisfying.

Chemistry - As an image I love this. Full of mystery, calm and charm.
Thing is, it doesn't reaslly convey 'chemistry' enough for me. Which means it will be on a par with my chemistry shot...if I manage to get one done! I wanted to demonstrate Pepsi and Mentos to my eleven year old son. He's well keen; my wife is, shall we say, much less so

Both nice shots.

 

[dlh]

Play - the first thing that struck me about this was the perspective, which I think is great. I like the lighting. I also like the focus on the little pawn, shoved into the midst all on its lonesome. The thing I like about the focus is that it made me view the image for longer than I perhaps otherwise might have done as my eye searched for and then settled on the focal point. Most satisfying.

Chemistry - As an image I love this. Full of mystery, calm and charm.
Thing is, it doesn't reaslly convey 'chemistry' enough for me. Which means it will be on a par with my chemistry shot...if I manage to get one done! I wanted to demonstrate Pepsi and Mentos to my eleven year old son. He's well keen; my wife is, shall we say, much less so

Both nice shots.

Thanks very much Rob. Each time I go back to play I seem to like it more and more and I'm glad the focus point added a little mystery to the shot

The chemistry link is perhaps a little tenuous, but without the chemical reaction of combustion there would be no fire. And I don't like to make things too obvious.

Pepsi and Mentos? You need a sherbert dab

 

[mich66]

struggled myself with this weeks theme.. always great to see what everyone comes up with.. feels calm and peaceful.. like the position in the frame and think I prefer it with the reflection in

 

[dlh]

struggled myself with this weeks theme.. always great to see what everyone comes up with.. feels calm and peaceful.. like the position in the frame and think I prefer it with the reflection in

Many thanks Michelle. I fear this might turn into a debate as much as last week's pawn focus did

 

[Lynton]

Darren,

A 4" candle in a wok of water.......

Amazing how the mind can be tricked! I honestly thought it was a tea light floating around.

Looks better with the enhanced reflection, and forgot to mention - excellent positioning of the wick on intersecting 1/3rds........