weekly Don's 52 for 2022 - Catchup

[Boots]

Well done for sticking with it - it's an interesting look.

 

[-Oy-]

I like that - well thought out

 

[Hewitt]

Good thinking there, that’s definitely got possibilities!

 

[Don153]

I've watched a couple of Youtubes tonight and, as a result, had another go.
There are three functions in the camera that can be used. Normal Bulb mode, "Live ND" and "Live Composite".

I tried "Live ND" at first, but I don't think that I understood the instructions properly. The results were very so-so, and I struggled to control the exposure.
These images were taken with "Live Composite". In this mode, anything brighter will replace whatever was there before.

This is my latest attempt, which I like better than my submitted post. C'est la vie!

 

[Nod]

Clever idea to use in-camera double exposure for the technical!

 

[Bebop]

It's great that the 52 has meant you've learnt something. It has certainly helped me explore other areas of photography I would never have delved in to.

I think both are interesting images, and well lit. I confess I wouldn't have thought of them as ICM, more as multiple exposures, but it definitely sounds like you intentionally moved the camera, so there you have it! I've had some success taking lightning shots with the Live Composite mode - you need the camera on a tripod, and a good flash can wipe out any previous flashes but it is amazingly effective.

 

[HelenC]

Well done on the technique - its good to keep learning new things. The effect really works too.

 

[Don153]

It's great that the 52 has meant you've learnt something. It has certainly helped me explore other areas of photography I would never have delved in to.

I think both are interesting images, and well lit. I confess I wouldn't have thought of them as ICM, more as multiple exposures, but it definitely sounds like you intentionally moved the camera, so there you have it! I've had some success taking lightning shots with the Live Composite mode - you need the camera on a tripod, and a good flash can wipe out any previous flashes but it is amazingly effective.

The 52 is proving to be far more effective than I had hoped. It is forcing me to try things that I wouldn't bother to do otherwise - and I am absolutely loving it.



With the ICM, my attempts at motion blur were just embarrassing. I also tried adjusting the zoom - these did show promise.


I've ordered a pair of Godox TT350o's, which are due to arrive on Friday. So, I'll have more experiments to do over the weekend.

 

[Bebop]

The 52 is proving to be far more effective than I had hoped. It is forcing me to try things that I wouldn't bother to do otherwise - and I am absolutely loving it.



With the ICM, my attempts at motion blur were just embarrassing. I also tried adjusting the zoom - these did show promise.


I've ordered a pair of Godox TT350o's, which are due to arrive on Friday. So, I'll have more experiments to do over the weekend.

That's great. I love it when something spurs you on. Mainly I do sports and wildlife, but the 52 has me playing with still life and flash and it makes a nice change There is always so much to learn! Enjoy your new toys when they arrive

 

[Darkslinger]

A really interesting take on the theme Donal, I like both images. I'm going to have to play around with the Live Composite mode and see what I can come up with.

 

[seaodyssey]

Thank you for explaining your process for your wk4 image. Apart from not been lined up as you wanted I think it worked really well and is certinally different.

 

[Don153]

Thank you for explaining your process for your wk4 image. Apart from not been lined up as you wanted I think it worked really well and is certinally different.

Thank you. I'm pleased that it made sense.

A really interesting take on the theme Donal, I like both images. I'm going to have to play around with the Live Composite mode and see what I can come up with.

The Em1 has lots of features that are poorly documented, but they do seem to work very well. I'm finding that Youtube and lots of experiments works well.

That's great. I love it when something spurs you on. Mainly I do sports and wildlife, but the 52 has me playing with still life and flash and it makes a nice change There is always so much to learn! Enjoy your new toys when they arrive

I mainly do wildlife, but I would like to do landscapes. I quite simply don't have the "eye" for it, but I am working hard at that.

The flashes arrived last Thursday, and I have been doing all sorts of experiments with them. I'll show one of them in the next post.
I started out using TTL mode, but I quickly changed to manual. I feel that I have more control in manual mode. I have also been using then in conjunction with an A3 light board. The light board provides a constant soft light and I can drape coloured cloths over it.

 

[Don153]

What a busy week! I still haven't decided which photo to enter, but time is running out.

Image 1


This image has been taken with my new Godox flashes. One slave unit is behind the little statue and has a blue Gel attached. The master is on the camera, but at very low power (left arm). There is an A3 lightboard off stage to the right of the image. A red scarf is draped over the top half the lightboard. It's all stupidly complicated, but very controlable.


Image 2

I tried a shot of a church that looks incredibly pretty at this time of year with the snowdrops. I walked all around the church and tried all sorts of angles and different zooms. I haven't captured the scene that I imagined at all. Any comments very welcome



Image 3

I like this. It was taken while out walking this afternoon.

 

[Darkslinger]

I think that it's #3 for me Donal. Fantastic shot!

 

[Peter123]

No. 3 for me too.
I like your light effects on the statue, just not sure about that blue streak on the inside of his left elbow.

 

[Boots]

I like your chosen shot - nice lighting.

 

[HelenC]

Your chosen shot works for me. I always admire those willing to spend time with lights and complicated indoor setups as its not something I ever do.

 

[FlyPhot]

I like the one you've chosen, the lighting is very nice and nice warm colours.

 

[-Oy-]

Yeah the last one for me too. Looks like an expensive one though. It's too dear

 

[seaodyssey]

The 1st and last shots work for me, with my preference being the last one.

Your second shot I think fails as the path / line of pollarded trees appears to disappear before getting to the church, The angle is wrong. Maybe getting closer would work.

Pete

 

[SimonH]

3rd one for me, although your chosen shot is nice.
I know what you mean about the 2nd shot - sometimes what you see with the eye just can’t translate through a lens

 

[Don153]

I think that it's #3 for me Donal. Fantastic shot!

No. 3 for me too.
I like your light effects on the statue, just not sure about that blue streak on the inside of his left elbow.

I like your chosen shot - nice lighting.

Your chosen shot works for me. I always admire those willing to spend time with lights and complicated indoor setups as its not something I ever do.

I like the one you've chosen, the lighting is very nice and nice warm colours.

Yeah the last one for me too. Looks like an expensive one though. It's too dear

The 1st and last shots work for me, with my preference being the last one.

Your second shot I think fails as the path / line of pollarded trees appears to disappear before getting to the church, The angle is wrong. Maybe getting closer would work.

Pete

3rd one for me, although your chosen shot is nice.
I know what you mean about the 2nd shot - sometimes what you see with the eye just can’t translate through a lens

Thanks for all the comments. I must admit that I feel that the two deer is the nicest shot. The reason that I chose the first shot is that I spent a lot of time on it, and I have learned a huge amount about flash and ambient lighting. A week ago, I wouldn't have had a clue how to take a shot like that.
Also, the shot with the deer doesn't look quite so good at full resolution, whereas the statue improves as you zoom in.

The church is in the village of Ellisfield few miles south of Basingstoke. I first saw this church about 10 years ago, and I was very impressed with the setting in the sea of snowdrops. I always felt that it would make a lovely photo. I will have another go at some point.

 

[Bebop]

I really like the composition of the deer image. just perfect with them on the brow of the field and so well placed (you did put them there didn't you? )

 

[Don153]

I really like the composition of the deer image. just perfect with them on the brow of the field and so well placed (you did put them there didn't you? )

Thank you. Pure luck. If somebody hadn't pointed them out I might not have even seen them. The top half (sky and clouds) have had the "dehaze" option in Olympus Workspace turned up full which makes the clouds look a bit dramatic
I got 70 shots of the pair before they dissappeared, but only about 10 of them are near focus.

 

[Bebop]

If somebody hadn't pointed them out I might not have even seen them. The top half (sky and clouds) have had the "dehaze" option in Olympus Workspace turned up full which makes the clouds look a bit dramatic

My husband is always spotting a better shot than I see

The dehaze works well. I rarely use Workspace, though I think that was my weapon of choice for a time lapse (I think it was my only weapon to be honest).

 

[Don153]

I found this week's challenge the toughest so far. There don't appear to be many alleys where I live, and I couldn't make a photo out of any of them that I was pleased with. Nevertheless, that is why I joined this thread... to learn photography.

Here are some of my attempts:-
1) I was hoping that I could expose the Moon a bit better, but this is my chosen inage.


2) An alley at the local shops. I suppose that this is officially "Street photography". I have no idea what to think of this!



3) I probably like this the best. My dictionary defines "alley" as a tree or bush lined walk, but I don't think that it really fits the brief.

 

[eoSimon]

I like your choice. The contrast between the natural moonlight and the streetlight is disturbing and compelling. It's like two images merged together.

 

[Peter123]

A varied set.
I would have chosen no.3 - IMO it is an alley and it is different to any of the others.
The person walking the dog gives it a sense of scale.

 

[Darkslinger]

I like the first image Donal, I think that it's the right choice. I like the contrast in colours between the green of the alley and the blue of the night sky.

 

[Cloudforest]

I’d have gone with the first one too. It holds the interest a lot more than the others. The street light shining on the path pulls you into the image.

 

[Boots]

I think you chose the right one. The dynamic range is so high, that much of the image is just black - perhaps a candidate for HDR?

 

[seaodyssey]

I like the Dark Alley Shot, tricky to expose, but it works.

Pete

 

[SimonH]

I like them all - your chosen one is nice and I like the light of the light. It would work for me even cropping out the moon and sky.
The second one is really "gritty". There's so much going on here.
The tree one is a bit more of a shoehorn, but a nice shot nonetheless, with the person adding some perspective on the size of the trees

 

[Don153]

I like your choice. The contrast between the natural moonlight and the streetlight is disturbing and compelling. It's like two images merged together.

A varied set.
I would have chosen no.3 - IMO it is an alley and it is different to any of the others.
The person walking the dog gives it a sense of scale.

I like the first image Donal, I think that it's the right choice. I like the contrast in colours between the green of the alley and the blue of the night sky.

I’d have gone with the first one too. It holds the interest a lot more than the others. The street light shining on the path pulls you into the image.

I think you chose the right one. The dynamic range is so high, that much of the image is just black - perhaps a candidate for HDR?

I like the Dark Alley Shot, tricky to expose, but it works.

Pete

I like them all - your chosen one is nice and I like the light of the light. It would work for me even cropping out the moon and sky.
The second one is really "gritty". There's so much going on here.
The tree one is a bit more of a shoehorn, but a nice shot nonetheless, with the person adding some perspective on the size of the trees

Thank you all for the very constructive comments. They all make complete sense.
I'm quite confident when I'm doing wildlife, or technical stuff, but the creative side is something that I struggle with. However, I am getting there...

 

[Don153]

What a day!
My initial plan to photograph a piece of Heavy Artillery was scuppered by the weather, so we went to the Artillery Musem at Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill. What a wonderful place! I'd highly recommend it as a good way to spend three or four hours. Parking and entry were free!

1)


2)



3)


4)
This is my chosen entry. By the time we reached this exhibit, I was getting frustrated by the fact that all of the photos had too much background clutter. I had a flash with me, so I gave it a go. Next time I will make sure that I also have the remote flash unit.


5)
This is my favoirite, but I don't feel that it is on theme enough. It also seems almost a bit too gory.



Full size versions can be seen here... http://www.don4ls.space/week7-heavy

 

[-Oy-]

Good stuff!

 

[Peter123]

All good and it fits the challenge.
personally I would have chosen no. 3.
Plan B worked well for you.

 

[SimonH]

Looks like a great place to visit.
Certainly looks heavy….

 

[seaodyssey]

They spent a lot of time making that canon, with all the figures on it. I find the photo chosen to be bit dark, but I guess it would be below decks.

 

[Don153]

Good stuff!

Thank you!

All good and it fits the challenge.
personally I would have chosen no. 3.
Plan B worked well for you.

Thanks Peter. The more I look at No. 3, the more I agree.