Holryn's Photo 52 - Week 25 & 26 added (Grunge/Beginning) - Link in post #1

Welcome back Paul, and well done for catching up, Excellent work on those shots too.
 
Sonial said:
Great catch up Paul!!! Some really nice images there, I love the one of your mum's dog! Very little to find to critisize! :thumbs:
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Thanks Sonia.

Lynton said:
Paul,

Glad you're back and life seems back to normal.........


Indulgence - beautifully composed and lit. Great idea. What's in the glasses though as the cork is still in the Cristal. I hope you've not tried to pass off an inferior glass of bubbles........:lol:
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Thanks for the comments Lynton.

The Cristal was borrowed from my wifes work. The glasses were filled with some cheap nasty stuff I bought her :D

Lynton said:
Ingredients - again great lighting - i am assuming natural through the window and the shallow DOF works well in this pic. What was the result like?
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Spot on Lynton - I actually set this up next to a window to get the light. The cakes were lovely. My youngest daughter has made it through to the third round of a competition at her school as a result.

Lynton said:
Reshoot of Poem - Obviously by the picture something EXTREMELY personal, I would say a rare occasion where selcective colouring works, but am not sure about the overlaying of so much text over a picture already full of detail...... Just my tuppence worth...... but a clever take on the theme that demonstrates ability to use your editing software.
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I did the reshoot with both just the picture and the poem. Got to say it was quite emotional just viewing the pictures again. I have put the picture without the text on my Flickr.

Lynton said:
Stop - Simple but effective. :thumbs: I was scratching my head for ages on this one.

Isolation - That is one intimidating gate. Yet to visit the Tower of London. Need to do it, but the crowds and hoards of tourists put me off.........
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I hate crowds too, but there surprisingly few people about when I took this. Late evening after the place closes is a good time.

Lynton said:
Quality - another simple yet effective take on the theme. When are you going to open it ??????


Good catch up there, and welcome back.
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Sadly the Cristal has now gone back. Was fretting that it would get broken on the way back and cost me a packet but returned safely thankfully.

jgs001 said:
Welcome back Paul, and well done for catching up, Excellent work on those shots too.
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Cheers John.
 
Yeah, some really solid images there, Paul. Particularly like your ingredients shot. Really decent composition with some great lines and interest.
 
Another very busy week., but I did manage a few minutes. Here is my submission for Post - a fence post in my garden, with a little Lomo post-processing to go with it.

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Very nearly for Post.... would have liked to see a shallower DoF used with just the post in focus throwing out the focus on the rest, particularly the foreground would imo enhance it.

Quickly scrolling through your other images I really like your ingredients shot, its the one theme I wasnt very happy with at all and you've got the texture of the flour spot on and used DoF perfectly.
 
Great catch up Paul and well done, it's not easy getting back up to date once you start to fall behind.

Your peace shot is beautiful. Definitely on theme and he's a real sweetie. I bet your mum would love to have that one printed off.

Stop is lovely and crisp and the composition in ingredients is perfect.

I also like the selective colouring in your reshoot and it's a very poignant personal shot. I think I would have preferred the text either off to one side or below it though.

Traitors' Gate has the processing spot on, but for me would have benefited from a lower viewpoint to make it seem more imposing and intimidating.

The champagne shots are both brilliant (subject matter AND execution). I love the close up version for quality, but your indulgence shot just oozes elegance. Both the lighting and composition are spot on.
I'm not completely sure about the reflections though. I'm not keen on them being chopped off, but keeping them all in would have ended up with a weird crop / composition, so maybe you went for the best option :thinking:

And finally close. I'm with you on liking the colours in this one, but the DoF just isn't quite working for me. The out of focus petals leaning towards the camera look a touch odd, if you see what I mean.
 
dan_yorkshire said:
Very nearly for Post.... would have liked to see a shallower DoF used with just the post in focus throwing out the focus on the rest, particularly the foreground would imo enhance it.
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Thanks for the comments Dan. How would you suggest the DOF goes? Horizontal or vertical. I tried a few things last night and couldn't really get anything pleasing to work.

dan_yorkshire said:
Quickly scrolling through your other images I really like your ingredients shot, its the one theme I wasnt very happy with at all and you've got the texture of the flour spot on and used DoF perfectly.
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Thanks again - I am really chuffed with this shot. It took a few attempts, but I really enjoyed setting this up and shooting it. Cheers
 
SarahLee said:
Great catch up Paul and well done, it's not easy getting back up to date once you start to fall behind.
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Thanks Sarah. It's been a real struggle to catch up but I am pleased with the results. I do think I'm improving week on week, especially with composition.

SarahLee said:
Your peace shot is beautiful. Definitely on theme and he's a real sweetie. I bet your mum would love to have that one printed off.
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Pleased with that one too. I made a collage of this shot and a few others for my Mum as a birthday present. She loves it. (Oh, and it's a girl dog!)

SarahLee said:
Stop is lovely and crisp and the composition in ingredients is perfect.

I also like the selective colouring in your reshoot and it's a very poignant personal shot. I think I would have preferred the text either off to one side or below it though.
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Pleased with Stop as it was good to get to grips with reflections.


SarahLee said:
Traitors' Gate has the processing spot on, but for me would have benefited from a lower viewpoint to make it seem more imposing and intimidating.
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Again really happy how this turned out - was a bit uninspiring as shot but after the processing I'm much happier with it.

SarahLee said:
The champagne shots are both brilliant (subject matter AND execution). I love the close up version for quality, but your indulgence shot just oozes elegance. Both the lighting and composition are spot on.
I'm not completely sure about the reflections though. I'm not keen on them being chopped off, but keeping them all in would have ended up with a weird crop / composition, so maybe you went for the best option :thinking:
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Again, I'm really pleased with how these came out - again with controlling the reflections and the light this time. Couldn't help but cut off the reflections - I don't have a piece of glass, or room for that matter that would be big enough to get them all in.

SarahLee said:
And finally close. I'm with you on liking the colours in this one, but the DoF just isn't quite working for me. The out of focus petals leaning towards the camera look a touch odd, if you see what I mean.
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I see what you're saying. I think I rotated this one - or maybe just left it as I shot it - I can't remember. If it is rotated 90° CCW it look a little better - I think :thinking:


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Some cracking shots in your catch-up -- good to see you back. They are all excellent but I'm particularly impressed by "ingredients" as I tried to something similar but binned it as it was such rubbish.

Post - I like this as an image and don't mind the actual post not being particularly prominent. The processing suits it, too. I can see this as a cover for a gardening book.
 
I like your processing with the post shot, Paul, but the composition isn't doing it for me. I find it a bit messy and lacking interest.
 
Tracer said:
Some cracking shots in your catch-up -- good to see you back. They are all excellent but I'm particularly impressed by "ingredients" as I tried to something similar but binned it as it was such rubbish.

Post - I like this as an image and don't mind the actual post not being particularly prominent. The processing suits it, too. I can see this as a cover for a gardening book.
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Thanks Tracer.

The23rdman said:
I like your processing with the post shot, Paul, but the composition isn't doing it for me. I find it a bit messy and lacking interest.
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Thanks for commenting Dean. I have been extremely pressed for time over the passed few weeks, so this was quite a hurried shot - both in terms of taking it and processing it.
 
Another post and run I'm afraid. I may be back later to catch up on some of your work,

Here is my week 24:



Comments and constructive criticism welcome as ever. I'm still struggling with composition. :bang:
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:thumbs: You've got the focal point and DoF spot on with this one.
That composition works brilliantly - no idea what you were struggling with ;)

Good contrast between the wood grain and orangey rust colours on the bolt. And there's not much more to say. I really like this and honestly don't think there's anything I would change.
 
SarahLee said:
:thumbs: You've got the focal point and DoF spot on with this one.
That composition works brilliantly - no idea what you were struggling with ;)

Good contrast between the wood grain and orangey rust colours on the bolt. And there's not much more to say. I really like this and honestly don't think there's anything I would change.
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Sorry to be boring & after the 'is TalkPhography the new Flickr' thread I feel I should be compelled to offer some suggestions for improvement, but truth is, I just really like this shot.

Phil
 
I really like this - the colours and the detail and the shallow DOF. The only thing that niggles me slightly is that I find the pale strip of OOF background on the right a bit distracting. I would either crop it off, or if that would upset the balance of the composition I would either darken it, or bring your black borders all the way round to stop my eye wandering out of the shot. Otherwise is is a cracking shot - well spotted!
 
I agree with all above Paul, the composition is perfect Paul.
The dof, colours and processing on your image all work well to produce a simple, effective image. I am of the same opinion as Phil, sometimes one doesn't have to offer anything other than simply liking an image. Iain
 
Paul, not sure on Post, but I hear you about the time pressures. Not convinced on the processing, and I think a really shallow DOF would have helped too, but ...

Metal, that I really like, the focus on the knob works really well, and the textures of the bolt have come through well.
 
clud17 said:
just seen a few more of your recent shots, I like the post shot, great colours and i like the fact it is a busy shot. I love your Stop shot too, really clear and sharp. Alround set of good images.
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Thanks again Chris. This 52 is really helping me with the thought processes in putting together a shot.
 
SarahLee said:
:thumbs: You've got the focal point and DoF spot on with this one.
That composition works brilliantly - no idea what you were struggling with ;)

Good contrast between the wood grain and orangey rust colours on the bolt. And there's not much more to say. I really like this and honestly don't think there's anything I would change.
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Thank you Sarah.

I'm very pleased with the way this one turned out. Both they way I shot it and the processing.

With regard to the composition problem - I took loads of shots for this (and previous themes) of different things and failed in pretty much most of them to get anything that wasn't consigned to the bin straight away.

Still. Doing the 52 is really helping and despite struggling with time I'm enjoying it immensely.
 
philthejuggler said:
Sorry to be boring & after the 'is TalkPhography the new Flickr' thread I feel I should be compelled to offer some suggestions for improvement, but truth is, I just really like this shot.

Phil
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Haha. :D Thanks Phil. Praise indeed! :thumbs:

Tracer said:
I really like this - the colours and the detail and the shallow DOF. The only thing that niggles me slightly is that I find the pale strip of OOF background on the right a bit distracting. I would either crop it off, or if that would upset the balance of the composition I would either darken it, or bring your black borders all the way round to stop my eye wandering out of the shot. Otherwise is is a cracking shot - well spotted!
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Thanks Tracer - I did burn the edges a little but I like the way it gradually darkens as you move to the left.
 
blakester said:
I agree with all above Paul, the composition is perfect Paul.
The dof, colours and processing on your image all work well to produce a simple, effective image. I am of the same opinion as Phil, sometimes one doesn't have to offer anything other than simply liking an image. Iain
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Cheers Iain. :thumbs:

jgs001 said:
Paul, not sure on Post, but I hear you about the time pressures. Not convinced on the processing, and I think a really shallow DOF would have helped too, but ...

Metal, that I really like, the focus on the knob works really well, and the textures of the bolt have come through well.
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Thanks, as ever, for the comments John.

I sat looking at Post for sometime before I decided to put it up. It kind of grew on me. I like it as an image - maybe not for the theme, but just as an image.
 
What a fantastic catch up, Paul. I'm glad the delays were caused by good things. :)

The big factor for me that runs through all you catch up pics is the quality of the light. They are all beautifully lit, making the most of colours and textures. I agree the rotated version of the flower is heaps better, too. :)

Metal: A simple idea interpreted to perfection. I love the focus on the shiny knob and the dof makes it look as though the bolt is somehow leaping out of the picture, 3-D style. :cool: The rust colours/texture are crisp and interesting and the composition works well. Definitely :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: from me.

Jean
 
jeangenie said:
What a fantastic catch up, Paul. I'm glad the delays were caused by good things. :)

The big factor for me that runs through all you catch up pics is the quality of the light. They are all beautifully lit, making the most of colours and textures. I agree the rotated version of the flower is heaps better, too. :)

Metal: A simple idea interpreted to perfection. I love the focus on the shiny knob and the dof makes it look as though the bolt is somehow leaping out of the picture, 3-D style. :cool: The rust colours/texture are crisp and interesting and the composition works well. Definitely :thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: from me.

Jean
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Thanks Jean. Yep lots going on at the moment - seems nearly everyone here is in the same boat though.

Thank you for the comments on the light - nearly all my shots are just natural light or occasionally using the on board flash. I'm still saving for a flash gun!

I think I've hit on something with the Metal shot. I'm very pleased with all the positive comments I've been getting, so thank you again.
 
Well back (again) after some very hectic weeks. The following have been a little rushed due to major time constraints but here goes:

Grunge - not a great photo - not a great theme :lol: A grungy leaf.

 
Again a little rushed. Quite a tenuous link to the theme too. How long is a piece of string? Well this is the beginning!!! :bonk:

 
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Grunge... it fits the theme... There's something odd going on with the OOF leaf... not sure what...

Beginning, a great idea for the theme, and I think it works well.
 
Ooh I like metal. I don't have any problem with the composition, I like the focus, colour and slight hdr-ness (though some may disagree)!

beginning is great too, I think if you'd got the camera a little lower it may have helped with composition here :) Like, almost floor-level. What do you think?
 
jgs001 said:
Grunge... it fits the theme... There's something odd going on with the OOF leaf... not sure what...

Beginning, a great idea for the theme, and I think it works well.
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Thanks John.

louise-knight said:
Ooh I like metal. I don't have any problem with the composition, I like the focus, colour and slight hdr-ness (though some may disagree)!

beginning is great too, I think if you'd got the camera a little lower it may have helped with composition here :) Like, almost floor-level. What do you think?
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Thanks for the comments Louise. I'll give your suggestion a go.
 
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