Jackie's 52 - week 9 Play added Post 97

[clowesey]

OK, so time to start putting a bit of thought into what I photograph and get out of my very comfortable zone (usually youth and junior rugby and a few 'snapshot' type stuff). I do not have a photographer's eye and really struggle to see 'the shot'. My PP ability is also pretty much zero - bit of cropping and brightness/contrast stuff, usually on auto.
This will make me start to think about what I'm doing and also how to get the finished product - I may even venture into the world of shooting Raw at some stage.

My rules:
1) To carry my camera pretty much everywhere, just in case
2) To not play any jokers, although re-shoots may occur
3) To post one picture per week, although I will put those that didn't make the final cut on my flickr
4) To comment on at least 6 other people's 52's a week, not necessarily the same one's.
5) To achieve the above will mean having a 'rugby free' day a week (I currently do around 30 hours a week voluntary work on top of working fulltime). This will also help me chill.
6) To post my feelings on this journey on my blog at least every other day
7) To break any of the above as I see fit

I have a thick skin and will take all crit on board so that hopefully I will see an improvement by this time next year.

Here's to the next 12 months

 

[Stephen Ramsay]

The rules seem fair, good luck...il try to post my comments as much as i can each week

 

[clowesey]

So here's week 1.

Spent the last few days at my parents and spent some time yesterday morning searching for inspiration. This is the one that made it.
Pleased with the fact that I managed to blur out pretty much everything bar the edging strip but not sure what else I could do to try and enhance some of the colour, particularly in the gravel.
Taken whilst lying in the road with the camera perched on a paving stone - not sure what the neighbours thought, but then again, no one asked.
There are a few that didn't make it in my flickr.

 

[Harlequin565]

Have to say I like the colours and the depth of field. The statue/bird bath/white thing is a bit distracting, but that doesn't detract from the great angle. Worth lying in the road for!

I do not have a photographer's eye and really struggle to see 'the shot'.

I disagree. You do have the eye. I had a look at your blog and that shot of the boat on the beach for New Years day looked like a corker.

And as is my wont, I've changed my mind. Don't know how big the white thing was, but if it had a head, it might have added to your composition?

Great start, and good luck in the weeks to come.

Ian.

 

[clowesey]

Thanks Ian. The statue on the back does have a head and is actually one that didn't make it - she's a fine example of a 'curvy' female which I was going to use. She's on my flickr if you want to see what I rejected.

 

[clowesey]

Rule 7 implemented (breaking rule 3)- had to put this in. Went for a walk in the snow this morning and took a couple of shots whilst out. Only just realised this has a cracking curve in it. Never shot in the snow before so hadn't really a clue what I was doing. Used 1 stop over exposure as I'd read that on here somewhere....

 

[SarahLee]

Hi Jackie

Sorry, but I can't help chuckling at the thought of you lying in the road! A few of us on last years 52 found ourselves doing bizarre things to get our shots too.

I think you've done really well to spot the potential of the curves in this one. Seems like you've got out of your comfort zone, and congratulations on getting the DOF that you wanted. I can see why you picked it, but I've had a look at the shots that didn't make it and I absolutely love Pot Pourri No.3. Nice simple and elegant and the cloth that you've used in the background works perfectly.

Although the one that you chose was a good spot, I agree with Ian that it would be improved if you'd managed to fit the statue's head in. The big block of green from the oof tree on the left is a bit distracting too.

 

[CGeezer]

The snow shot is awesome and I was looking around for the very same type of shot with some snow on railings for this weeks theme. I seem to have a thing about gates railings and doors :shrug: The first shot I love the DOF you have achieved and getting just the curve in focus is excellent

 

[dougiem]

Im glad you broke the rules the second shot it really good!

 

[clowesey]

The snow shot is awesome and I was looking around for the very same type of shot with some snow on railings for this weeks theme. I seem to have a thing about gates railings and doors :shrug: The first shot I love the DOF you have achieved and getting just the curve in focus is excellent

Thanks. You don't always realise what's on your own doorstep. Taken at the end of the street.

Im glad you broke the rules the second shot it really good!

Thanks a lot

 

[clowesey]

Hi Jackie

Sorry, but I can't help chuckling at the thought of you lying in the road! A few of us on last years 52 found ourselves doing bizarre things to get our shots too.

I think you've done really well to spot the potential of the curves in this one. Seems like you've got out of your comfort zone, and congratulations on getting the DOF that you wanted. I can see why you picked it, but I've had a look at the shots that didn't make it and I absolutely love Pot Pourri No.3. Nice simple and elegant and the cloth that you've used in the background works perfectly.

Although the one that you chose was a good spot, I agree with Ian that it would be improved if you'd managed to fit the statue's head in. The big block of green from the oof tree on the left is a bit distracting too.

Thanks Sarah. Something to work on next week. I was concentrating on what I wanted ie the curve and didn't pay much attention to the background. Certainly would have kept the head on, probably at the expense of some foreground as I was using my nifty fifty.

 

[EdBray]

Really like the snow shot, the curve is great!

 

[jgs001]

Good work Jackie, on both of them. I really like the curve and the DOF in the first one.

 

[exoticsworld]

I really like the second one, its making me wonder what it would look like from the other side though

 

[clowesey]

Good work Jackie, on both of them. I really like the curve and the DOF in the first one.

Thanks

I really like the second one, its making me wonder what it would look like from the other side though

Not nice - a row of terraced houses and cars. Took it from a gate at the end of the street which looks out onto what was a football field in the past.

 

[ccsnet]

Week 1 - lots of colours.... really nice.

Terran

 

[clowesey]

I knew straight away what I wanted to do for this week. I have two favourite poems and it was only a decision based on which I had the 'props' to portray. My favourite poem, ever, is Wilfred Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est' and I already have a photo of gas masks I took a couple of years ago at the 'In Flanders Fields Museum' in Ypres but that would not have been doing what I set myself in this challenge and that's to take a photo each week, improve and try to learn new techniques. My next thought was to visit the Imperial War Museum North but time constraints meant I couldn't get there this week.

Next option was to use, ironically, 'In Flanders Fields' written by Lt Col John McCrae in 1915. Initially I was just going to take a shot of a poppy on a black background but this looked too plain. I found a book mark with the poem on (bought at the above museum!) and decided to include part of this with the poppy.

Stretched myself on this as I only have my in built flash and never really done any sort of macro shots before. I ended up with a spotlamp bounced off my fridge, with the poppy & bookmark on a piece of black card on a table at the side of the fridge. I turned the kitchen light off and hand held, using various apertures and ISO on my nifty-fifty. Final image was shot at f/2.2, ISO 200 an 1/15. Am pretty happy with the final effort (a couple of tweaks in elements to get the balck, black) just a pity I didn't have a poppy that hadn't been pinned onto various outfits (I did give it an iron over first though).

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

The poem was actually written in this bunker at what is now Essex Farm Cemetery on the outskirts of Ypres

 

[jgs001]

And you've done it very well. A poignant poem and a considered shot to go with it. The pin holes, you may be able to easily clone out, and then it's just the creases, but that actually fits well.

Hope you don't mind, something like

 

[DC2Z]

3 really got shots, I really like the poem shot with the bold red poppy standing out.

 

[bobsbabes]

i like the poppy shot looks better with the pin holes removed though

 

[clowesey]

And you've done it very well. A poignant poem and a considered shot to go with it. The pin holes, you may be able to easily clone out, and then it's just the creases, but that actually fits well.

Hope you don't mind

Thanks a lot. Still trying to get to grips with photoshop. Not sussed cloning yet.

3 really got shots, I really like the poem shot with the bold red poppy standing out.

Cheers

i like the poppy shot looks better with the pin holes removed though

It does indeed

 

[treeman]

I think you've done very well given the limitations. Not sure it's pin sharp though.
It's a great poem. My Grandfather was injured at Flanders, but made a full recovery to continue all the way through both wars, died when he was 100yrs old!

 

[johnnyguitar]

I like it and I like the holes in the poppy - I think it puts the idea in my head that it's not been discarded or forgotten like those it's supposed to remember. Maybe I am thinking about it too much!

 

[mowse73]

Hello. I like the dof on your first image, it isolates the curve well and i like the colours too. I agree about the pin holes in the poppy. I think they are a good thing as implies that somebody has been wearing it.

 

[SarahLee]

What a poignant and elegant image!
Very sensitively shot and presented, I think you've definitely done what you set out to do.

I particularly like the fact that the poem is printed on a prop within the shot. The bookmark itself looks well handled and used which along with the slightly crumpled poppy adds to the overall sentiment of it.

I'm in two minds about the pin holes. The neat side of me prefers the image without them, but then I can see how they add to the emotion of the piece. Tough one to decide.

The poem was actually written in this bunker at what is now Essex Farm Cemetery on the outskirts of Ypres

Thank you for that extra detail too.
It adds a nice bit of context to it.

 

[clowesey]

Thanks Sarah

 

[clowesey]

Must be on a good run. Decided early on what I wanted to do - just not quite how to do it.
Having spent the morning carefully preparing tonight's dinner (or taking more care over it than normal), I couldn't decide at all which of the following 2 shots I preferred, so week 3 and 2 of my self imposed rules already broken.
1

or 2

The discarded ones are HERE

 

[Nick T]

Ooh, lovely, lovely colours on the first version of chopped. Superb arrangement and the photo wouldn't look out of place in some food magazine or book

 

[Dave450]

Week 3 - Love the DOF in shot one but love the arrangement of shot two! great stuff!

 

[Tracer]

Poetry - very simple and clean but very effective.

Chopped - both are good but I like the first one better as for me it has much greater impact. Well done!

 

[dlh]

Chopped - I was going to choose one, but then I looked again and I'm going to choose two Both nicely arranged and shot but the framing from the plate adds that little extra for me. Nicely done.

 

[mich66]

still trying to catch up with everyone!..

week 1 - like the garden shot, great colours and fab DOF

week 2 - love it!.. I dont mind the pin holes, nicely composed, fab lighting - very thought provoking

week 3 - cant decide which I prefer.. love the colours and textures in the 1st shot, great DOF.. and like the arrangement on the second.. so am on the fence for this one

 

[Irus]

Chopped - Like both shots although I think you've got a stray hair amongst the green peppers in the first shot.

 

[Ian_Wilson]

For me the 1st one is definitely the one.

The pattern and depth off field really work to give it a 3d effect, and the colours look better on my screen.

Well done.

 

[clowesey]

Ooh, lovely, lovely colours on the first version of chopped. Superb arrangement and the photo wouldn't look out of place in some food magazine or book

Thanks Nick

Week 3 - Love the DOF in shot one but love the arrangement of shot two! great stuff!

My thoughts too Dave, that's why I had to use both

Poetry - very simple and clean but very effective.

Chopped - both are good but I like the first one better as for me it has much greater impact. Well done!

Thank you

Chopped - I was going to choose one, but then I looked again and I'm going to choose two Both nicely arranged and shot but the framing from the plate adds that little extra for me. Nicely done.

Looks the jury is split on this one Darren, thanks

still trying to catch up with everyone!..

week 1 - like the garden shot, great colours and fab DOF

week 2 - love it!.. I dont mind the pin holes, nicely composed, fab lighting - very thought provoking

week 3 - cant decide which I prefer.. love the colours and textures in the 1st shot, great DOF.. and like the arrangement on the second.. so am on the fence for this one

I'm still catching up (or trying to):shrug: Thanks for taking the time Michelle.

Chopped - Like both shots although I think you've got a stray hair amongst the green peppers in the first shot.

Aaaarrggh! Not mine though I'm purple.....and I was on my own. Thanks.

For me the 1st one is definitely the one.

The pattern and depth off field really work to give it a 3d effect, and the colours look better on my screen.

Well done.

CHeers Ian - someone who can make a decision

 

[photomaker]

Chopped 1 for me too. The level the photo was taken at makes a big difference.

 

[Ambermile]

What he said, the first chopped for me, #2 is a bit... well, a bit flat? #1 has definitely got depth to it.

Week one is nice, good to see green against snow even if it is paint! I think I prefer the railing shot though to the driveway.

Week two I like the poppy/poem pic, pinholes or not, bit blown but brighter for it


Arthur

 

[ccsnet]

Wk3 2nd shot for me.....

Terran

 

[philthejuggler]

Week 3 - Number 1 is great - love it! Depth, colours, punch - your strongest of lot so far.

Phil

 

[clowesey]

Chopped 1 for me too. The level the photo was taken at makes a big difference.

Thanks a lot - I'm coming round to to liking 1 more myself now.

What he said, the first chopped for me, #2 is a bit... well, a bit flat? #1 has definitely got depth to it.

Week one is nice, good to see green against snow even if it is paint! I think I prefer the railing shot though to the driveway.

Week two I like the poppy/poem pic, pinholes or not, bit blown but brighter for it


Arthur

Thanks Arthur - still like the arrangment of 2 but agree now that the DOF isn't great.
I wish week 1 was a driveway - just a path

Wk3 2nd shot for me.....

Terran

Cheers Terran

Week 3 - Number 1 is great - love it! Depth, colours, punch - your strongest of lot so far.

Phil

Phil - thanks for the encouragement. At long last starting to think about what I do and more importantly, how I do it