jeangenie's 52 for 2009 - Week 26 Night

Shorty said:
Oh I like this
Well done :thumbs:
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Thank you, Shorty.


Spartacus said:
10 green bottles! oh how you suffer for your art...:naughty:
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Bruja said:
Such suffering for our art ;)

Well done for sticking at it though as those distractions sound mighty frustrating. DoF is spot on and I really like the composition :thumbs:

And now I can't get both those songs out of my head
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Toothie said:
exactly how much wine did you have to drink exactly? ;)
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dizzy said:
Very clever, Jean! I like the composition, but I do wonder if if slightly more depth of field would have really worked? It's very nice though and I admire you for the 'suffering' that must have gone in to it!!
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Thank you one and all.

What on earth makes you think I suffered for my art. :naughty: It was fun all the way, from bottles 1 to 10. :D:D:D

Dizzy - I think you're probably right on the dof and I did try it, but it threw the b/g into sharper focus, which was very distracting.

Jill - at least you get a bit of variety in the tunes! :D
 
Daysleeper40 said:
hehehe - your "Lessons Learned" always make me smile. Honestly Jean, never mind drinking a vat of wine - we expect you to BUILD a wall if there isn't one available :D

I really really like this shot. In fact I think it's my favourite this week. Great take on the theme and the DOF and colours are lovely. Well done! :clap::clap:
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Building of wall is in progress!! :lol: I'm glad I made you smile.

Thanks for you lovely comments, too. :)

Jean
 
Other than filling my head with daft songs again :nono: I like the image.

I agree with the comments that the DoF doesn't quite work although I suspect that's more to do with the focus being in the centre of the frame. I think the DoF as it stands now would be OK if the focus was on the first bottle so as you see more bottles they become more out of focus - much as I'd expect you your focus would go as you drank more bottles. Fits the theme nicely and the overall composition works IMO :thumbs:
 
Sorry for late reply Jean, revising!!

Now this 52 of yours, chocolate, then wine hmmmm I'm beginning to build a picture Jean :lol::lol:

Linear is very clever, the greens in the bottles have a nice tone to them, and I find green very difficult to deal with.

I also like the purple that runs through the line up which links them all together. Clarity for me is good and I think the frame really adds to the shot too! :clap::clap::clap:
 
This doesn't get any easier. :(

I think I'm a fairly calm, laid-back sort of person (although I suspect Mr JG might think otherwise :lol: ) but this week I've been maxing out on all sorts of negaitve emotions - anger, frustration, anxiety, sadness, bloody-mindedness, bewilderment, to mention but a few, working on a problem where the solution isn't in my hands and won't be resolved for a few weeks.

Saturday dawned, bright and sunny and I was rudely woken up by two eager furry faces with bright pleading eyes. The message was clear: you've been a total misery all week, now we want good long walkies in the Forest - right now. Needless to say, the dogs got their wish and it was a beautiful spring morning with blue skies, birds singing, trees with bright freen foliage which looked freshly painted. The sun warmed my face and after a while I realised that the negative emotions had evaporated into a sense of peace and tranquility.

Cue photograph. Errrr, noooo. There's no way a photograph would have illustrated the multi-sensory beauty all around me - and I hadn't got my camera. :lol:

But the idea was planted: peacefullness - a deserted beach at sunset. Well, since this was Saturday, that would have to be that night. Sunsets on a south facing beach aren't brilliant but I envisaged a calm sea, gently lapping wet sand, lit by that golden sunset glow.

I did my homework and checked what time the sun set, and decided to use my 24mm 2.8 to emphasis that feeling of space and peace.

What did I get???

Well, the world and their families enjoying a sunny Bank holiday Saturday, fisherman setting up every few yards along the shoreline, barbeques, beach parties - and high tide. No glistening sand, no peace, no tranquility, rubbish sky and an awful lot of people wanting to know 'oh ... are you taking photos... ' :bang:

I tried a variety of shots - trying to create what wasn't there, but what I'd hoped for. When I showed them to Mr JG his comment was "that's the most boring set of photos you've ever taken, and 'peacefulness' isn't an emotion". Err.... that was a clear :thumbsdown:

So I spoke to another member of the family who's a member here and he reminded me that when you're desperate you take the photo and then decide on the caption. :)

So, still undecided, I give you 2 'emotions'

1 Sadness: everything is shut down, everyone's gone home, the party's over


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2 Peacefullness: I stand defiant!!! As far as I'm concerned, it's an emotion!


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Lessons learned:

1 Yet again - don't leave it until Saturday

2 Check details - in this case tide times.

3 Bite back the instinctive answer to 'oh, are you taking photos?'

4 It's all very well having a vision of what you want to do, but when it's not possible you have to improvise.

5 Bank holidays in the Forest and on the beach are very, very busy. Don't expect solitude.

6 If you stand your tripod (with camera) in the sea, don't let go of it. :eek:

7 Sand gets everywhere. You've no idea how many nooks and crannies there are in a tripod until you've got sand in all of them.

8 I now want to do loads more seascapes and get to the point where I feel a little more in control - especially in low light.

All C & C welcome - sorry to lumber you with 2 efforts this week, but I just couldn't decide which to post. I realise that means neither of them are much good, but I am inspired to try and improve. :)

Jean
 
Always a good read Jean :) And the lessons are classic :)

#4 is great - I simply wish I had a vision :)

The first shot wins for me - I love empty forlorn seasides - the sadness is evident - and the sky is gorgeous :)

The second...hmmm doesn't quite do it for me I'm afraid - maybe a touch more contrast to give it more punch would suit my tastes a little better!

However well done on getting them in :)

I'm late! :(
 
Thanks John - I've done rather more pping to #1 than normal, so I'm especially glad you like it. :)

With #2 I was trying (not very well) to create a sort of dreamy, peaceful feel to the sea but the frustration of 'seeing' but not being able to capture what I wanted have made me want to spend more time on this.

Jean
 
I really like both images (and the words), and i know exactly what you mean about seeing the image but not being able to create it :)
 
Both really nice shots for me Jean, Living by the sea myself, both of these are very familiar to me, and both envoke a feeling (emotion) of calm!!

I love the way you have caught/created the red tones in the clouds, and would have like just a tad more fill light to see a little more detail between the beach huts (although not even sure if that is possible) Lovely!! :clap:

The black and white treatment of the second picture is fab and add to the feeling of calm IMHO, and the rocks look good and clear! again fab!! :clap::clap:

Love the lessons again, and again I can relate to most! :D
 
Both good shots Jean, especially the first, I can't make up my mind if it might need a wee straighten but that may just be me. Love the pink and blue sky too.
 
I agree it's been a tough one to nail this week...:razz:

I like them both but the first one's got the edge for me...:clap:

Great build up to your shots as usual...:thumbs:
 
Another great insight into the world of Jean. :clap:

Number 1 for me, although possibly a straighten required.

Mark:thumbs:
 
A good pair of shots Jean, but I prefer the first one. The lonlieness of the sea front, with that great sky :thumbs:

I feel for your lessons, #4 especially, the number of times .... as for #6 it sounds painful ...
 
Hyster said:
Both good shots Jean, especially the first, I can't make up my mind if it might need a wee straighten but that may just be me. Love the pink and blue sky too.
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I agree with Hyster about it needing a bit of a straighten but I like number 1. I think it fits the theme better than two. I love the amount of effort you have gone to this week even if you didn't get what you were holing for. No one can say you didn't try :thumbs:
 
I think you've all been very kind to me this week (actually, you always are :)) and you've made me feel better about a bunch of shots which didn't meet either my intentions or my expectations. Thank you :)



Hyster said:
Both good shots Jean, especially the first, I can't make up my mind if it might need a wee straighten but that may just be me.
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maddog.mark said:
Number 1 for me, although possibly a straighten required.

Mark:thumbs:
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Daysleeper40 said:
I agree with Hyster about it needing a bit of a straighten but I like number 1.
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Hyster, Mark and DS - yep you're right, it is a bit wonky. I tried straightening it by the overall roof line of the huts - and it looked wrong, so I tried every other horizontal line - and they still all looked wrong. How can that be :shrug::shrug: It's so frustrating. :help:

Jean
 
Number one is the best for me. Great colours, nicely exposed. Slight haloes around the trees I think, but it's only minor. I like the empty atmosphere
 
I can't say much about this one. It's far too complex. :nuts::nuts::nuts:

My thinking was along the lines of 'time is complex: it goes faster when you're enjoying yourself, and slows down when life is boring or miserable', and I feel in some way this is what Einstein was thinking about when he spent a long time on his theory of relativity.

And today is my birthday, and I cannot believe how quickly the years slip by, and what's more they accelerate exponentially every year. Is anyone else old enough to think this way? :shrug:

My take on this week's theme is, therefore, Time, and my picture is of the inside of a bracket clock. I wanted to show the chime mechanisam ( apparently called a 'Westminster chime' ie like Big Ben only not so loud :D)

Life has added its own complexities this week - decorating the hall, stairs and landing before 2 lots of visitors arrived this week-end and a new carpet next Thursday was bad enough, then Mr JG suggested restoring the natural wood on the bannisters would look great and I agreed without any idea of the work and mess involved. That got complicated, too, :lol: And very, very, very messy. :lol: (That's a hollow lol, btw!)


So here is my 'Complex' - Time


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The blob top right is the area where the hammers strike and I couldn't make it look less like a blob than it does! I was working under very tight time constraints, and there was an element of 'this will have to be good enough, even though it has its faults!'


Lessons learned:

1 Time is imeasurable.

2 Nothing much photographically, except that sometimes you can get lucky, and although this shot is nothing special I did get pretty much what I wanted in 24 clicks and about 20 minutes.

3 If there had been less dust flying around in the house I would have considered that the inside of the clock was dirty and cleaned it. As it was, it didn't look too bad until I saw the piccies on the computer and didn't have time to do much digital cleaning up.

4 Don't change internet providers unless you are prepared for a certain amount of hassle - and in our case loss of connection for several days.

5 Thank heaven for

(a) a son, who is a member here, who found me the most amazing birthday present (a 70-200 f2.8 which is so brilliant I can't find a suitable emoticon to represent it)

(b) a son who sorted out the router problems with our internet provider and always comes to the rescue when technology attacks

(c) a husband (who funded the 70-200) who I love just as much today as I did when we got married a million years ago. :love:

Thanks for looking and as always C & C is most welcome.

Big, big thank yous to my lovely family

Jean
 
Happy Birthday for yesterday Jean. Sounds like you've had one complicated week. As for the shot I like it and agree with Ruth about the colours and DOF. :thumbs:
 
:D.... I thought of that when I saw your image ... Shame...
 
jeangenie said:
Ruth and John - thank you for the kind comments. :)

I've just seen the theme for this week. :bang::bang::bang:

Need I say more?

Jean
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He He He :lol::lol::lol:

What were the chances....:nuts:

It's a lovely shot, but the oof part that you had trouble with, I'd have cropped it out. It would still been a nice shot...:thumbs:

As for the theme...talk about getting in early...wow...Women’s intuition:D
 
Jean a belated happy birthday - so far every 52 I've looked at had been on my list of possibles apart from Ruths :) This is a good detailed shot and meets the complex theme spot on!

The richness and texture of the brass(?) makes it for me :)

And lovely words as ever! Well done on the lens :D

I hope you werent too hungover today :)
 
Lol is this the TP equivalent of a BOGOF (buy one get one free)! Belated birthday wishes Jean and I think this picture fits the theme(s) perfectly.:thumbs:
 
Hello Jean, I'm back :naughty:

Love the 1st Emotion shot - it says tranquility to me - and your learning points make me both laugh and go ouch at the same time. :clap::clap::clap:

As for Complex If you didn't have a headache after your birthday (Happy Birthday :woot:) you will have after bashing your head against the wall that many times :D. A great shot :clap::clap:
 
jgs001 said:
I thought of that when I saw your image ... Shame...
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Yep - I said a bit more than 'shame' :lol:

Spartacus said:
He He He
What were the chances

It's a lovely shot, but the oof part that you had trouble with, I'd have cropped it out. It would still been a nice shot

As for the theme...talk about getting in early...wow...Women’s intuition
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Thanks for the kind comments. It's one time (doh!) I could have done without women's intuition!

Dark Star said:
Jean a belated happy birthday - so far every 52 I've looked at had been on my list of possibles apart from Ruths This is a good detailed shot and meets the complex theme spot on!

The richness and texture of the brass(?) makes it for me
And lovely words as ever! Well done on the lens :D

I hope you werent too hungover today :)
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Thanks John. No hangover - I haven't got time for one this week! :lol:

I'm glad you like the shot. Do you like it enough to see it again this week??

kennysarmy said:
I like...
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Thank you kindly. :)

maddog.mark said:
Lol is this the TP equivalent of a BOGOF (buy one get one free)! Belated birthday wishes Jean and I think this picture fits the theme(s) perfectly.
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There you are - a bargain. Thanks for the good wishes, too. :)

Bruja said:
Hello Jean, I'm back

Love the 1st Emotion shot - it says tranquility to me - and your learning points make me both laugh and go ouch at the same time.

As for Complex If you didn't have a headache after your birthday (Happy Birthday :woot:) you will have after bashing your head against the wall that many times A great shot
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It's great to see you back and on form, Jill. :)

Thanks for the kind comments - I just have no idea whatsoever what I'm going to do for Time this week!!!

Jean
 
I like this a lot, its spot on for the theme. I like the colour, the way the little circular patterns have caught the light too and there is loads in there to keep the viewer interested.

Good week for you Jean.
 
Hyster said:
I like this a lot, its spot on for the theme. I like the colour, the way the little circular patterns have caught the light too and there is loads in there to keep the viewer interested.

Good week for you Jean.
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Thank you kindly Hyster. Unfortunately, it's also suitable for week 22's theme, leaving me with no ideas at all so far. :'(

Jean
 
Hi,
Apologies for not having left a comment here before, but I have been reading through and enjoying your pictures.

I really like the 'complex' picture, a great subject choice (it sometimes scares me how quick time goes, i don't know where this year's going at all!) and I love looking inside clocks, so it works for me :).

Kay.
 
Hyster said:
I like this a lot, its spot on for the theme. I like the colour, the way the little circular patterns have caught the light too and there is loads in there to keep the viewer interested.

Good week for you Jean.
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I agree. This shot is excellent, it is indeed a complex mechanical working, you have great detail and the lighting is also very good.
 
I haven't had much Time to think about this week's theme, and after the Complex shot of the inside of a clock I did last week, the most obvious shot wasn't really an option. Grrrr......

I did shoot the front of the clock as an 'insurance', but tbh, it was rubbish. :thumbsdown: I'm not at all sure that what I finally did was any better, but here it is:

Supper Time: This blackbird has been collecting food for her brood from dawn to dusk every day. All her time has been taken up with feeding, feeding, feeding, so I thought she deserved her 5 minutes of 'fame'. Each time she comes into the garden she stuffs her beak full and flies off back to the nest to her hungry brood. She's quite bold and follows me round the garden if I don't put food out for her. She even waited on the back doorstep yesterday - needless to say I'm now well-trained in pandering to her wants. :)


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The photo was the best of about 6 I managed to grab yesterday.

Lessons learned:

1 No matter how much you feed birds, they won't pose for you.

2 Of all the delectable nuts and seeds I've been putting out, this bird seems to prefer chopped up grapes. :shrug: I hope they're not harmful, but since the birds regularly strip grapes from the vine, I presume they're ok.

3 Photography can lead you into all sorts of silly situations, like lying on wet grass this morning trying, and failing, to get a better shot. :lol:

4 Focusing on a bird's eye is nearly impossible (for me!) when they keep moving.

5 The best of an admittedly poor bunch of shots will be the one with the most boring bushes behind the bird. For sure. :)

6 It was more fun than photographing the clock. :)

Please don't let next week's theme be Birds. :D

Jean
 
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She certainly looks like she appreciates your feeding!! This must have taken some patience, well done you.
 
I like it Jean. The eye is nice and sharp and you've got some good feather details. It looks like quite a dull day, so it's going to make it hard to get a decent shutter speed to make the shots easier. I've taken to pushing the ISO up to try and keep the shutter speed over 1/250 for bird shots, much easier to get them without subject movement, although even 1/1000 may not be fast enough (damn bluetits :D cracking shot of a branch with a blue blur)...
 
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