jeangenie's 52 for 2010 - Week 26 Beginnings

[Bruja]

I really didn't leave myself enough time to do this properly - a lesson to be learned!

Jean

Er, how many times did you say that last year

It certainly suits the poem and I do like the perspective and I agree with Ian, try a few more perspectives, but I do like it as it is

 

[jeangenie]

I like this a lot Jean.
Great poem and recital. I always just think of Pooh when I think of AA Milne. Easy to forget that there are poems there too. I confess to a weakness for silly rhymes - I'll ration myself to 4 a year, though.

The shot works brilliantly.
Real attention to detail in the set up - cloth over the bread, spoon in the marmalade. You've definitely got the focus where you wanted it on the butter, and the bread looks delicious. I'm not sure that the melting butter looks quite as good as it tasted though. You definitely wouldn't have wanted to eat it, Sarah.
Hmmmmmm I think I might just make some bread tomorrow.

Re: your own critique.
The light actually looks fine to me - I don't think I'd like the background to be any whiter. However, I think perhaps your suggestion of a lower viewpoint might have worked even better.

Thanks for that - I always feel I haven't really 'tried' when I just use available light.

I really like that picture and it's making me hungry ... buttered toast is one of the best things ever

Thanks, Kay.

Not much to add to the many very good comments except that the picture is making me sooo hungry! Sorry, Ian.

Nothing wrong wth the natural lighting for me, nice and soft. Thanks - it just feel a bit like cheating.

It just seems a shame to have done all that work to set up such a lovely still life and then only take the one angle (if that is the case). Maybe make it a rule in future to force yourself to take a few extra shots at the end at different angles than you normally would or planned to? Ian - you're right. I did only take one angle, but as you can see from Bruja's post below - I was rushing to catch the last of the light. I do need to be more methodical with table top stuff. And i'll take you very wise advice (but don't tell Jill )

Er, how many times did you say that last year
Only every week, Jill! It's the soundtrack to my life.

It certainly suits the poem and I do like the perspective and I agree with Ian, try a few more perspectives, but I do like it as it is Thanks, Jill - glad you like it.

Jean

 

[mowse73]

A well composed image jean

 

[jeangenie]

A well composed image jean

That's really appreciated, Martin - thank you. I always find still life difficult to set up and never seem to have the right props for the job!

Jean

 

[mtracerz]

Hey Jean,
Really like your poetry entry
You say your lighting was rubbish? That didnt jump out at me when I looked at your image, thought it looked spot on in my opinion, though that may not be the desired effect you were going for?
However, I agree with the angle you have taken it at. A lower angle would really of done this shot justice I feel. Perhaps you should take a couple of different angles in the future. I know for my still life set up for my 52, I took a wide range of angles just to be on the safe side, as like you say, theres not much you can do once you have eaten all that lovely bread and load your shots onto the PC!
Overall this is a really great image, could easily see it being in a breakfast Ad or something similar!
Will look forward to seeing your take on week 3's theme!

Rikki

 

[kejago]

Oohhh... Another really good thread to follow. I like bread & butter shot. The textures, the colours, I can almost smell and taste it in my minds eye. Never got as far as the poem, your photo has induced a late night snack-attack for slice of hot buttered toast!!

 

[mickyluv]

Jean, you started off very well on curves a great find and good execution of the shot but your second is special and I like the angle from which you shot it. Nice details in the cloth and well exposed. As regards to calling me Tracy on a monday,as my late father always said "you can call me what you like just don,t call me late for me dinner"

 

[TheThistle]

Hi Jean,

very (n)ice and curvy, I like this its simple but very effective - well spotted.

Thats a lovely poem and well constructed photo too. It works.
That bread I can taste it, is it homemade, looks homemade.

Graham
______

 

[jgs001]

Really like that Jean, an excellent shot indeed. I can't listen to the poem at the moment though...

 

[jeangenie]

Hey Jean,
Really like your poetry entry
You say your lighting was rubbish? That didnt jump out at me when I looked at your image, thought it looked spot on in my opinion, though that may not be the desired effect you were going for?
However, I agree with the angle you have taken it at. A lower angle would really of done this shot justice I feel. Perhaps you should take a couple of different angles in the future. I know for my still life set up for my 52, I took a wide range of angles just to be on the safe side, as like you say, theres not much you can do once you have eaten all that lovely bread and load your shots onto the PC!
Overall this is a really great image, could easily see it being in a breakfast Ad or something similar!
Will look forward to seeing your take on week 3's theme!

Rikki

Thanks very much, Rikki - I really appreciate your comements - and you're dead right about taking several angles , and I actually remembered to do that when I did my Growing shot this week. I try to use only natural light, and on that day it seemed flat and boring.

Oohhh... Another really good thread to follow. I like bread & butter shot. The textures, the colours, I can almost smell and taste it in my minds eye. Never got as far as the poem, your photo has induced a late night snack-attack for slice of hot buttered toast!!

Thanks - but I hope I wasn't the cause of indigestion after your late night snack.

Jean, you started off very well on curves a great find and good execution of the shot but your second is special and I like the angle from which you shot it. Nice details in the cloth and well exposed. As regards to calling me Tracy on a monday,as my late father always said "you can call me what you like just don,t call me late for me dinner"

Your dad was a wise man. Glad you liked the shots.

Hi Jean,

very (n)ice and curvy, I like this its simple but very effective - well spotted.

Thats a lovely poem and well constructed photo too. It works.
That bread I can taste it, is it homemade, looks homemade.

Graham
______

Hi Graham. Thanks very much, and yes, the bread is homemade (machine though - not by hand!) It's not always as successful as that, either.

Really like that Jean, an excellent shot indeed. I can't listen to the poem at the moment though...

Thanks John. I should have copied it into the thread, but the performance was quite funny!

 

[Kdot]

Week 1 : Really like the shot, but will swim against the tide slightly re the DOF. I would have focused tightly on the end of the icicle, and left the rest of the ice OOF myself...but then I always have been a contrary so-in-so - just ask my Mum!

Week 2 : Agree with what most have said - liking the light, and the angle too. A lower angle would have concentrated the shot on the butter too much, as the subject (to me) is the plated breakfast. That would fit in with your idea to have the marmalade slightly OOF.

 

[jeangenie]

Week 1 : Really like the shot, but will swim against the tide slightly re the DOF. I would have focused tightly on the end of the icicle, and left the rest of the ice OOF myself...but then I always have been a contrary so-in-so - just ask my Mum! I hadn't thought of focusing on the end of the twig - I don't think you're being contrary, just creative. Thank you.

Week 2 : Agree with what most have said - liking the light, and the angle too. A lower angle would have concentrated the shot on the butter too much, as the subject (to me) is the plated breakfast. That would fit in with your idea to have the marmalade slightly OOF.

Thanks Keri. I really appreciate your comments - seeing what other people would have done with a shot is a really good way of learning, imho - what you've said is very helpful.

Jean

 

[jeangenie]

Sometimes life delivers small helpings of justice - and it did just that for me this week. Last year's 52 contained the theme "Complex" and with considerable trial and error I snapped the inner workings of an old bracket clock. The following week's theme was "TIME". So unfair :bang:

BUT this week Simon love:) pulled 'Chopped' out of the hat and it fitted a shot I'd nearly taken for Poetry last week. In the end I chose the light-hearted King's Breakfast rather than my other option - The Mikado. So this week's Chopped sees Monkeh-PooBah (our Monkeh's Japanese relative) suffering a rather horrible fate:



and the Poem:

To sit in solemn silence
In a dull, dark dock,
In a pestilential prison
With a life-long lock,
Awaiting the sensation
Of a short, sharp shock
From a cheap and chippy chopper
On a big, black block

Thankfully, in best fairy-tale tradition, Monkeh-PooBah escaped the chopper to live happily ever after.

This is probably a Marmite shot - but I'd love your honest opinions.

Thanks

Jean

 

[dan_yorkshire]

I really like the monkey shot, good mono conversion which gives it quite a dark feel.

Really sharp on the eyes and a good take on the theme

Dan

 

[Ian_Wilson]

Nice tones and shadows. Just wonder if the chopper should be to the other side of Monkey so that the sharp edge is threatening him (in other words he is in more danger)

 

[daddy day care]

I'm really liking this one.

Real attention to detail. The glint of light on the chopper, the pose, focus on the eyes with the catchlight, the shadows of the "prison bars"

Very well done

 

[dlh]

I lol'd. Poor monkey. Great idea

 

[mich66]

phewwwwwwwwwwww...... I was dreading opening this to see a decapitated.. or worse monkeh!

fab shot.. I love the expression you managed to capture on his face, great mood captured.. so glad he survived

 

[SimonTALM]

The Sword of Damocles - nice one

 

[SarahLee]

Poor Monkeh indeed

I like this a lot Jean. Nice focus on the eyes and I love the positioning of the arms across the face.
Very inventive and cleverly done.
Lighting and PP both really add to the atmosphere. I particularly like the glint on the blade.

I think the shadows across the background could do with being just a touch darker though. At first I thought they were creases in the cloth, it was only on a closer look that I realised that you'd created the shadow of prison bars . . . clever you! Just a touch darker so that they were a bit more obvious and it would be perfect.

 

[foggy4ever]

Week 2 Just made me feel very very hungry, well done.

Week 3 Poor teddy that is really shocking

 

[Tracer]

Aww - poor monkeh! Full marks for imagination and setting it up - it is a lovely shot, really carefully thought out and very effective. The subdued lighting perfectly conveys the grim prison atmosphere.... I'm so glad he escaped!

 

[justlooking]

poor Monkeh ! Like the shadows they really add to the atmosphere

 

[jeangenie]

I really like the monkey shot, good mono conversion which gives it quite a dark feel.

Really sharp on the eyes and a good take on the theme

Dan

Thanks Dan - Glad you like it.

Nice tones and shadows. Just wonder if the chopper should be to the other side of Monkey so that the sharp edge is threatening him (in other words he is in more danger)

Thank Ian. I wanted to get the shadow of the chopper in - but I take your point. Monkeh says 'No way - I was in enough danger as it was'

I'm really liking this one.

Real attention to detail. The glint of light on the chopper, the pose, focus on the eyes with the catchlight, the shadows of the "prison bars"

Very well done

Aww thanks - you're very kind.

I lol'd. Poor monkey. Great idea

Thanks, Darren.

phewwwwwwwwwwww...... I was dreading opening this to see a decapitated.. or worse monkeh!

fab shot.. I love the expression you managed to capture on his face, great mood captured.. so glad he survived

Sorry - I didn't mean to give anybody nightmares! Thanks for your lovely comments.

The Sword of Damocles - nice one

Hehehe. Thanks, Simon.

Poor Monkeh indeed

I like this a lot Jean. Nice focus on the eyes and I love the positioning of the arms across the face.
Very inventive and cleverly done.
Lighting and PP both really add to the atmosphere. I particularly like the glint on the blade.

I think the shadows across the background could do with being just a touch darker though. At first I thought they were creases in the cloth, it was only on a closer look that I realised that you'd created the shadow of prison bars . . . clever you! Just a touch darker so that they were a bit more obvious and it would be perfect.

Thank you very much Sarah. I would have liked the 'bars' (aka an oven shelf!) a bit darker, but when I used more light the shadows were very strong on Monkeh. It was a bit of a balancing act and using only a domestic standard lamp I didn't have much leeway. I really must try off-camera flash!

Jean

 

[jeangenie]

Week 2 Just made me feel very very hungry, well done. Sorry - the kettle and toaster are always on anytime you're passing.

Week 3 Poor teddy that is really shocking

He had a lucky escape - this time! Thanks for looking.

Aww - poor monkeh! Full marks for imagination and setting it up - it is a lovely shot, really carefully thought out and very effective. The subdued lighting perfectly conveys the grim prison atmosphere.... I'm so glad he escaped!

Thanks, Tracer. The lighting owes more to pp than my setting up. I'm glad you liked it.

poor Monkeh ! Like the shadows they really add to the atmosphere

Thank you very much. It was quite hard to get the shadows - which makes a change since I usually seem to be getting rid of them!

Jean

 

[MC_Stoo]

Love the storytelling in that monkey shot

 

[mowse73]

Like the monkeh shot Jean, made me chuckle.

 

[Shorty]

:O I've found your thread. So sorry it's taken me this long!!

Curved - lovely, I love snow type shots.
The breakfast, looks yummy....If you like that kinda stuff Nice lighting and food relation.


Poor Monkeh ace shot! Maybe a bit more contrast, but I wont complain

 

[collins82002]

Hi Jean,
Thankyou for Your C&C on my 52. Had a look through yours and this is my views

Week 1: Well spotted good capture
Week 2: Nicley put together and makes me hungry.
Week 3: Brilliant idea love the expression on monkey's face
Sorry comments are short cause im a beginner and DOF etc im still getting my head round so im not gonna to C&C on things im not sure about.

Chris

 

[Harlequin565]

Hi Jean - loving the Monkeh! shot. Made me smile. I'm pretty sure I would get a thick ear for trying this as I gave my iTV digital Monkeh! to my daughter who would murder me if I put a blade anywhere near it.

Only one comment really - grey monkeh on grey background with grey steel knife. Part of me likes the greyness of it all, but part of me would like to see the knife and monkeh highlighted by a black/white background.

Anyway - on to week 4!

Ian.

 

[mickyluv]

Hi Jean, one again you come up with a good interpritation, good humour with a hint of cruelty to a defenceless and harmless Monkeh....Mick

 

[dade_f]

Well so far so good!
You have some nice idea in your shots. The point of this (in my view) is to get people shooting and trying new things, and your doing just that, as long as you enjoy and are learning there are NO mistakes just lessons

For me perhaps a touch of motion blur on the knife to demonstrate the chopping action oh and MORE fear in Monkeh's eyes, lol!!

 

[SarahLee]

I would have liked the 'bars' (aka an oven shelf!) a bit darker, but when I used more light the shadows were very strong on Monkeh. It was a bit of a balancing act and using only a domestic standard lamp I didn't have much leeway. I really must try off-camera flash!

Good to see that you’re still improvising!
I’d have been disappointed if you did anything else

 

[karmagarda]

I've missed all of your thread so far! Really loving all your shots. And poor monkeh!

Only crit I have is I'm not overly fond of the border. It doesn't detract too much from what is otherwise an awesome photo which I'm still laughing at

 

[AliB]

Nice one jean, I get the feeling my own Monkeh's might have to feature sometime, I'm keeping them back for later though, heaven only knows what Simon will come up with next!

 

[Bruja]

Composition, DoF, mono conversion and ability to make me laugh are spot on

Where do you get your creativity from

And I did 'hear' what you aid in my absence :nono:

Jill

 

[jeangenie]

Love the storytelling in that monkey shot

Thanks, Stuart.

Like the monkeh shot Jean, made me chuckle.

Glad you like it, Martin.

:O I've found your thread. So sorry it's taken me this long!! No worries - welcome!

Curved - lovely, I love snow type shots.
The breakfast, looks yummy....If you like that kinda stuff Nice lighting and food relation.


Poor Monkeh ace shot! Maybe a bit more contrast, but I wont complain

Thanks Shorty. It's really hard to keep track of all the threads this year, isn't it? I kept the contrast low to (hopefully) look like a "dull, dark dock" and a "pestilential prison". It's always a fine dividing line for me whether to go with 'the brief' or do what I think is photographically ok. :shrug:

Hi Jean,
Thankyou for Your C&C on my 52. Had a look through yours and this is my views

Week 1: Well spotted good capture
Week 2: Nicley put together and makes me hungry.
Week 3: Brilliant idea love the expression on monkey's face
Sorry comments are short cause im a beginner and DOF etc im still getting my head round so im not gonna to C&C on things im not sure about.

Chris

Thanks very much Chris, I really appreciate your comments - and remember that a 'good' photo is one you personally like. Don't be afraid to tear any of my stuff apart - honestly, it helps me to learn.

Jean

 

[jeangenie]

Hi Jean - loving the Monkeh! shot. Made me smile. I'm pretty sure I would get a thick ear for trying this as I gave my iTV digital Monkeh! to my daughter who would murder me if I put a blade anywhere near it. I should think so, too - I had to bribe Moneh-PooBah with 'bananas for life' to get him to pose for this.

Only one comment really - grey monkeh on grey background with grey steel knife. Part of me likes the greyness of it all, but part of me would like to see the knife and monkeh highlighted by a black/white background.

Anyway - on to week 4!

Ian.

Thanks for the comment, Ian. I know what you mean about a lot of grey. It was (partly) intentional and partly the result of my pp skills not being up to anything better.

Hi Jean, one again you come up with a good interpritation, good humour with a hint of cruelty to a defenceless and harmless Monkeh....Mick

Thanks, Mick - I can see all the TP Monkehs are going to be up in arms defending Monkeh-PooBah!

Well so far so good!
You have some nice idea in your shots. The point of this (in my view) is to get people shooting and trying new things, and your doing just that, as long as you enjoy and are learning there are NO mistakes just lessons

For me perhaps a touch of motion blur on the knife to demonstrate the chopping action oh and MORE fear in Monkeh's eyes, !!

Thanks for the comments - I like trying something a bit different, although some weeks I'm just gald to get a shot posted in time. Tryng to get motion blur on the chopper could have easily resulted in real blood being spilt - mine! I was holding the chopper in one hand and stretching over it to use the cable release with the other.

Good to see that you’re still improvising!
I’d have been disappointed if you did anything else

Thanks, Sarah - Improvisers of the world unite.

I've missed all of your thread so far! Really loving all your shots. And poor monkeh!

Only crit I have is I'm not overly fond of the border. It doesn't detract too much from what is otherwise an awesome photo which I'm still laughing at

Thanks Conor - glad I made you laugh - and thanks for finding me in this crowded space! The border was just an experiement - I wasn't overly fond of it myself, but neither white nor black looked right. :bang:

Nice one jean, I get the feeling my own Monkeh's might have to feature sometime, I'm keeping them back for later though, heaven only knows what Simon will come up with next!

Thanks Ali. I look forward to seeing your Monkehs in action, too. They're very versatile!

Composition, DoF, mono conversion and ability to make me laugh are spot on Glad I made you laugh, Jill.

Where do you get your creativity from Mr JG calls it something else!

And I did 'hear' what you aid in my absence :nono: Oh dear ....

Jill

Thanks, everyone

Jean

 

[Stephen Ramsay]

Week1- Great Composition and Interesting find. I love the way the ice shines in the sun, must not have lasted too long, so great shot.

Week2-Now this is more appealing to the eye. Sure has made me hungry so you have done something right Composition is again good, although did you try it from different perspectives? I Really like this image.

Week3- Excellent. Very humorous and comical. The lighting on this is very good, i dont usually agree with shadows but the vague shadow adds to the picture for me. Great choice of PP for the sepia look. It has worked very well

Looking forward to your week 4 image

 

[jgs001]

... very good and very clever Jean, love the expression on his little face... It works very well for me, lighting, mood etc. good spot on the shadows Sarah... I missed those.