John's 2010 52, Week 27 Art (July 10th)

[Florida Mel]

I like the B&W chopped version - it adds atmosphere to the shot. Some great shots so far John

 

[dlh]

I do like the b&w on the apple now it's browning slightly, it just seems to accentuate the shape and tones better for me. Also not keen on the yellow/brown mark on the board which is drawing my eye a little on the colour version. Might have to buy some fruit now (not to eat!)

 

[Tracer]

Nice colours in the apple (not so keen on the B/W version) and I like the stain on the cloth as it links the apple with the knife.

 

[jgs001]

Hi John, I know how difficult it is to get a shot in some weeks (although for different reasons ) but you haven't fallen behind and that counts for something.

I prefer the mono shot out of the 2 but feel it could be a bit more contrasty for my taste. Not your best shot so far (sorry) but then I need talk

Thanks Jill, the not falling behind is important for me (but I'm sure you know that from last year ), as for it not being my best, I'd agree with you

I like the B&W chopped version - it adds atmosphere to the shot. Some great shots so far John

Thanks very much Mel

I do like the b&w on the apple now it's browning slightly, it just seems to accentuate the shape and tones better for me. Also not keen on the yellow/brown mark on the board which is drawing my eye a little on the colour version. Might have to buy some fruit now (not to eat!)

Thanks Darren, that's partly why I tried in B&W... It was amazing how fast the apple browned. I didn't notice that mark on the board until after I'd shot it... it's amazing how much the camera picks up that the eye doesn't notice...

Nice colours in the apple (not so keen on the B/W version) and I like the stain on the cloth as it links the apple with the knife.

Thanks Tracer, it seems that each has it's merits, and some prefer each.

 

[jeangenie]

For a rushed job, John, this ain't half bad.

I think I'd go for colour on this one - it tells the story better - a chopped up apple left to brown slightly. The stain on the chopping board adds to it. So a couple of interesting twists to a difficult week - and in on time. Like you, I feel I have to post within the deadline because if I get behind I'll never catch up!

So well done - and on to Street!!!

Jean

 

[jgs001]

Thanks Jean, difficult isn't it...

As for street.. I've been resorting to the dictionary again....

 

[louise-knight]

I prefer your colour shot, the black and white one doesn't stand out enough for me

 

[robp]

I like the composition of this - simple but effective.

I think that to be able to produce something like this at, well, a moment's notice does you great credit.

I prefer the colour version. Mainly cos the browning of the apple raises questions about the passing of time, whereas the b/w one makes the apple simply look manky to me.
Also, the stain between fruit and blade is more apparent in the colour version. A good additional detail.

 

[jgs001]

Thanks Louise.

Cheers Rob, that's very kind of you to say

 

[jgs001]

Well.. I know it's being posted late, but it was shot during the correct week. I'm not at all happy with it, but everything has been against me getting this, this week. It was also shot with my P&S so the quality leaves something to be desired to...

Anyway, I went with the definition of street, meaning an area primarily for pedestrians with access for vehicles... taken from street level.

2 Offerings...

The dynamic range of this sensor seems to be really poor, and nothing I could do could even keep the colours in the sky... not having any control over the shutter speed or aperture in any mode, makes it really difficult to be creative with it too. Anyway, enough of the sob story

 

[Dark Star]

John - the colour shot of chopped for me -love the composition and the clear focus on the apples innards!

As for street the first is just great - superb low level viewpoint and detailed view just takes you right there! And doing in B&W just makes it grittier and somehow more 'real' (God knows why )

 

[jeangenie]

Sorry you had such a difficult week - but you still managed 2 intersting shots.

#1: I love this. There's no point on commenting on the quality because you've already done that, and a p&s is a p&s, and if they could do what a sophisticated dslr would do we wouldn't all lug round 2 tons worth of kit. What makes it for me is the pov. It looks as though you've just popped out of the ground though the manhole, taken the shot and disappeared again. Did you get any comments while you were taking it?

#2: Another interesting pov, but I wonder if you took another shot with the approaching car closer, which I think would give the eye something to look at instead of the bush? Not a criticism - just a thought.

Jean

 

[jgs001]

John - the colour shot of chopped for me -love the composition and the clear focus on the apples innards!

As for street the first is just great - superb low level viewpoint and detailed view just takes you right there! And doing in B&W just makes it grittier and somehow more 'real' (God knows why )

Thanks very much John. (as for b&w and gritty, I was hopeing that would help mask the crap noise response of my P&S somewhat :lol)

Sorry you had such a difficult week - but you still managed 2 intersting shots.

#1: I love this. There's no point on commenting on the quality because you've already done that, and a p&s is a p&s, and if they could do what a sophisticated dslr would do we wouldn't all lug round 2 tons worth of kit. What makes it for me is the pov. It looks as though you've just popped out of the ground though the manhole, taken the shot and disappeared again. Did you get any comments while you were taking it?

#2: Another interesting pov, but I wonder if you took another shot with the approaching car closer, which I think would give the eye something to look at instead of the bush? Not a criticism - just a thought.

Jean

Tis one of those things Jean, life is motoring along at such a clip at the moment... Thankfully I have something I can use for Speed already, but I'm hoping, although again, I don't know when, I can get something else.

I knew I had to do something with the POV as I'm not in the game of taking shots of people, so even if I'd used the SLR, I'd been planning on a real low POV. I didn't get any comments, but I think that was due to the fact the camera fit in the palm of my hand and wasn't a large obvious lump of kit (weighing a couple of tons ) As for the second shot, I wasn't sure how the bush was going to come out, but I was thinking along the lines, almost of sneaking a look around it. As for the car, it was backing away :bonk: so I'd already missed that oppo...

 

[mich66]

I prefer the first shot too.. great view point love the manhole cover leading your eye into the rest of the scene.. suits the B+W gives a real gritty feel to it

 

[SarahLee]

John, sounds like it was a tough week for you and I think this is the first time I’ve ever known you not to get your shot posted before Sunday night. We all have weeks like this though (for me it was chopped) so well done for getting a shot in.

OK these shots may not be SLR quality, but for a P&S I think they’ve come out brilliantly. In fact the slight softness from the P&S combined with the B&W processing actually adds a bit of character and atmosphere to the image.

Number 1 is the stand out one for me. I love the low view point and there’s a great sense of perspective in there. The manhole cover in the foreground adds a nice bit of interest and really elevates it from being "just a shot of a street". Even if it hadn't been a hectic week for you I'd call this a success

 

[dlh]

Two more fine shots John, but number one stands head and shoulders for me. The view point is excellent with the foreground interest from the manhole/drain and then leaves you to wander round the rest of the image. Could have done with a few more people maybe or something in the middle ground to fill it a bit, but I guess you can't control what the public do

 

[exoticsworld]

I like the first shot it draws you right down the street but also see what you mean from your comment in my thread now about getting lower down.

 

[jgs001]

I prefer the first shot too.. great view point love the manhole cover leading your eye into the rest of the scene.. suits the B+W gives a real gritty feel to it

Thansk Michelle

John, sounds like it was a tough week for you and I think this is the first time I’ve ever known you not to get your shot posted before Sunday night. We all have weeks like this though (for me it was chopped) so well done for getting a shot in.

OK these shots may not be SLR quality, but for a P&S I think they’ve come out brilliantly. In fact the slight softness from the P&S combined with the B&W processing actually adds a bit of character and atmosphere to the image.

Number 1 is the stand out one for me. I love the low view point and there’s a great sense of perspective in there. The manhole cover in the foreground adds a nice bit of interest and really elevates it from being "just a shot of a street". Even if it hadn't been a hectic week for you I'd call this a success

I've sometimes posted first thing on a Monday morning, but never as late as this one was. I guess it's about knowing the limitations of the camera. I've learnt the hard way that an ISO higher than bog all degrades the image to mush, so it's set to "manual" (which means I can control the ISO... that's it..) and the ISO is locked down.

Thanks very much Sarah.

Two more fine shots John, but number one stands head and shoulders for me. The view point is excellent with the foreground interest from the manhole/drain and then leaves you to wander round the rest of the image. Could have done with a few more people maybe or something in the middle ground to fill it a bit, but I guess you can't control what the public do

Thanks very much Darren. It was at the end of the day also, and I got the shot in the short 5 minute window whilst the kids were having their hair cut... (I snuck outside and grabbed these), so all a bit rushed.

I like the first shot it draws you right down the street but also see what you mean from your comment in my thread now about getting lower down.

Thanks, I learnt that somewhere on here a while back. Getting lower down can really help, as can liveview (although the P&S doesn't have a viewfinder) to prevent you from having to lay on the ground

 

[Bruja]

I remember my Low Down shot from last year but at least it was warm and sunny and I only had sand to contend with

So well done for getting down there in less than ideal conditions

#1 for me. Love the lead in from the manhole cover and as DS said, it makes a really gritty shot p&s or no p&s

 

[Yv]

Have to be honest John and say the 2nd shot is doing nothing for me at all, but the first is a great effort. I really like the low down 'street level' look. I recall doing that in the middle of covent garden, more than once, so may I offer my sympathy to your knees, ankles and any other extremities that were inconvenienced in the taking of this image

 

[jgs001]

I remember my Low Down shot from last year but at least it was warm and sunny and I only had sand to contend with

So well done for getting down there in less than ideal conditions

#1 for me. Love the lead in from the manhole cover and as DS said, it makes a really gritty shot p&s or no p&s

... I recall Jill. Thanks very much.

Have to be honest John and say the 2nd shot is doing nothing for me at all, but the first is a great effort. I really like the low down 'street level' look. I recall doing that in the middle of covent garden, more than once, so may I offer my sympathy to your knees, ankles and any other extremities that were inconvenienced in the taking of this image

Thanks for commenting Yv, I wasn't sure on the second myself. I knew I'd seen an image of covent garden somewhere from that angle... from memory you used DarkStar's shoe as a camera prop didn't you ? Glad you liked the first one. It was only my knees (one of which is dodgy and doesn't like bending all the way, it complained at me too), the large LCD screen (no viewfinder on the P&S) was quite easy to see without getting my head down quite that low

 

[jennyb]

John, the first one is very clever - a photo "of a street from a street". It is a very unusual viewpoint. It reminds me of an excellent photo that I saw one time. Someone had dropped an ice cream cone on the pavement and it was a picture of the cone from street level. It just shows that viewpoint is very important.

I spend a lot of time on my hands and knees photographing flowers. It is not easy on the knees. I got a right angle viewfinder for my camera, so at least I don't get my hair in the mud when I am taking photographs now!

Jenny

 

[Harlequin565]

John,

Looking at Street, I think that #1 is a well taken shot. Great PoV, and worth getting down to take the shot and get the manhole cover(?) in the frame. Some nioce textures there.
Also like the PP - Looks like the contrast has had a tweak which has added impact to the overall shot.

I like it!

Ian.

 

[jgs001]

Thanks Jenny. That sounds like an interesting image... I can almost picture it.

Thanks Ian, yep, contrast was given a boost, I tend to do that to all my images, although I have far less leeway with this camera, as it only shoots jpg.

 

[kejago]

I like both your street shots, but I do find the 1st one more interesting. I think it would work beeter if the manhole cover was more in focus... but having lived with a P&S for so long, I understand the limitations you have to work with.

 

[jgs001]

Ok, I'm going to be honest with myself here, and stop telling myself I'm going to get the chance to get something else.

So, I'll go with the shot I got on Sunday. The light wasn't really good enough to get a shutter speed high enough to stop all motion, and you know, whilst that made it much harder, I'm kinda glad, as I like the motion blur in this image.

Anyway here it is..

This is no easy task. And it's the first time I've actually gone out with the intent of actually capturing a bird in flight like this, I have to say they were moving very quickly... but I enjoyed the challenge of it.

Lessons...

I need more practice...

 

[johnnyguitar]

I think it's a good shot John - I like the motion of the wings and the rest of the bird is sharp against the background.
Also like your first street shot.

 

[kejago]

Yip, that is a speedy bird. I am scared to go and try my own panning technique now... also something I have not done.

 

[Harlequin565]

This is no easy task. And it's the first time I've actually gone out with the intent of actually capturing a bird in flight like this, I have to say they were moving very quickly... but I enjoyed the challenge of it.

Considering this is your first time, I think you've done really well.

Would like to know a bit more about how you took the shot. Did you pan it?

Ian.

 

[jgs001]

Thanks John.

Cheers Kev, go and give it a try, it's worth it.

Thanks Ian, I've used panning before, but on vehicles traveling in straight lines... much easier . For this, I set all af points, and AIServo mode, left the IS on, and tried to pick up the birds as they were sweeping in towards the pond, then track through as they swept past. They were interested in staying around, as there was a lot of food being given out to the ducks and other birds so I just made use of many passes to keep trying. I did try setting the shutter speed down to 1/40 or 1/50 and go for a silly pan, but at the range, focal length and the speed the birds were moving, that was way beyond my abilities, and I got a few smeared messes . I've tried a couple of birds in flight before, but they never worked out.

 

[Harlequin565]

Thanks for the answer. Things like setting all the AF points is useful info and probably something I wouldn't think about at the time.

Ian.

 

[ccsnet]

Street - I like the 2nd one.....lots of detail to look at
Speed - Well done - a hard shot well caught

Terran

 

[bigsteve]

Hi John, well done on trying something new and succeeding!
A great speed image and I'm inspired to try similar myself!

 

[foggy4ever]

Catch up time

Poem.... I prefer the first one, going for the x-ray look has really paid off with a really creative shot and goes great with the poem. The second shot is a cracker anyway.

Chopped....Out of the 2 I prefer the second the b&w works better as the apple browns, although it's the first food shot that hasn't made me feel hungry

Street....I like the first one alot, the grate/drain covers in the fore ground makes for a very interesting shot.

Speed.... Well captured, I've tried this a few times and know how hard it can be especially at 1/160 sec.

 

[jgs001]

Thanks for the answer. Things like setting all the AF points is useful info and probably something I wouldn't think about at the time.

Ian.

You're welcome Ian. I read somewhere that setting all AF points, was the way to go, hit the bird with the centre point first, and in ServoAF the camera uses all the points to track the target.

Street - I like the 2nd one.....lots of detail to look at
Speed - Well done - a hard shot well caught

Terran

Thanks Terran

Hi John, well done on trying something new and succeeding!
A great speed image and I'm inspired to try similar myself!

Cheers Steve... Good luck

Catch up time

Poem.... I prefer the first one, going for the x-ray look has really paid off with a really creative shot and goes great with the poem. The second shot is a cracker anyway.

Chopped....Out of the 2 I prefer the second the b&w works better as the apple browns, although it's the first food shot that hasn't made me feel hungry

Street....I like the first one alot, the grate/drain covers in the fore ground makes for a very interesting shot.

Speed.... Well captured, I've tried this a few times and know how hard it can be especially at 1/160 sec.

Thanks very much Scott. I thought much the same on the apple, it didn't half brown quick .

 

[TheThistle]

This is a very nice shot John, the blur in the wings really adds speed/motion to it, and it dosen't distract at all.

 

[robp]

Street scene #1 for me, John.
What I think sets apart from other street stuff is not just the low viewpoint but the fact that you've successfully managed to include foreground interest - something not so powerfully evoked in the second shot.
Also, I like that the foreground interest doesn't dominate - it simply adds context.

The speed shot was nicely captured. Your patience paid off

 

[Tracer]

Your second street shot doesn't do a great deal for me but I like the first one. I would have been tempted to crop the top a bit (down to the top of the first level of the car park on the right) to emphasise the manhole cover even more.

A nice B/W conversion, too.

Speed - well captured, with a very nice restricted range of colours. I haven't succeeded at all yet with BIF

 

[ladysue]

Thats a nice sharp shot of the gull.

 

[Deleted member 3428]

I think the wing tip blur adds to the shot John