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

[clud17]

Great idea for a dull theme, works well too im think i think you had achieved a reasonable dof to highlight the shot of the hand. Hope the recovery speeds up mate.

 

[jgs001]

Thanks very much Chris

 

[SarahLee]

Hope you're feeling better John - it's tough keeping this up at the best of times, let alone when you're feeling ill.

Your ingredients shot might be an old one, but it's absolutely stunning.
I really, really like that - it wouldn't look at all out of place in a cookery magazine

Your reshoot is a big improvement on the original too - I think I prefer the slightly cooler edit of it.

And "stop". Tough theme, but you pulled something out of the bag (which is more than I managed)
The perspective and shallow DoF have come out well. Your hand definitely jumps out and practically slaps you around the face!

 

[jgs001]

Thanks very much Sarah, yes much better

 

[dan_yorkshire]

Another hand in the camera shot, very popular.

Find the lettering on the tshirt pretty distracting but nicely done.

 

[jgs001]

Thanks Dan, I agree with the comments about the shirt..

 

[Sonial]

I really like this John I agree it would look FANTASTIC if done with formal attire and maybe a pair of flashy shades

 

[jgs001]

Thanks Sonia, something for a reshoot... not that I have any flashy shades... and not a lot of formal attire for that matter either

 

[Sonial]

Thanks Sonia, something for a reshoot... not that I have any flashy shades... and not a lot of formal attire for that matter either

Hahaha I know what you mean...... Hope there's no weddings to attend this year as I would have nothing to wear

 

[jgs001]

An idea came to me almost straight away, the only problem being, as usual how to implement my idea and actually pull it off... I knew it was going to involve using a fair proportion of my gear to achieve it, and other stuff I have...

Well... my first attempt, worked (surprisingly in only 5 shots too)

This is not the real image for the week

but didn't come out as the image I was aiming for, I wanted something darker...

so back to the drawing board. I have no black backdrop, hell I have no backdrops ... so I went for the simple expedient of hanging dark material from a hanger. Then how to limit the direction of the flash, some googling and reading later, followed by a raid on the cardboard, and a copious amount of duck tape, and I'd made a shiny silver coloured snoot.

Background, Check
Light modifier, Check
Light mount... hmmm... Check (second tripod)

So I set it all out.. I used, 2 tripods, 1 flash, 1 cardboard box, set of flash triggers, nifty fifty, a music stand, a ruler, a coat hanger, some dark material, and a hot shoe mount spirit level (ok, I probably didn't need that last one )

So here's the image. There's 2, as I like both, but am undecided on which works best.

Isolation - Climb into the light

and an alternate, with a bit of desaturation

Now, I know it doesn't shout isolation, hell it barely even whispers it, but you know, that's ok, I'm pleased I managed to work out how to achieve the image I had in my head. I'm sure there's a few things wrong with it

1) My hand is too near the edge of the frame, and could do with being down and back a bit (it's hard to get that one right, and I spent a long time getting the position this close...

2) I think I may have made the snoot too long as the light fall is pretty darn tight

 

[jgs001]

Hahaha I know what you mean...... Hope there's no weddings to attend this year as I would have nothing to wear

I don't think I have any to attend, or anything else that requires formal for that matter, luckily ... What are we like :nuts:

 

[Harlequin565]

I prefer the saturated version John and well done for working to get the idea down on digital film. I think the lighting works very well, and it is a vast improvement over your original shot. I'm always in awe of these self portraits where people get their face so sharp.

One tiny crit (and I feel bad for mentioning it) is that your hand looks a tad soft as though the aperture was a bit too wide. It's such a tiny thing though....

Well done.

Ian.

PS: Are you sizing up the moon?

 

[Slackbladder]

Hi John,
I know what you mean about how the amount of props and equitment mounts up, mine turned out to be one of those 5 minute jobs that took all afternoon.:bang:
I prefer the first of the dark shots, looks like your starting to climb the ladder to heaven. ..keep following the light John!

Did you use the 450D?

If i had to make a crit...your beard needs a trim

 

[clud17]

great job John, i love the isolated areas of lighting and i think you have created a good image for the theme. I love it when a plan comes together so its great you have created the image you set out to get.

 

[ProG77]

Really liking your de-saturated version for the isolation shot and reading your post, you certainly put in a lot of effort in to geting the shot so well done. I don't know why, but somehow the image does say isolation to me. I think your face against the black background definitely isolates you from the background so bang on theme.
I just wish I knew what I'm going to do for this week as I still have no idea!

 

[jgs001]

I prefer the saturated version John and well done for working to get the idea down on digital film. I think the lighting works very well, and it is a vast improvement over your original shot. I'm always in awe of these self portraits where people get their face so sharp.

One tiny crit (and I feel bad for mentioning it) is that your hand looks a tad soft as though the aperture was a bit too wide. It's such a tiny thing though....

Well done.

Ian.

PS: Are you sizing up the moon?

Thanks very much Ian, there's a couple of incongruous and unexplained items in my kit list... the music stand and ruler. I set the ruler on the floor to mark the correct position, set the music stand above it, with a rivet about where I wanted my eye, and prefocused on that. It took me a while to work out, that I was actually putting the ruler in line with my nose and not my eye and that's why my eye was blurry, I was feeling a bit thick yesterday ... I think you may be right about the hand, but I was less worried about that, than the eye. I also didn't want to close down the lens too much for fear of revealing the textures in the backdrop. Looking back, I'm not sure that would have been a problem, as the snoot prevented the flash lighting it anyway. As for the moon... nope... full is really hard to shoot well thanks to the lack of contrast, and it's so low in the sky, even at peak altitude, the atmospherics make it really tough... so I went out for dinner instead.

Hi John,
I know what you mean about how the amount of props and equitment mounts up, mine turned out to be one of those 5 minute jobs that took all afternoon.:bang:
I prefer the first of the dark shots, looks like your starting to climb the ladder to heaven. ..keep following the light John!

Did you use the 450D?

If i had to make a crit...your beard needs a trim

I had to fit it all in during my lunchbreak, and set it all up twice :bang:. The intent came through ...

Yes, the 450d, I have a P&S also, but that's more for when I can't carry the SLR.

As for the beard :razz:

great job John, i love the isolated areas of lighting and i think you have created a good image for the theme. I love it when a plan comes together so its great you have created the image you set out to get.

Thanks very much Chris, it doesn't happen very often... but every now and then ...

Really liking your de-saturated version for the isolation shot and reading your post, you certainly put in a lot of effort in to geting the shot so well done. I don't know why, but somehow the image does say isolation to me. I think your face against the black background definitely isolates you from the background so bang on theme.
I just wish I knew what I'm going to do for this week as I still have no idea!

Thanks, I'm glad it came across.. Good luck with your own shot.

 

[foggy4ever]

M13 in Hercules Impressive as always when you see how much work goes into producing that image.

Ingredients...Best I've seen so far, great muted colours and textures.

Stop...I see past the hand and all I can think of is 'did you ever have long hair'

[YOUTUBE]mg0l7f25bhU&feature=related[/YOUTUBE]

Isolation...Interesting idea and a very detailed explanation, the last one works much better for me with the desauration. I know what you mean about it doesn't shout isolation but it does work. For the reshoot try it out side at might so you are much smaller in the frame.

 

[philthejuggler]

Nice isolation shot, John. The soft hand is an irrelevance - the super-sharp face makes the shot & I think it works in full & desat versions. I think the full version has the edge and I definitely think it fits the theme of isolation as the implication is of someone isolated from the rest of reality.

Nice work!

Phil

 

[Tracer]

Trying to catch up...

Stop - I like this, particularly the W/A effect on the hand. Excellent DOF, particularly with that lens, and as a casual dresser myself I'm not bothered at all about the T-shirt.

Isolation - This works very well. I can't make up my mind between the two shots but think I slightly prefer the desat version. Well done with the lighting - it sounds very complicated. I'm glad I'm not the only one that resorts to a music stand, hanger and various clothes for backgrounds!

Hope you have recovered by now.

 

[SarahLee]

That sounds a complicated set up for isolation . . . this whole lighting thing is still a total mystery to me and I had to resort to Google to find out what a snoot was :

All I can say is that the end result was worth it. I absolutely love it.
Your attention to detail with getting the focus spot on has really paid off and I'm just in awe of you having an idea and managing to translate it exactly to an image.

I'm still at the stage where I have a vague inkling of what I want and fiddle around until it looks semi-decent.

In terms of favourites, my first inclination was towards the more saturated version, but on thinking about it I actually prefer the second.
The paleness that it's given to your skin makes me think of somebody who's been locked away from sunlight for a long time.

 

[jgs001]

Nice isolation shot, John. The soft hand is an irrelevance - the super-sharp face makes the shot & I think it works in full & desat versions. I think the full version has the edge and I definitely think it fits the theme of isolation as the implication is of someone isolated from the rest of reality.

Nice work!

Phil

Thanks very much Phil, the aim was for the face to be sharp.

Trying to catch up...

Stop - I like this, particularly the W/A effect on the hand. Excellent DOF, particularly with that lens, and as a casual dresser myself I'm not bothered at all about the T-shirt.

Isolation - This works very well. I can't make up my mind between the two shots but think I slightly prefer the desat version. Well done with the lighting - it sounds very complicated. I'm glad I'm not the only one that resorts to a music stand, hanger and various clothes for backgrounds!

Hope you have recovered by now.

Thank you. Yep all better...

I was rather pleased with the DOF considering the focal length I was operating at... it sure worked as I wanted.

The lighting might sound complicated, but actually it's a very simple cardboard rectangular tube stuck on the flash. The bits and pieces are what's around and to hand ...

That sounds a complicated set up for isolation . . . this whole lighting thing is still a total mystery to me and I had to resort to Google to find out what a snoot was :

All I can say is that the end result was worth it. I absolutely love it.
Your attention to detail with getting the focus spot on has really paid off and I'm just in awe of you having an idea and managing to translate it exactly to an image.

I'm still at the stage where I have a vague inkling of what I want and fiddle around until it looks semi-decent.

In terms of favourites, my first inclination was towards the more saturated version, but on thinking about it I actually prefer the second.
The paleness that it's given to your skin makes me think of somebody who's been locked away from sunlight for a long time.

Thanks very much Sarah. It sounds complicated with the lighting, but it isn't really, I was surprised at just how easy it actually is, once you have a set of triggers that is... Most of my pics for this sort of thing I have the idea, but never manage to realise what I was envisioning... so I'm rather glad I was able to make it work.

I'm veering towards the desat version for much the same reason.

 

[jgs001]

M13 in Hercules Impressive as always when you see how much work goes into producing that image.

Ingredients...Best I've seen so far, great muted colours and textures.

Stop...I see past the hand and all I can think of is 'did you ever have long hair'


Isolation...Interesting idea and a very detailed explanation, the last one works much better for me with the desauration. I know what you mean about it doesn't shout isolation but it does work. For the reshoot try it out side at might so you are much smaller in the frame.

Thanks very much Scott... Sorry I don't know why I didn't reply...

I might, at one point... have had long hair ... not that long though... and that's a very unusual version of the song you dug out too

Thanks for the idea on a reshoot... you're right... the confines of the living room don't allow a lot of framing options with the nifty... I could have used the kit lens for a wider view, but would have lost the backdrop and been back to white again.

 

[chris321]

I really like isolation! Love the lighting While it doesn't scream isolation, I'd say it fits the theme, and I think I prefer the unsaturated version, but I'd be happy with either!

Chris

 

[jgs001]

Thanks very much Chris

 

[jgs001]

Quality... HA!!!... I've been having some serious issues/concerns about the images I've been producing this week... to the point, I've not been happy with any image with my normal setup, and I've been using the nifty as that's about the only thing I've been even vaguely happy with the results (that's on a relative scale, not actually happy with them, lets say, less unhappy with)... Anyway... I've got a couple.. neither good, but... it's not gonna be a blank week at least...

Horse Guards Parade... a 5 shot Pano



Click for full size. There's some join marks, although, given I shot on manual settings, with manual white balance, I've no idea why. I've also got some odd distortions showing up too, just for good measure.

Secondly

This one has a weird blue/green tint along the top, I think it's down to the windows overhead, but I don't seem to be able to do anything with it... I'm not even sure it works in mono... It sort of reminds me a bit of the end of the last indy film.

 

[jennyb]

Hi John,

Catching up again..

I love your isolation shot. I prefer the saturated version. It is a very clever shot (wouldn't have a clue how to do a SP) and definitley says isolation to me. Even you hand seems isolated from your body.

I am wondering how your quality shots fit the theme. Firstly, I am not really qualified to comment on your pano because that is another thing I would not have a clue about. I think it is interesting the way you have fitted so much into the photo. However, I think I would have preferred less foreground.

I really like the building shot. I love the green tint at the top and the way the steps lead you into the photo. However, I know it is the angle that you have taken the shot, but my eye keeps being drawn to the fact that the circular building is not vertical. If you straighten it, it would make the building on the left at an angle.

I know what you mean about struggling. I have also had a difficult week. Maybe it is something to do with getting close to the mid-point of the 52. Are we all running out of steam?

Jenny

 

[jgs001]

Thanks Jenny.

For Quality, you're right, I can't think of anything apart from quality street, dictionary def, and scrabble letters... so I went for something... so lets call these fillers..

I see what you mean about the foreground... I could crop the lower edge...

You're right about the building, I had a bit of a play..

that's straighter... I really must get in the habit of actually spotting that sort of thing before someone points it out to me ...

You may be right, mid year blues ...

 

[justlooking]

It was a hard subject this week. As you trying to get a shot with a quality you are happy with it fits the theme for me !

 

[jgs001]

Thanks, I'm not overly happy with either of them and consider them as fillers really...

 

[jennyb]

Hi John, IMHO the straightened version is much better.

Jenny

 

[The23rdman]

I actually like your building shot, John. The cast from the window and the shadows add some good interest in the lines.

 

[jgs001]

Thanks very much Dean. As one of the 52 lighting experts... can I ask for your input on my Isolation shot please ?

 

[clud17]

I like the building shot John, some interesting shadows on the walls and a good composition to bring the eye into the picture

 

[philthejuggler]

I love the building shot - lots to keep me looking over & over at the frame - no idea on the relationship with quality, but good image nonetheless. I don't know what but this theme seems unjustifiably awkward!

Phil

 

[Tracer]

I love the building shot - great patterns and shapes, contrasts between old and new, and the people on the stairs are in just the right position. The greenish tint at the top may have been unintentional but adds a lot of interest.

Since I recognise this as the British Museum, one of the great museums of the world, it really fits the theme for me. Well spotted and captured!



I have been away and still to do mine....

 

[jgs001]

Hi John, IMHO the straightened version is much better.

Jenny

Thanks Jenny

I like the building shot John, some interesting shadows on the walls and a good composition to bring the eye into the picture

Thanks very much Chris

I love the building shot - lots to keep me looking over & over at the frame - no idea on the relationship with quality, but good image nonetheless. I don't know what but this theme seems unjustifiably awkward!

Phil

Thanks Phil, not a lot, if any, relationship with quality, excepting the comment from Tracer, I just gave up with quality and filled in, it was, as you say, just too awkward and my poor brain wasn't up to it.

I love the building shot - great patterns and shapes, contrasts between old and new, and the people on the stairs are in just the right position. The greenish tint at the top may have been unintentional but adds a lot of interest.

Since I recognise this as the British Museum, one of the great museums of the world, it really fits the theme for me. Well spotted and captured!



I have been away and still to do mine....

Thanks very much Tracer, I spotted them climbing the stairs, and waited a few extra seconds till they were about where I wanted them. The family meanwhile were bundling off to the next exhibit and giving me odd looks as usual...

I hope you had a good time, and good luck with the shot.

 

[jeangenie]

Hi John - A major catch up from me. I did actually do a catch up on Monday and somehow lost it before I posted it. :bang:

Indulgence Reshoot: Brandy and chocs - yummy! I like the composition with the brandy glass oof in the foreground. I think the chocs could have more prominence - perhaps a slightly higher pov? - and I actually like the warmer tones on the first version.

M13 Hercules - as always, I love your astro shots and am totally in awe of how you do them. 'Drizzling' sounds interesting, and a totally new photographic term for me.

Ingredients: I love the composition, the colours and variety of textures. If I was being very picky I'd ask for a little more saturation - but it also works very well as it is.

Stop: SPs are difficult and you've achieved a good interpretation of the theme (I promise not to mention the t-shirt! - ooops, sorry, I just did ). The composition and dof have worked well and the only suggestion I can make is to make it a little more dramatic by having your hand more tense (and I'm sure this is easier said than done when there's so much else to think about with an sp).

Isolation: Wow that second shot is fantastic. You've suggested a whole story in a single shot. The lighting is perfect and the dark background gives it loads of atmosphere. I'd give the desat version 11/10 on the basis that it adds to the story. imho, this is what the best photography is about - a whole world portrayed in a single shot. You must be really thrilled with this one, John.

Quality: This seems to have been a lousy theme for most of us! Panos are hard to do justice to on TP because they're so small. I agree with Jenny about the foreground, and since I've never tried joining shots like this I can't comment on the joins. It looks like an impossibly difficult thing to do.

However, the strightened version of the second one is lovely. The composition, the people going up the steps and the way modern architecture and traditional are linked by the steps works really well. The shadows from the roof add interest and I think you're being too hard on yourself over this. It's definitely a Quality shot.

Right, I'll try and his Sumit before I loose this again.

Jean

 

[Digitall]

The second straightened shot is better because as the windows are at the front then they are in the eyesight all the time so need to be correct. Good exposure and some human interest on the steps. Nice one.

Allan

 

[jgs001]

Hi John - A major catch up from me. I did actually do a catch up on Monday and somehow lost it before I posted it.

Indulgence Reshoot: Brandy and chocs - yummy! I like the composition with the brandy glass oof in the foreground. I think the chocs could have more prominence - perhaps a slightly higher pov? - and I actually like the warmer tones on the first version.

M13 Hercules - as always, I love your astro shots and am totally in awe of how you do them. 'Drizzling' sounds interesting, and a totally new photographic term for me.

Ingredients: I love the composition, the colours and variety of textures. If I was being very picky I'd ask for a little more saturation - but it also works very well as it is.

Stop: SPs are difficult and you've achieved a good interpretation of the theme (I promise not to mention the t-shirt! - ooops, sorry, I just did ). The composition and dof have worked well and the only suggestion I can make is to make it a little more dramatic by having your hand more tense (and I'm sure this is easier said than done when there's so much else to think about with an sp).

Isolation: Wow that second shot is fantastic. You've suggested a whole story in a single shot. The lighting is perfect and the dark background gives it loads of atmosphere. I'd give the desat version 11/10 on the basis that it adds to the story. imho, this is what the best photography is about - a whole world portrayed in a single shot. You must be really thrilled with this one, John.

Quality: This seems to have been a lousy theme for most of us! Panos are hard to do justice to on TP because they're so small. I agree with Jenny about the foreground, and since I've never tried joining shots like this I can't comment on the joins. It looks like an impossibly difficult thing to do.

However, the strightened version of the second one is lovely. The composition, the people going up the steps and the way modern architecture and traditional are linked by the steps works really well. The shadows from the roof add interest and I think you're being too hard on yourself over this. It's definitely a Quality shot.

Right, I'll try and his Sumit before I loose this again.

Jean

That's some catch up Jean, thanks and thanks for typing it all twice ...

Indulgence... Thanks, a little higher... I can look at that...

M13... Drizzling is a technique, I understand that was developed by Nasa for their image processing, and it was included in the free astro image stacking software I use.

Ingredients... Thanks, I'm sure, if I can find the original again... I can give it more saturation

Stop... I know the T shirt wasn't the best idea.. ... having thought on it, if the Stop was address to kids, then the casual actually works ... Tension in the hand... good idea, I'll hold that one for a reshoot card, I must admit it didn't occur to me, I was busy thinking of all the other bits and trying to get my position right ...

Isolation... wow, thanks Jean, I am very pleased with how it came out, now if only I could manage/work out how to do that in every shot

Quality... horrible theme... really really hard to do, probably the hardest in 18 months and yes, I do include Grunge in that... I'm glad you liked the steps.

The second straightened shot is better because as the windows are at the front then they are in the eyesight all the time so need to be correct. Good exposure and some human interest on the steps. Nice one.

Allan

Thanks very much Allan

 

[dade_f]

nice shadow detail, the straight crop works best and you will start to see it as you know it already

I also liked your 'reaching for skies' isolation shot too, the first dark one, nice concept, something to explore further i think