weekly Mandy's first 52 challenge 2014 week 52 added and all finished now

Dream: I like it Mandy but I wonder if it would have looked even stronger with less DOF still? Maybe f/1.8 at 50mm or even a telephoto at f/2.8? Not sure how far back the background bush is but I think blurrier would make the statue pop and suit the theme even more.

I do like it though! Great take on the theme...

Thanks for the comments, it was shot with a telephoto lens and the little chap is sat on top off a gate pillar at the entrance to a house. I was stood way below it and had a 5ft plus wall in my way, so I had to handhold the camera at an odd angle to get the shot. I was about a metre and a half away from the subject and the bushes behind were fairly set back from the statue.
 
Wild works really well. Super detail and. I've low POV. BG has been mentioned and really posed out at me.

Dreamy, is a wonderful state and the cloning job works well. I think this would suit a nice B&w conversion.

Cheers.
 
Wild works really well. Super detail and. I've low POV. BG has been mentioned and really posed out at me.

Dreamy, is a wonderful state and the cloning job works well. I think this would suit a nice B&w conversion.

Cheers.

Hi Mandy,
some good cloning there well done lovely image a real dreamy looking little chap (y)

Thanks for the comments and for taking the time to look much appreciated.
 
Reshoot - Loving the detail and the feeling of texture in the rose. The mono approach has really worked with this one

Strong - You've certainly captured the metallic surface nicely without lots of blown highlights. Just a bit of shadow at the bottom which could quickly be pp'd.

Texture - I mentioned a crowbar but I guess the texture is there on the rock. Nice image of the seagull though. The white of its chest has been handled well

Wild - I definitely like this. Throwing the background with just the right amount of oof works really well as does the positioning of the main subject. Again the whites have been captured nicely as you can see some detail in there.

Dream - The edit works much better although it looks slightly oof to me
 
Reshoot - Loving the detail and the feeling of texture in the rose. The mono approach has really worked with this one

Strong - You've certainly captured the metallic surface nicely without lots of blown highlights. Just a bit of shadow at the bottom which could quickly be pp'd.

Texture - I mentioned a crowbar but I guess the texture is there on the rock. Nice image of the seagull though. The white of its chest has been handled well

Wild - I definitely like this. Throwing the background with just the right amount of oof works really well as does the positioning of the main subject. Again the whites have been captured nicely as you can see some detail in there.

Dream - The edit works much better although it looks slightly oof to me

Thank you very much for your detailed comments, very much appreciated and needed.
 
No problem Mandy. Is it me or has the amount of feedback everyone is getting dropped dramatically?

No it's not just you, I have noticed the amount and quality off feedback and crit has dropped. I am guilty of speedy comments myself as I have been to busy with things, but I plan to get back on track this week. Now that my life has calmed down a bit, we all need the comments and crit it's how we learn an improve after all.
 
I've had a couple of months worth of images to catch up on over the last few weeks so in the majority of cases I'm afraid I've only been able to contribute one liners.

You're absolutely right about the need for comments to improve. That's exactly why I moved away from the POTY competition. Graham (@overbez) gave some superb commentary on my bulrush image which has really made me stop and think. Essentially he has made me realise that I should give myself permission to break the rules and not go for the obvious rule of thirds, etc. type shots. Comments like that is exactly what I'm here for.
 
HI Mandy

Dreamy expression for sure so on theme .Whilst I I like the cleaner edited version with bits cloned out I feel it's gone a bit too dark....some where between the sooc & edited version would work better I think . Good DOF & nicely placed in the frame being just slightly off centre (y)
 
HI Mandy

Dreamy expression for sure so on theme .Whilst I I like the cleaner edited version with bits cloned out I feel it's gone a bit too dark....some where between the sooc & edited version would work better I think . Good DOF & nicely placed in the frame being just slightly off centre (y)

Thanks so much for the comments much appreciated.
 
Hi Mandy .... Well done for spotting that dreamy little fellow. I do agree with Lynne that maybe somewhere between the two would be just right, but an excellent choice for the theme.

Thanks very much for the comments much appreciated and i am inclined to agree, with you both that maybe i could tweak it a little bit.
 
Hi Mandy, have to agree in between would be way forward with the PP, sorry sure you are bored of hearing that
 
hi Mandy
Texture - idea is ok by me and it is a smashing picture of the gull - very realistic colour. Good dof and nice texture in the foreground.
Wild - can't add anything to what has already been said
Dream - well I am gong to go against the trend and say that the SOOC is superior. I think that the colours are far more natural and the comp is better. The boy has a dreamy look, whistling away, hands in pockets. The slight lean of the statue helps that impression and the seed heads of the grasses adds to the bucolic feel. Well spotted and linked to the theme.
 
Hey Mandy :)

Dream/Dreamy - Thanks for posting your SOOC image too, it helps show your PP off nicely, you have cloned out the stray grass, made the colours much punchier, and straightened it, works fine for me (y)

hi Mandy
Texture - idea is ok by me and it is a smashing picture of the gull - very realistic colour. Good dof and nice texture in the foreground.
Wild - can't add anything to what has already been said
Dream - well I am gong to go against the trend and say that the SOOC is superior. I think that the colours are far more natural and the comp is better. The boy has a dreamy look, whistling away, hands in pockets. The slight lean of the statue helps that impression and the seed heads of the grasses adds to the bucolic feel. Well spotted and linked to the theme.

Thanks very much for the comments guys :)
 
Hi Mandy... I like the central composition on vertical - I think it works with such a symmetrical subject. The rest of the scene is quite busy - especially the group of people on the left... perhaps a slightly different angle, perhaps corner-on?

Nicely exposed with good focus. Would a shallower DOF have helped reduce the busy-ness behind? I like the clouds behind, so maybe a shallower DOF wouldn't have been so good, after all.
 
Hi Mandy,
As Paul says the central composition works well for this subject, its nicely lit, I'm afraid you will always have people around in a place like Bourton so no problems in that for me lovely clouds too(y)
 
Hi Mandy... I like the central composition on vertical - I think it works with such a symmetrical subject. The rest of the scene is quite busy - especially the group of people on the left... perhaps a slightly different angle, perhaps corner-on?

Nicely exposed with good focus. Would a shallower DOF have helped reduce the busy-ness behind? I like the clouds behind, so maybe a shallower DOF wouldn't have been so good, after all.

Hi Mandy,
As Paul says the central composition works well for this subject, its nicely lit, I'm afraid you will always have people around in a place like Bourton so no problems in that for me lovely clouds too(y)

Thanks very much for your comments much appreciated, and yes it was hard to get a shot without people In it.
 
Yeah, blooming people. If you have time and a 10 stop filter, or similar, try a long exposure to get rid of the people. On theme and well composed. I might have gotten a bit closer.

Cheers.
 
Yeah, blooming people. If you have time and a 10 stop filter, or similar, try a long exposure to get rid of the people. On theme and well composed. I might have gotten a bit closer.

Cheers.

Thanks for the comments much appreciated, a long exposure is something I have wanted to try but haven't got the first idea how to do it. I only have a variable nd filter but it doesn't fit my kit lens.
 
Thanks for the comments much appreciated, a long exposure is something I have wanted to try but haven't got the first idea how to do it. I only have a variable nd filter but it doesn't fit my kit lens.

To practice not get a cheap one. What filter size do you need? I may have some knocking around.

Cheers.
 
HI Mandy

Dreamy - wonderful find but I find the original image so much better it got more of a natural dreamy feel to it if that makes any sense

Vertical - composition works really well the people are not a bad thing they add a sense of reality to the image there are always people wandering in our way lol
 
HI Mandy

Dreamy - wonderful find but I find the original image so much better it got more of a natural dreamy feel to it if that makes any sense

Vertical - composition works really well the people are not a bad thing they add a sense of reality to the image there are always people wandering in our way lol

Thanks for the comments
 
Hey Mandy :)

Vertical - I shadow the other comments, love the clouds and sky, for me I would have got in closer, low point of view looking up so the bs=ase low down and the monument stretchng up into the sky... Perfect object for the theme and well exposed/well lit showing plenty of detail :)
 
Hi Mandy
Vertical - like the central comp and the crop - maybe a bit closer would have removed some of the b/g :thinking:

Hey Mandy :)

Vertical - I shadow the other comments, love the clouds and sky, for me I would have got in closer, low point of view looking up so the bs=ase low down and the monument stretchng up into the sky... Perfect object for the theme and well exposed/well lit showing plenty of detail :)

Thanks very much for the comments.
 
Week 26 Theme Yum, my idea for this is a image off a nice yummy choc chic muffin with a glass off some yummy apple juice. Sadly this is a post and be damned shot as i really struggled for a interesting background and i have had very little time this week for one reason or another but at least it keeps me up to date.

Yum

Yum by pinkbikerbabe 1, on Flickr

Week 27 and the theme Loud i struggled with this theme couldn't find any inspiration at all for this theme, in the end i have settled on a shot of one off my satellite speakers that form my computers surround sound system. And when i am listening to my music when editing my photos they are very " Loud " .

Loud

Loud by pinkbikerbabe 1, on Flickr
 
Hmmm, sensing your lack of inspiration here Mandy,

Yummy, can;t argue it would be yummy, lighting is nice and soft, but the slight tilt of the tile / worktop line stands out, as well as the not full glass.... I'm also expecting it to be cider rather than apple juice and therefore have some fizz in it.

Loud Is a nice B&W conversion, the slight turn to the speaker rather than face on works well, not sure it says loud due to the small size, but can see you have the volume knob right round to maximum, which is the little touch that often makes the difference.
 
Sometimes its just hard to think of something that will stand out. I would prefer a much tighter crop on the muffin and glass, and some condensation on the glass would make all the difference.

I still dont know what im doing for mine seems to take me ages to come up with ideas then all of a sudden i do about 4 weeks worth at once.
 
Hmmm, sensing your lack of inspiration here Mandy,

Yummy, can;t argue it would be yummy, lighting is nice and soft, but the slight tilt of the tile / worktop line stands out, as well as the not full glass.... I'm also expecting it to be cider rather than apple juice and therefore have some fizz in it.

Loud Is a nice B&W conversion, the slight turn to the speaker rather than face on works well, not sure it says loud due to the small size, but can see you have the volume knob right round to maximum, which is the little touch that often makes the difference.
:agree: but as you said keeps you upto date on what have been some tough themes :)
 
YUM and LOUD

Hi Mandy....I have to agree with Grahams comments above. Yum pic seems a bit pale and washed out and the poor squished muffin doesnt scream YUMMY out loud either.
Loud is a stonger effort with the directional lighting nicely placed to show off the speaker.

Like you say... you're up to date and still in it.....and I'm glad you are (y)
 
Yeah toughies this week... I'm struggling with your Yum because of the line cutting across the glass. The same shot with a lower POV and an interesting background (summer day sky?) would be great!

Nice conversion for Loud but it's not grabbing TBH. The cable, the arm of the sofa, it's a bit distracting.

PABD as other have said - we all have those weeks! The shots are technically decent though - it's really just the composition that lacks punch. Onto next week!
 
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