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

Hiya Mandy

Sorry it's taken me a while to catch up with your catch up :)

Dark: the shoes are well lit for me, perhaps could do with just a touch more lighting actually inside the shoes (this can be achieved sometimes more easily in post by ramping up the shadows a bit, at least selectively with an adjustment brush). I'm less fussed by the background, to be honest: we get terribly hung up on very white or very black and even backgrounds, but we're not shooting commercial quality shots here (no offence, I don't think any of us are, except very very occasionally... yes, @blondie606 I'm looking at you). If you haven't got a smooth background then you can always deliberately "ruffle" it or put them on a pillow or something. One thing I'd like to see is more of the heel - most shoe shots seem to show the shoe more side on... which feels a bit counter-intuitive given we're used to placing things at an angle. Good shot and difficult shooting conditions because of the theme... well done!

Live: well, I'll start with a negative - I'm not massively excited by the subject... but, quickly moving onto the positive (geddit?) it's a well taken photo... all the technicals are good, including lighting a glossy object with metal inside. Not easy. Not sure if you have a bigger light or diffuser but that would help make it pop a bit more by toning down the bright highlights on the metal a touch and helping fill some of the shadows a bit. But it's well done and very definitely on theme :)

Change: well, I think you've done exceptionally well here. I think your enforced break from photography has been good for you because this is a great technical shot. The highlights are there as necessary, the black background is very much that... and the composition is great. Super job, you! (y)
 
Hi Mandy, 3 good images (y) dof and focus in the change image is spot on, looks very well lit too (y)
 
Hi Mandy

Good catchup. In agreement with the above comments ...

the SHOES are well lit but a different BG would be preferable.

the PLUG ... did you stick the pins through holes in the card? it looks like it, what an excellent idea. Nice clean, sharp, shiny with good contrast.

the COINS ... I like, and yes good idea for the CHANGE theme. You can make the most of a good shallow DOF with this kind of images but personally I'd focus on the nearest coin, so your shot might be improved by keeping the same focal point but removing the 10p & 20p in the FG.
 
susiejb said:
Well done Mandy for hanging on in there and fitting it in with your busy life.

I think the shoes lack a bit of impact but as Graham say's black on black can't be easy.

The other two are really good, super clarity on the plug, and I really like the random aspect of the coins ...it's so tempting to 'place' everything, I like he focal point ...a good choice for the theme.
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pjm1 said:
Hiya Mandy

Sorry it's taken me a while to catch up with your catch up :)

Dark: the shoes are well lit for me, perhaps could do with just a touch more lighting actually inside the shoes (this can be achieved sometimes more easily in post by ramping up the shadows a bit, at least selectively with an adjustment brush). I'm less fussed by the background, to be honest: we get terribly hung up on very white or very black and even backgrounds, but we're not shooting commercial quality shots here (no offence, I don't think any of us are, except very very occasionally... yes, @blondie606 I'm looking at you). If you haven't got a smooth background then you can always deliberately "ruffle" it or put them on a pillow or something. One thing I'd like to see is more of the heel - most shoe shots seem to show the shoe more side on... which feels a bit counter-intuitive given we're used to placing things at an angle. Good shot and difficult shooting conditions because of the theme... well done!

Live: well, I'll start with a negative - I'm not massively excited by the subject... but, quickly moving onto the positive (geddit?) it's a well taken photo... all the technicals are good, including lighting a glossy object with metal inside. Not easy. Not sure if you have a bigger light or diffuser but that would help make it pop a bit more by toning down the bright highlights on the metal a touch and helping fill some of the shadows a bit. But it's well done and very definitely on theme :)

Change: well, I think you've done exceptionally well here. I think your enforced break from photography has been good for you because this is a great technical shot. The highlights are there as necessary, the black background is very much that... and the composition is great. Super job, you! (y)
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Phil-D said:
Hi Mandy, 3 good images (y) dof and focus in the change image is spot on, looks very well lit too (y)
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d00d said:
Hi Mandy

Good catchup. In agreement with the above comments ...

the SHOES are well lit but a different BG would be preferable.

the PLUG ... did you stick the pins through holes in the card? it looks like it, what an excellent idea. Nice clean, sharp, shiny with good contrast.

the COINS ... I like, and yes good idea for the CHANGE theme. You can make the most of a good shallow DOF with this kind of images but personally I'd focus on the nearest coin, so your shot might be improved by keeping the same focal point but removing the 10p & 20p in the FG.
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Hi guys thanks for taking the time to look and comment, I have taken on board all your comments.
 
Hi Mandy seem to have missed your last few :thinking: both the coins and the plug work well with excellent Black backgrounds, I am sure you will see it through to the end now
 
Hi, Dark the shoes are a little too, err, dark IYSWIM. They tend to blend into the BG a bit much.

Change, I didn't think I'd like this one, but I rather like the low perspective, DOF and the lighting has been handled well.

Live, on theme, good detail and well composed, but needs something to make it pop.

Good catch up.

Cheers.
 
posiview said:
Hi, Dark the shoes are a little too, err, dark IYSWIM. They tend to blend into the BG a bit much.

Change, I didn't think I'd like this one, but I rather like the low perspective, DOF and the lighting has been handled well.

Live, on theme, good detail and well composed, but needs something to make it pop.

Good catch up.

Cheers.
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Thanks for the comments I do agree with you on all accounts.
 
Hi Mandy,

I really like your Promise shot - the rings are nicely placed and whilst it's dark, it kind of doesn't look dark at the same time.
Live: whilst it isn't an exciting shot, it is well shot. Nice and simple and fits the bill for the theme. I would re-wire it if it was mine though :)
Change: I like the arrangement, POV and that all the change is silver. It works well on the black BG
 
mr.si said:
Hi Mandy,

I really like your Promise shot - the rings are nicely placed and whilst it's dark, it kind of doesn't look dark at the same time.
Live: whilst it isn't an exciting shot, it is well shot. Nice and simple and fits the bill for the theme. I would re-wire it if it was mine though :)
Change: I like the arrangement, POV and that all the change is silver. It works well on the black BG
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Thanks for the comments much appreciated.
 
Hi Mandy :)

Promise - A nice DoF on these rings, first thought it was a tad dark, but looking again I think it's just about right with that nice little shine :)

Dark - Oooo a B&W phase going on I see...The lighting is good, but the background really lets the shot down as there is some nice detail in the sandles...

Good to see you keeping on in here :thumbs:
 
Dark Knight said:
Hi Mandy :)

Promise - A nice DoF on these rings, first thought it was a tad dark, but looking again I think it's just about right with that nice little shine :)

Dark - Oooo a B&W phase going on I see...The lighting is good, but the background really lets the shot down as there is some nice detail in the sandles...

Good to see you keeping on in here (y)
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Thanks for the comments Dean.
 
Hi Mandy
Dark - perhaps a bit too dark to differentiate the shoes from the b/g. Some potential there IMO

Change - simple . good pov and lighting works OK

Live - not a great subject was my first thought, but you have done it justice. Very clear, good detail, mono with splashes of blue, yellow, green and partic like the gold hint on the fuse.
 
HI Mandy

Dark......like the lighting on the Shoe's but less so on the BG...there appears to be a bulge ? Big sheet of black card could be the way to go & cheap as chips from a craft store :) I tried to photograph shoes in either 2012 or 2013 52's & didn't like the result either.....placement being the big bug bear...put shoes in to google images if your struggling for composition (y)

Live....on theme , good black bg & well focused (y)

Change .....silver on black works well but I'm another for seeing the foremost coins in focus......focus stack maybe ?
 
superpippo said:
Hi Mandy
Dark - perhaps a bit too dark to differentiate the shoes from the b/g. Some potential there IMO

Change - simple . good pov and lighting works OK

Live - not a great subject was my first thought, but you have done it justice. Very clear, good detail, mono with splashes of blue, yellow, green and partic like the gold hint on the fuse.
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blondie606 said:
HI Mandy

Dark......like the lighting on the Shoe's but less so on the BG...there appears to be a bulge ? Big sheet of black card could be the way to go & cheap as chips from a craft store :) I tried to photograph shoes in either 2012 or 2013 52's & didn't like the result either.....placement being the big bug bear...put shoes in to google images if your struggling for composition (y)

Live....on theme , good black bg & well focused (y)

Change .....silver on black works well but I'm another for seeing the foremost coins in focus......focus stack maybe ?
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Thanks for the nice comments and the useful feedback all helps.
 
Oh lordy lord it only seems like I start this challenge 5 minutes ago this year has flown by, soon be 2015 challenge and I am looking forward to it. I have a few ideas for my outstanding images which I will be doing over the next couple of days, but for now here is week 41 Balance to be going on with.

week 41 Balance

balance by pinkbikerbabe 1, on Flickr
 
Hi Mandy, certainly shows balance and the ruler is on a good diagonal across the frame (y)
 
Cut - I like the idea and as said by others a dotted line may help

Promise - I like this especially the off centre composition. The lighting suits this mono conversion really well. Nice one.

Dark - Similar approach in a way but I'm afraid I don't feel that this is as successful as the rings. The shine on the background is a little distracting as well.

Live - The whites could easily have been over exposed against the dark background so you've done with the lighting. One from a DIY book

Change - Good DoF and a roughly diagonal composition work well. I like this surface you are using for a few of these. What is it?

Balance - Sharp where it needs to be and a nice complimentary coloured background
 
Delta Skies said:
Cut - I like the idea and as said by others a dotted line may help

Promise - I like this especially the off centre composition. The lighting suits this mono conversion really well. Nice one.

Dark - Similar approach in a way but I'm afraid I don't feel that this is as successful as the rings. The shine on the background is a little distracting as well.

Live - The whites could easily have been over exposed against the dark background so you've done with the lighting. One from a DIY book

Change - Good DoF and a roughly diagonal composition work well. I like this surface you are using for a few of these. What is it?

Balance - Sharp where it needs to be and a nice complimentary coloured background
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Thanks so much for the detailed catch up, the surface used for the change shot was just a simple piece of A4 coloured paper from wh smiths.
 
Pinkbikerbabe said:
Thank you for the comments I do agree the shadows are a bit distracting.
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With that background they would clone out very easily, even with freehand spot removal in Lightroom, only a 2 minute job I would have thought :)
 
Hi Mandy, good composition, like the dof (y) ......:thinking:....not a big fan of the bg colour and I did notice the shadow too. As mentioned by DK, it should be quite easy to clone out :)
 
Time is catching up on me will be Xmas before I know where I am, I must say sorry that this is an archive image. I am still on a catch up with my images but another image now bites the dust, week 47 Attached I have chosen an old image of my beloved motorbike as I am deeply attached to it, It is a shame it is an old image as sadly my bike is somewhat filthy from using it to go to and from work and did not want to post an image of a filthy bike. The crit i would give myself would be a better background but i cant do much with how the outside of where i live is.

attached by pinkbikerbabe 1, on Flickr
 
Hi Mandy, .......wow and I thought my bike was shiny! :D

You've done your own crit on composition :) Detail, colour, exposure, all look great (y) love the reflections of the (what looks like) UPVC windows in the shape of the tank (y)
 
Hi Mandy... as Phil says, that's super shiny!! I think you've handled the natural light reflections really well on the metal. The only thing which jumps out very slightly is the bigger band of direct reflection from the windshield. Very difficult to remove that, other than finding a friend who could hold up a big panel or card to block the sun from striking it (aka a "Gobo" in technical parlance)... may require a stepladder! I really like the lighting on the front forks and exhaust, which show off the shape wonderfully.

Processing is quite heavy on the clarity, but I'm assuming that's the look you were after... it certainly makes the detail jump out. With the background, a simple change could be to move the bike a few yards to the right and stand on a box. That should mean you have grass in the background which would work better for me than the building?

Good shot: nice and crisp.
 
Hi Mandy, big push to get to the end now. :)

Little point in critiquing the motorbike shot as it was taken 6 months ago and you've learned and practiced plenty since then.

Do you have an image in your mind of your bike in the same super clean condition, but at a slightly different angle / point of view and in a different location?

I'm sure that realising that and getting it printed large up on a wall would make you smile each time you saw it. :)
 
pjm1 said:
Hi Mandy... as Phil says, that's super shiny!! I think you've handled the natural light reflections really well on the metal. The only thing which jumps out very slightly is the bigger band of direct reflection from the windshield. Very difficult to remove that, other than finding a friend who could hold up a big panel or card to block the sun from striking it (aka a "Gobo" in technical parlance)... may require a stepladder! I really like the lighting on the front forks and exhaust, which show off the shape wonderfully.

Processing is quite heavy on the clarity, but I'm assuming that's the look you were after... it certainly makes the detail jump out. With the background, a simple change could be to move the bike a few yards to the right and stand on a box. That should mean you have grass in the background which would work better for me than the building?

Good shot: nice and crisp.
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Thanks very much for the comments, I spend a lot of time cleaning my bike only the best products get used.
 
overbez said:
Hi Mandy, big push to get to the end now. :)

Little point in critiquing the motorbike shot as it was taken 6 months ago and you've learned and practiced plenty since then.

Do you have an image in your mind of your bike in the same super clean condition, but at a slightly different angle / point of view and in a different location?

I'm sure that realising that and getting it printed large up on a wall would make you smile each time you saw it. :)
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Thanks for stopping by and looking the image was a HDR image that archive shot. And I do have an idea in mind and a location to get a decent image of my bike. But it's having the dry weather and the time off work to do it.
 
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