markelliot's 52. W44 Pair. Re Edited! W45 Safety Added... W38 Fun Added!

This was a bit of a simple idea this week as I know i'm struggling to keep up time wise. I spent ages trying to get in the right position so as after I PP'd the pic with the distortion function in canons DPP I'd get a perfect rectangle... but it was not to be... but just realised the chopping boards have a slight taper on them... so that was a bit of a waste of ten mins of my life! Lesson... sometimes you should look at the subject with your own eyes first not through the viewfinder!

Sorry again i've not been commenting on others work. I'm going to catch up with that tomorrow at work. I've got one of those shifts where I need to be in to supervise... but don't actually do anything myself bar be there!

So here is WEEK 19- Divided!

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Hi Mark

great idea for DIVIDED & well shot . Love the contrast in colors & how you've set out the apples :clap:
The only minor niggles for me are....think a plain , possibly white , background would have made it stand out a little more & that in turn may have helped to avoid the slight light flare top righthand side ?

Great shot none the less :clap:
 
Great divided shot Mark. I think that the shot could look even better without the apple seed on the bottom right quarter. Would also be nice if the shadow from the half stayed on the chopping board. Sounds like I'm giving a lot of negatives on this but it's because I like it that I spent a bit longer looking at it. Really well done.
 
Like it and I'd agree, it would have worked well with just the top apple.

Plain background and perhaps clone out the top left protruding bit...to give it more symmetry.

Cheers and nice one for getting it in on time...
 
Hiya Mark,

I really like your take on the theme for Divided. However I think with some adjustments it would make a fantastic picture.

Hope you don't mind (notice you have Edit ticked), so thought I would share my ideas with you about how I see this photo:

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[/url] Mark Elliot-1 by crystal_singer (drodd), on Flickr[/IMG]

This is the first idea that came to mind, and isn't a rush decision to post same. Once I finished the edit, I poured a glass of wine, went into the garden with my camera, took some fab shots, came back inside and looked at the photo again .... and yes it was just as I see it.

The main thing I did was crop the photo to eliminate the wood, IMO I think the knife and scratch marks on the board speak for themselves as to what the surface is. I sharpened the image to bring out more detail of the scratches and apple (also removed the apple seed .... I agree with Colin).

Finally, I know many don't like borders, but I thought here it would add some depth to the image, almost like a box frame (with the slight shadow internal shadow setting it apart).

This has a lot of potential and I can see something like this on the wall of a kitchen or diner. It has a fresh feel to it and is very much an action, yet still life shot, I think you have done an exceptional job with the idea :clap:

Like I said, hope you don't mind me doing the edit, if you want me to remove it, just say.

As you said, sometimes you have to look with your own eyes first, not through the viewfinder; similarly sometimes it helps to have someone see your idea through their own eyes too.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
I really like this shot. Very clean, sharp and the scratches on the chopping board is a great contrast.

Also, the border added to the photo in the above edit works even better. The colour of it works really well, mainly due to the darkness of the edge of the board after cropping.
 
glass staircases are scary if you ask me, and thats a great capture

NY must be a fab place to visit with a camera, no end of opportunities
 
Argh... my work internet is rubbish... just done a big long multiquate reply to everyone who has comented and when I hit send it crashed and disapeared!!!! Argh...

But in short... thanks for the coments... I'm going to re PP soon. The crop is def better along with the sharpening! Im not sure on the border... The apple seed was a schoolboy error... really anoyed I missed it in set up. Again I need to look more at the subject before jumping in with the camera.

now gonna try and catch up with you lot... THANKYOU!!!!!!
 
Hi all!

Really trying to find the time to comment on you lots photos as well but proving tricky! I will fit them in as much as I can...

Firstly today I have recroped and PP'd my week 19 shot... hope this is an improvement... I prefer it!

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Week 20 - Promise

As a scoutleader this one was a bit easy for me... I took this photo in January this year so it can be included in my 52 (My rule is as long as the photo was taken this year it can be used). It is Explorer scouts taking their promise to join the unit at the top of Blackford Hill in Edinburgh on a cold, wet January night. We use the hill a lot as its so close to the hall and adds something a bit different to the investiture experience rather than just in at the scout hall! I realise its technically not the greatest... but it fits the theme perfectly! Again I cant do anything about the redeye in canon's DPP... maybe need to think about using photoshop for stuff like that... maybe?!?!

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The new version of divided looks better but how the heck did you move the light source in PP? Can't see the Promise shot yet but will pop back later
 
Guys... I'm not sure why promise is not working for you... It's on my screen no prob at all!

I didn't move the light source but used a different version of the original pic which I thought gave better shadows. My PP skills are very basic but I prefer to keep it that way as I prefer to spend my time behind the camera than at the keyboard!

Hope the Promise pic is working now for you guys as I see it no probs
 
Hiya Mark,

I can see what you have done to your retake of the week 19 shot, but IMO still prefer my edit. There is still something missing on your crop/edit. Please don't take that personally, it is merely an observation on my part.

Moving on ... and I realise you are having technical diffs, but that pic that Andy posted .... fab .... so are you the one oozing enthusiasm at taking the oath? :lol:

I shouldn't laff at that ...... I have a pic of me doing the same ..... but it was that long ago .... well before digital cameral (or formating to CD) ... so it would require me scanning said pic (which I think I have already done) ...... going to look now.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Ok... ok... I think I have sorted it all now... It should be working now in my post... but the pic andy posted was the pic yes!

Dawn... I'm not in the photo at all! I'm 32! this was a lot of explorer scouts that took their promise this January... I took the picture!

I may rework the divided shot again... I think I prefer the shadow detail in the first picture I used... I PP'd the wrong one earlier today... then thought it looked better but im not so sure now... may play again when I have more time!

Hope you can all see my promise shot now....

Thanks for the interest in my 52!

Mark
 
Hi Mark, nice shot for "Promise" - it couldn't fit the theme better. Nice composition and framing - I love the way they are arranged in the frame. Great expressions you have caught.

I would be tempted to edit out the red eyes.

Do you have a flash you can get off the camera? That would make a big difference to this type of shot.

Great shot :thumbs:
 
The promise shot is appearing fine now and is bang on for theme.The composition gives a great atmosphere and feeling of the great (cold) outdoors. Shame about the red-eye which I reckon you could fix quickly in one of the online programmes such as picnik. Nice shot though
 
I've not had the best day today photography wise... I have been waiting for over two months now to shoot the finished theme... My idea was to go to the Finish line of the Edinburgh Marathon and take a picture of someone elated as they crossed the line. Unfortunately the stewards, police etc had completely cordoned off the whole finish area and you could not get near it to take a pic...Although it took me an hours walk round and about to sus this... I got a few great shots of the runners later in the day though... and hopefully a theme will come up soon that i'll be able to use them... So its back to the drawing board with finish.

Not to be downhearted I thought i'd shoot the first idea that came into my head for twisted as I dont have much time this week... It was a bit of a quickie and not much thought went into it... very quick set up on the tripod... no lighting bar the strip light in the garage... but im actually very happy with the picture! Quite simply a screw is twisted!

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Hiya Mark,

The DOF works well, as does the b&w conversion. My eyes are distracted by the dark OOF thing on the left and bit of black on the top right.

Other than that not a bad take for the theme.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
drodd said:
Hiya Mark,

The DOF works well, as does the b&w conversion. My eyes are distracted by the dark OOF thing on the left and bit of black on the top right.

Other than that not a bad take for the theme.

Cheers

Dawn :)
Click to expand...

The objects in the back are immovable objects... one being the garage door... I thought about using a background... but preferred the workshop look to the background rather than just a flat background. I know what you mean about them being annoying... but the more I look the less I notice them I think... and happy they are not over detrimental to the image.

thanks for your continued interest in my 52!

M


TinaC said:
Twisted, not kidding you were short of time, that screw is about to go in crooked!

Good take on the theme, nice use of dof and I rather like the rough lighting as it suits the timber etc :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Hi Tina

I thought someone would say something about that... I have no excuse... I'm not sure if it makes a huge dif to the pic though... not enough to do a retake at this stage anyway based on the outstanding weeks i've got to catch up with first!

Mark

Mentalblock said:
I like the shot Mark - The simple lighting and DOF has worked well.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

Mark
 
For a "quickie" it has turned out extremely well. I'm not distracted by the background but think if the screwdriver didn't show the name on it I would be less drawn to it rather than the screw.
 
My initial responces have been covered by others.

One thought, did you tray and see if you could use a slower shutter speed to get some motion blur?

Cheers.
 
posiview said:
My initial responces have been covered by others.

One thought, did you tray and see if you could use a slower shutter speed to get some motion blur?

Cheers.
Click to expand...

I actually did... the problem was the screw was so tight in the hole that without using your other hand the hold the wood steady then the wood moved too when you screwed and the picture just looked a disaster. I had the same problem with my hard themed pic when I dropped the brick on the hard hat... I wanted the hat to ideally not move and be pin sharp in the shot... the problem was when you drop a brick on anything it moves! Unless i'd screwed the wood to my workbench first which I wasn't going to do... as I just built it a month ago... and whilst I know its for work... screwing stuff into it is a bit much.

Barrysprout said:
For a "quickie" it has turned out extremely well. I'm not distracted by the background but think if the screwdriver didn't show the name on it I would be less drawn to it rather than the screw.
Click to expand...

I think part of the problem is the black philips head on the screwdriver its self too. I tried it with a longer screwdriver that didn't have the black head but it looked rubbish as you never got the hand in the shot just the stem. I sort of am in two minds about the name... I sorta think in a way it adds to the shot... but like you say focuses you more on the screwdriver... which is the thing being used to twist... so maybe its no bad thing!

M
 
Hi all

My 1st attempt for my shot of Hidden. I think I will stick with this shot ethos but I feel it my need a reshoot later in the week after some constructive crit from you guys.

Firstly I thought of the places you could hide... the obvious one that sprung to mind for me was under the bed... I remember it being a fav of mine as a kid playing hide and seek.

I deliberately used my nifty 50 as I wanted the shot to look as if what the human eye would see if under the bed. Its me in the shot as I set my camera up on timer under the bed.

So here it is... Hidden... Crit on this one needed as i'm not sure the shot is quite right. I think it might look better with the blanket box removed... but maybe not as the room door may create more annoyance in the shot.

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oh and defo decided my twister shot needs reshot with a straight screw and the plug on the left removed... but i've decided I like the brand name showing.

M
 
First thing I thought was 'I wonder what it would look like if he took the photograph while stood at the end of the bed so the slats lead the eye to the feet?".

It's well composed and the blanket box does frame your feet but I'd like to see it without...

Also, it looks very bright under/behind the box...??

Cheers.
 
After looking at my pic again based on ** comments i think the blanket box is best left in... With white walls and a white door the background would be too bright
 
Good take on the theme for hidden.
OK, comments. The right half of the picture is dead, with nothing of interest there. The top third is dead. Try a really tight crop, from just right of the centre post and from where the slats start.
Also, the feet are pointing out of shot, you naturally follow the way they point, and this leads you out of the shot.
I'm not keen on the lighting; the bg is a little over exposed compared to the subject, which is a little under exposed. If you can, try some bold lighting, from behind the feet, so they throw a long shadow under the bed.
If you’re going for atmosphere, bold lighting and maybe B&W conversion would really help.

Overall, I love the theme, and I know there would have been little light under the bed making exposure difficult, I think you have some more mileage in a reshoot.

Rgds


Adie
 
What Adie has said has got me thinking.
The feet would look more natural if they were pointing in to the bed, ie you're facing the bed rather than standing side on.

I don't agree with th crop suggestion. The space has no interesting point, but without it you loose the feeling of being under a bed.

As for lighting, could you use the bedroom door and maybe have it slightly open with the light source being out side of the room? It may help give a moody fel to the picture, cast a shadow (as Adie suggests) and help frame the feet. I also wonder if the blanket box could be replaced with a duvet hanging down the side of the bed?

It's a nice idea though and I like the potential.
 
Hi Adie

Thanks for your comments... I'm not sure about a tighter crop as I feel in a way it would take away from the feild of vission im trying to create... i.e the photo being what whoever sees from under the bed.

The lighting... now you have hit my nemisis in photography the creation of artificial lighting. I dont even own a flash! I've always up to this year really only shot outdoors and travel type photography... so I guess im asking... how would I create the dramatic lighting... I have all maner of lorches and lamps in the house but no real educated idea on how to go about it. I think if I shoot the picture during the day rather than when its dark with the room light on that will get rid of the very bright background.

As for the feet I may move the blanket box accross a little to create more room for the feet and have them pointing more under the bed. How does that sound.

I may change my atire too... shoes and trousers might look better... mind you the trackies and slippers is maybe more natural?


Oh... Andy... can you explain what you meant by taking it from the end of the bed... do you mean move the camera further back to the other end of the bed rather than halfway along?
Mark
 
markelliot said:
Hi Adie

Thanks for your comments... I'm not sure about a tighter crop as I feel in a way it would take away from the feild of vission im trying to create... i.e the photo being what whoever sees from under the bed.

The lighting... now you have hit my nemisis in photography the creation of artificial lighting. I dont even own a flash! I've always up to this year really only shot outdoors and travel type photography... so I guess im asking... how would I create the dramatic lighting... I have all maner of lorches and lamps in the house but no real educated idea on how to go about it. I think if I shoot the picture during the day rather than when its dark with the room light on that will get rid of the very bright background.

As for the feet I may move the blanket box accross a little to create more room for the feet and have them pointing more under the bed. How does that sound.

I may change my atire too... shoes and trousers might look better... mind you the trackies and slippers is maybe more natural?


Oh... Andy... can you explain what you meant by taking it from the end of the bed... do you mean move the camera further back to the other end of the bed rather than halfway along?
Mark
Click to expand...

A tighter crop will balance the shot better IMHO...

updated.jpg


As for lighting, have a look at my guide and workflow thread...

There are many options, but the lighting will make or break the shot.

Try a Halogen garage lamp from a well known automotive chain store (About £15) or invest in a flash gun. Or use flags and gobos to modify the natural light a little.

Rgds

Adie
 
Hey Neil!

I like the duvet addition for the left hand side of the bed... but I think the duvet lying down at the bottom would be odd as it wouldn't normally... to cast a shadow under the bed the light would have to be in the shot almost would it not??? I guess no... up behind out of shot would do... I'll have more time on Sat now to play!
 
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