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

Mentalblock said:
I don't like the crop, we cannot tell that it's a bed.
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True, but that was not my intent. I was trying to show how the crop balances the photo better, with all the dead space removed, and with the feet now pointing into the shot and not out. How the legs and bed post act on the third lines, and how the top wooden strut acts as a natural frame.

To show it is a bed, and get a better balanced shot would take a reshoot, not just a crop. :)

As I said, just my opinion, and not law. :)
 
Hey Adie

Thanks for your crop version... I'm the same as Neil though... its takes away from the final shot I have in my mind and the feeling of hidden and becomes more a theme of just feet! In a way if I can explain the feet are only part of the image... they are not the image... they are there to suggest the hidden part... otherwise im not sure the shot would suggest hidden so much... I tryed a shot with my head in it looking under the bed but didn't like it so much... that would have maybe been better for a found theme. Also keeping my head steady for the 3 sec exposure was harder than my feet!
 
No probs, as I said, I wasn't trying to save the shot, just highlight the composition a tighter crop gives, over the huge expanses of dead space.

Rgds


Adie
 
Hiya Mark,

I like your photo for hidden ..... it gives a real feel of someone hidden under the bed (and in a strange way make it feel like I am the one hiding).

I've been back and forth to this photo since you posted, trying to find something constructive to say .... especially as you asked. I have read all the comments made, many of which I don't agree with ... apart from the light under the bedding box, which I do feel is a tad strong ... but then again putting it into context I think it works .... i.e., I gather the strong light is filtering in from the open door (hidden by the box). Maybe if the door was slightly ajar reducing the amount of light would help :shrug:

I have to say I prefer your original take rather than the crop as it puts the whole hidden feel into perspective.

What amazes me the most is how the heck did you set the camera up under the bed, on timer, and still get the focus right???? :thinking:

Not to mention .... how do you not have stuff under the bed .... ? All the beds in my house have all sorts of things under them (call it storage space :D)

BTW nice slippers :p

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Hi dawn

Thanks for your feedback. The door was shut behind the blanket box... The light behind the box was just from my room light. Im not actually sure why it got so bright there compaired to the rest of the room. Ill play with the lighting when i reshoot.

My set up was simple. Mini tripod under the bed. Hotshoe spirit level to get camera level. Camera on 12 sec timer but also use cable release... The focus is simple... Put camera on manual focus, get a tape measure out and my dof tables i made up... Every landscape togger should have them in their bag to ensure foreground interest is caught... Then measure the distance from the camera to the bed post... Check the dof table and then set the required apature with the camera on av mode. Focus to that distance using the window on the top of the lens... Then shoot away! Simple! I shoot most landscapes this way... Not with the tape all the time... But knowing your dof distances is a must
 
markelliot said:
Hi dawn

Thanks for your feedback. The door was shut behind the blanket box... The light behind the box was just from my room light. Im not actually sure why it got so bright there compaired to the rest of the room. Ill play with the lighting when i reshoot.

My set up was simple. Mini tripod under the bed. Hotshoe spirit level to get camera level. Camera on 12 sec timer but also use cable release... The focus is simple... Put camera on manual focus, get a tape measure out and my dof tables i made up... Every landscape togger should have them in their bag to ensure foreground interest is caught... Then measure the distance from the camera to the bed post... Check the dof table and then set the required apature with the camera on av mode. Focus to that distance using the window on the top of the lens... Then shoot away! Simple! I shoot most landscapes this way... Not with the tape all the time... But knowing your dof distances is a must
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Hiya Mark,

Thank you .... that all sounds very technical ...something I still need to learn and put into practice.

The weather here tonight is brilliant ... and as I live right in front of a woodland .... I have been contemplating going into the woods with my camera and tripod to try a different approach to hidden ;)

Have you got any advice ... you would have to be quick with reply as I don't have much time to play with the light left.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Interesting idea for the shot Mark. Don't think I can add anything constructive to what has been said already. Adie's crop edit does make a much better balanced picture, but as you have said you can't tell it's from under the bed and therefore doesn't fit the theme so well.
Andy's initial comment regarding using the slats to lead to the feet I think would work well. Perhaps with the feet pointing into shot and a hand lifting a draped duvet. Of course that will give further problems with exposure but worth investigating.
 
No leave it... its fine... thanks for the edit... I like the B and W conversion. I'm going to try and fit in a reshoot over the weekend if I get time but it's steadily filling with stuff to do... and just had an email from ebay saying its free listing weekend... and I do have some stuff to sell which I was going to leave till next weekend but i'd be daft to miss free listing... and im concious i've another reshoot of hard I want to do and still got a few weeks outstanding. I almost need to free up a few days just to devote to my 52. Although looking at holidays with work etc... that might not be until september now!
 
Do you have any doc martins or heavy work boots?

Thinking you could change the feel of the pic as though someone is hiding under the bed because of a "threat"... Possibly a full length leather duster/coat.

Possibly change the angle to the left more and if possible go wider?

Might not work. As to light spillage, all lights off in the room, hallway or room further down light on and a torch (perhaps) under the bed.


Good idea tho - and you've got loads of comments/interest going on :) thought provoking
 
Hi Mark

Love your take on Twisted , nice simple idea & well executed with the B&W suiting it well :clap:

I really can't add anything to whats already been said about your Hidden shot , like your original version & the B&W version . Look forward to seeing your reshoot...if you ever find time :thumbs:
 
Sorry I'm late commenting on the "hidden" theme.

I like this image, but I feel there's a great shot trying to get out. Really good idea, but needs something to give more interest. Maybe more dramtic lighting?
 
Here is my week 21 reshoot taking account of peoples comments. Week 22 Reshoot will be tomorrow night depending on me getting to the DIY store to buy a work light and still thinking about this week! Dont just want to do a simple broken thing photo... Want to do something a bit deeper!

Hope you all think this is better! I do!

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markelliot said:
Here is my week 21 reshoot taking account of peoples comments. Week 22 Reshoot will be tomorrow night depending on me getting to the DIY store to buy a work light and still thinking about this week! Dont just want to do a simple broken thing photo... Want to do something a bit deeper!

Hope you all think this is better! I do!

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Click to expand...

Absolutely :thumbs:
 
Hiya Mark,

Well done on the re-shoot for week 21 :clap:

A much better photo with the focus being on the subject and no distractions. Great DOF and this time the screw is going in straight :D

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Great reshoot Mark. Don't think you have missed anything to improve. Very well done. And looking at it now without the other minor distractions you were indeed right to keep the name on the screwdriver, you win. :thumbs:
 
Week 23- Broken

Used a neat we program app on my imac called collage creator to do the three photo thing... like many others with broken I stepped out my comfort zone with this trio of self portraits and also the collage image thing is not my usual photography ethos as im a one pic kinda guy... but I thought the three pics told a better story than just a single one. My fake tears of splashing water on my eyes are a bit suspect but overall im happy with the final pictures and the overall image! And yes i'm expecting pelters for this one as its the sort of image making rather than photograph i'm not normally a huge fan of!!!

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That's quite effective Mark, the black and white processing works well and adds to the emotion of the shot. I think I would like to see your full face in view on number 2 and a little more of your hand on number 1 in your sequence. All in all though a very good effort, and well done as it was not in your comfort zone. :thumbs:
 
I recognize that face!! you're Mark Elliot from Edinburgh!
I somewhat agree with Michael about the second image, something is not quite right about it when compared with the other two. I think if your head was angled down more and slightly more out of frame you could then swap 2 and 3. I could be completely wrong though.
Great set of images and they do tell a story, b&w suits the set very well. Well done on stepping out of your comfort zone.
 
Well, there have been quite a few self portraits recently.

Very powerful. I'd refer #1 alone. Slightly wide and slightly different composition. Perhaps something to diffuse the light falling on your head.

Overall, massive :thumbs: for tackling this in such an impactful way.

Cheers.
 
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Hi ya Mark

glad to see you decided to go for the self portrait & really like what you've done:clap:

from a personal view point shots 1 & 2 are the best , as someone else said they would be slightly better if both full face shots & I think they'd work well together ( without the 3rd image) .I'm also curious to see the 3 images but in reverse order ( just to be awkward !)

Big up to you for stepping away from your comfort zone ( both in the self portrait & processing ) , you've done a cracking job & should be well pleased :clap::clap:
 
Hiya Mark,

First of all .... I'm away camping at the mo so viewing this on my netbook screen, but regardless it still has a powerful impact ..... I am going to go against the grain here and say that this is WOW! I love it .... because the sequence tells a story.

For me .... I like how you have not included the whole hand in the first image ... yet only included the fingers that have importance ... i.e., the ring finger ... not sure if that was your intention .... but for me it works. It also seems to have more 'punch' that way ... if that makes sense.

The composition of the second shot is good too, i.e., not including the whole face, with the focus on the water/tear ...but I do think that a slight crop to exclude the distracting bit of black above the shoulder would have been better. Also I would have possibly got rid of the drop to the far right, i.e. only had the one tear.

The third image is spot on :thumbs:

Well done on stepping out of your comfort zone .... which some of us seem to have done lately ... and is great because we get to see the face behind the camera :D (Have to say you are nothing like I imagined ... but I won't go there :lol:)

Well done .... I think you have excelled on this project and also the mono suits the theme too.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
My take on this one is, looking at each image in turn, although each fits the theme & all 3 are good, not one of them stands out as exceptional, but the three together are more than the sum of the individual shots. The trio certainly works to tell the story, no explanatory notes needed. Add to this the fact that it's out of your comfort zone makes it better still as it shows your willingness to try other shots. Personally I would like to have seen the lighting a little further from the subject to give a darker, moodier feel but it's still a thumbs up from me.
 
Hi all

Thanks for all the positive comments about my broken shot... Unfortunately I cant alter the first two shots to include my face as those shots where taken like that... mainly because I had the camera too close... The ones I did take like that with my full face in are either out of focus or just not as good as those images.

If the truth be known I ended up going for the three as when I looked at the 5 of about 30 I'd PP'd I felt that not one of them individually stood out to capture the theme... and when I had it down to try and pic one of these three... It came to me they worked better together than on their own. In a way weirdfish is right that it is one good image made of three ok pictures...

But im happy with it and will leave as is... although pic 3 and 1 might look better swapped which I might try...

Have an idea for this weeks theme but dont have the location yet to shoot it... I'll hopefully get the chance but it will be later in the week... I also need to still think about the few weeks i've missed!
 
Neil

I think im happy with the fake tears rather than pulling hair out the nose... I dont think i've actually cried for about ten years... sorta forgot how too if that makes sense as I did actually try to think of something sad at first but I just could not cry!

Still thinking for my Bright pic... have a couple of shots I could use from my NYC trip... but have it in my mind to shoot something also... just dont know what yet!

Mark
 
Mark I appreciate teh difficulties involved in self portraiture and think you are braver than I in attempting it ;)

i like teh idea of your triptych. However your fake tears don't work, they are in the wrong place! imo. The second part leaves me doubting my eyesight. Did you focus on your ear?

Well done!
 
Hi Tina

Yeh the fake tears are lame I know... but I still think better fake than nothing!

My focus technique was just to measure from the camera to where I was sitting and shoot at f8 to get enough DOF... there are prob better ways like getting someone else to focus the camera... but its the only way I could think of doing it on my own... At first I tried to use autofocus but got odd results depending on my positioning to the centre af point!

M
 
OK... I've resided myself to the fact my Bright pic is going to be one of My ones from my NYC trip again as I just dont have time this week ... also a lot of them actually fit quite well... Including the one I used for my Power pic back in week 18.

I'm going to post 6 because I cant decide... what do you think best fits the theme as i'm happy with each of these pictures so its just all about the best fit for the theme.

23a Bright Yellow Taxi
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23b Bright Sunny Day
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23c Bright Future
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23d Bright Yellow Jacket
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23e Bright Lights Big City
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23f Bright and Shiney Shoes
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Please help me decide!

Thanks for the interest in my work... M
 
Hiya Mark,

OK, it's my turn ..... at having a go at 6 photos (well done to you :clap:)

#1 Not keen on this .... I think it is the angle that throws me off. The sky looks over exposed and the reflection on the car window is very distracting. (sorry)

#2 Does nothing for me although as an image it is crisp and clear .... it just doesn't attract me.

#3 I'm not even going to comment on this one ..... what were you doing and where were you? :thumbsdown:

#4 I love this one :thumbs: Great sharp capture, with just the right amount of depth of field and slight motion blur to add to the ambiance.

#5 My type of photo ..... but there is something missing and I can't put my finger on it. Think I may have to revisit this one when is not so 'early' in the morning. But (note to self .... I think it has to do with the skyscape needing more punch).

#6 Now for moi .... this sums up BRIGHT :thumbs: I had to chuckle at this one ... I love everything about it .... from the action to the relaxation to the chap at the far end of the shot who couldn't give a continental. It is just such a 'real time' photo I almost feel like I am standing there taking the picture. Well done! So this for me has to be the one to takes the cake!

It looks like you had a great time. NY has never appealed to me as a place to visit .... maybe one day I will find myself there for some reason .... even if it is to take a shot of them shining shoes :D

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
OK, I see there is a conspiracy to make me feel inadequate for only managing 1 image per theme, maybe :$

a) Sorry, not for me, the sky looks - yuk and is a major feature in the composition. The processing doesn't appeal to me either :thumbsdown:
b) This I can see as an image – very saleable I would think :thumbs:

d) Nope :shrug: Not sure where the focus is as I can’t find it. The composition is...scrappy :thumbsdown:

e) This looks like a holiday snap, our subject is placed too centrally, imo he should be on the right third so that he is looking into the frame, I also find the sneaky pedestrian oof behind him distracting. :thumbsdown:

f) This seems very promising, although the very bright buildings sliding out of the right frame spoil it. :nono:
g) This is a good social comment style image and I like it. You have captured the lack of connection between the protagonists well. :thumbs:
 
mark..i'll be to the point... 23e ... love the cityscape.. the shiny shoes should have been lower and closer so missed my vote... (just jealous you were in NY)

like the trio for broken.. i was thinking along the same lines... but i had shaved so ruined the effect...

anyhow...good efforts.. :thumbs:
 
Never been to the Big Apple but it's on my 'to visit list'!

23f for me. Loads going on and I'm drawn to the comfy chairs, I'd be snoozing if I were sat in that, like the guy in yellow.

I like the face on the guy leaning against the chair at the far end.

There is a disconnect between the shoe shinner and the customer, emphasised by the newspaper acting as a barrier.

Nice motion in his hands and I ike the evident clutter: tools of the trade!

Pity the left hand pole.

Great catch.:thumbs:
 
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Hi All

Thanks for your comments... in response to them and on my own pics the next morning after posting...

23a I dont think it is bright enough for bright... but as a shot I do love it... and the processing was deliberately contrasty and oversharpened as I felt it gives an urban edge etc... The sky prob is over exposed due to the processing but it does not bother me at all...

23b Yeh its a bit stock image... prob very selable... but its a bit naff maybe! Not sure its a great image for bright.

23c I'm going to defend my Grand Central Station Marraige shot big time... I LOVE this picture... It was taken on a very wet day and this poor couple obviously had to come in to shoot their pics as outside was a washout. The scrappy composition reflects the mood of the situation very well... it was cayos with the photographers scrambling about to get the best shots... the usual daily commuters passing bye and nosey tourists like me it would have been hell. This as a travel shot I think works well... I know you loit dont agree but I guess that's why photography apeals to all our differing tastes. For me this captures everything about the moment... and is a good piece of travel photography. Also it captures Grand Central in a new way i've not seen before which is always a challenge for the travel photographer... I much prefer this image to this one for example which everyone has done before...

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23d. It's certainly a great holiday snap Tina... but its too close to my wrong shot so I'm not sure its right.

24e. I wished I'd had a few mill wider a lens to get those buildings in... I tried to bring the sky detail out as much as I could in PP... the problem was there is not really any detail to work with in the first place.

24f I wish I could have got lower and closer... the prob was it's one of those shots you get one chance at... after that the people know you are there... the either pose or hide or shout at you... I could not get in any closer quickley because of a barrier... so it was this and natural looks before they had noticed me... or I guess the unknown if I'd gone round the barrier to get in closer... but I dont think i'd have got the natural feeling I got in this...

What has surprised me about the replies is peoples differing takes on the six shots... please keep them coming... although I think i've maid my choice already but will wait till Sunday as im intregued to see what others have to say
 
Blimey, another 6 pics to comment on; where’s the Redbull?

23a – I like the angle, but the crop is slightly too tight for me. It’s a shame the sky is OE as this would have helped add detail to the reflection on the car, which I like but it needs more detail.

23b – A nice composition, I like it.

23c – No, not doing anything for me.

23d – Sorry, no interest in this either, other than that guy is jay walking in the background

23e – Bright city lights was going to be one of my ideas, but weather and time have stopped me getting in to Liverpool so I’ve not done it yet. Plus, I quite like my current post for the theme and don’t think a repost is warranted. – This is the one I’d post

23f – I like this shot, it has interest and tells a story. However, it says shine more than it does bright as that’s what you do to the shoes – shoe shine – so for that reason I’m not picking it, but I think it’s my fav shot out of the 6.

Now, lets see what everyone else said.
 
I'm going for number 6. I agree the composition could have possibly been better but as you say, you have to work with what you have. I reckon cropping a bit at the bottom and adding some vignetting could make it even better. Maybe even mono.
I do like the married couple one too.
Good work
 
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