weekly Marsha's 2013 52 - Finally finished!

What's the word women use, 'buff' :D

Pink shorts...George Michael would be proud :naughty:

Good focus and colour. Shallow DOF is my only crit.

Cheers.
:lol: Andy! He has always been on the buff side! The pink shorts he bought because our daughter picked them and he's too soft to say no! As for DOF it's shot at F2.8, couldn't get any more even if I wanted too!

Movement - well handled movement towards the camera (might also double up for Speed!). Captures the effort being expended. as others have said, shame about the door.
Dam window! Next sports day I'll ask them to be a bit more thoughtful for composition:gag: Thanks Alan.

:lol: Mr Goblin is not competitive at all is he Marsha?
That is a look of determination there :lol:

Its a very effective image Marsha, technically very good in being well lit and focus is spot on. Not a lot you could do about the background though.

I think a wider view would help put this into context as I am not really getting a sense of the Dad's race from it.
Hi Iain, this shot is actually quite heavily cropped, as on hubby's left is another Dad that I successfully cut in half! If I would have included him I would have got 'shame you chopped that blokes arm off'!

I do however have a good one of the mums race! But the nursery were a bit funny about photos being used without participants permission!
 
:lol: Brian, I actually went and checked his ankles after you posted this!

This phot shows it all.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58189537@N02/9339443044/

His left foot is at a very unusual angle, his left knee crosses the centreline of his body, his right foot/leg do not do the same. Just my observation... However I believe that any run coach (I have been coaching adult runners since 2007) would refer him for medical analysis, the difference is obvious. Look for yourself.
 
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I was looking at the photo thinking what's he on about, didn't see the link to my other photo on the email :bonk:

I see what you mean! He always complains that he can never improve on his running times, perhaps some gait analysis would help! He has some crazy hyper mobility (as do I) going on but never suffers because of it! Unlike me, I live in physio, currently for misbehaving shoulders!
Cheers though Brian, I'll show him your observations :thumbs:
 
Hi hun ,finally got here :wave:

Pair....cracking candid in both color & mono.....love how tyour little'un is imitating Dad to a tee :clap:

Speed...well , for someone who has issues with objects moving at speed toward her you've done a cracking job...DOF isolates him perfectly & it's sharper than a sharp thing....:clap: not quite so sure on those pink shots though :naughty:

Hope the packing is going ok :thumbs:
 
Nice shot! I like how it still has that sense of effort and movement white being completely frozen.
 
Hiya Marsha, I am just having a catch up, can't believe I havn't visited since week 1 :eek: Really sorry about that.

A nice set of pics, wild, Ilike the 1st one there.
Tough choice on pair, but the b+w just edges it for me.

Will try and keep up a bit better this time round :thumbs:
 
Hiya Marsha, looks like Brians covered the running crit - won;t mention the door, it will clone out - especially as you have a nice sharp edge around Mr G, but it looks funny with it gone.

Super sharp focus and freeze of the movement.

Not sure about the shorts myself either, they say it takes a real man to wear pink though......... :lol:
 
Hi hun ,finally got here :wave:

Pair....cracking candid in both color & mono.....love how tyour little'un is imitating Dad to a tee :clap:

Speed...well , for someone who has issues with objects moving at speed toward her you've done a cracking job...DOF isolates him perfectly & it's sharper than a sharp thing....:clap: not quite so sure on those pink shots though :naughty:

Hope the packing is going ok :thumbs:
Hi Lynne, the packing and cleaning is stealing all my time just now! I will rest this year! Thanks for dropping in.

Hiya Marsha, I am just having a catch up, can't believe I havn't visited since week 1 :eek: Really sorry about that.

A nice set of pics, wild, Ilike the 1st one there.
Tough choice on pair, but the b+w just edges it for me.

Will try and keep up a bit better this time round :thumbs:
Hi Michale, cheers for dropping in. I know you're almost as busy as me ;)

Nice shot! I like how it still has that sense of effort and movement white being completely frozen.
Cheers Nick.

Hiya Marsha, looks like Brians covered the running crit - won;t mention the door, it will clone out - especially as you have a nice sharp edge around Mr G, but it looks funny with it gone.

Super sharp focus and freeze of the movement.

Not sure about the shorts myself either, they say it takes a real man to wear pink though......... :lol:
Hi Graham. I know I could clone out that door, but that's way too time consuming for me just now. What's wrong with pink shorts? Well my son has a melt down if I put anything pink near him!!!!

I'm waaaay behind now. Been taking the shots, just not got time to sit and process/ upload them!
 
Ok so as soon as this theme was announced I knew exactly what I was going to shoot. But OMG these things are difficult to make look interesting :bonk: A straight on shot with all in focus is so dull! So I went with this:



I've been staring at these shapes for weeks, shot them on a few different occasions, but just never like them. Now I have to just get on with it!
 
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Hi Marsha, Colours look nice and bold to me!

No critique to add as you have obviously been through all the options.

Keep on catching up, you will be ahead of me soon! :nuts:
 
While I was on sick leave I discovered there was a huge field of poppies right near where I live, well I couldn't visit them until all the poppies were way past their best, but it was still an amazing sight and this photo doesn't really do it justice!



There is another version on Flickr with a greater DOF but I think this has more depth to it, if you know what I mean?
 
Great image Marsha.

What stands out for me is how you have made the tall middle section of white poppies "pop". Have you processed it this way? If so, can you let me in on your technique please.

Thanks,
Alan
 
While I was on sick leave I discovered there was a huge field of poppies right near where I live, well I couldn't visit them until all the poppies were way past their best, but it was still an amazing sight and this photo doesn't really do it justice!



There is another version on Flickr with a greater DOF but I think this has more depth to it, if you know what I mean?

Lovely photograph! I love the mixture of flowers and seed heads. Perhaps could have done with more DOF? You're lucky to have such a beautiful poppy display in Oxon!
 
Shape: Nothing wrong with that, it fits the theme.

Plenty: Great shot, id love to find a poppy field!
 
Great image Marsha.

What stands out for me is how you have made the tall middle section of white poppies "pop". Have you processed it this way? If so, can you let me in on your technique please.
Hi Alan, I've just checked the original JPEG against the edited version and there really isn't much processing done here. I have only given it very basic 'tweaks' in LR 5 (decreased exposure a touch, increased contrast, highlights, shadows, whites, blacks & clarity teeny tiny amounts) then into photoshop for a slight sharpen and I think a VERY small levels and curves adjust. I find more often than not that it's the levels and curves that make a lot of difference, if you haven't used them yet I would get onto Google and watch some videos, I learnt a lot there! All my editing has really done is to make the white heads that tiny bit brighter and the red of the flowers now have a bit more impact, but barely noticeable.

Lovely photograph! I love the mixture of flowers and seed heads. Perhaps could have done with more DOF? You're lucky to have such a beautiful poppy display in Oxon!
Thank you, there is another shot on Flickr that has greater DOF but it doesn't have the same impact to me. I would have liked more in focus in front on this shot, but it was a very windy morning and they just wouldn't stand still!

Shape: Nothing wrong with that, it fits the theme.

Plenty: Great shot, id love to find a poppy field!
Thanks Lisa. If you ever happen to be in Oxfordshire next year they're right outside RAF Benson, but you can only see them as you drive away from camp towards Clacks Lane to Wallingford as they're very well sheltered by the hedge row. In fact I bet half my neighbours didn't even notice them!
The field is huge. I have a grab shot of a Merlin helicopter coming into land, and it's only when I got it on the computer did I notice it flying over another field of poppies in the distance! Just a shame I couldn't get out to it when they were in full bloom!
 
Oooo and Here it IS !!!!!

I really like the DoF 2/3 up the shot too, the colour of the poppies is caught very well, I have previously struggled (Pre 5d3) to get the colours right in PP - :thumbs:

Cheers DK, it is amazing what this camera can do. And I thought the 7D was an excellent camera beforehand :bonk: I shall be looking at your shots at some point his month!
 
Hi Marsha

Plenty - a good subject for the theme. The colours are really interesting, the seed heads having a feeling of silver grey to them which contrasts and enhances the reds. I also like the way that the field seems to slope down to the right - then I begin to wonder what it would look like with a wider shot :thinking:

Not too sure about the dof - generally ok but the really oof bit at bottom left I find a bit attention-catching.
 
Hi Marsha :wave:
Well done on your continued catch-up, no mean feat I can imagine what with everything else going on eh?

Shape, bang on theme, great bold colours :thumbs:
Not a lot more to add to what's been said above, sometimes the simplest things to photograph can give you the most options composition wise.

Plenty, again bang on theme, maybe a small crop off the bottom but apart from that :thumbs:
 
Hi, Shape, yup, on theme and nice composition, with interesting DOF. I like the order of the colours as well.

Plenty, bang on theme and lovely colours. Th dof is perfect for me and wider would be way too busy. Tend to agree with Iain, a tad off th bottom to loose the larger heads.

Cheers.
 
Hi
Shape, as you say must have been difficult to make it look interesting but i think you have achieved that, nice DoF and colour.
Plenty, that is one hell of a poppy field, the seed heads are great really catch the eye.
 
Really like your shape Marsha, lovely colour, nice angle and I like the dof.
The poppies, quite like these too, again lovely colour.
Thanks Michael.

Plenty - a good subject for the theme. The colours are really interesting, the seed heads having a feeling of silver grey to them which contrasts and enhances the reds. I also like the way that the field seems to slope down to the right - then I begin to wonder what it would look like with a wider shot :thinking:

Not too sure about the dof - generally ok but the really oof bit at bottom left I find a bit attention-catching.
Cheers Alan. The field did slope down to the right. I have wider shots with varying DOF's angles and lighting, maybe by October I'll be able to sort through them:bonk: The bit OOF bottom left bothers me too. I did look at pasting over the foreground from the other shot on Flickr but it was too difficult!

Well done on your continued catch-up, no mean feat I can imagine what with everything else going on eh?

Shape, bang on theme, great bold colours :thumbs:
Not a lot more to add to what's been said above, sometimes the simplest things to photograph can give you the most options composition wise.

Plenty, again bang on theme, maybe a small crop off the bottom but apart from that :thumbs:
Cheers Iain, I'm bringing up the rear but still clinging on! I did crop some off the bottom of the poppy shot already. The trouble is each crop cops a poppy head in half so it was difficult to decide when to stop :bonk:

Hi
Shape, as you say must have been difficult to make it look interesting but i think you have achieved that, nice DoF and colour.
Plenty, that is one hell of a poppy field, the seed heads are great really catch the eye.
Many thanks Allan.
 
Hi, Shape, yup, on theme and nice composition, with interesting DOF. I like the order of the colours as well.

Plenty, bang on theme and lovely colours. Th dof is perfect for me and wider would be way too busy. Tend to agree with Iain, a tad off th bottom to loose the larger heads.
Cheers Andy. I've commented on the crop above.
 
My practice on moving targets was tested with a rider training day on the airfield last week. I took a lot of shots and this one has come out really sharp! It's the riders position that made me pick this shot, he's just come off a bend and about to pin it so tucked in and holding on! I caught this shot just as he's coming up on the taxi way line which is the yellow lines along the bottom edge.



C & C welcome and continued apologies for not much activity on the commenting. Too much to do and not enough time!
 
Shape. On theme and colourful.

Plenty..love the poppies. Well processed. Sometimes less is more. Love the fàct the frame is filled all the way to the top / back.

Speed is a cracker. :clap: sharp. Well exposed. Good detail on nice low pov. My eye is drawn to the houses ahead of him. Just trying to see if they're straight or not. A touch ACW maybe??

You're keeping up fine.. :thumbs:
 
Cheers Graham. I have straightened this using the quick click feature in LR5, compared to what it was it looked perfect last night:bonk: I can see what you mean though, you can just see the runway in the background (black blurry line rhs in the grass) I'm wondering if that is giving it a wonky feel. But this is straight with the yellow markings along the front, any change will make that wonky!
 
helloooo hun :wave:

In no particular order but starting with my fave :D

Speed....fab , DOF , sharp( I'm loving that helmet ...I want that helmet :love:) , the optical illusion of slant is, I suspect ,due to the lowish POV but I love it...it's a bike..nuff said :clap:
If you get to do this type of shot again try lowering your shutter slightly & panning...this will ( should) get you some motion in the wheels to give more impression of speed :thumbs:

Shape....good black BG , colors really pop , like the angle :thumbs:

Plenty...can't add to what's been said already...cracking display with the colors spot on :thumbs:
 
Speed is fab.

Amazing how even the wheels are frozen but he still looks like he's going fast.
 
In no particular order but starting with my fave :D

Speed....fab , DOF , sharp( I'm loving that helmet ...I want that helmet :love:) , the optical illusion of slant is, I suspect ,due to the lowish POV but I love it...it's a bike..nuff said :clap:
If you get to do this type of shot again try lowering your shutter slightly & panning...this will ( should) get you some motion in the wheels to give more impression of speed :thumbs:

Shape....good black BG , colors really pop , like the angle :thumbs:

Plenty...can't add to what's been said already...cracking display with the colors spot on :thumbs:
Hi Lynne :wave: For the bike shot I was panning, VERY fast sweeps though as those things can shift! It was a very bright day even with the clouds brewing, to lower the shutter I would have lost the DOF and those pesky houses behind would have been in focus :bonk: Glad you like it though and it is a funky helmet!

Speed is fab.

Amazing how even the wheels are frozen but he still looks like he's going fast.
Cheers Brian.

Speed - Lovely and sharp and also loving the low angle and the bike low in the frame too, the bit of heat haze at the rear rounds it off nicely :thumbs:
Thanks DK.

Just got my steps shots on Flickr, will do all the rest tomorrow.
 
First for me - super thin DOF I do like here - and 100% perfect on choice of focus point. It has to be on the rung that includes the stays to the wall.... Peeling paint always works well and shows where its been worn off when being stepped on!

Second I like too - especially for the reflection of the ladder and the sky in the windows. could maybe have cropped the bottom off under the step... but that's it!
 
First for me - super thin DOF I do like here - and 100% perfect on choice of focus point. It has to be on the rung that includes the stays to the wall.... Peeling paint always works well and shows where its been worn off when being stepped on!

Second I like too - especially for the reflection of the ladder and the sky in the windows. could maybe have cropped the bottom off under the step... but that's it!

Cheers Graham. I'd like to say it was a conscious choice for the point of focus in one but I would be lying, it was luck!

Its the first set of steps for me. When ive tried to figure why i think its because i like the way the rear supports have almost disappeared in the distance.

Thank you Alan. Ironically it's that reason I like the second one with the ladder vanishing into the blur!
 
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