MentalBlock's 2011 52 - Week 52 'Glass' added & 52 FINISHED

Hiya Neil,

:lol: love the Tropical photo, very creative indeed. Like how you have included the 'frisbee'. Didn't notice the lack of speedo's till the others mentioned it (just shows what some folk see) :D

Great take on the Power shot, I'm torn between the two photos, as you have mentioned the differences. I think bits from both in one photo would look great. But if I had to make a choice I would go with first one because I prefer the colours.

Well done

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Brilliant Tropical shot, shows great imagination.
Prefer the second power shot as the power station is more of a silhouette. Probably would have liked it even more with just the silhouette and sun setting but I won't ask you to go back with the lawnmower since it's just a personal opinion.
 
Hi Neil, your tropical photo is excellent! Well done for having such a great idea. I also like number 2 for power, looks a lot better without the tree, and I like the colours of the sunset more as well. :thumbs:
 
Thanks for the comments everyone.

Tropical cheared me up following the big depression of Paradox.
Who ever put Paradox in the bag needs a talking to.

I have my idea for Divided sorted out and hopefully I can get it done before next weeks theme is posted.

As for the Speedos, I didn't find the speedo Jelly Baby!
 
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jelly babies in speedos, giggle, anyway, great concept for tropical, tricky task in the UK in May eh! brings a smile :0)
 
Hi Neil

brilliant shot for TROPICAL , love it all especially the frisbee :clap:

2 Beautiful captures for POWER , think I prefer the 2nd version but both great & fit the theme just right :clap:
It is confusing me though ( doesn't take much ) ...I keep looking at them & they seem to be taken from the same position , but the the 2nd one has a bush/ tree missing to the right ? Is it just my eyes ...or some excellent PP on your behalf ? Not a problem with it just curious :lol:
 
whitedeer said:
jelly babies in speedos, giggle, anyway, great concept for tropical, tricky task in the UK in May eh! brings a smile :0)
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Fleur,
Easter was very Tropical on the Welsh border this year, but sadley nothing for the theme.

Thanks for looking

blondie606 said:
Hi Neil

brilliant shot for TROPICAL , love it all especially the frisbee :clap:

2 Beautiful captures for POWER , think I prefer the 2nd version but both great & fit the theme just right :clap:
It is confusing me though ( doesn't take much ) ...I keep looking at them & they seem to be taken from the same position , but the the 2nd one has a bush/ tree missing to the right ? Is it just my eyes ...or some excellent PP on your behalf ? Not a problem with it just curious :lol:
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Hi Lynne,
Don't worry, they're not from the same spot. I cannot recall the distance, but the second one was taken further down the path (going left in the frame). Look at the pylon to the right of the left hand coolers; in the second shot its further out, albeit hidden a little behind the foreground. So the bush is just out of the right-hand frame in the second.

My PP skills would never be that good as I don't have the patience!
 
Here is my Divided - and on time this week!

5720011044_fe3b1c5e4e_b.jpg


The initial link to 'Divided' is Pinnate.
Pinnate is a term used to describe multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis in plant or animal structures. The leaf in this image is a Pinnate structured leaf.

The next link to divided is that the colours are different Hue values in PS.
The central leaf is the original, the far right leaf is a Hue value of +150 and the far left leaf has a Hue value of -150, the Hue values of the intermediate leaves are divisions of 50.

Hope you like.
 
Hiya Neil,

Very clever indeed and I really like this image. Not sure about the background colour though :thinking:

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Divided

I really like this. I was only musing on a painting using the colours of the rainbow today so to come and see this is amazing :)

I like the clarity and the background works for me as it does't 'argue' with the beech leaves. Lovely interpretation of the theme :thumbs:
 
Thanks for looking Dawn & Tina.

While I don't have a macro lens (yet!) for my Nikon, I really like the detail it's captured in the leaf, although you don't see much of that on here!

The colour of the leaves, even the original colour in the central leaf, seem to have an electric or fluorescent effect to them, so I wanted a neutral background that helped the leaves stand out but still kept with the leaf theme, hence why it's a shade of green.
 
I've another idea for 'Promise' so I may post two, but the OH came came up with this idea and I liked it, so here is 'Promise'

5723555989_a6d855721d_z.jpg


I had to take the shot quick too, because if she knows I have money I wont have money! - Is that a Paradox?

I had to dust off my old Fuji S6500 Bridge camera for this as it has a nice macro function.
It's funny, I used it for a couple of years and although I've been using my D90 for only a few months I couldn't remember how to change the aperture!

Thanks for looking.
 
As my first 'Promise' image has turned out not to be an original idea, I've decided to post my other idea, which I suspect not many on here will probably do!

5734672419_80391b8e26_z.jpg


When I became a Freemason, I had to take a solemn obligation, or 'Promise', not to disclose the secrets entrusted to me.
I made this promise on the Bible in the image.
The apron on which it is resting is my Worshipful Master apron, which as Master of the Lodge, I shall wear until November, at which point a new Master will be elected and installed and I'll become a nobody :thinking:

I did think of applying a black vignette, but I think the white works better.
I also thought of adding an aged effect to the image, but this would no doubt end up being a sepia tone and I didn't want to lose the colour.

I thought about including the goat too, but it wouldn't hold the bible steady :D
 
Hiya Neil,

There is one thing that this photo52 is bringing out ... and that is the personal references. I had no idea about your involvement with the Freemasons until tonight ... so thank you for sharing that with us.

I think you have done justice here and that is a fantastic photo (thanks for not including the goat :lol:)

I doubt you will become a 'nobody' as you mentioned ..... however I do wonder about the elusive windows of the Masonic windows (have a Mason hall up the road from me ..... and a commissioned artist has recently painted curtains on board to make it look like the curtains are open) .... :thinking:

As for the vignette, I'm glad you didn't apply same ... your image is good as it is without it and represents growth. A vignette would have dulled the whole belief and added to the whole 'question' behind the following.

So for me, you have done right and I like it :thumbs:

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
drodd said:
Kev, now I am worried about you .... what on earth were you doing on a Russian website :suspect: ....

and don't say 'obviously looking for goats' :D

:lol:
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i was ..looking for goats... :shrug:

..no..i'd seen the picture in an issue of FHM... in..amongst the ..the erm... gadget reviews and ..sporting pages.. lol..that off side rule's a crack isn't it... :D .. and picked the link for one of the first sites i found...
 
drodd said:
..... however I do wonder about the elusive windows of the Masonic windows (have a Mason hall up the road from me ..... and a commissioned artist has recently painted curtains on board to make it look like the curtains are open) .... :thinking:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments Dawn

You need to appreciated those curtains though, you have no idea how long it would have taken for the members to agree to having them.
There would have been endless meetings and debates before the artist was commissioned to paint those curtains. Some members would have wanted them painted closed, some open, some would have wanted blinds, others probably felt that they should remain as they were as they've been like that for hundreds of years, then there would have been the colours.................

TinaC said:
Promise

#1 slightly soft but on theme

#2 on theme and sharp! I believe that a lot of images don't need any 'help' from the add ons pp enables us to use, this is one shuch :thumbs: Well done for resisting the temptation :clap:
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Thanks for the comments Tina.
I'm more of a find a tutorial on the web than an add on PP person, I like to suffer. I like making it even more difficult for myself by finding a good tutorial but forgetting to save the link!

SamuelSlade007 said:
damned goats..they can never do as they are asked...
Click to expand...

They make a hell of a noise too, right up until we .........
Sorry I can't tell you any more :rules:

As for Divided, thanks.
Although I have no Macro lens, there is some detail in the leaves which I like too.


Thanks for looking in everyone.
 
Week 21 - 'Twisted'

Who knew barbed wire would offer so many photographic opportunities!

I've narrowed the favourites down to about 8 after the 50 odd I took, but I couldn't decided between these two so I'm afraid it's a double post week!

#1
5748191386_a74a4348e7_z.jpg


#2
5748206128_638ae370a1_z.jpg


I love the detail in #1, but as I don't have a macro lens, it's a crop and the IQ has suffered a little as a result.

I like the DOF in #2 and the rust colour. I'd taken several with the wire as a lead in, but I think this one is the more appealing.


The others are on my flickr if you're interested - look at the TP 52 2011 almost posted set

Thanks for looking and feel free to C&C
 
out of those two I prefer no 1 as I think it simply suits the theme better... although 2 is a cracking shot also it just does not shout twisted as much!
 
Thumbs up as soon as I saw them.

Nice green on #1 and great detail.

#2, lovely colours in the rust and nice depth. A closer crop may work better.

Regards.
 
Hiya Neil,

Well done on the 'twisted' photos.

I like both for different reasons:

#1 I like the composition on this one, and the way it has an 'action' feel to it ... almost like the twisted barbed wire is tugging at the piece in the ground. The green colour works well too. What lens did you use?

#2 Nice rusty colour and lovely DOF. I agree a crop could benefit the photo. The OOF vertical bit on the right is slightly distracting and draws my attention from the main focus.

Otherwise a great take on the theme :clap:

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Neil, great idea :thumbs:

For the theme I feel the composition of #1 the better of these. I like the contrast between the hard twisted metal of the wire and the soft texture of the green on the timber.

#2 is another strong image but doesn't tap into the theme with the same strength (probably would have been fine had I not seen #1!) That rust looks more like dried blood!!! A colour issue? Or time for me to go to bed ;)
 
Mentalblock said:
Thanks for all the comments

Dawn, it was my kit lens, Nikon DX 18-105 3.5-5.6G.
The un-cropped version is uploading to flickr as I type.
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Hiya Neil,

I've just popped over to Flickr to check out the other photos, some good shots there.

I had a look at the EXIF data for #1 and notice your focal length was 105mm. With the 18-105 kit lens would it be possible to get closer and use a shorter focal length, perhaps adjusting the ISO (which I notice was quite high too, if you lowered that you won't get too much noise at close range) and perhaps playing around with the aperture settings.

Noticed you used AE mode, have you tried to venture into Manual and using manual focus too? I know it can be a daunting step to take, but I find when using my 18-55 kit lens for close up shots I kick the camera into manual now and then aim for focus, sometimes it helps to rock back and forth, and when I hear the beep ... shoot.

There is also a tip that Just Dave taught me about using pop-up flash (set to flash compensation -2, or there abouts), using a high f/# (F/14 or higher), ISO 100 - 400 depending on lighting, Exp 1/200 which I like to use for close up's now. It sort of darkens the background, yet brings out some great detail on the focal point. In this case adjusting the settings a bit you could have got some great detail in the barbed wire, and maintained some of the green. Only a suggestion of settings to perhaps try some time. Not a critique of the photo. I've posted some recent threads here on TP using this technique if you would like to take a peek at how it works.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
drodd said:
Hiya Neil,

I've just popped over to Flickr to check out the other photos, some good shots there.

I had a look at the EXIF data for #1 and notice your focal length was 105mm. With the 18-105 kit lens would it be possible to get closer and use a shorter focal length, perhaps adjusting the ISO (which I notice was quite high too, if you lowered that you won't get too much noise at close range) and perhaps playing around with the aperture settings.

Noticed you used AE mode, have you tried to venture into Manual and using manual focus too? I know it can be a daunting step to take, but I find when using my 18-55 kit lens for close up shots I kick the camera into manual now and then aim for focus, sometimes it helps to rock back and forth, and when I hear the beep ... shoot.

There is also a tip that Just Dave taught me about using pop-up flash (set to flash compensation -2, or there abouts), using a high f/# (F/14 or higher), ISO 100 - 400 depending on lighting, Exp 1/200 which I like to use for close up's now. It sort of darkens the background, yet brings out some great detail on the focal point. In this case adjusting the settings a bit you could have got some great detail in the barbed wire, and maintained some of the green. Only a suggestion of settings to perhaps try some time. Not a critique of the photo. I've posted some recent threads here on TP using this technique if you would like to take a peek at how it works.

Cheers

Dawn :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Dawn,

I'll certainly give it a go.
I hadn't thought about a close up until I got the image on the PC, so didn't try in camera. The rain started just as I'd taken this one too, so I duct under some bushes for cover and never went back to this spot!

I'll print out the above and keep it in the kit bag for next time, I'll probably go back and try the cropped shot in camera. It's the technical side of things I'd like to really improve on and get some techniques under my belt that spring to mind at the right time!
 
number 1 for me i like the the 2nd but i think the boken is not blurry enough :thumbs:
 
I like the first twisted the best I think the tighter crop shows more detail second shot for me is too narrow a depth of field, might have worked better if focus point nearer camera and it went out of focus as it got futher away
 
vdubster said:
I love number 1, works really well with the theme and the color and focus is spot on, well done.

James
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Thanks James,
I'm happy with the focus, but as Dawn has spotted, I used the long end of the lens so I obviously could have got closer and not had to crop!

michael23 said:
Number 1 for me too, as James said. :thumbs:
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Thanks Michael

AndyMc133 said:
I like the first twisted the best I think the tighter crop shows more detail second shot for me is too narrow a depth of field, might have worked better if focus point nearer camera and it went out of focus as it got futher away
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Hi Andy,
I've got my eye on a nifty 50, so I may be able to down to f1.8 soon and get that DOF. Need to get the car serviced next week, so if she comes out of that OK I may risk the stretch on finances - don't tell the OH!!
 
As others have said already number one fits the theme best. Looks pretty sharp I don't think it's lost to much for being a crop. The second piece of wire is very interesting though with the rusty part on it. When i first saw it I thought it would look good with a better landscape behind it. Using the same dof but with fields, trees and sky behind it. Obviously easy for me to say when i have no idea of what the locality of the wire was like.
 
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