weekly mercurius's 52 in 2013 - Week 52: Water (and that's a wrap!)

colour version of rock is loads better,

hmmmmm pair... not sure about the dead one mainly, one on the right is lovely, plenty of layers of petals, nice blurred BG (Background ;)), dead plants and flowers arenlt really the most photogenic, but it fits the theme...

shape works well, nice composition - was going to suggest a line starting from a corner as the default composition, but I guess your take of having no lines in any corners is equally effective. :thumbs: Good choice with the mono conversion here.
 
Hi :)

Pair - Hmmmm sorry I think the right one is oof and with the dead left one, not liking it - on a plus note the colours and lighting look good :)

Shape - Yeah very interesting, I can't work out what it is or the scale of it?? but as an image i really like it :thumbs:
 
colour version of rock is loads better,

hmmmmm pair... not sure about the dead one mainly, one on the right is lovely, plenty of layers of petals, nice blurred BG (Background ;)), dead plants and flowers arenlt really the most photogenic, but it fits the theme...

shape works well, nice composition - was going to suggest a line starting from a corner as the default composition, but I guess your take of having no lines in any corners is equally effective. :thumbs: Good choice with the mono conversion here.

Thanks for looking, Graham, and for your comments.
 
Hi :)

Pair - Hmmmm sorry I think the right one is oof and with the dead left one, not liking it - on a plus note the colours and lighting look good :)

Shape - Yeah very interesting, I can't work out what it is or the scale of it?? but as an image i really like it :thumbs:

Pair - yes, think you're right about the OOF on the right.

Shape - looking up at the underside of a newel staircase, taken in poor lighting with ISO cranked up. It's also out of focus to my eyes. Heigh-ho, perhaps I should take up another hobby, because I can never see that so many of my shots are OOF when I'm taking them!
 
Pair - yes, think you're right about the OOF on the right.

Shape - looking up at the underside of a newel staircase, taken in poor lighting with ISO cranked up. It's also out of focus to my eyes. Heigh-ho, perhaps I should take up another hobby, because I can never see that so many of my shots are OOF when I'm taking them!
Ahh Haaaaaaa so it is :thumbs:

Don't you dare talk about giving up :bat: were all here to learn and you have come up with some great shots so far... keep them coming :)
 
Ahh Haaaaaaa so it is :thumbs:

Don't you dare talk about giving up :bat: were all here to learn and you have come up with some great shots so far... keep them coming :)

Wrist well and truly slapped!
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I'll try and keep going.
 
The colour version of Stone works so much better. The colours take away the muddiness of the original and it really comes alive.

I'm honestly not that into Pair. I like the idea, the contrast in condition between the two blooms is a really nice touch, but the focus on the right ain't quite there...

... Shape on the other hand, I love. Can't suggest how it could be improved, it's just a really nice image.:thumbs:
 
Hi M :wave:

I've not used Noise Ninja so can't compare against neat I mage I'm afraid but have read a few posts on this site which rate it so may be worth a try .I only have the free version of Neat Image so can't save as Tiff's...dunno if it's the same with noise ninja ?

Pair....not gonna repeat what's already been said but I do like the color of those roses

Re oof shots...might be worth checking your view finder is set up correctly....both my Nikons have a little wheel at the side of the viewfinder to set up correctly what you see....not sure that makes sense but hopefully you'll get the gist of it :lol:

Shape....LOVE IT....mono suits as well :clap:
 
Hiya, just wanted to say that I think shape is excellent. Keep at it mate :thumbs:
 
The colour version of Stone works so much better. The colours take away the muddiness of the original and it really comes alive.

I'm honestly not that into Pair. I like the idea, the contrast in condition between the two blooms is a really nice touch, but the focus on the right ain't quite there...

... Shape on the other hand, I love. Can't suggest how it could be improved, it's just a really nice image.:thumbs:

Thank you for looking and for your comments.
 
Hi M :wave:

I've not used Noise Ninja so can't compare against neat I mage I'm afraid but have read a few posts on this site which rate it so may be worth a try .I only have the free version of Neat Image so can't save as Tiff's...dunno if it's the same with noise ninja ?

Pair....not gonna repeat what's already been said but I do like the color of those roses

Re oof shots...might be worth checking your view finder is set up correctly....both my Nikons have a little wheel at the side of the viewfinder to set up correctly what you see....not sure that makes sense but hopefully you'll get the gist of it :lol:

Shape....LOVE IT....mono suits as well :clap:

Lynne, I'm using LR4 and am just starting to experiment with the noise reduction adjustments in there, so we'll see if it makes any difference.

I have fiddled in the past with the little diopter wheel thingy. Perhaps that's been the trouble. Anyway, I'll try and give it another go.

I'm being encouraged by a quote I found from Beckett: "Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better."
 
Third go :-(

Below: works very well, nice colours and swirly lines.

Size: not for me, sorry. Ticks the theme box but not a lot more.

Process: really like this. Amazing that a shot of some rusty iron could work so well but it does.
 
Hi M again (one post per page, now I've got them to work again!).

Stone (or Rock): really like the colour version, the tones were all wrong in the mono version, so the rock didn't stand out. Nicely positioned, simple composition.

Pair: well... there are two of them, and it could work for Process (almost), but for me it doesn't really say "Pair", and nor does the shot stand on its own, quite.

Shape: very nice. The focus may be a bit dodgy, but where sould you focus in a shot like this (probably one where a small sensor camera works best). But really strong shape and the ambiguity holds interest. Like the mono treatment here, too.
 
Hi M again (one post per page, now I've got them to work again!).

Stone (or Rock): really like the colour version, the tones were all wrong in the mono version, so the rock didn't stand out. Nicely positioned, simple composition.

Pair: well... there are two of them, and it could work for Process (almost), but for me it doesn't really say "Pair", and nor does the shot stand on its own, quite.

Shape: very nice. The focus may be a bit dodgy, but where sould you focus in a shot like this (probably one where a small sensor camera works best). But really strong shape and the ambiguity holds interest. Like the mono treatment here, too.

Thanks for your comments.
 
Hi
The beads are nicely focused and there is some good colour in there, but the bowl and the composition aren't really helping
 
Helllooooo :wave:

dioptre...that's the word I was looking for but failed to find :D

Plenty.....well handled exposure on shiny objects I find really difficult but you've done well here...just the composition needs a bit of work....maybe a smaller container full to the brim with some placed around the outside might work as In full to overflowing ?
 
Helllooooo :wave:

dioptre...that's the word I was looking for but failed to find :D

Plenty.....well handled exposure on shiny objects I find really difficult but you've done well here...just the composition needs a bit of work....maybe a smaller container full to the brim with some placed around the outside might work as In full to overflowing ?

Thanks, Lynne, for your constructive comments. I'll have another go at it.
 
Thanks folks for your comments. I've had another couple of goes at this and would welcome your feedback!



 
Sorry, not commented for a very long time!

Plenty, retake number 3 for me, I prefer that composition and I like the extra shine they appear to have on them.
Speed, I like it, snails are excellent little creatures, like the crop, a little more dof needed?
 
Hi ya :wave:

just spotted your reshoot's of Plenty ......way better....:clap::clap:
WELL DONE you for coming up with 2 cracking images....you can see the colors & reflections of the stones much better(they really are lovely ) plus you get much more of a feeling of plenty....top stuff mister...especially the 1st one ...though I would say that..... :lol:

nearly forgot mr snail...I find it hard to get everything in focus on these little chaps......love how you've got his eye sharp , the shine on the water & the colors in his shell.. ;-)
 
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Two options this week - both a bit soft again unfortunately now I see them on screen. Never have my tripod with me when I need it!

#1


#2
 
Ooo number One for me for sure !!!

Yeah it may be a tad soft but I don't feel that effects the shot at all for me, my eyes are lead up and around the image, the B&W adds to the really worn look for me, lots of interesting lines and shadows, love the worn 'steps' - Great One :clap:
 
Plenty number 2 for me, a better composition all round, although the colours in all are really nice.

Nice take on speed, lovely colours and detail. I'd like to see the whole snail sharp, but it's no big deal.

Steps is a great spot... Wells cathedral right? The B&W conversion really suits the shot.
 
Plenty #3 is purrrfect. :thumbs:

Speed: aperture too wide I recon, although I can't see the exif so its just a guess. When you get close the DOF gets very tight. See my "shape" shot for reference.

Steps, I prefer the first one - the soft focus doesn't help it any but the composition is nice.

Both of these (and the reshoot of plenty) say to me that you would get a huge benefit from being a little more careful/thoughtful in your approach, you are 99% of the way there, keep at it! :)
 
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Ooo number One for me for sure !!!

Yeah it may be a tad soft but I don't feel that effects the shot at all for me, my eyes are lead up and around the image, the B&W adds to the really worn look for me, lots of interesting lines and shadows, love the worn 'steps' - Great One :clap:

Thanks DK for your encouraging comments.
 
Hi ya :wave:

just spotted your reshoot's of Plenty ......way better....:clap::clap:
WELL DONE you for coming up with 2 cracking images....you can see the colors & reflections of the stones much better(they really are lovely ) plus you get much more of a feeling of plenty....top stuff mister...especially the 1st one ...though I would say that..... :lol:

nearly forgot mr snail...I find it hard to get everything in focus on these little chaps......love how you've got his eye sharp , the shine on the water & the colors in his shell.. ;-)

Lynne: many thanks for your encouraging comments.
 
Plenty number 2 for me, a better composition all round, although the colours in all are really nice.

Nice take on speed, lovely colours and detail. I'd like to see the whole snail sharp, but it's no big deal.

Steps is a great spot... Wells cathedral right? The B&W conversion really suits the shot.

Hi Nick, thanks for your feedback. Yes, it's Wells Cathedral and shows the steps up to the Chapter House from the main Cathedral. It's amazing how much the light in that space changes from minute to minute. When I started off it was quite dark and then it got so light that it was easily overexposing.
 
Plenty #3 is purrrfect. :thumbs:

Speed: aperture too wide I recon, although I can't see the exif so its just a guess. When you get close the DOF gets very tight. See my "shape" shot for reference.

Steps, I prefer the first one - the soft focus doesn't help it any but the composition is nice.

Both of these (and the reshoot of plenty) say to me that you would get a huge benefit from being a little more careful/thoughtful in your approach, you are 99% of the way there, keep at it! :)

Thanks, Brian. A lot of the problem is not using a tripod, I've concluded. To get a decent Dof on the snail, I would have had to use much slower shutter speeds than is comfortable for handheld. Ditto with Steps. I do appreciate the encouragement that you guys give me to push myself and try again to do it better.
 
First step pic is really good having the doorway in leads you up the steps works really well :clap:
The two plenty pics are a big improvement:thumbs:
Good shot of the snail too bit more room to the right of him would be my only crit
 
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