My 52 Photos for 2009 - Week 17 DARK

-Rob- said:
There may have been a little tweeking in Photohop. Certainly no more than 20 minutes or so. :gag:
Click to expand...

Then I am even more impressed as I cannot seem to even merge my photos at the moment :bonk:

Hopefully the book I've ordered will help with that though!!!
 
Very nice image, lots to keep the eye interested in the shot, well done.
 
What a great capture :clap::clap:

The foreground interest leads you into the picture and then suddenly your eye is caught by the sunlight on the distant hills - superb :clap::clap:

And a great memory of a Special day too :thumbs:
 
Thanks for all your comments everyone. Now I've looked at the picture more and more I'm slightly disappointed that I didn't get lower down and a little closer in to the rock in the foreground so that the horizon was only a third of the image, the hills a third and the sky a third. I'm sure I'll be back in the lakes soon to give it another go so I'll learn from this picture and maybe get it right next time.
 
It's a gorgeous photo, good composition :thumbs:
 
Well what better place to get a crowd shot than at focus? This was my first trip to focus and I loved it. Didn't know what to expect but getting to play with all the gear that I can only dream about buying was great. One bit of kit I really want is the Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VR which I had a play with at the nikon stand. I played with it for a few minutes shooting random people in the crowd to get a feel for the amazing focus speed and at 150mm, 125th, f2.8 and ISO400 I managed to get this "face in the crowd" who clearly didn't mind having his picture taken. For all I know he could be one of you? If it is a TP'er then thanks for posing.

Face In The Crowd
07-Crowd.jpg
 
Last edited:
What a great capture :clap:, and the DoF is fantastic but enough detail to be able to see he is a face in the crowd. :thumbs:

Well done Rob
 
Thanks for the comments everyone. I like the DoF in this pic too, the excellent bokeh is one the main reasons I want to buy this lens but with recent price rises I don't know if I'll be getting it any time soon. Anyone fancy offering me a fantastically low price on a second hand 70-200mm f2.8 VR? No? Oh well, you've got to ask.
 
Great capture of a fantastic expression :thumbs: Having just invested in a 70-200VR I know how fabulous they are (but no it's not for sale - unless you want to offer over £2000 :lol:)

They do appear S/H for a small saving but you really do need to get in quickly. I think the last 70-200 VR on here went to PM to finalise the deal inside 15 mins :eek:. I agreed to buy, paid for and had a 24-70mm in the post to me inside 2hrs about a month ago.
 
Well I've learnt a few lessons this week. One is not to let the week fly by without getting your shot because the week is over before you know it as is shown by me not posting the week 8 image until the first day of week 9. The second lesson is that it's not easy getting the light right on a computer screen and another object at the same time. The third and most depressing lesson is that buying a lottery ticket with Saturday's winning numbers on it isn't going to bring you any wealth if you don't buy it until the Monday. Unfortunately I didn't have the foresight to buy a ticket with these numbers on before the draw. Oh well, here's my image for the week entitled "Winning the Lottery".

08-Wealth.jpg


I know technically this is a very poor image. I suppose it's quite apt for a week where we were given the option to go back and reshoot a previous image as this is the first one I've posted that I'd really want to go back and reshoot already. Maybe after I've had a few hints and tips from you lot I may know how to go back and do it better.
 
Hi Rob, nice idea and I know what you mean regarding time!

From my very new to photography perspective I would say that the background is a little bright and the hand a little yellow. I like the angle of the shot and the compostion.

:clap::clap::clap:
 
I like it, tis a shame that you had to buy the ticket with the matching numbers after the draw, but it's also the only way I'd match 6 numbers. I'm not sure what could be done to improve. It looks like there's something a little off with the whitebalance, the ticket and hand both have a yellowish cast, but... the screen looks right, if a little bright... Very tricky conditions to shoot.
 
Well done for trying this, Rob. :clap::clap:

I did something similar for Learning, and couldn't get the balance between the screen and the paper to work properly. Did you try turning down the brightness on the screen? It didn't help with my shot, but it seems like a good idea. :)


I like the composition and it's a brilliant take on the theme. Just think, if you had posted this on Saturday, you'd be on the way to that 70-200 VR lens. :D

Jean
 
That's a great effort...the lighting must have been a nightmare...:eek:

Funny how minds think alike...I thought of this idea for surpise but couldn't think how to get it to work...I was going to video the draw then freeze the screen with my ticket in hand...I think you managed brilliantly considering how technically difficult this was...:clap:
 
Thanks for your comments everyone. I guess I'm not really doing this 52 challenge just to produce a fantastic looking photo every week (although obviously that would be a bonus), I'm also in it to boost my creativity by being forced to think of new ideas for every theme. I actually had loads of ideas for wealth, most of which invloved getting out there and photographing other people. The strange thing is, I decided that was too difficult so I stayed in and photographed my own hand and found out how bloody difficult that is at night time under artifical lighting.

jgs001 said:
It looks like there's something a little off with the whitebalance, the ticket and hand both have a yellowish cast, but... the screen looks right, if a little bright... Very tricky conditions to shoot.
Click to expand...
I shot this in RAW thinking I'd be able to get the white balance right in PP but nothing I tried seemed to work so I just had to live with the yellow tint. I never even thought of turning down the screen brightness as someone else suggested. As this picture is definitely on my 'reshoot' list I may try it a lot differently next time.
 
:clap: Nice take on the theme; well done.
 
Love the idea for wealth - I new someone who played a trick on their other half by recording the previous weeks lottery show, buying a ticket with the numbers and then playing the tape the next week. How CRUEL!!!

The colour balance issue has already been pointed out by others and I'm afraid I can't offer any helpful advice on how to improve things :shrug:
 
The idea for using the emergency services for the identity theme hit me straight away. What I was planning to do was take 3 photos this week, 1 for each service. All started off very well as the Fire Brigade were very welcoming, they offered me a cup of tea and showed me round the whole station and making loads of suggestions of what I could take pictures of. They really were great. I then went to the hospital only to find there were no ambulances to be seen anywhere so I waited around for a bit and one eventually turned up with an injured person in the back who the paramedics rushed inside on a stretcher. I took a few pics of the ambulance as I waited for the paramedics to return but I waited and waited and there was no sign of them. While waiting I took this pic which I wanted to re-take with a paramedic reflected in the window but it just didn't happen. I then went on to the Police Station and was refused permission to take any photos of any police person, vehicle or building anywhere in Lancashire without written consent from their press officer. Sod them then!!!

So, after the long winded story, here's the picture I am using for this week. A Fireman's helmet inside the fire engine. IMO a very identifiable part of the emergency services uniform.

Comments and C&C very welcome as always.

09-Identity.jpg
 
Last edited:
Love the idea for wealth :thumbs:

Shame you didn't get to carry out your idea for this week, but the fire service uniform certainly identifies firemen :thumbs:
 
A uniform is how we identify people at a glance - and I love the way you've done this one. It says much more than just having a fireman standing there, ready for action. :clap::clap:

Some things we just can't plan for and the Ambulance one with a paramedic in the reflections would hve been superb. btw - it's still a great Reflections shot. :)

Two really excellent shots for the price of one!


Full marks for all the time and effort on this one, Rob - and to your local fire station for their hospitality.

Jean
 
Catch up time: :)

Wealth is a genius idea and very well done I reckon! If only eh?

The face in the crowd is also a great idea well taken!

As for identity - kudos for getting out there and trying this - the three shot idea would have been great and I applaud the idea! :clap:

As it is the final single shot is a good 'un and the story really interesting!

Nice images Rob - looking forward to wisdom :)
 
Good take on the theme, and as DarkStar says "well done for the effort you put into this"

Jon
 
My catch up :)

I love the idea behind the wealth shot, as DS said, if only :lol:

It's a great interpretation and a good composition, and it's hard to take pictures froma screen so well done :thumbs:

Identity - what a lot of effort you've put into this one and it's paid off. As Jean said, we identify people by their clothing/uniform. Only one slight niggle is that you've cut of the edge of the right side of the visor and a tiny bit of the left side of the helmet. But that's just a cropping factor. Good DoF too :clap:
 
As soon as I saw the theme for this week I thought of the wise old owl and knowing that there was a bird of prey centre just a few miles away then I made sure I was available this afternoon to pay them a visit. I was hoping to get an owl in flight and I have some wonderful examples of owls out of focus in flight but I thought the slightly sharper images were better. The image I'm using is of a 'White Faced Scops Owl' called "Gizzmo". He loved posing for me and despite being a very small owl, has the look of an old wise creature who has seen many a photographer there before.

10-Wisdom.jpg


Comments very welcome as always.
 
Last edited:
Identity - like the interpretation. Think the helmet is the most identifiable piece of a firepersons equipment and you've captured it nicely :)

Wisdom - lovely capture. Nice detail and fantastic interpretation :thumbs:
 
:clap: :clap: excellent, lovely sharp shot, well exposed.
 
Great interpretation, DoF spot on, nice and sharp and love the way it looks as if it has one eyebrow raised as if to say 'not again' :thumbs:
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top