weekly Nick's 52/12 Week Challenge - Week 52 - ''Busy (in York)" Finished !!! :-) " added

Hi, I thought that I had posted on this but apparently not.

For me the #1 secure actually represents insecurity, dereliction, abandonment even tho there is a locked gate and notice.

I think that #2 better represents the theme, and apart from the oof mentioned by others, I think is a good compostion.
 
Blank_Canvas said:
Week 4 - 'Sweet'

Well on this weeks subject I have tried to convey 'sweet' as an adjective - a taste characteristic of sugar or honey; not salty, sour, or bitter and also a nounn as in affectionate form of address to a person one is very fond of: as in "hello, my sweet".

After the last two weeks challenge this one has been a little easier for me and a quick walk down the sweet isle at Sainsburys was the inspiration for this concept.

I can't make my mind up which image I prefer. In the first image I wanted try to capture the sugary sweet texture which I think I have managed to do.

In the second image, I wanted to try to replicate the original pastel colours and show a bit of order to the photograph hence the colour sets and composition.

I also tried piling them on top of each other in a neat stack and also in a heap but they didn't work as well.

1)
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2)

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The sweets were placed on an illuminated light box and a silver reflector used in conjunction with a flash.

Nick
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Liking the idea and they are certainly sweet but they feel too overexposed to me?
 
Blank_Canvas said:
Many thanks Lynne for your comment. I really enjoyed doing them. :thumbs:

Week 5 - Secure

My initial thought this week was that 'secure' to me represents a little baby wrapped up in a blanket and held snugly in Mother or Fathers arms. I don't have access to any babies so that got me thinking.

My next thought was a padlock but that didn't sound that interesting or challenging. I don't think anything is particularly secure given the opportunity, inclination and determination of some individuals. A pair of bolt croppers would make light work of a padlock and sadly hundreds of babies go missing from hospitals around the world.

Secure is also quite subjective. One person may consider something to be secure and to others just an easy challenge with a work-arround.

Picture 1

Anyway I digress, this week I decided to get out and go for a walk having spent the last two themes inside the house I came across this disused industrial premises. I have no idea what the business was and there were no visual clues.

I always try to use the cameras manual settings and decided upon the 50mm this week for it's speed and clarity. ISO: 1/60 at F/2.8 (-5 EV exposure compensation)

I shot about 20 different images with differing compositions. Some of you may find the branches in the right foreground a little distracting but i feel they add to the neglect and decay of the scene. A closer crop of the gate looked a bit too clinical.

Secure - well the gate is!. Its chained and padlocked and a pile of bricks and debris prevent it from being opened in a hurry. It wouldn't take much to get in though would it?

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Picture 2

On my way back into the town I came across the below scene behind a local nightclub. I had walked past on numerous occasions but hadn't really taken the information in. I thought this one definitely hits the theme.

Again shot in manual mode with a 24mm lens. ISO 100, 1/800 F/4.5. The CCTV sign was my main PoF as it 'securely' captures images and as I mentioned earlier I didn't want just another padlock shot.

One picture,one wet knee and I was quickly on my way (shoot and scoot !) I didn't particuley wan't be caught taking photographs of security by the club owners or doormen.

A little bit of selective colouring in PSE10 and vignette post-production and here is the result:-

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So two different images from me on this theme this week and I couldn't really make up my mind which one to submit so here are them both and rationale behind them.

As any critique and comments welcome. Many thanks.

Nick
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I definitely prefer number 1, great shot and the urban feel adds to it.

I like the idea of the second shot but think the focus should have been on the lock itself personally.
 
I prefer the second one but its a bit long and the selective colouring on the padlock looks a bit rushed. Other than that good take on the theme :clap:
 
Secure i also prefer the second one
 
I love the security gate with the collapsed sign. Great take in my opinion.
 
Aztec, Mancman, Goblin, Dark Knight, Mike, Stephen, Trevor, Gramps, Sarah, Clawz, Amanda, Carol, Alby, Matt, Phil, Andy, Michael, Alan, Peter, Paul, Ben, Liz and Robert.

Thank you all very much for your feedback this week. I would just like to say in my defense...'I don't have one!' I would like to have spent more time on pic 2. It was literally a grab shot a smaller aperture would have certainly sharpened the padlock but I didn't hang about as I didn't want to upset the 'heavies' life and photography are full of compromises..

I did spend a bit of time on the 1st image though so here is a closer photograph especially for Sarah and in Monochrome for Clawz.

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The good thing about this challenge is that we all learn something new. I have never heard that Red was known as the Photograph's friend Manda!

Thank you all once again.

Nick
 
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The goblin said:
Ooo now I like that one! The composition of the gate going left to right and the building right to left and the overlap really works for me:thumbs:

What's that about red? Is it good to photograph?
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Thank you :) This is what Manda said about red:

manda said:
I really like the first one - mainly because I tend to shoot anything that is red as it is called 'the photographers friend'. I can read a narrative into the image and understand more of the setting whilst knowing the story remains 'secure'.
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Red is certainly a very vibrant colour and being a 'prime' colour it makes sense :thumbs:
 
Hey Nick,

What's this? You've sneeked another shot in here and I have to say I really, really like this one. Imho it's just a much stronger shot than the first version. Wish I could explain why but It's just a gut reaction to the photo. The angle of the gate leads in nicely to the shot, then on to the buildings behind and the broken window. I notice the security mirror, the spikes on the gate. It's interesting and invites the eye to look around and take in the scene. The b&w adds to this shot, although I'm a little biased cause I love b&w photos:

Anyway well done Nick , for me this one ticks all the boxes.
Carol
 
both look good to me :)
 
The goblin said:
Ooo now I like that one! The composition of the gate going left to right and the building right to left and the overlap really works for me:thumbs:
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Me too. And the spikes on top of the gate add extra menace.
 
HI Nick

Secure....now I'm quite partial to a bit of SC so love your 2nd image in the original post...works really well & cctv is supposed to make things secure so right on theme .The addition of the padlock is a nice touch ( if a little oof) & like the POV....nice work mister :clap:
BUT

nit half as nice as your 3rd image....LOVE IT :thumbs: great conversion , nice angle ...really really good :clap: I'd have SC'd the red signs though :lol:
 
Week 6 - Industry

Sir Richard Arkwright is regarded by many as the 'Father of the Industrial Factory.

Yesterday I visited one of his surviving cotton mills - Masson Mill in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. This was built in 1783 and holds some of the worlds oldest textile machinery.

Not only is it now a working textile museum but many of the vast floors have given way to a shopping complex complete with a Costa Coffee.

Weaving loom

My submission this week is this belt-driven weaving loom. It was originally powered by a water wheel and later, the first of James Watts' steam engines to power the loom.

Although the loom is of historical importance the modern pink fabric and all the swaff make for a very vibrant and interesting image IMHO.

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I really prefer monochrome to colour and could't resist also including this photograph of the Bobbin Room. Over 680,000 bobbins are recorded as being in the room which must of been a very tedious job!

Taken with natural light and hand-held, I think this captures the flavour of the old mill.

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Well another week done and dusted, as ever thank you all for your previous comments.

Nick
 
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Oh these are just great and bang on theme in the first one it is the gears that do it for me! the second one well I want to look at everything and try and work it out and what it does great just great fantastic.
 
Can't pick between the two! Both great shots :thumbs:

A close up of just the gears could have been a great shot too.
 
Your best 2 shots to date I think in this adventure Nick, I like the second shot best but both worthy efforts. ;)
 
Nice. A working mill, very nice. The fact it is a working mill really takes it up a level for me and the colour is an added bonus.

#2 if the better for me. B&W works really well as does the hectic feel of the place. Could you have panned right to loose some of the floor on the right??

Cheers.
 
Secure - much prefer the 2nd, a stronger, clearer look and more "secure" looking. The first looks insecure to me for some reason.

Industrial - I like them both but they're crying out for some selective colouring!
 
Really like the shot of the loom I think the colours are great lighting and focus on the gear wheels is spot on :clap:
 
A pair of great images Nick....think #1 takes the honors...the stark color of the material & the swath it leaves really set it off ...lovely n sharp , great detail in the cogs :clap: My onnly thought was....could you have got down slightly lower ? not sure if that would be nicer or not :shrug:

Bobbin room looks fascinating but for me, lacks a little punch...I struggle with mono conversions so am no help I'm afraid :lol:
 
Nick these are two cracking images i really like the contrast between the pink cloth and the old loom in the first, and the B/W conversion of the second really gives the feeling of age
 
Like both industry shots, difficult to chose between them but the sharpness of the B&W I think wins out for me :thumbs:
 
Both shots are great, nice colour from the fabric for the first one...but for me think i prefer no2, nice and sharp:)
 
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