Patrick's 52 for 2011 - Week 31 "Wind"

drodd said:
Hiya Patrick,

I am so glad you went with the 3rd photo of the triptych as your final for bright and wow it looks so beautiful on its own. I love the bokeh of light in the background it looks like the light is dancing around the flowers :) A very beautiful photo indeed.

Onto this week .... wow you are quick off the mark here and well done.

It is right on theme and I love the photo too. Lovely dof and great detail captured in the leopard's eyes, face and fur. :clap:

Now you can sit back and relax for the rest of the week :D

Cheers

Dawn :)
Click to expand...

Hi Dawn, glad you like my final choice for "bright". Sometimes I need to let things stew for a bit to decide what's best.
Thanks for kind comments on "rescue". This was taken through a chain-link fence, so I was suprised to get a sharp shot without the fence blurring things.


Mentalblock said:
I like the Leopard and it fits the theme.
The detail and pose is good and the background isn't distracting.

As Dawn said, you can sit back and relax now, but you have a long wait until the next theme is posted!
Click to expand...

Thanks Neil, not done this type of thing before. Just acquired my first ever telephoto and was keen to give it a try. Normally I do everything with my trusty 50mm f/1.8!


It feels strange to have my entry in so early - I'm usually last to post:lol:
But, got a few togging thing to do this week. I want to re-edit my entry for "empty" - I'm really not happy with it and it's been nagging at me for weeks. Also been asked to do a 1940s style pin-up shoot! No idea of what's involved so could crash and burn there:help:
 
What a beautiful animal...:thumbs:

Well composted, nice and tight, plenty of detail; eye contact would have been the cheery on the cake...

B&W works very well....:exit:

Cheers.
 
Great shot for Rescue... I LOVE it... and defo an animal needing rescued!
 
Hi Patrick

apologies for taking a while to pop in on your post.

Your capture of the Snow Leopard for rescue is just purrrfect , great detail in the markings & whiskers & eyes nice n sharp...very touching :clap:

All has been said about the flowers but really like your final choice for bright...great color , sharpness & detail...good work :thumbs:
 
posiview said:
What a beautiful animal...:thumbs:

Well composted, nice and tight, plenty of detail; eye contact would have been the cheery on the cake...

B&W works very well....:exit:

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Thanks Andy. People often say my pics would be better well composted:lol:

markelliot said:
Great shot for Rescue... I LOVE it... and defo an animal needing rescued!
Click to expand...

Hi Mark, thanks for kind words. Yes it's very sad that this amazing animal is endangered.

kennysarmy said:
Your final BRIGHT and the RESCUE shot are very good indeed - nailed the focus / spot on exposure and great composition....well done there :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff, my first go at this sort of thing. I'm sure it's MUCH harder in the wild.

blondie606 said:
Hi Patrick

apologies for taking a while to pop in on your post.

Your capture of the Snow Leopard for rescue is just purrrfect , great detail in the markings & whiskers & eyes nice n sharp...very touching :clap:

All has been said about the flowers but really like your final choice for bright...great color , sharpness & detail...good work :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks Lynne. The leopard was staying nice and still (waiting to be fed I think) which made things easier.
Glad you liked the flowers pic.

michael23 said:
A very nice photo indeed for rescue, a beautiful creature. Excellent for the theme. Really like the single pic for bright.
Click to expand...

Thank you Michael. The encouraging words keeps me going at this.


Now need to think about "sensual" and avoid NSFW:lol:
 
Not wanting to sound crass, but a bit more of the model may help, I think you've cropped her at the wrong place.

The sense of touch is sensual, but my mind isn't linking sand running through your fingers as sensual, so I'm not sure you've captured the theme.

As for a shot though, it's nice, bar the crop, and I like the sand falling through her fingers. The eyes look good too.
 
patrick..i think its the red thats drawing my eye off.. as usual for me i find but i did try to study before commenting...

As neil said, it could be the crop, the angle of her body. and i think the way her arm is at an awkward angle to the viewer, BUT i think i can see where you were coming from for Sensual ... BUT have not the experience with real life models to say how you improve, turn or crop differently...

thinking cap on here...:bang: ..thinking outside of boxes...:bonk:

could also be the colour of her skin...the red might be infecting my eyes, but her skin is too pale against the sand, and has a distracting red cast to her...:suspect:

maybe a different angle is what it needs, coming more round her head, but then how would you catch the sand, because i like the sand... THAT could be it... a shot of hand sifting sand?
 
I agree with Neil about the crop but a super sensual idea.

Now if you could get just the sand moving (gif image??) that would be stunning!!

Cheers.
 
Hiya Patrick,

Well done on the interpretation of this week's theme for sensual. I think you have captured a great shot here and the model is beautiful.

I like the touch of the sand sifting through her hand ... especially such fine soft sand.

I agree with some of the comments already made regards the crop and tone, so I hope you don't mind but I have done a very quick edit mainly to give my ideas of how a crop would improve the image and also I added a slight warmth to the pic (just say if you want me to remove the photo):

5893282051_cb96384c07.jpg

[/url] patrick's sensual by crystal_singer (drodd), on Flickr[/IMG]

Overall though, I think you have done well this week.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
i have to admit with Dawn's crop i do feel i am looking at the sand far more than anything else.. and the warmth in the photo is helping too.. good call :thumbs:
 
Many thanks all for taking the time to comment and for your thoughtful crit which is definitely helpful. I appreciate it when people give an honest opinion.

I like Dawn's edit - especially I think it needed warming up.

This was a difficult shot to get right and I did quite a few versions of it. One of the worst problems was getting the falling sand to show up against the background. Also the more I faffed around Clare was getting cold lying on the beach. BTW this is same same Clare I did the gymnast shoot with. She also had some uneven sunburn which I was trying to avoid showing too much.

I was aiming to lead the eye to the falling sand with direction of her gaze and the line of her arm.

Here's another edit which is a little different from the other two. I cropped tighter, increased WB, reduced the red, brightened her eyes a little as they were dark.

5894189381_a027f18507_z.jpg
 
Hiya Patrick,

Yep your last edit is spot on and looks great :clap:

Well done to Clare too for modelling again ... you make a great team ;)

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Just shows you how important composition is in photography.

Your original was good but with Dawn's edit it works even better!!
 
Hi Patrick

great idea for Sensual & well shot :thumbs: Think I possibly prefer Dawns cropped version but your image captures the sensual feeling of soft sand running through her fingers sooo well...the look in her eye's give's it away ...great work :clap:
 
Sorry Patrick,

But the pose is all wrong IMHO. The arm starts at the elbow, and seems displaced with no upper arm in sight. The creases above her breast and under her armpit are distracting. Her neck looks awkward, and her wrist obscures the only really interesting texture in the shot, her hair.

The idea is great, and the model is perfect, and the location looks like it offers so much potential.

I love the really good catch light in her eyes, they really make her face sparkle. It is a shame you didn't make more of the lights, and maybe back light the sand falling through her fingers, and try a different pose.
As she has good skin, looks young and attractive, and is on a beach, maybe a gold reflector or orange gel would have given her that sensual beach look that you associate with a summer beach photo.
Also, the new crop is an improvement, but it still crops across her breasts, and just doesn’t look right with that displaced arm.

Hope this is ok.

Rgds

Adie
 
Hi Patrick... I'm no portrait tog either but for me like adie above this pose is awkward... It does not look natural and hence not very sensual!

Sorry to sound so negative but I just think this pic needs more work. The model almost looks dead!

I'd have gone for something of a more sexual nature if im really honest with such a model... without being smutty if you get me.
 
drodd said:
Hiya Patrick,

Yep your last edit is spot on and looks great :clap:

Well done to Clare too for modelling again ... you make a great team ;)

Cheers

Dawn :)
Click to expand...

SamuelSlade007 said:
works for me too...go patrick go patrick..yeah!!!! .... :thumbs:
Click to expand...

posiview said:
Just shows you how important composition is in photography.

Your original was good but with Dawn's edit it works even better!!
Click to expand...

Mentalblock said:
I found the crop between the breasts in the first take odd.
I was thinking more of the body would be required, but this works very well.
Click to expand...

michael23 said:
A lovely photo, Dawn's crop is great, and your 2nd version is the better one of your 2. Composition is spot on now, and the sand moving through the fingers is great. :thumbs:
Click to expand...

blondie606 said:
Hi Patrick

great idea for Sensual & well shot :thumbs: Think I possibly prefer Dawns cropped version but your image captures the sensual feeling of soft sand running through her fingers sooo well...the look in her eye's give's it away ...great work :clap:
Click to expand...

Webby962 said:
Sorry Patrick,

But the pose is all wrong IMHO. The arm starts at the elbow, and seems displaced with no upper arm in sight. The creases above her breast and under her armpit are distracting. Her neck looks awkward, and her wrist obscures the only really interesting texture in the shot, her hair.

The idea is great, and the model is perfect, and the location looks like it offers so much potential.

I love the really good catch light in her eyes, they really make her face sparkle. It is a shame you didn't make more of the lights, and maybe back light the sand falling through her fingers, and try a different pose.
As she has good skin, looks young and attractive, and is on a beach, maybe a gold reflector or orange gel would have given her that sensual beach look that you associate with a summer beach photo.
Also, the new crop is an improvement, but it still crops across her breasts, and just doesn’t look right with that displaced arm.

Hope this is ok.

Rgds

Adie
Click to expand...

markelliot said:
Hi Patrick... I'm no portrait tog either but for me like adie above this pose is awkward... It does not look natural and hence not very sensual!

Sorry to sound so negative but I just think this pic needs more work. The model almost looks dead!

I'd have gone for something of a more sexual nature if im really honest with such a model... without being smutty if you get me.
Click to expand...


Hi people, many thanks for taking the time to comment. Looks like this is a bit of a Marmite pic = love it or hate it. But either way, I'll certainly take on board all your suggestions and thoughts.

Cheers, Patrick
 
When I first saw this view today it was rainy with a dull overcast sky. There were about a dozen people with DSLRs taking pics - some sort of club or course maybe. Anyway, I went off for a bun and cup of tea, and when I came back the togs were gone and this beautiful sky had appeared.

5919140797_4a8c2db445_b.jpg
 
Mr P..glad to hear they'd taken the weather with them....and you got a bun and some char in at the same time... :thumbs:

like the low angle, the spire in the arch, shadows to fore with beautiful sky..some will pick holes...but thats just the greenkeeper scarring off the moles...
 
Hiya Patrick

Well done on your photo for 'elaborate' and indeed it looks an elaborate building.

I like how you have framed the building and how fortunate for you to get the blue sky with a few fluffy clouds.

A lovely sharp photograph :clap:

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Hi Patrick, lovely shot for elaborate and it certainly fits the theme.
I always like shots with that frame within a frame thing and this one definitely hits the mark. Just enough detail in the pillars to give some interest, but not enough to distract from the main image - which IMO is very well composed and has some gorgeous colours.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma over the converging verticals. Part of me would like to see them pulled straight, but part of me thinks that they give a sense of height and scale.

BTW, what does the inscription say on the wall to the right? - can't quite read it.
 
Hi Patrick,

I too like the frame in the frame thing going on here, it really works well with the spire and the window arch.

I would prefer the bottom to be cropped a little, just to lose the shadows on the lawn.

However, the biggest thing for me is the sky, it looks false and supper-imposed.

Great shot though.
 
SamuelSlade007 said:
Mr P..glad to hear they'd taken the weather with them....and you got a bun and some char in at the same time... :thumbs:

like the low angle, the spire in the arch, shadows to fore with beautiful sky..some will pick holes...but thats just the greenkeeper scarring off the moles...
Click to expand...

Hi Kev, they do very nice tea and cake at Norwich cathedral - reasonably priced too:lol:. Thanks for comment on pic too.

drodd said:
Hiya Patrick

Well done on your photo for 'elaborate' and indeed it looks an elaborate building.

I like how you have framed the building and how fortunate for you to get the blue sky with a few fluffy clouds.

A lovely sharp photograph :clap:

Cheers

Dawn :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Dawn, I really suffered for my art with this one. Being forced to come back again for the better sky.:)

SarahLee said:
Hi Patrick, lovely shot for elaborate and it certainly fits the theme.
I always like shots with that frame within a frame thing and this one definitely hits the mark. Just enough detail in the pillars to give some interest, but not enough to distract from the main image - which IMO is very well composed and has some gorgeous colours.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma over the converging verticals. Part of me would like to see them pulled straight, but part of me thinks that they give a sense of height and scale.

BTW, what does the inscription say on the wall to the right? - can't quite read it.
Click to expand...

Hi Sarah, many thanks for your comments. I did adjust the converging verticals a bit in Lightroom, but it looked wierd if they were parallel.

The inscription is a memorial stone. There are hundreds and hundreds all over the cathedral. Can't remember who this one is to.

Mentalblock said:
Hi Patrick,

I too like the frame in the frame thing going on here, it really works well with the spire and the window arch.

I would prefer the bottom to be cropped a little, just to lose the shadows on the lawn.

However, the biggest thing for me is the sky, it looks false and supper-imposed.

Great shot though.
Click to expand...

Hi Neil, I agree that the crop isn't quite right. I did try various crops, and this was the one that seemed best. I can see what you mean about the sky. It looks slightly HDR, but it really did look like that. I hardly touched the sky in PP.


Many thanks for all comment, Patrick :)
 
Last edited:
Hi Patrick


great shot for Elaborate & fits the theme really well . Nice n sharp & a great sky :thumbs:
For me...I can't help thinking that a tighter crop on the left to just where the pillar is may have worked better...would still have framed the main subject but...struggling to put it in to words:'(

Love the shot anyway :thumbs:
 
blondie606 said:
Hi Patrick


great shot for Elaborate & fits the theme really well . Nice n sharp & a great sky :thumbs:
For me...I can't help thinking that a tighter crop on the left to just where the pillar is may have worked better...would still have framed the main subject but...struggling to put it in to words:'(

Love the shot anyway :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Hi Lynne, I think I see what you mean. Feel free to post a different crop if you want.
 
Hi Patrick

I like your shot... but I'm just not sure about it! I think its the verticals throwing my eyes off but it looks squint to me!

I'd maybe crop the shadows on the grass away too... Or crop to the left pillar so the archway windows the background image... I dont know!

It's just one of those not sure ones for me... but so hard to get right without the right sorta lens.

Great spot though... good work!

M
 
Super photograph and well spotted.

Nice detail and lovely sky.

I do agree with the left hand pillar being a tad distracting so I had a quick edit. I added a border, just felt it needed one.

Cheers and I'll remove if needed.


Tower NOT MINE by andysheader, on Flickr
 
markelliot said:
Hi Patrick

I like your shot... but I'm just not sure about it! I think its the verticals throwing my eyes off but it looks squint to me!

I'd maybe crop the shadows on the grass away too... Or crop to the left pillar so the archway windows the background image... I dont know!

It's just one of those not sure ones for me... but so hard to get right without the right sorta lens.

Great spot though... good work!

M
Click to expand...

Hi Mark, thanks for comments and kind words. I tried different crops and rotations and verticals corrections, but the one I posted seemed best. I would have needed a wider view to fully correct the verticals.

posiview said:
Super photograph and well spotted.

Nice detail and lovely sky.

I do agree with the left hand pillar being a tad distracting so I had a quick edit. I added a border, just felt it needed one.

Cheers and I'll remove if needed.
Click to expand...

Hi Andy, thanks for reply. Interesting crop. Being an awkward b****r I going to say I still prefer mine lol. Personally I'm going off borders more and more, but I know a lot of people like them.

kennysarmy said:
Great framing :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Jeff.

Many thanks for all replies, which are all appreciated. Patrick :)
 
Hi Patrick, in trying to catch up I have been looking back over the past few weeks images:

Elaborate: cracking image with great composition and framing of the subject:7

Rescue: That is one pretty cat. Its a pity that this type of magnificant creature is under threat>

Broken: Brill idea and well executed. You can tell that you spent a bit of time with this one. the sutter speed is perfect to achieve the motion blur so well.

Sensual: another great idea and you and the model have achieved your aim of her eyes leading yours to the falling sand. Great composition!!

Hidden: If I'm honest Im not keen on all these shots but the last one is great.

I hope to get more time to drop in over the rest of this 52. Great stuff, keep it going
 
McNyat said:
Hi Patrick, in trying to catch up I have been looking back over the past few weeks images:

Elaborate: cracking image with great composition and framing of the subject:7

Rescue: That is one pretty cat. Its a pity that this type of magnificant creature is under threat>

Broken: Brill idea and well executed. You can tell that you spent a bit of time with this one. the sutter speed is perfect to achieve the motion blur so well.

Sensual: another great idea and you and the model have achieved your aim of her eyes leading yours to the falling sand. Great composition!!

Hidden: If I'm honest Im not keen on all these shots but the last one is great.

I hope to get more time to drop in over the rest of this 52. Great stuff, keep it going
Click to expand...

Hi Ciaran, thanks for your detailed comments.

I am now officially over due with my week 28 shot for "Celebrate" and no ideas except really obvious/cliched. May end up playing a joker. Ho hum...
 
Great composition with the framing for elaborate Patrick. My first impression was the same as Neil's in that the sky looked false. Spent a bit more time viewing it and I think it's the sharpness of the building that gives the sky a false look.
Andy's crop looks quite good but I think your original placement of the tower in the shot works better. Might be worth spending the time to clone out the pillar on top left?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top