weekly pjm1's TP52 in 2016 - week 31 Fauna

Hi Paul, interesting take on the theme, I didnt make the connection right away, but with the help of your description it works....oh how I would love to bury the throttle of a sports car through that scene :naughty:
 
There you go :)

Nice warm light.

I'd prefer leff of the LHS drainage, but I can see if you moved to the right you'd loose the distant bend in the road.

Nice rays of sunlight on the sky.

Job done, move on :thumbs:

Cheers.
 
Rob E said:
Hi Paul, interesting take on the theme, I didnt make the connection right away, but with the help of your description it works....oh how I would love to bury the throttle of a sports car through that scene :naughty:
Click to expand...

Thanks! Well, since you asked Rob... http://imgur.com/y4wmnrA Although at 4 degrees and that many bends there wasn't tooo much burying going on :)

posiview said:
There you go :)

Nice warm light.

I'd prefer leff of the LHS drainage, but I can see if you moved to the right you'd loose the distant bend in the road.

Nice rays of sunlight on the sky.

Job done, move on (y)

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Thanks Andy. For some reason I wanted to get the road line central (ish) - it just felt right, but on reflection I'm not so sure. The light was what made me stop - pretty much the first time I'd seen that yellow disc (nearly) for weeks!

Cheers and looking forward to Friday :)
 
Last edited:
Hi Paul, I see what you were doing with the line being central but i would have taken it from the centre of the road, let the road be the lead in,
but saying that I do like it
the road just going on is appealing as is the isolation, very well processed too you have used the sun to your benefit
 
Hi Paul now that's my sort of road to drive the classic down

Great take on the theme love how the road pulls you further into the picture, some great lighting too
 
alsjazzera said:
Hi Paul, I see what you were doing with the line being central but i would have taken it from the centre of the road, let the road be the lead in,
but saying that I do like it
the road just going on is appealing as is the isolation, very well processed too you have used the sun to your benefit
Click to expand...

Hi Allan, thanks for the comments which are helpful. I've had a play around, moving the road slightly more central (by cropping in from the left) and it does strengthen the composition. The processing is fairly full on, but hopefully I've stopped short of the ghastly HDR-max type of thing. Cheers!

Downton Mini said:
Hi Paul now that's my sort of road to drive the classic down

Great take on the theme love how the road pulls you further into the picture, some great lighting too
Click to expand...

Hi Mark, thank you. We do have some good roads - at this time of year they can be a bit icy though, which is a bit hairy! Glad you liked the picture and the lighting was what pulled me in (or over!) in the first place :)
 
I like the submission this week, partly because I wish I was there! (I used to live in the Highlands but am in Glasgow now).

I like the colours and the exposure itself is spot on. The composition is annoying me slightly as I'd love to see a sweeping bend going from bottom right, left and right again toward the top of the shot. Not much you can do about that though I'm guessing!

Well done, good image :)
 
Hi Paul.

I'm no expert on composition and would have most likely took form the same spot. Works for me, always like to see the detail and glinting light off the tarmac.

Gaz
 
Ian W said:
I like the submission this week, partly because I wish I was there! (I used to live in the Highlands but am in Glasgow now).

I like the colours and the exposure itself is spot on. The composition is annoying me slightly as I'd love to see a sweeping bend going from bottom right, left and right again toward the top of the shot. Not much you can do about that though I'm guessing!

Well done, good image :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Ian, glad it resonates... although this was shot in Inverclyde, not the Highlands so not that far from you! There were so many bends, I could have picked pretty much any configuration... but I was worried about the light disappearing for another few months so wanted to grab something ;) Glad you liked it.

cargo said:
Hi Paul.

I'm no expert on composition and would have most likely took form the same spot. Works for me, always like to see the detail and glinting light off the tarmac.

Gaz
Click to expand...

Hi Gaz, thanks for the kind words and glad you like it. When you see that magical light, you just have to act!

Ok, as an extra, here is the abandoned shot I was planning on using before the road one grabbed me. I still prefer the road one, but this one is probably more "classically" on theme. I'll call it an official first reserve ;)


Alternative Week 5: Abandoned by Paul M, on Flickr
 
Yer works too. Good lead in but do prefer the first as you did.

Gaz
 
Wow! That shot's got a lot going for it Paul - I particularly like the brook running beside the road and the road tapering off into the distance. There's not many better places than Scotland for beautiful landscapes - almost every bend in the road, every glance in the rearview mirror produces a new panorama. Just seen the follow on shots too. The coo looks good to me - like the POV. The "reserve" is lovely too with those muddy tracks leading up the building. :clap:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Carl Ayling said:
Wow! That shot's got a lot going for it Paul - I particularly like the brook running beside the road and the road tapering off into the distance. There's not many better places than Scotland for beautiful landscapes - almost every bend in the road, every glance in the rearview mirror produces a new panorama. Just seen the follow on shots too. The coo looks good to me - like the POV. The "reserve" is lovely too with those muddy tracks leading up the building. :clap:
Click to expand...

Thanks Carl... Glad you enjoyed them. I had really been struggling for inspiration and was getting fed up with the weather being persistently "dreich". Sometimes you just have to wait and keep your fingers crossed!
 
I like your first shot for Abandoned. It looks well composed to me considering the landscape you were working with. I would say the second shot works better for leading you in, but overall the first takes it for me.
Both great shots though :clap:
 
Ooh - I like that first shot. The tones are beautiful and I love the way the light rays illuminate the water in the distance. I also like the echoing of the this water with the channel on the lhs - I think you would have lost a lot of this if you had moved to the right?
 
Metal - Great image, the colours look stunning against the dark background.
Happy - A beautiful portrait of a lovely happy little girl.
Capture - amazing!!
Miniature - Lovely simple image.
Abandoned - Think I like the second one best but both are beautiful images which fit the theme.
 
Nice set of images, metal has some lovely colour, nice compo,
lovely take on happy, nice and natural,
nice thinking on capture,
like your last take on abandoned, looks a film set could be in the making
 
Paul, No critique from me. A really good shot,
 
Great Abandoned shot Paul and sorry I haven't looked in before. You chose the right shot imho as the composition is spot on and the light very well judged. The eye leads you in but there is also much to see around the road. The abandoned cottage is just a but meh for me. The colours aren't as good and the composition is a little too central for my taste although it looks a lot better if you crop off the bottom third.
 
I think you chose well for Abandoned. My favourite's definitely the first one of the road - lovely colours, well composed and very atmospheric. (y)
 
pjm1 said:
Thanks Ian, glad it resonates... although this was shot in Inverclyde, not the Highlands so not that far from you! There were so many bends, I could have picked pretty much any configuration... but I was worried about the light disappearing for another few months so wanted to grab something ;) Glad you liked it.
Click to expand...

Well I never!

Glad to see I still have such beautiful views on my doorstep, though to be fair i can see right across to Ben Lomond from the hill behind my house so it's not like I can forget.

I think they're just fewer and further between is all :)
 
Rowee said:
I like your first shot for Abandoned. It looks well composed to me considering the landscape you were working with. I would say the second shot works better for leading you in, but overall the first takes it for me.
Both great shots though :clap:
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark... agree completely and I think with a slight tweak to the composition on the first could have strengthened it, but...

Emja said:
Ooh - I like that first shot. The tones are beautiful and I love the way the light rays illuminate the water in the distance. I also like the echoing of the this water with the channel on the lhs - I think you would have lost a lot of this if you had moved to the right?
Click to expand...

That's an interesting contrast in view, Emma - thank you for seeing something in that composition. The consensus seems to be a more centrally positioned road would work better, but you're right that losing too much of the stream wouldn't be good. Thank you :)

sparrow said:
Metal - Great image, the colours look stunning against the dark background.
Happy - A beautiful portrait of a lovely happy little girl.
Capture - amazing!!
Miniature - Lovely simple image.
Abandoned - Think I like the second one best but both are beautiful images which fit the theme.
Click to expand...

Thanks Liz - glad you liked them and appreciate your preference on Abandoned. Maybe not quite as clear cut as I assumed between the two shots!
 
wallyboy said:
Nice set of images, metal has some lovely colour, nice compo,
lovely take on happy, nice and natural,
nice thinking on capture,
like your last take on abandoned, looks a film set could be in the making
Click to expand...

Thanks Walter. Another vote for my reserve shot! Only downside to filming there is it would be pretty dreary weather for 3/4 of the year (if not more!) :)

purplepleaser said:
Paul, No critique from me. A really good shot,
Click to expand...

Thanks Lee!

Bruja said:
Great Abandoned shot Paul and sorry I haven't looked in before. You chose the right shot imho as the composition is spot on and the light very well judged. The eye leads you in but there is also much to see around the road. The abandoned cottage is just a but meh for me. The colours aren't as good and the composition is a little too central for my taste although it looks a lot better if you crop off the bottom third.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the comments and feedback... I really appreciate you taking the time to crit the reserve shot as well. I agree it's not perfect - or close to it - and only really included it because it was slightly more obviously "on theme". I love empty roads and low sun (although less the latter when I'm still driving!) so the first ticks the boxes for me too. Cheers for looking and commenting :)
 
XenosElaine said:
I think you chose well for Abandoned. My favourite's definitely the first one of the road - lovely colours, well composed and very atmospheric. (y)
Click to expand...

Thanks Elaine - that seems to be the favourite and glad it worked for you. I just need some slightly better weather to get out and take some more now :)

Ian W said:
Well I never!

Glad to see I still have such beautiful views on my doorstep, though to be fair i can see right across to Ben Lomond from the hill behind my house so it's not like I can forget.

I think they're just fewer and further between is all :)
Click to expand...

To be fair, we're used to seeing our neighbourhood pretty dreich although the Argyll hills are some sight, especially when snow-covered. We had some stupedenous views from our top floor when we used to live in the Port. Clyde Muirshiel (which was basically where this was) is pretty good for photos on a decent day.

Looking forward to seeing what we can all come up with for Camouflage. At least it's not "Celebration" as it was a big birthday for my wife and her sister yesterday and it would have been a shame to miss out on opportunities for the sake of 24 hours!! I think next week's trip up Cairngorm might give me some opportunities. Ptarmigan in their winter plumage etc...
 
Abandoned, I think I prefer the sad old cow, Paul, it seems to be hitching, but at least walking its on the correct side of the road :D
 
Cobra said:
Abandoned, I think I prefer the sad old cow, Paul, it seems to be hitching, but at least walking its on the correct side of the road :D
Click to expand...

You, preferring a shot of an animal? No, I don't believe it. Who's hacked your login, eh? :p

Given it was a single-track road with passing places, I'm not entirely sure whether there is a "correct" side!

All joking aside though, thanks for looking. I need just as much inspiration for camouflage, I think!!
 
Hi Paul

Abandoned #1 yes this is a slightly different take I like very much. And what a beautiful scene, with those rays!

My eye is drawn to the gully/ditch ... looks so clean, sensible, efficient with water flowing like a little river.
 
LOved the first "abandoned" when I saw it, but adore the latest one.
My kinda place.

(Love miniature too) :-)
 
d00d said:
Hi Paul

Abandoned #1 yes this is a slightly different take I like very much. And what a beautiful scene, with those rays!

My eye is drawn to the gully/ditch ... looks so clean, sensible, efficient with water flowing like a little river.
Click to expand...

Hi David - glad you like it and I have to say it's one of those shots that I wasn't sure if it would work (shooting into the sun, slightly different composition) but I'm very happy with it. For some reason the ditch only appeared to be on one side - so if the wind is blowing the water the other way across the road it'll just flood! Doh...

viv1969 said:
LOved the first "abandoned" when I saw it, but adore the latest one.
My kinda place.

(Love miniature too) :)
Click to expand...

Hi Ruth - glad they worked for you. I went out hoping to get the second (the abandoned cottage) but I'll be honest and say I personally prefer the first (road shot). It's good to have some difference of opinions though - it's what makes stuff like this more fun!

Miniature was fun to do, compositionally - I was in one of those moods for negative space and enjoyed setting up the lighting.

Family party today at which I've been asked to do some photography. It's actually my wife's (and her sister's) birthday party, so in a way there's no pressure, but I haven't done much "crowd" shooting before. I'll have a strobe set up near the band etc, which we can also use for cake shots and speeches etc. Will probably take my 17-55mm f/2.8 as a walkabout and also my fast 50mm prime just in case I need to make the most of less light (although shooting at f/1.8 isn't ideal if you want to capture more than one person in the shot!)

Any other tips from people who've done it before? I don't have an on camera flash diffuser, so I might need to make one!
 
Hi Paul

Just catching up and found your thread.
Some really impressive shots - Captive is my favourite, brilliant take on the theme and extremely well executed.
Lovely portrait of your daughter and I really like the natural feel to it, from the favourite toys to the natural lighting.
And Road to Nowhere was definitely the right choice IMO.
Looking forward to seeing more over the coming weeks and months.
:clap:
 
Hi Paul :)

Captive - Wow... I love that, I enjoyed the 'how to' image by image too, but you lost me totally, couldn't be better in my opinion :clap:

Miniature - Although nothing for size comparison, the shot works perfectly well for the theme with how you have included it picked out on the top 1/3, liking the the mass of black background :)

Abandoned - What a great shot for the theme, and just when you least expect it, a great empty road, a moody sky and super sun-rays burning through... love it :thumbs:

Gose to show you should always have your camera with you :)
 
Jon.P.73 said:
Miniature - love the negative space and composition and works brilliantly with the lighting

Abandoned - the 1st (road) works best for me - you can almost imagine being there, alone, looking at the wonderful scenery and thinking "oh ****" :D
Click to expand...

Thanks Jon! I was pretty happy with both of those shots for different reasons. This week might be more of a challenge, but I enjoy that :)

Pads1980 said:
Hi Paul

Just catching up and found your thread.
Some really impressive shots - Captive is my favourite, brilliant take on the theme and extremely well executed.
Lovely portrait of your daughter and I really like the natural feel to it, from the favourite toys to the natural lighting.
And Road to Nowhere was definitely the right choice IMO.
Looking forward to seeing more over the coming weeks and months.
:clap:
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for the detailed catch-up, Paul. Captive was fun to do and the only thing I found is that with a more complicated composite like that, you always see ways to improve it. I want to do better next time! Thanks for the nice comments on the others too... it's going to get harder from here as I think I've been on a bit of a lucky roll :)

Dark Knight said:
Hi Paul :)

Captive - Wow... I love that, I enjoyed the 'how to' image by image too, but you lost me totally, couldn't be better in my opinion :clap:

Miniature - Although nothing for size comparison, the shot works perfectly well for the theme with how you have included it picked out on the top 1/3, liking the the mass of black background :)

Abandoned - What a great shot for the theme, and just when you least expect it, a great empty road, a moody sky and super sun-rays burning through... love it (y)

Gose to show you should always have your camera with you :)
Click to expand...

Hi Dean, thanks for catching up... glad the composite worked for you too. A tweak here or there but I'm pleased with it as a first attempt - cheers!

Thanks for the positive comments on the others and you're right - always keep that camera close to hand just in case!

LC2 said:
Okay, you got me. I was already humming "You're on a Road to Nowhere" before flicking across to your thread from the main one. :clap:
Click to expand...

Sorry Tim :) It's not a bad song though!

Well, in other news Mrs pjm's party on Saturday went well. I didn't bother with fixed lights - I made a Heath Robinson flash diffuser to use on camera. It looked a bit phallic, stuck on the end of my flash but it worked a treat in getting the flash away from the camera a bit and diffused the blast a fair bit. And everyone found it particular amusing - especially when half cut at the end of the evening :) I reckon I took about 100 shots, of which 40 were pretty useable. Not a bad return for me! They were all far from professional, but I was enjoying the party... and the Deuchars.
 
Abandoned - very well executed, oh how I miss Scotland it's such a beautiful place, I even like the cow pic even if his/her feet are clipped. I am full of the dreaded cold, so sorry it's a short but sweet comment.
 
Pinkbikerbabe said:
Abandoned - very well executed, oh how I miss Scotland it's such a beautiful place, I even like the cow pic even if his/her feet are clipped. I am full of the dreaded cold, so sorry it's a short but sweet comment.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mandy - I appreciate you stopping in to comment. Shooting the cow pic was a bit of a struggle with back button focus and trying to drive my car with one hand at the same time!

Right, per my post on the discussion thread, I wasn't able to get any of the shots I vaguely had in mind for Camouflage. The conditions weren't quite as favourable as I hoped, although I did manage to walk up from the car park to the summit of Cairn Gorm on Wednesday morning before the ski lifts started up - not helped by the snow gates still being closed at 6.30am though...

Visibility was ok up to about 850m and then it got progressively worse. Which was a shame as the snow cover below that was patchier, so it didn't really work for the whole camouflage idea. I took some pretty enough shots of stuff, but nothing that worked. I even managed a selfie with my camera balanced on a bit of fencing, which I might post later on :)

Here is my submission from the following day, when we were all together, skiing. It was at the top of the Ptarmigan bowl - for any of you who know the mountain - and was looking across vaguely summit-wards. It's really not as good as I hoped, but it's all I have, so it's going to have to do!


Week 6: Camouflage by Paul M, on Flickr

(hopefully I'll get some leeway having walked up the bloody mountain the day before to no avail, photo-wise... carrying my skis and ski boots all the way!)
 
Not sure what I'm looking at Paul - a barrier of some sort? Whatever, it is well and truly camouflaged by the snow - hardly visible. I like the watery sky and the gradual blending of the snow into it. Lovely
 
Yup - it's got me foxed, too! I think I'd really like this without the whatever-it-is - I find the pole so close to the sun distracting, but without it the textures of the snow, misty graduation and colours are really soothing in a very minimalist way. You could pretend there's something buried under the snow ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top