weekly Quicksnapper's 52 week challenge ... Week 19 - "Household" added

Relax, it like the way it all fits in together,
But as Summer said there is a black "Halo" around the bottle,
maybe try turning the blacks up a bit would lose the other grey area's too (Background)
I can't say too much as I've done that also ;)
 
Hi, nicely composed and perfect for the theme but the lighting is not doing it any favours
 
sturisoma said:
I hope you don't mind my advice but this is all about improving our work n'est pa?

I can see a black line around the top of the wine bottle. No idea what has caused it :p

but I have been using the 52s to learn how to use light, and I think you could vastly improve this shot by putting a light behind the subject. It will add definition to the edges of the glass and bottle. You need to position the light behind a piece of black card or cloth so that the light only just appears around the edges of the backdrop to put light onto the edge of your glassware. Best thing is to experiment as that's what I did. I hope this makes sense and you don't mind me making suggestions.

some good ideas here
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Thanks Summer. I'm aware of the line and have no idea what caused it either. Thanks for sending the link. It's exactly the type of resource I need to read up as I have good gear (tent, lights etc) but am really just getting to grips with learning how to use it. I've been out all day today, so the tent is still set up on the table from last night, so might try it again taking into account your suggestions. I don't mind at all other folks making suggestions about how to improve things. Always happyto learn. :)
 
alsjazzera said:
Hi, nicely composed and perfect for the theme but the lighting is not doing it any favours
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Thanks. I agree having looked at it again .... It's still set up on the table, so might give it another go .... Watch this space ...
 
d00d said:
Adventurous stuff. (y)
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Thanks David. Not got it 100% right, but it was something I wanted to try anyway. I'm still learning, so may give it another go if I have time tomorrow. Maybe photography by candle light in pitch darkness will become a new trend. Thank goodness for tripods!! :)

... And the best bit is, I still have all that chocolate and wine to finish off ....!!
 
Hi Sara, lovely composition there, it really sums up the week's theme very well, and you have the bonus of eating & drinking the props :-)
 
Dem55 said:
Hi Sara, lovely composition there, it really sums up the week's theme very well, and you have the bonus of eating & drinking the props :)
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Thanks Lorraine. Clearly there was some method in my madness. :rolleyes: Might still have another go at it to see if I can get the light a tiny bit better. As someone has said, there's a funny line round the bottle for some reason .... Maybe a bit of actual light might help ....!! Onwards and upwards ...
 
Following on from what Summer said I thought I'd stick my oar in too. I've been doing quite a bit o experimenting with lights and stuff against a black background. It's worth googling "Dark Field Lighting" and having a read (thats what I've been using). If I was setting up the shot, I would have 1 light directly behind inside a softbox, Place a piece piece of black foam core in front (this is your background). Reflect the light back using 2 pieces of white foam core placed at approx 4 and 8 o'clock (assuming camera is at 6). I would then use a second light (fitted with a snoot or grid, you can use rolled up car or paper to create snoot), this would be aimed at the CD and positioned at about 8 so the light clipped the front of the candle and illuminated the chocolates and CD. I'm not sure what equipment you've got but thats just what I would do. In fact I'd prob go further and stick a third gelled light behind pointing at the background, but thats just me :)

However like I said I don't know what kit you have so I will now critique on that basis. Personally I think it is a well thought out and well presented shot and definitely on theme. Given the light techniques you have done well and bought out the detail in the label and the chocolates, I'm not sure whats caused the halo, but if I was testing the low light capabilities of the 6D, why not bump up the ISO to maybe ISO 400 or 800, which will allow you to drop the shutter by 2-3 stops in case its something in the long exposure noise reduction.

Overall a (y) from me, oh and if you need any tips on what to do with the left over wine and choke, I'm happy to oblige ;)
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
Following on from what Summer said I thought I'd stick my oar in too. I've been doing quite a bit o experimenting with lights and stuff against a black background. It's worth googling "Dark Field Lighting" and having a read (thats what I've been using). If I was setting up the shot, I would have 1 light directly behind inside a softbox, Place a piece piece of black foam core in front (this is your background). Reflect the light back using 2 pieces of white foam core placed at approx 4 and 8 o'clock (assuming camera is at 6). I would then use a second light (fitted with a snoot or grid, you can use rolled up car or paper to create snoot), this would be aimed at the CD and positioned at about 8 so the light clipped the front of the candle and illuminated the chocolates and CD. I'm not sure what equipment you've got but thats just what I would do. In fact I'd prob go further and stick a third gelled light behind pointing at the background, but thats just me :)

However like I said I don't know what kit you have so I will now critique on that basis. Personally I think it is a well thought out and well presented shot and definitely on theme. Given the light techniques you have done well and bought out the detail in the label and the chocolates, I'm not sure whats caused the halo, but if I was testing the low light capabilities of the 6D, why not bump up the ISO to maybe ISO 400 or 800, which will allow you to drop the shutter by 2-3 stops in case its something in the long exposure noise reduction.

Overall a (y) from me, oh and if you need any tips on what to do with the left over wine and choke, I'm happy to oblige ;)
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Gosh, thanks for the detailed response, Chris. My lighting "set up" comprised the candle in the image and a small torch with a slightly flat battery!! The shot was taken at night so no ambient daylight, lights off in a dark room. Having read your response, I am happy to admit that none of that would have occurred to me!! ... but I'm happy to read any source people can recommend and I'll certainly follow up on your recommendation. As for gear, I have a large tent, a couple of floor mounted lights (each with 3 x 5000k bulbs, which I didn't use for this shot!) and a selection of torches, desk lamps and other amateur stuff. Your suggestion to bump up the ISO (this was shot at 100) and reduce the time might be a good one, and I'll try it next time. The shot was taken using the candle, supplemented by the torch shining on the CD case for about half the time - 6-7 seconds - before being switched off.

This challenge for me has become a way of providing inspiration to try a few new things (like this) ... if they work, then great. If not, then I've learned something and had a bit of fun along the way.

Also ...... Thank you, but sadly, your offer to help "tidy up" the props has come too late ..... :rolleyes::rolleyes: ... you never know though, Sarah may pull out "tasty", "yummy" or "cheers" tomorrow ....!! :):)
 
If you google Dark field lighting, I'm sure some of the videos I watched used desk lights, dependant on power you could use the torch as the second gridded light.

My reasons for doing this is to learn and practice new subjects, also to inspire others, so you're welcome :)
 
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Well done for the experimentation with the lighting Sara as it's all gobbledygook to me. I really like the composition and sounds like a really good way to relax (y)
 
Week 9 - Vertical ...

Here's one I took yesterday at the TP meet at The National Memorial Arboretum. The memorial is called Shot At Dawn and features the white statue of a young soldier, blind-folded, hands tied behind his back and a circular "target" hanging around his neck ... The poles bear the names of the many men who met their fate in this tragic way.

I thought the mono conversion suited the subject well and the close crop framed the statue.

ShotatDawn4 by NittyNattyNora, on Flickr
 
Hi Sara, we seem to have gone with the same idea although totally different interpretations thankfully, you have more verticals than me

remember saying yesterday about some crit on your last shot, looking back at your thread seems it might have been me :wideyed: :coat: :ROFLMAO:

will try harder
 
alsjazzera said:
Hi Sara, we seem to have gone with the same idea although totally different interpretations thankfully, you have more verticals than me

remember saying yesterday about some crit on your last shot, looking back at your thread seems it might have been me :wideyed: :coat: :ROFLMAO:

will try harder
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Lol ... I did the same. Never mind. As we said, it's only a game!!! .... But I agree the lighting wasn't perfect on the wine bottle shot, but at least I tried. We're still friends .....

:)
 
Hi Sara,

Vertical - I like the way you've composed this and the black & white works very well.
 
I had no idea ... TP-ers go to a TP-ers meet and take their cameras with them!

But this is beautiful ... the hands clasped behind the back of the about to be executed.

Brilliant composition Sara with the verticals in the FG.
 
d00d said:
I had no idea ... TP-ers go to a TP-ers meet and take their cameras with them!

But this is beautiful ... the hands clasped behind the back of the about to be executed.

Brilliant composition Sara with the verticals in the FG.
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Thanks David. Yes we were well geared up on Saturday!!! If you've never visited the NMA its well worth a trip.

The figure/statue has his hands bound behind him and a wooden "target" round his neck against his chest (see Alsjazzera's image) which, apparently, the firing squad were supposed to aim at. A horrifying thought ....
 
Hi, Sara, this is the most moving part of the memorial. When I go there I really get a sense of the fear the boy, and he was a boy, must have felt. A very moving and different interpretation here.

It works, end of :thumbs:

Cheers.
 
Black and White works perfectly for the image, and the image fits well with the theme.
 
Hi Sara, I choked up most of all when I visited this section of the NMA. I did again when I saw your photo. In my book that means you nailed it. Nice to meet you btw!
 
Lots of verticality going on here and a nice B&W conversion with a nice range of tones. Unusual choice of PoV which works well for the theme. Good stuff!
 
Brian_of_Bozeat said:
Hi Sara, I choked up most of all when I visited this section of the NMA. I did again when I saw your photo. In my book that means you nailed it. Nice to meet you btw!
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Thanks Brian. i know what you mean, it is very emotional. It was lovely to meet you too. I'dm looking forward to more TP meets in the future.

posiview said:
Hi, Sara, this is the most moving part of the memorial. When I go there I really get a sense of the fear the boy, and he was a boy, must have felt. A very moving and different interpretation here.

It works, end of (y)

Cheers.
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Thanks Andy. Lovely to meet you both on Saturday.

Harlequin565 said:
Lots of verticality going on here and a nice B&W conversion with a nice range of tones. Unusual choice of PoV which works well for the theme. Good stuff!
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Thank Ian ... the more usual viewpoint is from the front, of course, but i wandered around the back and saw this clear line. Glad you like it.
 
Mono certainly suits the subject, and I like the way you positioned the soldier too, rather than " him" being central :thumbs:
 
Hi Sara


good to meet you at the NMA meet :)

Love your image for Vertical......different POV to the one normally seen but it just works perfectly...well spotted & processed :clap:
 
blondie606 said:
Hi Sara


good to meet you at the NMA meet :)

Love your image for Vertical......different POV to the one normally seen but it just works perfectly...well spotted & processed :clap:
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Thanks Lynne ... really good to meet you too. Hope we cross paths again at future TP meets. The image was one of three I took from that viewpoint. I was actually going to use one of the others til i pulled it up full size on my monitor and realised that it featured your good self prone on the floor, capturing a low viewpoint!!! Didn't think you'd appreciate being "cloned out" !!! :eek:

:):)
 
Week 10 already!!! A bit stuck for time this week so just a quick bit of fun with my friend's horse for Mouth ... out of the horse's mouth ...

Connor2 by NittyNattyNora, on Flickr
 
Haha! Now that is an impressive 'tache for a horse!!
These sort of pics never fail to make me smile.
 
A nice take on this weeks theme, brave to get so close too :) My only comment is that the bridle going out of shot looks a little too cropped. A very minor thing though (y)
 
ChrisHeathcote said:
A nice take on this weeks theme, brave to get so close too :) My only comment is that the bridle going out of shot looks a little too cropped. A very minor thing though (y)
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LOL ... Not brave at all ... he's a great big softy ... thanks Chris.

viv1969 said:
Haha! Now that is an impressive 'tache for a horse!!
These sort of pics never fail to make me smile.
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He's got a great tache!! A big soft cob type horse, so the facial hair really suits him! Never taken a horse shot from this angle before and I quite like it. Might try some more ...
 
Hi Sara ...just catching up on comments.

That's a great choice of composition for your Vertical ...the use of B&W and the lone white figure in the distance is very moving and adds to the feeling of isolation those poor boys must have felt.

Mouth ...another excellent choice for a rather difficult theme....love all that facial hair :)
 
Mouth works for sure :-) Really like the vertical image.

Gaz
 
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