RichM's 52 Thread - Week 21 added- Still not much time!

[dan_yorkshire]

Much prefer your second shot for chopped Rich.

Think the reflection of the breadbin in the knife is a nice touch.

Think it would benefit with less of a tight crop but a good strong image none the less.

Well done,

Dan

 

[Ian_Wilson]

Nice reflection and set up but somehow I can't escape the feeling that it should have been bread being chopped rather than a potato - would fit the bread board theme better?

 

[dlh]

There's a knife and a chopping board so it's close enough Much preferring your second effort. Nicely lit and composed and the reflection makes it. Let's hope week 4's subject isn't bread!

 

[RichM]

Hi Rich,

Still not quite there with the poetry for me. I'd like the whole of the bottle including the cork to be in colour - but it's working better than the original.

I'm pleased that you did the reshoot for chopped.
I was sitting on the fence with the first one. Not a bad shot, but it didn't really do much for me.
Two things I really liked in it though - the reflection from the blade across the bread bin and the reflection of the text in the blade, so I'm glad that you picked that up in version 2.
A definite improvement, but maybe could do with a bit more foreground in it.

With the bottle i did what i could. I wanted the whole thing in colour but i'm doin all my editing in Picasa so i'm not great at it. I'm hoping to get Elements 8 soon though.

Much prefer your second shot for chopped Rich.

Think the reflection of the breadbin in the knife is a nice touch.

Think it would benefit with less of a tight crop but a good strong image none the less.

Well done,

Dan

It's actually not cropped down at all. This is the full shot. I tried to get the knife along the line of a third (a third of the way up). I thought it'd be the most interesting.

Nice reflection and set up but somehow I can't escape the feeling that it should have been bread being chopped rather than a potato - would fit the bread board theme better?

True, that's why i tried the sliced (chopped?.. almost? ) bread.

There's a knife and a chopping board so it's close enough Much preferring your second effort. Nicely lit and composed and the reflection makes it. Let's hope week 4's subject isn't bread!

Haha, very true. Then i would be done for

Thanks for the comments!

 

[jgs001]

I like the first one, it's not really saying chopped to me, but the textures and colours are good, and the blade reflection is excellent. The second is good, and says chopped more, but needs a but more in the foreground.

 

[RichM]

I like the first one, it's not really saying chopped to me, but the textures and colours are good, and the blade reflection is excellent. The second is good, and says chopped more, but needs a but more in the foreground.

That's something i need to work on i think. Most of my pics have a nice subject but i tend to frame them without a proper foreground and it takes them out of context.

Ok here's my week 4 'Street'.

The irony of this shot is that i plodded all the way around manchester city centre and got NOTHING, then i got this pretty much just outside my door

I liked the lighting and how the cars are 'suggested' by the light rather than revealed. It has a sinister mood that i also tried to capture, even moreso given that there have been a series or sex attacks in the area, generally at night too

This will be an easy reshoot so feel free to point out things for improvement because i might give it a shot again.

Thanks for looking

 

[Harlequin565]

Hi Rich,

I didn't comment on Chopped simply because I didn't have anything to add that hadn't already been said, and I figured someone else telling you what you already know wouldn't help much. Also, I had exactly the same issue with this. Just went out and took something chopped because I couldn't be bothered thinking (my excuse - not implying that's what happened to you!). Looking at other 52's this week convinced me to actually think about the shot rather than wander around panicked with a camera.

It's clear you've got your mojo back with Street because I really like it. You've got the shot you wanted and it shows. Shame you had to walk round Manc to find it at your door.

I like the grittyness of the image and I like your processing. The steetlights themselves look a little burned out on one hand, and look great on another. If I was going to reshoot it for any reason, it would be to see what would happen if I exposed for the street (as you've done above), then expose for a subtler light from the streetlamps. Blend the 2 exposures to see what happens. You could duplicate this with an NDGrad filter I suppose and get it all in one shot.

All in all though, I think it's great as it stands. Good luck with week 5!

Ian.

 

[RichM]

Hi Rich,

I didn't comment on Chopped simply because I didn't have anything to add that hadn't already been said, and I figured someone else telling you what you already know wouldn't help much. Also, I had exactly the same issue with this. Just went out and took something chopped because I couldn't be bothered thinking (my excuse - not implying that's what happened to you!). Looking at other 52's this week convinced me to actually think about the shot rather than wander around panicked with a camera.

It's clear you've got your mojo back with Street because I really like it. You've got the shot you wanted and it shows. Shame you had to walk round Manc to find it at your door.

I like the grittyness of the image and I like your processing. The steetlights themselves look a little burned out on one hand, and look great on another. If I was going to reshoot it for any reason, it would be to see what would happen if I exposed for the street (as you've done above), then expose for a subtler light from the streetlamps. Blend the 2 exposures to see what happens. You could duplicate this with an NDGrad filter I suppose and get it all in one shot.

All in all though, I think it's great as it stands. Good luck with week 5!

Ian.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to write such an in depth critique of my picture. This is the sort of thing that i think will help me progress. The only question i have is, what do you mean by 'the streetlights look good on one hand and burned out on another'? Is there any chance you could explain?

As for a dual exposure shot, i like the idea! I'll wait and see what other suggestions crop up from other members first but it's something i'll definately try. So i want to expose for the street, and then go up a few /f stops to try and get some extra detail from the highlights right?

Again, thanks for looking and commenting. Great help

 

[Harlequin565]

No worries!

The streetlights look to me like "blobs" of light with no definition. I do kind of like it, but I was wondering what it would look like if there was more definition to the lights. Without seeing 2 versions I can't say which one I would like and it's purely a personal thing rather than a "this-is-how-you-should-do-it" instruction.

So, for example, let's say your street shot was taken at 1/2 sec @ f11 ISO800. I wouldn't mess with the aperture as that would throw the focus/depth of field out. I'd try stopping the shutter speed up (i.e. make it faster) by 2-3 stops - say 1/8 or 1/16 sec. Your street will end up black, but the lights might have more definition. Take both shots on the tripod, without moving anything, then you should be able to open the both in Photoshop/Elements. Lay one image over the other, and either mask or erase your steetlight blobs on your original pic to reveal your correctly exposed lights below.

I'm not an expert in lighting, and I don't know whether it would work, but it's something I would try!

If you do end up doing it, let me know if you have difficulty with the PP techniques and I'll try and explain in more detail. Although I only have Photoshop CS3 and am not familiar with Elements...

Ian.

 

[RichM]

No worries!

The streetlights look to me like "blobs" of light with no definition. I do kind of like it, but I was wondering what it would look like if there was more definition to the lights. Without seeing 2 versions I can't say which one I would like and it's purely a personal thing rather than a "this-is-how-you-should-do-it" instruction.

So, for example, let's say your street shot was taken at 1/2 sec @ f11 ISO800. I wouldn't mess with the aperture as that would throw the focus/depth of field out. I'd try stopping the shutter speed up (i.e. make it faster) by 2-3 stops - say 1/8 or 1/16 sec. Your street will end up black, but the lights might have more definition. Take both shots on the tripod, without moving anything, then you should be able to open the both in Photoshop/Elements. Lay one image over the other, and either mask or erase your steetlight blobs on your original pic to reveal your correctly exposed lights below.

I'm not an expert in lighting, and I don't know whether it would work, but it's something I would try!

If you do end up doing it, let me know if you have difficulty with the PP techniques and I'll try and explain in more detail. Although I only have Photoshop CS3 and am not familiar with Elements...

Ian.

Ah i see what you mean now. I'll give it a shot. would changing the aperture really have that much effect on the DOF though given that the lens was quite wide to begin with? I think it was around 24mm so a stop or two wouldn't throw it all out would it?

 

[Harlequin565]

I have no idea. Doubt it would make that much difference to be honest, but to be safe, I'd play with shutter speed.

Have a go with both if you do get back out there!

Ian.

 

[RichM]

I have no idea. Doubt it would make that much difference to be honest, but to be safe, I'd play with shutter speed.

Have a go with both if you do get back out there!

Ian.

I will and i'll report back. Thanks for taking the time to reply to all my stupid questions

 

[dlh]

Have to agree with what Ian has already said. A shorter exposure so the lights aren't so intense, but not so much that you lose too much detail in the street. If you shot in raw try reducing the exposure in PP by a stop or so to see what happens. Looks like a small lean slightly to the right as well.

 

[louise-knight]

That's something i need to work on i think. Most of my pics have a nice subject but i tend to frame them without a proper foreground and it takes them out of context.

Ok here's my week 4 'Street'.

The irony of this shot is that i plodded all the way around manchester city centre and got NOTHING, then i got this pretty much just outside my door

I liked the lighting and how the cars are 'suggested' by the light rather than revealed. It has a sinister mood that i also tried to capture, even moreso given that there have been a series or sex attacks in the area, generally at night too

This will be an easy reshoot so feel free to point out things for improvement because i might give it a shot again.

Thanks for looking

sex attacks if that was happening on my street I'd be gone in a flash and moved in somewhere else! I say that, though a homeless man was almost murdered whilst he slept in a bus shelter not far from my flat, by a bunch of chavs who thought it's be funny to smack him over the head with god knows what and film it, then just leave him for dead, it left the guy in a coma for a very long time - very sad

Onto your image, I think it could do with perhaps more light in the bottom right corner, I know it's difficult when you're just using street lights though! Perhaps a different angle would help? Just seems a little dark as if there's a chunk of the image missing. I do like the light on the tops of the cars though, and the way it's reflecting off of the road.

 

[benarnold]

I really like the composition of this, with the road running straight down into the photo. There seem to be a few street lights not working between the prominent one on the right side of the street and the next one back, this adds to the sinister feel. I like the orb effect of the street lights, it works well here.

 

[Bruja]

I like this interpretation of Street. Just straighten to correct the slightly leaning lead lampost on the RHS and it will be great

 

[RichM]

Have to agree with what Ian has already said. A shorter exposure so the lights aren't so intense, but not so much that you lose too much detail in the street. If you shot in raw try reducing the exposure in PP by a stop or so to see what happens. Looks like a small lean slightly to the right as well.

I'm gonna give this a go with a reshoot. This is the best i can make it from the RAW without it being too dark. I didn't notice the lean though, thanks for the pointer

sex attacks if that was happening on my street I'd be gone in a flash and moved in somewhere else! I say that, though a homeless man was almost murdered whilst he slept in a bus shelter not far from my flat, by a bunch of chavs who thought it's be funny to smack him over the head with god knows what and film it, then just leave him for dead, it left the guy in a coma for a very long time - very sad

Onto your image, I think it could do with perhaps more light in the bottom right corner, I know it's difficult when you're just using street lights though! Perhaps a different angle would help? Just seems a little dark as if there's a chunk of the image missing. I do like the light on the tops of the cars though, and the way it's reflecting off of the road.

Yeah, i think it's the case wherever you go mate. We've had 4 rapes within the last month, all with similar descriptions, sounds like we have our own 'ripper' knockin' about :shake:

Actually, now you mention, the bottom right corner does look like it's been cropped away, well spotted. I think the road drew my eyes away from that part of the image. I'm also gonna try the angle differently with a reshoot. Thanks for commenting

I really like the composition of this, with the road running straight down into the photo. There seem to be a few street lights not working between the prominent one on the right side of the street and the next one back, this adds to the sinister feel. I like the orb effect of the street lights, it works well here.

The road leading the eye is what i was going for. Thanks for noticing that The reason there are some lights missing on the right hand side is that this is the road that leads down to an old school (incidentally this is where they're filming the TV drama 'Waterloo Road' ) Thanks for commenting

I like this interpretation of Street. Just straighten to correct the slightly leaning lead lampost on the RHS and it will be great

Thanks for the kind words. I'm working on the straightening riiiiight.... Now.

 

[jeangenie]

I like this street shot. It's not easy trying to balance street lights and dark areas, but this works well. It will be interesting to see how your reshoots differs, though. Perhaps not having a car in the immediate foreground would enable you to make the most of the street lights. I like the patchwork of repairs on the road - nice detail there. Although I don't suppoose you like them so much if you hve to drive over them.

Have you thought about a lower angle for the reshoot?

Jean

 

[SarahLee]

Hi Rich,

There's definitely something special in that shot. As you said the suggestions of cars in the dark gives some wonderful atmosphere to it

Absolutely 100% agree with what Ian said with the lighting, so I won't repeat it but I'd really like to see a reshoot if you do one.

 

[RichM]

I like this street shot. It's not easy trying to balance street lights and dark areas, but this works well. It will be interesting to see how your reshoots differs, though. Perhaps not having a car in the immediate foreground would enable you to make the most of the street lights. I like the patchwork of repairs on the road - nice detail there. Although I don't suppoose you like them so much if you hve to drive over them.

Have you thought about a lower angle for the reshoot?

Jean

Hehe, no, you're right the roads here are dire. I tried a shot without the cars in the foreground and i also tried a lower angle. To me they weren't as interesting because there was nothing in the bottom of the frame or the lower angle just made the right of the shot almost blank. I do want to try and get lower though, i might try to shoot from the gutter on the opposite side of the street. Thanks!

Hi Rich,

There's definitely something special in that shot. As you said the suggestions of cars in the dark gives some wonderful atmosphere to it

Absolutely 100% agree with what Ian said with the lighting, so I won't repeat it but I'd really like to see a reshoot if you do one.

I think i definately will do. There's no reason not to with the subject just on my doorstep
I'll try to post the results here when i get around to it

 

[HopefulM]

you've done brilliantly balancing the street lighting, and I like the way the compostion leads your eye 'into' the pic

 

[mich66]

I like it.. not great on night shots myself so interesting to read comments.. I like the warm feel of the lighting against the grittiness of the darker parts.. think a low angle would be interesting to see on a reshoot

 

[RichM]

you've done brilliantly balancing the street lighting, and I like the way the compostion leads your eye 'into' the pic

I like it.. not great on night shots myself so interesting to read comments.. I like the warm feel of the lighting against the grittiness of the darker parts.. think a low angle would be interesting to see on a reshoot

Thanks for the comments guys. Reshoot should be soon.

 

[jgs001]

Rich, I like it. It's a little leaning, but that's easily sorted. It's very moody, and you captured it well. I'd agree with the lower POV idea, and maybe stop the lens down more, get some diffraction spikes on the streelights, might make them less blobby and a bit more interesting, make more of a feature of them.

 

[RichM]

Rich, I like it. It's a little leaning, but that's easily sorted. It's very moody, and you captured it well. I'd agree with the lower POV idea, and maybe stop the lens down more, get some diffraction spikes on the streelights, might make them less blobby and a bit more interesting, make more of a feature of them.

Thanks for the idea! How would i achieve the diffraction spikes?

 

[RobC]

Great stuff for street. It's seriously moody, there's something a tad 'film noir' about it and therefore in my world this rocks

 

[RichM]

Great stuff for street. It's seriously moody, there's something a tad 'film noir' about it and therefore in my world this rocks

Thanks for the kind words. I see what you mean.

Anyways, for week 5 the theme was speed. Something i seem to see everyday is the speed of everyday life. Seems everybody is always in a rush to be somewhere or do something, including me. I wanted to capture this with a picture so that's what i tried. I also wanted to incorporate the dullness of the way things are as i see them. I don't think we have enough time for fun and i wanted to shoehorn this idea in too.

So here it is. It was taken from the vantage point of the third floor of the store that i work at with a slow shutter and an ND4 filter to reduce the light coming in. I processed it by sticking some contrast on, darkening the whole picture and reducing the colour in the lower half where the people are. I know it wasn't particularly well executed. All C+C more than welcome.

Also if anybody is interested the street reshoot will be soon hopefully.

Thanks a lot for looking

 

[Rob Bartley]

I like the muted feel to the speed shot Rich. Gives an everyday scene a little something else.

Cheers, Rob

 

[RichM]

I like the muted feel to the speed shot Rich. Gives an everyday scene a little something else.

Cheers, Rob

Thanks for the kind words. It's turned out to be one of those shots that looks good until you go away and come back to it though. I hate it now. It's actually pretty dire :shake:

 

[RichM]

Ok, here's the first reshoot of my street idea. I made the lighting a bit more subtle, lowered the angle, tried to get some spikey lights in there and still suggest all the shapes with the light... And it wasn't easy! I'm gonna try yet again but with several exposures, maybe tonight. All C+C welcome.

Thanks for looking

 

[Harlequin565]

The speed of everyday life.... Good idea.

Again, I'm impressed Rich. Use of the ND filter to extend your shutter speed was well done. Did you already know that or learn something new?

The processing doesn't quite work for me. I think I'd prefer all colour, or all B&W. I keep imagining that line running through the lower left hand corner of the frame is a bright yellow line (which it probably isn't).

Alternatively, you could try a full B&W conversion with a pop of the dummy's red cardigan. I'm not into colour popping too much though so it might not work...

Anyway, enough rambling. I think it's a very well composed shot and will be interested to hear what others think of the colour modifications you've made. It's probably just me

As to the reshoot of "Street"... I think you have the lighting nailed, but I still prefer the composition of the original shot. The big side of the car dominates the image, and whilst the reflections of the lights in the metal work, it's a "good" shot compared to your other one which was exceptional.

Ian.

 

[RichM]

The speed of everyday life.... Good idea.

Again, I'm impressed Rich. Use of the ND filter to extend your shutter speed was well done. Did you already know that or learn something new?

The processing doesn't quite work for me. I think I'd prefer all colour, or all B&W. I keep imagining that line running through the lower left hand corner of the frame is a bright yellow line (which it probably isn't).

Alternatively, you could try a full B&W conversion with a pop of the dummy's red cardigan. I'm not into colour popping too much though so it might not work...

Anyway, enough rambling. I think it's a very well composed shot and will be interested to hear what others think of the colour modifications you've made. It's probably just me

As to the reshoot of "Street"... I think you have the lighting nailed, but I still prefer the composition of the original shot. The big side of the car dominates the image, and whilst the reflections of the lights in the metal work, it's a "good" shot compared to your other one which was exceptional.

Ian.

Thanks Ian for another awesome and informative comment.

Well, i knew that the ND4 filter was for the purpose of making longer exposures possible but i had bought it specifically for this so it was my first try with it. Initially i was exposing for waaay to long and burning out so in the long run i learned roughly how far an ND4 can push the exposure.

I'm going to try your suggestion of the full colour on my speed shot and see how it turns out. I'm like you, not sure about popping the colour.

Thanks for the pointer on my composition for street. I'll try my long exposures from a similar angle to my original shot

 

[Harlequin565]

That's what makes these 52's great when you push yourself.

Well done!

Ian.

 

[RichM]

Here we go. It actually turned out best with the selective colouring on the jacket. What do you think?

Cheers for looking

 

[68lbs]

...selective colouring on the jacket. What do you think?

I like that! Not sure why you've decided to isolate the jacket, but I like the contrast with the people all rushing about, and the stationary mannequin. There's probably something really deep to be had from this shot... something about stepping back while those around you are rushing about like headless chickens, when the mannequin's actually the headless one. :shrug:

Heck... time for me to eat! WTF am I writing!

 

[RichM]

I like that! Not sure why you've decided to isolate the jacket, but I like the contrast with the people all rushing about, and the stationary mannequin. There's probably something really deep to be had from this shot... something about stepping back while those around you are rushing about like headless chickens, when the mannequin's actually the headless one. :shrug:

Heck... time for me to eat! WTF am I writing!

Haha DEEP! I didn't even think about that. Excellent little metaphor though

 

[dan_yorkshire]

Really like the selective colouring version for speed, in theory it shouldnt work but it really does for me, probably because it is human like and showing no motion whilst everything around it is.

Dan

 

[RichM]

Really like the selective colouring version for speed, in theory it shouldnt work but it really does for me, probably because it is human like and showing no motion whilst everything around it is.

Dan

Thanks for the kind words

I'm really happy with this shot now. I can only thank Harlequin for the idea and motivation to try it

 

[Harlequin565]

Really like the selective colouring version for speed, in theory it shouldnt work but it really does for me, probably because it is human like and showing no motion whilst everything around it is.

Dan

Totally agree with Dan on this.

Much better shot. Top drawer stuff.

Ian.

 

[jgs001]

I like that, the selective colouring is truly excellent.