robp's 52 for 2010 week 15 - Single

jeangenie said:
PS Don't forget to change your heading to Week 5. :-)
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Duh, what a divot I be.
Thank you, Jean. I read your reminder almost as soon as you posted it but was busy trying to multi-task and so decided to make the change later that day.
Then, as previously mentioned, my web thingy went wonky.
 
like week 6 but i think the camera without the blur would have been effective enough! you say a lack of Ps ability, but trust me, your much better than me so well done!
 
Peter-T said:
like week 6 but i think the camera without the blur would have been effective enough! you say a lack of Ps ability, but trust me, your much better than me so well done!
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Many thanks, Pete.
I agree that this blur has possibly overdone things a tad.
I rather liked the idea of depicting a speed camera speeding but couldn't get the blur to just be at the rear of the camera.
 
Week 6 - Present

Well, a strangely coincidental but very welcome and much appreciated turn of events today has resulted in two images for this theme.

I have been working on the very unoriginal idea of a present prior to wrapping and that, therefore, remains as my chosen image for this theme.

Here it be:

finalDSC_0492800.jpg


Anyway, there's a bit of kit I have been going on about needing. My wife said she'd give me some money towards it as a Valentine's gift.
But being the truly lovely wife that she is, she went a step further.
Here is the Valentine's Day present I unwrapped this morning in an illustration of why I needed it:lol:

DSC_0518800.jpg
 
Love #2, the idea, the presentation and the humor all go to make it my fave so far ;)
 
I like the speed camera and the effect you have achieved, even if it wasn't quite what you wanted.

Present - the second shot is a lot of fun, even if i can't work out what it is. :D

Well done with both. :thumbs:
 
Hi Rob,

Love your speed shot. That PP has really worked well and the selective colouring is very effective.

I think I get where you were going with this and why it hasn't quite worked out the way you planned.
Were you trying to get it to look like the bright yellow camera was whizzing past the stationary background?
If so it may have been better just to blur the LHS of the camera, rather than leaving some blur on both sides.

The effect that you've ended up with works in its own right though and I actually really like it.

Present : No.1 works, but I'd quite like to see a bit more of the toy. The composition isn't quite working for me as it is.
No.2 What a great present and a really fun way of illustrating it :thumbs:
 
#2 made me laugh once it clicked (I'm getting slower it seems). I'm glad I have mine now.

First one I just want to see more of the image, it's just not quite working as it is and difficult to work out what is going on (I thought the toy was attempting the wrapping at first) :)
 
Love poetry. The poem is actually excellent in that you start to read it, kinda cringe at what people might think of it, until you reach the end. Nicely written to good effect. I quite liked the original photo as it is. The flaws make the photo suit the poem better.

Love the humor behind present! :lol: enjoy the present.
 
robp said:
, my web thingy went wonky.
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Hehehe - Admin must be out getting the jaffa cakes to have missed this! :lol::lol::lol:

Present: I have to say the first picutre's fine - fits the theme, lots of interest etc, but it was the second that made me laugh, and since I'm having computer nightmares myself this week, I needed the humour - so thank you very much for cheering me up! :D

Jean
 
Speed, excellent take on the theme... I like it Rob. Present, I can see why you need you're wifes present Rob :lol: it's a good fun take. I like the original shot for present too.
 
RobC said:
Love #2, the idea, the presentation and the humor all go to make it my fave so far ;)
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Thanks Rob:)

Odd how things work out.
I spent ages, not to mention taking almost fifty frames on present #1. It's the first time I've ever assembled a set of props, you see.
Shot #2 took about two minute and ten swifty shots. I simply set the tripod up, lit by kitchen light, and moved my camera during each shot.
And yep, I rather like it myself.
 
Tracer said:
I like the speed camera and the effect you have achieved, even if it wasn't quite what you wanted.

Present - the second shot is a lot of fun, even if i can't work out what it is. :D

Well done with both. :thumbs:
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Many thanks:)
 
SarahLee said:
Hi Rob,

Love your speed shot. That PP has really worked well and the selective colouring is very effective.

I think I get where you were going with this and why it hasn't quite worked out the way you planned.
Were you trying to get it to look like the bright yellow camera was whizzing past the stationary background?
If so it may have been better just to blur the LHS of the camera, rather than leaving some blur on both sides.

The effect that you've ended up with works in its own right though and I actually really like it.

Present : No.1 works, but I'd quite like to see a bit more of the toy. The composition isn't quite working for me as it is.
No.2 What a great present and a really fun way of illustrating it :thumbs:
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Thank you for your comments, Sarah.

Speed - Yes, I was trying to get the whizzing by effect. Just ain't proficient enough in Photshop yet to avoid getting blur all over the place!! 'I'll have a go at blurring one side. Thanks for the pointer:)

Present - This was my first bash at arranging props and your comments actually tie in with what I agonised over. My thinking was that often we can get some idea of what we are unwrapping - we can recognise a cd shape, for example, but may not know precisely which cd, or we can guess at a cuddly toy without knowing what sort until we have unwrapped it, etc.
So I thought that an image of a present before it is wrapped could still convey that half-mystery type of thing.

Present#2 - yep, top present and i'm giving it lots of use.
 
dlh said:
#2 made me laugh once it clicked (I'm getting slower it seems).
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Oh gawd, me too. Blimmin frustrating, or what!

First one I just want to see more of the image, it's just not quite working as it is and difficult to work out what is going on (I thought the toy was attempting the wrapping at first) :)
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I was trying to retain the mystery a gift has before it is unwrapped here, where it is yet to be wrapped. But as previously mentioned, this was my first go at arranging props and I appreciate that I have more work to do in this department.
Mind you, toy wrapping present (perhaps a human?) - now there's an interesting concept :lol:

Many thanks for your comments
 
karmagarda said:
Love poetry. The poem is actually excellent in that you start to read it, kinda cringe at what people might think of it, until you reach the end. Nicely written to good effect. I quite liked the original photo as it is. The flaws make the photo suit the poem better.

Love the humor behind present! :lol: enjoy the present.
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Yes, that's exactly how I intended the poem to be read. I had already written a fair bit looking at various emotions and perspectives on the subject and was looking for a different approach. I deliberately wanted the poem to look as if it was going in an apparently salacious direction to start with.

As to the flaws in the image - I think your suggestion is excellent.:thumbs: I am also still coming to terms with how my images can be 'improved' or 'enhanced' purely as images. And now you've added interpretation to my confusing mix.
Oh dear, this photography lark gets more and more complicated.
Much to learn! Much to learn!

And yes, certainly enjoying the present:)

Thank you for looking in and for your comments.
 
jeangenie said:
Hehehe - Admin must be out getting the jaffa cakes to have missed this! :lol::lol::lol:

Present: I have to say the first picutre's fine - fits the theme, lots of interest etc, but it was the second that made me laugh, and since I'm having computer nightmares myself this week, I needed the humour - so thank you very much for cheering me up! :D

Jean
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Pleased to have been of service:)
I hope your computer issues are all sorted now.

Thanks for your comments.
 
jgs001 said:
Speed, excellent take on the theme... I like it Rob. Present, I can see why you need you're wifes present Rob :lol: it's a good fun take. I like the original shot for present too.
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Thank you for popping by and for your comments, John.
Very much appreciated.
 
Week 7 - People

I struggled with this - didn't like the idea of actually photographing people and being seen by them. It somehow feels like an invasion of privacy to me.

Which is odd, because I often find that when I am photographing a building/scene/etc and people realise they are in the frame, they apologise and try to get out of the way.
Yet because I knew that I was actually photographing the people I felt uncomfortable. Even though they would almost certainly have apologised and got out of the way, assuming I ws snapping whatever was behind them.

Think I might shut up now and get the blimmin thing posted.

DSC_0635800.jpg
 
robp said:
I didn't like the idea of actually being seen by them. It somehow feels like an invasion of privacy to me.
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I know how you feel :lol:

Sorry.. couldn't resist... I do know how you feel though, so well done on getting the shot taken. I like it, it asks all sorts of what happened next type questions, pink sunglasses looks a bit dodgy, and the angle of his head and the way he seems to be looking at the man with the shovel.
 
:lol: Your comment about shooting people in public is spot on. You wouldn’t really think twice about it if you were there shooting the scenery rather than the people!

There are a couple of interesting elements to this shot.
The old guy shovelling the snow looks a real character and I like the way that you’ve caught him in action. I also like the guy in the red top and pink sunglasses – he looks really out of place in the snowy scene.
I’m not sure that I like them both in the same shot though because they each tell a different story – I’d prefer the shot to be about one or the other of them individually if you know what I mean.
 
I really like this! I can imagine the yoofs (do I sound old?) tormenting the older guy as he clears the snow. The red on the shovel and the red of the guy's top are connecting nicely for me, and I find the hedge leads you round from the main guy to the lads really well. Works really well for me! :)
 
jgs001 said:
I like it, it asks all sorts of what happened next type questions, pink sunglasses looks a bit dodgy, and the angle of his head and the way he seems to be looking at the man with the shovel.
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thanks for looking in, John.
And for knowing how I feel:lol:

Yes, I get the feeling of impending harassment when I look at this. In fact, the youths stopped and had a friendly chat with the man.
 
SarahLee said:
There are a couple of interesting elements to this shot.
The old guy shovelling the snow looks a real character and I like the way that you’ve caught him in action. I also like the guy in the red top and pink sunglasses – he looks really out of place in the snowy scene.
I’m not sure that I like them both in the same shot though because they each tell a different story – I’d prefer the shot to be about one or the other of them individually if you know what I mean.
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As always, thank you for your constructive comments, Sarah. They are very much appreciated and yes I do know what you mean. In fact, I did experiment with crops of just the lads and of just the man before sticking with this image.
I liked the red shovel/jumper, I liked the idle youth/toiling older gent type contrast and I liked the question the image poses about when they all meet (they had a sociable chat, btw).

But these weren't the reasons for me keeping the image whole.
Simply, I saw it coming and waited to snap it. The guy had been chatting with various passing people, mainly his own generation, and here was young/old, sensibly dressed/yoof dressed, red/red approaching.

It's the first time I have seen a potential shot like this and waited for it. So, something learned/a small something achieved:)
 
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68lbs said:
I really like this! I can imagine the yoofs (do I sound old?) tormenting the older guy as he clears the snow. The red on the shovel and the red of the guy's top are connecting nicely for me, and I find the hedge leads you round from the main guy to the lads really well. Works really well for me! :)
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Thank you, Lee:)

I was expecting torment, too. Didn't happen, thankfully.

And I have to admit that I hadn't really registerd the part the hedge plays. Oh dear, still much to learn.

The thing that disappoints me about this shot is that one yoof is hidden behind another. I think the image would have been stronger if we could clearly see all three. Unfortunately I was in such a rush to get the shot that I didn't notice at the time.

Much appreciate your comments
 
Week 8 - Mechanical

I have used my hedgetrimmer for the mechanical theme.
I think that the blades are what immediately come to mind when hedgetrimmers are mentioned and indeed I did start it up and experiment with motion blur. However, what I really wanted to do was take the emphasis away from the blades and show some of the other gubbins.


DSC_0775800.jpg
 
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I think you'd have been better off concentrating on the blades. As it is I'm finding it difficult to make out what it is (even having been told) :) Your lighting and processing look good, it's just the composition that's not working for me here.
 
I quite like the fact that you've avoided the obvious blade shot.
I would have had no idea what it was if you hadn't said, but I suspect that there will be a lot of mechanical "gubbins" this week that I don't understand.

Definitely something interesting about it that I want to keep looking back at. I'm not too sure that the green grass is adding anything though - in fact it's a bit distracting. Maybe try a B&W conversion? But overall I really like it.

p.s. thank you for the opportunity to use the word "gubbins". It's one of those great words that I don't hear very often - and funnily enough, this is the second post in two days where I've seen it used :lol:
 
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Catch up time for me, Rob (still haven't got my computer back, Grr....)

People: The more I look at this the more I see in it to like. In addition to the red/red thing already mentioned, I noticed a small area of redness around the snow-shoveller's ear (was it really that cold!), and the potential for a surprise encounter as the yoofs approach him unseen. btw - it's interesting that a lot of people seem to have been expecting a less friendly encounter with the yoofs, who look perfectly harmless to me. But then I used to teach 16-18year olds! ;) I do worry about the red jumper and pink shades though - it's pure eye-torture. :lol: :)

So a big :thumbs: from me - and I also get the feeling of invading people's privacy in this sort of situation. Well done indeed. :)

Mechanical: Wow - I thought at first I was looking down the barrel of a gun. :eek: That's got real impact and is a great take on the theme. :clap:

Jean
 
Rob, I like that... it's unusual and the composition works for me... spot on for the theme
 
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