weekly *Sarah* 2012 52 week challenge. Yippee I made it!!

I'm playing catch up this week due to not coming up with anything I was happy with for Shiny and won't post the one I have come up with last night 'til I've gone through everyone elses.

Shiny - I'm not getting the first one at all, I like it as it makes me look and try to figure out what it is but it's too abstract for shiny in my opinion.

However, the second shot with the shoes is a winner here. Lovely composition, nice and clean and lightings lovely.

Thanks Paul, it seems the themes that I think are going to be easy are sometimes the most difficult!

Contrary to everyone else I prefer your first shiny shot. The textures and flow of the shot really do it for me. Good job.

Thanks Phil, I like to be different as well! The textures of the building are great and I will be going back to take some more soon!

I've been struggling this week to achieve what I can see in my head and havent really looked at at others threads. I will look in on all your photos once I get mine sorted this week!!
 
Hi Sarah


love those shiny shoes....though was kinda expecting boys shoes :lol: Nicely set up , good lighting....like it :thumbs:

Liking the abstract one as well cos it's different...suspect the exposure may have been quite tricky ?
 
Contrary to everyone else I prefer your first shiny shot. The textures and flow of the shot really do it for me. Good job.

:plusone:
Phil sums up my thoughts exactly Sarah.
I like it as its abstract, it makes the viewer really look to figure out what it is.
Iain
 
Hi Sarah


love those shiny shoes....though was kinda expecting boys shoes :lol: Nicely set up , good lighting....like it :thumbs:

Liking the abstract one as well cos it's different...suspect the exposure may have been quite tricky ?

Thanks Lynne!:)

:plusone:
Phil sums up my thoughts exactly Sarah.
I like it as its abstract, it makes the viewer really look to figure out what it is.
Iain

Thanks Iain, I thought I'd try something different. Peter had gone off taking his pics and while I was waiting I spotted the shine on the carark walls!:)
 
I've found this one difficult this week. I've had plenty of ideas but just havent been able to execute them. I started off taking some macro shots of buds openning in the garden as Spring is such a magical time, I then ended up trying some Bokeh shots for the first time with some homemade filters that I'd made. In the end tonight I've had another go at water refraction!

Can't decide which one to go for yet so it's up to you!!:)

#1

Magical elf! by kitegirl66, on Flickr

#2

Fairy refraction by kitegirl66, on Flickr

#3

Fairy refraction by kitegirl66, on Flickr
 
i think actually when the theme was announced we all thought, erm what do we shoot, but actually when we all thought about it, it had too much scope,

Anyway these are very different and way out of my league, i would pick #2 it just seems cleaner and sharper for me
 
i think actually when the theme was announced we all thought, erm what do we shoot, but actually when we all thought about it, it had too much scope,

Anyway these are very different and way out of my league, i would pick #2 it just seems cleaner and sharper for me

Thanks Liz, have a go at them sometime - you need a macro lens and a little bit of patience. I am facinated by the refractions and think there is a lot of scope for more!!
 
Hi Sarah,

It's really interesting on how all our views and perspective differ. Off course, there is no right or wrong it's how we perceive them that counts. For me I like number 3. The very fresh looking stem with the single bauble. Did you photoshop the fairy in or is that a reflection ? Bang-on theme ! :)

Nick
 
Hi Sarah,

It's really interesting on how all our views and perspective differ. Off course, there is no right or wrong it's how we perceive them that counts. For me I like number 3. The very fresh looking stem with the single bauble. Did you photoshop the fairy in or is that a reflection ? Bang-on theme ! :)

Nick

Hi Nick, thanks for your comments! The fairy is a refraction!! It was a tiny water/glycerine drop hanging off a tulip leaf. I then held a figure up until I could see it in the drop and then fired away. One of the difficult things is positioning the figure as everything is upside down and back to front!! On the second one I got my son to hold a piece of material up for the background - I had to clone the background a little as you could see my sons arm holding the background!:)
 
I've been thinking of having a go at this sort of refraction recently I have to admit, really must get my act together :D

For me number 3 is the winner but only just, I actually prefer the refraction in number 2 but the single droplet and tight crop detracts slightly I think.

Well done though.
 
Hi Sarah

Bit behind as am in sunny Spain. Wall to wall sun for 6 days but home tomorrow. Struggling to find anything here to fit Magical but your shot has given me a small idea - but I won't be copying yours because i don't have that technique. :bang:

Your macro shots are really good. :thumbs: I like #2 because the context of seeing more of the stalk and the other smaller droplets and it seems to fit the theme better.

Shiny - the shoes are the better shot. Hard to get the lighting right as you say and for me the left and right extremities merge into the background. Good composition with the shoes intermingling
 
Shiny - The shoes are my favourite of the two. You did well lighting this so nicely with black on black.

Magical - #3 for me. The refracted image is spot on and I like how you've placed the water drop against the yellow background
 
Hi Sarah, numbers 2 and 3 for me, can't make my mind which one though, infact I am going to go with number 3 as I prefer the look of the fairy in the reflection.

Thanks Michael, the fairy is much better looking on #3!:)

I've been thinking of having a go at this sort of refraction recently I have to admit, really must get my act together :D

For me number 3 is the winner but only just, I actually prefer the refraction in number 2 but the single droplet and tight crop detracts slightly I think.

Well done though.

Thank you, I did try #2 from a bit further away but found that because the fairy is pale she didnt stand out as well, though I agree that having more drops and room around them works better. I have some more on flickr with more drops on but with a flower in the refraction instead!:)
 
#2 and #3 for me too, well taken and a different 'angle'.
 
Hi Sarah

Bit behind as am in sunny Spain. Wall to wall sun for 6 days but home tomorrow. Struggling to find anything here to fit Magical but your shot has given me a small idea - but I won't be copying yours because i don't have that technique. :bang:

Your macro shots are really good. :thumbs: I like #2 because the context of seeing more of the stalk and the other smaller droplets and it seems to fit the theme better.

Shiny - the shoes are the better shot. Hard to get the lighting right as you say and for me the left and right extremities merge into the background. Good composition with the shoes intermingling

Thank you, have a go its not that difficult and only a little frustrating!:lol::lol: I'm going to have another go and try focus stacking which should help me to get both the drop and refraction sharp!:)

Shiny - you've picked up on bits that I'm not happy with as well and may reshoot it one day!

No 2 for me. Great idea and very well taken. Great work.

Thanks Phil!:)
 
Shiny - The shoes are my favourite of the two. You did well lighting this so nicely with black on black.

Magical - #3 for me. The refracted image is spot on and I like how you've placed the water drop against the yellow background

Thank you Peter, the yellow background is the fairy in the background and was a fluke!!:) Thanks for putting up with my gear taking up the lounge:nono: last night and holding you up from taking yours!!:):)

#2 and #3 for me too, well taken and a different 'angle'.

Thank you gramps!:)
 
Now these are very clever! I was looking at this technique a few days ago on here using glass, it's VERY clever and I really need to try it some time.

I like all three shots but number 3 is the winner. The little star bursts really add to the magical theme:clap:

I hope you're feeling better now?
 
Now these are very clever! I was looking at this technique a few days ago on here using glass, it's VERY clever and I really need to try it some time.

I like all three shots but number 3 is the winner. The little star bursts really add to the magical theme:clap:

I hope you're feeling better now?

Thank you Marsha, yes I'm feeling alot better now thank you, I think I will go for #3 as like others have said the colours ar so much better!

You must have a go at it I've tried it on glass as well and the effect is good. I would recommend using glycerine though as it holds it shape better!

Hope you're feeling better now as well!:)
 
I'm better too thank you:thumbs: and enjoying the sunshine on my last day of sick leave!

Thankfully I have some glycerine, now out of date so will be kept for photographic purposes!

So how small was the droplet used in number three? I've just tried planting a drop and it was teeny tiny! Any bigger and it just dripped off:thinking: I have some new picture frames from Ikea, I may be borrowing the glass later!
 
I'm better too thank you:thumbs: and enjoying the sunshine on my last day of sick leave!

Thankfully I have some glycerine, now out of date so will be kept for photographic purposes!

So how small was the droplet used in number three? I've just tried planting a drop and it was teeny tiny! Any bigger and it just dripped off:thinking: I have some new picture frames from Ikea, I may be borrowing the glass later!

The drop was tiny, I tried putting the glycerine in the fridge and that helped a little. I use a 60mm macro and on some of them extension tubes as well. The drops are bigger when you use them on glass as there's nowhere for it to fall off!

I've just bought a glass sheet from Ikea that is supposed to be on top of a set of drawers. It's really good to use for water drops and also to add reflections on table top shots!

Good luck, I look forward to seeing your shots soon - let me know when you post them!!:)
 
No 2 for me as the DOF just gives a focus point on the leaf to give my eye something to relate too and it being a larger crop, star burst works well too.
No 2 is a bit to close and it looks as if it’s been photoshopped in
 
love no. 3 - I wish I could do that (have been practising to no avail)
 
Mmm, I may have to just try it with a sheet of glass first. I couldn't see where to place my item I wanted in the reflection!

I'll be honest, it could take me a while to figure this out!!!

Working out where to hold it is the tricky bit, I found you had to hold it a long way away at first and move it a little at a time until you can see it (remember everything is back to front and upside down) then when you can see it in the drop move it closer again a little at a time! I found that the tricky bit and then to keep it there while taking the shot. I think I need to make something that will clamp the object in place so I don't have to hold it. Have you tried it with a flower in the drop - I found that easier for some reason!:)
 
Thank you! I want to do more now, but I want to know how to get the droplets sharp in focus! Dam this could become an obsession!!!

I agree with you there!!:) What aperture are you using and have you thought about focus stacking - its something I keep meaning to have a go at!!
 
Another tough week. I had the ideas but again struggled to execute them! I decided to look at vices and these were the first to come to mind. I borrowed some cigarettes from someone at work took the shot and then decided to have a go at editing the text and as you cn see I then took a couple more!

Whats your VICE?


whats your vice? by kitegirl66, on Flickr
 
Hi Sarah


love #2 of your magical shots...you have way more patience than me :thumbs:

Vice....great idea with the editing & 3 examples that cover most vice's for people ....like the set of 3 & the symetry of the size shots ( does that make sense ?)...great work...love it :clap::clap:
 
Hi Sarah


love #2 of your magical shots...you have way more patience than me :thumbs:

Vice....great idea with the editing & 3 examples that cover most vice's for people ....like the set of 3 & the symetry of the size shots ( does that make sense ?)...great work...love it :clap::clap:

Thanks Lynne!:)
 
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