Sarah's 52 - FINAL WEEK - "Texture"
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Thanks. It is starting to grow on me, it's just not quite how I planned the shot to come out.
I am actually considering another 52 next year . . . but the thought of a 365 . . . absolutely NO WAY!!!!
very original idea....
composition, background, lighting all spot on...
good work
Thank you.
I'm glad that the lighting appeals to you. I'm still really not sure.
I missed your water shot Sarah, talk about setting yourself a challenge. You've succeeded in getting a very good shot where all the elements are distinguishable. It just doesn't do much for me though... I struggled like hell with this theme and I suspect my lack of inspiration has coloured my view so apologies.
Now Out of Context.... brilliant, such a clever idea (which I should have thought of) and really well taken again. Love it.
Thanks Mark.
Water shot was definitely not easy, although I agree that it's not the most exciting.
Glad that you like "Out of Context".
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Tut, tut, Sarah. You know what happens around here when people put themselves down ....... me and JG send the boys round
I also think it's the best interpretation of the theme this week and a shot you'd have been VERY proud of a couple of months ago.
Awww thank you Jill.
No need to send the buys round just yet, I'm starting to feel a bit better about this one.
Partly because I'm not feeling sorry for myself with this cold any more, but in no small part thanks to all the other lovely 52ers who've been so kind.
Thank you all
absolutely brilliant take on the theme. you obviously have a fertile mind!!
Thank you Corky.
Lying in bed for 3 days with flu gives you plenty of time to come up with creative ideas
(just not much energy to actually execute them)That's such a great idea...you should be happy with it as it is...
It's bang on for the theme and a well thought out shot for me...
Thank you.
I still have my little niggles with it, but I'm really happy to get such positive responses.
BTW For everyone who commented on the background, it's actually an old baking tray. I'm a bit of a hoarder and although the non-stick surface has peeled off and it's starting to rust I just couldn't throw it away.
It's been sat in the garage for years just in case I found a use for it . . . and now I have
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Lots of ideas this week and it wasn't easy picking just one . . . so I've tried a few different things.
The challenge for me has been a bit like "season week". We all know what bubbles are, but how do you make an interesting shot out of them?
I'm not going to bore you all by picking flaws in the shot that I've chosen. There are plenty there which I'm sure stand out to everyone, but I've gone back to my comfort zone for this one and despite the flaws there's something about this image that I like.
Week 42 - Bubbles
Now for the shots that didn't make it . . .
I thought about the following, but didn't get time to try them out :
1. Blowing bubbles over the top of a big spiky Cactus plant.
2. Something abstract using bubble wrap.
3. A close up of someone blowing Bubble Gum bubbles.
It'll be interesting to see if anyone else tried these out when I look at all of your threads.
And two that I did try, but didn't like as much as the first shot. Please don't feel obliged to comment on them. I don't normally share my rejects, but since I tried a few completely different set ups I thought I'd put them in.
Alternative Shot 1 - Bubbles in Glass
Alternative Shot 2 - Bubble Bath
I did like my first "alternative shot", just not quite as much as the one I finally chose - even though technically I think it may be a better photograph.
In the second one I was trying to do something clever with lighting and shadows but it didn't quite work as planned. :shrug: It was fun anyway!
The challenge for me has been a bit like "season week". We all know what bubbles are, but how do you make an interesting shot out of them?
I'm not going to bore you all by picking flaws in the shot that I've chosen. There are plenty there which I'm sure stand out to everyone, but I've gone back to my comfort zone for this one and despite the flaws there's something about this image that I like.
Week 42 - Bubbles
Now for the shots that didn't make it . . .
I thought about the following, but didn't get time to try them out :
1. Blowing bubbles over the top of a big spiky Cactus plant.
2. Something abstract using bubble wrap.
3. A close up of someone blowing Bubble Gum bubbles.
It'll be interesting to see if anyone else tried these out when I look at all of your threads.
And two that I did try, but didn't like as much as the first shot. Please don't feel obliged to comment on them. I don't normally share my rejects, but since I tried a few completely different set ups I thought I'd put them in.
Alternative Shot 1 - Bubbles in Glass
Alternative Shot 2 - Bubble Bath
I did like my first "alternative shot", just not quite as much as the one I finally chose - even though technically I think it may be a better photograph.
In the second one I was trying to do something clever with lighting and shadows but it didn't quite work as planned. :shrug: It was fun anyway!
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Shorty
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WOW, is all I have to say. Seriously, Sarah - you are astonishing me each week with what you come up with, and the last two weeks are no acception! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the out of context, and the first two bubble shots. Just
Lighting is awesome!
Lighting is awesome!
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Your out of context is great (reminds me of my 'Surprise' a bit ) great idea and well executed!! Your chosen bubble shot is wonderful - really well lit!
The bubbles in glass is great too
Ducky is a little harshly lit but cute
Great and consistent good images Sarah
) great idea and well executed!! Your chosen bubble shot is wonderful - really well lit!The bubbles in glass is great too
Ducky is a little harshly lit but cute
Great and consistent good images Sarah
Daysleeper40
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PLEASE PLEASE share with me how you lit the bubble in the first shot... I wonlt tell anyone else, promise 
Seriously - great shot
Also a big fan of #2 and again I really like how you lit it. #3 is just ok for me with the lighing a bit harsh as John said.
On the whole I think you picked the right shot - but I like seeing the rejects I thought of bubble wrap and bubble gum as well but the ideas didn't really come to anything. Maybe if we get a reshoot it would be something to try.
Seriously - great shot
Also a big fan of #2 and again I really like how you lit it. #3 is just ok for me with the lighing a bit harsh as John said.
On the whole I think you picked the right shot - but I like seeing the rejects
I thought of bubble wrap and bubble gum as well but the ideas didn't really come to anything. Maybe if we get a reshoot it would be something to try.
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WOW, is all I have to say. Seriously, Sarah - you are astonishing me each week with what you come up with, and the last two weeks are no acception! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the out of context, and the first two bubble shots. Just
Lighting is awesome!
Wow! Thank you so much!
You're far too kind though. There are such amazing shots on your thread and in the other 52s, that I find it so difficult to keep up.
It's good to know that you're enjoying them though. I'm definitely having fun with this and challenging myself.
Your out of context is great (reminds me of my 'Surprise' a bit
The bubbles in glass is great too
Ducky is a little harshly lit but cute
Great and consistent good images Sarah
Thank you John.
Glad that you enjoyed them. It's the support on these 52s that really keeps me going.
I had to go hunting for your "surprise" shot and yes I can see the similarity. Yours was great BTW - beans in an egg, I would never have thought of that.
Ducky was supposed to be very artsy and clever. I wanted 3 ducks in a row. The real one, the reflection in the side of the bath and the shadow . . . turns out that was a bit too ambitious and I ran out of time and patience
Wow these are great...
The first two are top draw for me...great lighting...just superb...
Thank you.
Again you're far too kind, but it's the support here that keeps me going. And it's good to know that I'm not producing complete rubbish!
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PLEASE PLEASE share with me how you lit the bubble in the first shot... I wonlt tell anyone else, promise
Seriously - great shot
Also a big fan of #2 and again I really like how you lit it. #3 is just ok for me with the lighing a bit harsh as John said.
On the whole I think you picked the right shot - but I like seeing the rejects
Thank you . . . even I feel like I had a better week this week even if it was in my comfort zone
Bubble wrap and bubble gum definitely had potential, but I really couldn't come up with anything creative to do with them.
I've replied to John about the Ducky shot. The idea had potential, but I just didn't have the patience to carry it out!
And the lighting really wasn't anything exciting - I've put details below.
Thank you Kdot. Very kind of you.
Lighting
Well there seem to be a few fans of the lighting in the first two, but it really was very easy.
I used exactly the same set up for No.1 and No.2, except that I also used a black bowl to hold the water for No.1.
Plain black drape in the background and over the table.
Blinds and curtains closed to eliminate as much natural light as possible from the room, mainly to avoid unwanted reflections.
With the room as dark as possible and everything that I didn't want in the shot blacked out I used an LED torch with a fairly narrow beam to highlight the areas I wanted to shoot.
Simple!
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Daysleeper40
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Lighting
Well there seem to be a few fans of the lighting in these, but it really was very easy.
I used the same set up for No.1 and No.2, except that I also used a black bowl to hold the water for No.1.
Simple black drape in the background and over the table.
Blinds and curtains closed to eliminate as much natural light as possible, mainly to avoid unwanted reflections.
With the room as dark as possible and everything that I didn't want in the shot blacked out I used an LED torch with quite a narrow beam to highlight the areas I wanted to shoot.
Simple!
Ah, I see... simple is often best
Sadly it's not going to work for bubble + water drip, I'd never get a fast enough shutter speed and need the flash to freeze the movement. Only problem it the flash bounces around in the bubble and reflects on everything. Ah well... back to the drawing board.
Worked brilliantly for your purposes though... nicely done
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First bubble shot is great! Would have loved to have seen the Cactus idea you didn't get round to doing. That's quite a clever idea.
Would have loved to have seen the Cactus idea you didn't get round to doing. That's quite a clever idea.
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First bubble shot is great!
Thanks KG.
I was quite taken with the cactus idea . . . and I have the perfect cactus for it right on the windowsill.
I couldn't find any of those bubble blower things when I went shopping so I didn't quite get around to it.
Definitely something to try in the future. My aim would be to catch a bubble just as it burst on the spikes . . . sounds impossible though!
Ah, I see... simple is often best
Sadly it's not going to work for bubble + water drip, I'd never get a fast enough shutter speed and need the flash to freeze the movement. Only problem it the flash bounces around in the bubble and reflects on everything. Ah well... back to the drawing board.
Worked brilliantly for your purposes though... nicely done
If you've got an LED torch there it might be worth a try. It's really surprising how much light they give out - I wouldn't go and buy one just for the purpose though, just in case
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I didn't have a bubble blower/maker myself, so here's how I made my "home made bubble maker":
Bowl with your washing up liquid + water mix.
Small plastic cup (even something like a cable tie would probably have worked)
I just dipped the plastic cup in the water kind of irratically. Then I blew on the top of it which made bubbles.
I had the camera hand held on manual focus in the other hand.
Might work for your cactus shot too.
You could just put the camera on manual focus on a tripod and trigger it with a remote
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three very clever and original ideas.
I prefer no. 1
..a hard shot to pull off as it looks like you had to push the ISO and pull the shutter speed right down....and of course using a flash may have blown your black background...
did you try a shot with a flash? maybe on very low power? you could then have maybe painted the black back in in post processing......
not easy
there is a lot about the shot I like...and just a little that niggles me....
I prefer no. 1
..a hard shot to pull off as it looks like you had to push the ISO and pull the shutter speed right down....and of course using a flash may have blown your black background...
did you try a shot with a flash? maybe on very low power? you could then have maybe painted the black back in in post processing......
not easy
there is a lot about the shot I like...and just a little that niggles me....
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Thank you.
I love doing these black background shots, so I ended up buying 2m of plain black fabric from my local market. A bargain at about £4
love your take on out of context and the exposure is spot on
For me the first bubbles shot is the most intresting although all 3 are good
Thanks. Glad that you liked them.
I didn't have a bubble blower/maker myself, so here's how I made my "home made bubble maker":
Bowl with your washing up liquid + water mix.
Small plastic cup (even something like a cable tie would probably have worked)
I just dipped the plastic cup in the water kind of irratically. Then I blew on the top of it which made bubbles.
I had the camera hand held on manual focus in the other hand.
Might work for your cactus shot too.
Now that's a good idea.
If I get time I feel a bit of an experiment with the cactus coming on.
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Thanks.
I did try a couple with the flash, but ended up with unwanted reflections all over the bubble and a blown background . . . it was definitely fun though, and something I want to experiment with again - so maybe I'll eventually stumble on the best technique.
Excellent work Sarah. Love the first couple, although #1 is superb and thanks for the info on the lighting
Thanks John.
These really were good fun.
Excellent ....as ever. Prefer No 1 IMO
Thank you.
Agreed that no.1 turned out the best.
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Ive gone a bit mad this week . . . sorry . . . 3 pictures from me again.
Please dont feel like you have to comment on them all (or in fact any of them!)
And I promise to try to only inflict one shot on you next week
This bears no resemblance at all to anything I had in mind, but I really wanted to share this one. Some of you might remember Ebony from the fun week. Shes an old girl now, but unfortunately her camera radar hasnt been impaired at all by age. Believe me this is a very rare shot.
While I was sorting out this weeks shot I moved her bed onto the landing for her so she could watch what was going on. While she was distracted with something else, I took the opportunity to sneak up for a shot.
Not particularly on theme, other than the fact that I had to lie down to take the shot and banisters dont make the best background, but this is probably one of the best portraits that Ive managed of her!
"Low Down" The Planned Shot
This is the shot that I set out to get.
Low Down really didnt inspire me that much. Ive spent a lot of the last week looking down at my feet, trying to find something interesting to shoot. Then inspiration hit me . . . why not just shoot my feet?
All I needed was to come up with an interesting setting to put them in. (as opposed to my mouth. Im generally very good at the whole foot in mouth thing)
This is inspired by those Summer days shell-hunting on the beach as a child. With that in mind Ive been working on my PP too this week and I wanted to give this a vintage, Polaroid type look.
Worked or not worked? Ill leave it to you to let me know.
"Low Down" Gone mad in Photoshop
After taking my intended shot, I got to looking at the lovely spiky shape of the shell. Completely the opposite to the first shot but it really suggested some sort of alien, sci-fi treatment.
This ones very heavy on PP and probably not to everyone's taste, but good fun all the same!
Please dont feel like you have to comment on them all (or in fact any of them!)
And I promise to try to only inflict one shot on you next week
"Low Down" The Unintended Shot
This bears no resemblance at all to anything I had in mind, but I really wanted to share this one. Some of you might remember Ebony from the fun week. Shes an old girl now, but unfortunately her camera radar hasnt been impaired at all by age. Believe me this is a very rare shot.
While I was sorting out this weeks shot I moved her bed onto the landing for her so she could watch what was going on. While she was distracted with something else, I took the opportunity to sneak up for a shot.
Not particularly on theme, other than the fact that I had to lie down to take the shot and banisters dont make the best background, but this is probably one of the best portraits that Ive managed of her!
"Low Down" The Planned Shot
This is the shot that I set out to get.
Low Down really didnt inspire me that much. Ive spent a lot of the last week looking down at my feet, trying to find something interesting to shoot. Then inspiration hit me . . . why not just shoot my feet?
All I needed was to come up with an interesting setting to put them in. (as opposed to my mouth. Im generally very good at the whole foot in mouth thing
)This is inspired by those Summer days shell-hunting on the beach as a child. With that in mind Ive been working on my PP too this week and I wanted to give this a vintage, Polaroid type look.
Worked or not worked? Ill leave it to you to let me know.
"Low Down" Gone mad in Photoshop
After taking my intended shot, I got to looking at the lovely spiky shape of the shell. Completely the opposite to the first shot but it really suggested some sort of alien, sci-fi treatment.
This ones very heavy on PP and probably not to everyone's taste, but good fun all the same!
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Favorite is the second shot, love it! PP Tones you applied are excellent
Glad you managed to get a good photo of the dog too. Excellent photo too may I add
Glad you managed to get a good photo of the dog too. Excellent photo too may I add
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Fantastic and thoughful shots as usual from you Sarah! To be honest, #1 doesnt do it for me though it is a cute dog but I absolutely love #2 and #3.
#3 looks magical and I love the stance of the feet in #2, can almost feel the person (I assume it is you) thinking about the shell.
#3 looks magical and I love the stance of the feet in #2, can almost feel the person (I assume it is you) thinking about the shell.
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Very well done Sarah... Your two official shots are both very good... I love the PP in that 3rd one (fractialus ?? )... As for the first one... I tried to get something like that with my cat... but she obviously has the same camera radar ... still a good shot though.
... still a good shot though.
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Well your doing so well with 3 excellent shots...
First..1...it's cracking shot and great angle to boot...
Second...fits the theme, and I like the toning, but not too sure about the subject...
Third...no this is just mad...:nuts: but I really like this a lot...it's PP way over the top but can't stop looking at it... for all the wrong reasons it's my favorite...
First..1...it's cracking shot and great angle to boot...
Second...fits the theme, and I like the toning, but not too sure about the subject...
Third...no this is just mad...:nuts: but I really like this a lot...it's PP way over the top but can't stop looking at it... for all the wrong reasons it's my favorite...
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Sarah, you are a busy bee
#1 is a heartwarming shot and one you'll probably treasure.
#2 works really well and you've achieved the effect you wanted
#3 My favourite, it's so surreal
#1 is a heartwarming shot and one you'll probably treasure.
#2 works really well and you've achieved the effect you wanted
#3 My favourite
, it's so surreal
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Sorry I've been really busy this week and haven't even had time to pop in and say thank you to you all for commenting. . . but better late than never and a big THANK YOU to all of you
And sorry if I've missed anyone else's "lowdown". I'll catch up tomorrow.
The Ebony shot is what it is . . . a cute memory shot, but there was a very tenuous link to the theme
The official shot . . . seems like I managed to achieve what I wanted in terms of feel of the photo and yes, Kiwi Jaz those are my feet!
The whacky edit . . . as John said that was fractilius. A new toy from my husband. Although I haven't mastered Photoshop yet, so I'm not sure that it's such a great idea to be playing with that.
Now I suppose I'd better hurry up and start thinking about doom and gloom
And sorry if I've missed anyone else's "lowdown". I'll catch up tomorrow.
The Ebony shot is what it is . . . a cute memory shot, but there was a very tenuous link to the theme
The official shot . . . seems like I managed to achieve what I wanted in terms of feel of the photo and yes, Kiwi Jaz those are my feet!
The whacky edit . . . as John said that was fractilius. A new toy from my husband. Although I haven't mastered Photoshop yet, so I'm not sure that it's such a great idea to be playing with that.
Now I suppose I'd better hurry up and start thinking about doom and gloom
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Hi Sarah - I've got a lot of catching up to do on your thread, you've been soooo busy.
Bubbles 1: I can see why this is the official shot, and I love it. It works on every level - but the lighting is particularly good. Excellent shot
Bubbles 2: It's a close call between 1 and 2. I love the lighting in #2 and the composition is great with good use of negative space. I think if you'd gone in a little closer to make more of all that lovely light in the bubbles it would have been the winner. For some reason it made me think 'beam me up, Scotty' :nuts:
Bubbles 3: Good fun, and if you'd been able to get the reflection in as well as the shadow it would have been seriously quackers. (Sorry!)
Low Down 1: This had got to be a winner and one you'll treasure. One of my dogs has the same camera radar and I know how thrilled I am to get a semi-decent shot of him ('Respect' is his only appearance in 44 weeks!)
You've caught a lovely expression with her looking straight at you, and the background isn't at all bad or distracting. Give her a hug from me.
Low Down 2: I can't make my mind up about this. The processing is lovely and just right, I can't argue with the interpretation of the theme. I keep going back for another look and the only thing I can come up with is that the composition is a bit too symmetrical for me. Your feet at more of an angle to the shell, or one foot in front of the other or something to break up the triangle would take it to another level. But I notice nobody else has commented, so it's just my personal taste. I'll stop rambling.
Low Down 3: I love this - fantastic. It made me smile.
Jean
Bubbles 1: I can see why this is the official shot, and I love it. It works on every level - but the lighting is particularly good. Excellent shot
Bubbles 2: It's a close call between 1 and 2. I love the lighting in #2 and the composition is great with good use of negative space. I think if you'd gone in a little closer to make more of all that lovely light in the bubbles it would have been the winner. For some reason it made me think 'beam me up, Scotty' :nuts:
Bubbles 3: Good fun, and if you'd been able to get the reflection in as well as the shadow it would have been seriously quackers. (Sorry!)
Low Down 1: This had got to be a winner and one you'll treasure. One of my dogs has the same camera radar and I know how thrilled I am to get a semi-decent shot of him ('Respect' is his only appearance in 44 weeks!)
You've caught a lovely expression with her looking straight at you, and the background isn't at all bad or distracting. Give her a hug from me.
Low Down 2: I can't make my mind up about this. The processing is lovely and just right, I can't argue with the interpretation of the theme. I keep going back for another look and the only thing I can come up with is that the composition is a bit too symmetrical for me. Your feet at more of an angle to the shell, or one foot in front of the other or something to break up the triangle would take it to another level. But I notice nobody else has commented, so it's just my personal taste. I'll stop rambling.
Low Down 3: I love this - fantastic. It made me smile.
Jean
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It's a bit of a lazy week for me I'm afraid.
This will be the first time that I haven't taken a shot specifically for the challenge, but it's just been a really mental week - working away from home for a few days and family stuff going on.
Anyway, this was taken a while ago and has just been sat on the laptop. I picked it back up to process for Halloween, and I think it fits for this week too. It's definitely gloomy and there's a certain feeling of doom about it. . .
It was taken at one of my favourite local locations - St Woolos Cemetery.
It's the UK's oldest public cemetery and really does have a fantastic atmosphere, not to mention some beautiful monuments . . . oh and its own ghost too apparently
(It also has some very dodgy public conveniences for anyone who remembers grunge week!)
There are some fantastically creepy buildings dotted all through the cemetery. I guess that they were used to hold services at some time in the past :shrug:. You can't really see on the smaller sized image, so here's a zoom of the left hand side with one of the buildings in the background.
This will be the first time that I haven't taken a shot specifically for the challenge, but it's just been a really mental week - working away from home for a few days and family stuff going on.
Anyway, this was taken a while ago and has just been sat on the laptop. I picked it back up to process for Halloween, and I think it fits for this week too. It's definitely gloomy and there's a certain feeling of doom about it. . .
Week 44 - Doom and Gloom
It was taken at one of my favourite local locations - St Woolos Cemetery.
It's the UK's oldest public cemetery and really does have a fantastic atmosphere, not to mention some beautiful monuments . . . oh and its own ghost too apparently
(It also has some very dodgy public conveniences for anyone who remembers grunge week!)
There are some fantastically creepy buildings dotted all through the cemetery. I guess that they were used to hold services at some time in the past :shrug:. You can't really see on the smaller sized image, so here's a zoom of the left hand side with one of the buildings in the background.
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Catch Up:
Ebony - lovely shot and one I'm sure you will treasure
Low Down #2 - I think you have done what you set out to achieve with the processing but can't help agreeing with Jean about it being very symetrical.
Low Down #3 - Sometimes crazy PP works and for me, this one definately does!! Weird... in a good way
Doom & Gloom #1 & #2 - Spoooooky! I love the processing on both of these - care to share? I think there is quite a lot going on in the second and my eyes don't really know where to stop - because of that the prize goes to #1 for me.
Ebony - lovely shot and one I'm sure you will treasure
Low Down #2 - I think you have done what you set out to achieve with the processing but can't help agreeing with Jean about it being very symetrical.
Low Down #3 - Sometimes crazy PP works and for me, this one definately does!! Weird... in a good way
Doom & Gloom #1 & #2 - Spoooooky! I love the processing on both of these - care to share? I think there is quite a lot going on in the second and my eyes don't really know where to stop - because of that the prize goes to #1 for me.