Sarah's 52 - FINAL WEEK - "Texture"
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Liking that a lot...especially as you were so nice to my effort...
Did you try a wider aperture to get the salt more in focus, and if so, why were you not happy with it???
I'll load the first effort up in the next couple of days for you to see, but it really was horrible.
It did have a much smaller aperture than the reshoot and it ended up looking like nothing was really in focus. (that was one bit I fixed in the reshoot. I couldn't actually get it much wider that close up and with the lighting I had, but it looks so much better & I'm a lot happier with it)
I also used a silver foil background and different lighting in the original . . . neither of which worked at all.
It's not that I don't like the reshoot - I just found the theme and my original failed attempt very frustrating this week!
Thank you KJ. I'd had enough of black backgrounds and salt & pepper really doesn't lend itself to outdoors shots
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I really like this! I love the way you have the Salt nearly following the "peak" of the Pepper. Nicely done 
And I agree on the theme being a bit of a stickler, I've got zilch :shrug:
And I agree on the theme being a bit of a stickler, I've got zilch :shrug:
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I really like this! I love the way you have the Salt nearly following the "peak" of the Pepper. Nicely done
And I agree on the theme being a bit of a stickler, I've got zilch :shrug:
Thank you KG.
I hope you have better luck than me in coming up with a shot for it.
Thank you Steve. I was going for a sort of abstract, landscape feel although I didn't think I'd quite pulled it off . . . I'm glad that you saw that in there!
So much for blinking hating a theme, that is a BRILLIANT shot, so much I love about it. Damn, you've had your DSLR less than 5mins, and You're already mastering it MILES more than I ever will....Think I might aswell give up
You're being waaaay too kind to me! I'm happy with the re-shoot, but it's far from brilliant
I'll upload my original awful attempt later (if I can bear to look at it again) and I'm sure that will make you feel loads better.
I'm on my way over to look at yours now and I bet it's going to be good!
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Lessons Learnt
1) There's a reason that people invest in macro lenses for close-up work
2) With a LOT of patience it's possible to get a close-up shot with the kit lens, but I think peppercorns are about the limit.
3) Try, try and try again . . . I don't get beaten easily. Especially by a piece of equipment!
4) I really did learn a lot about different aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings this week with the reshoot.
Even next to the kitchen window and with additional artificial light, the light wasn't that good and I couldn't get close enough to the kitchen counter with the tripod - that made camera shake an issue with longer exposures.
My first awful attempt at this - The "real shot" is at the bottom of the previous page
Well I said I'd share this with you.
Trust me, it's best kept small and tucked away at the bottom of the page
No comments necessary on this one, it really didn't work and I'm glad that I had time to reshoot and address some of the issues.
1) There's a reason that people invest in macro lenses for close-up work
2) With a LOT of patience it's possible to get a close-up shot with the kit lens, but I think peppercorns are about the limit.
3) Try, try and try again . . . I don't get beaten easily. Especially by a piece of equipment!
4) I really did learn a lot about different aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings this week with the reshoot.
Even next to the kitchen window and with additional artificial light, the light wasn't that good and I couldn't get close enough to the kitchen counter with the tripod - that made camera shake an issue with longer exposures.
My first awful attempt at this - The "real shot" is at the bottom of the previous page
Well I said I'd share this with you.
Trust me, it's best kept small and tucked away at the bottom of the page
No comments necessary on this one, it really didn't work and I'm glad that I had time to reshoot and address some of the issues.
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Another lovely shot of what seems to me a stunning shot...
you really do have a great photographic eye...
Thank you!
Very kind of you to say.
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Rock Salt and Black peppercorns
Superb!
jeangenie
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Sarah, you've had a Waterloo week by the sounds of it. (as in you met your Waterloo) but as far as I'm concerned it's one-nil to Sarah. 
I struggled for ages before I got a macro lens, so I feel for you. But..... I also struggle to control the dof with the macro. But then, maybe that's just me. On the question of lighting - did you try juggling with exposure compensation?
I think you've done an excellent job on this, especially since you weren't inspired by the theme. Salt is really difficult to 'get' and given the limitations you were working under I think you've done well. AND you get full marks for perseverence.
Jean
I struggled for ages before I got a macro lens, so I feel for you. But..... I also struggle to control the dof with the macro. But then, maybe that's just me.
On the question of lighting - did you try juggling with exposure compensation?I think you've done an excellent job on this, especially since you weren't inspired by the theme. Salt is really difficult to 'get' and given the limitations you were working under I think you've done well. AND you get full marks for perseverence.
Jean
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I really like both the mono (square crop) and season shots Sarah. I know what you mean about getting the distance right between the camera and counter top with a tripod... I often lift the subject up on blocks to make it easier (doesn't mean I do a good job though )
)
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Sorry I've been so slow in responding to your comments it's been a really hectic week for me so far . . . and next week's theme is driving me mad!
Thank you - That is extremely generous of you to say!
Thank you. I'm glad that you like it . . . although it's not something I'll be in a hurry to try again!
Thank you Jean.
It was a tough week, although I suspect "grunge" is going to be even less inspiring.
Do you know what? I completely forgot that I also had exposure compensation. I'd say that it's something I'll play with next time but I don't think I'll be repeating this shot in a hurry.
Thank you - That is extremely generous of you to say!
Thank you. I'm glad that you like it . . . although it's not something I'll be in a hurry to try again!
Sarah, you've had a Waterloo week by the sounds of it. (as in you met your Waterloo) but as far as I'm concerned it's one-nil to Sarah.
I struggled for ages before I got a macro lens, so I feel for you. But..... I also struggle to control the dof with the macro. But then, maybe that's just me.
I think you've done an excellent job on this, especially since you weren't inspired by the theme. Salt is really difficult to 'get' and given the limitations you were working under I think you've done well. AND you get full marks for perseverence.
Jean
Thank you Jean.
It was a tough week, although I suspect "grunge" is going to be even less inspiring.
Do you know what? I completely forgot that I also had exposure compensation. I'd say that it's something I'll play with next time but I don't think I'll be repeating this shot in a hurry.
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Thank you.
I really cant see why you hated this theme, the photo is great
Thanks. It's not so much that I don't like the photo. It was more the journey to get there that I hated LOL.
I really like both the mono (square crop) and season shots Sarah. I know what you mean about getting the distance right between the camera and counter top with a tripod... I often lift the subject up on blocks to make it easier (doesn't mean I do a good job though
Thank you.
Good tip about using blocks. I might try that next time.
maddog.mark
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Ok I've looked and I can't find the jawdropping emocation! So you'll have to make do with this 
Simply superb
Simply superb
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Ok I've looked and I can't find the jawdropping emocation! So you'll have to make do with this
Simply superb
Thank you Mark . . . in fact thank you everyone. I really wasn't expecting so much positive feedback on that one :nuts:
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OK - I'm awaiting the onslaught of 
smilies.
Really not an easy theme for me to get inspired or excited by.
It did work out a bit better than expected, but that was just through luck rather than planning.
This morning I had an hour out with the camera in our local cemetery. Nothing particular in mind, but it's the oldest public cemetery in the UK and they have some absolutely beautiful Victorian headstones and monuments that I wanted to try to shoot.
Grunge was going to have to wait until this afternoon. I had a couple of ideas, but nothing very good and I had absolutely no enthusiasm for it
. . . and then utterly unexpectedly, I found something far grungier than anything I could hope to manufacture
Believe it or not, this is actually far better than what I thought I'd be submitting this week!
Lessons Learnt
Not much to say this week as this was all a bit unplanned, but I'm sure I have learnt more than I think I have
All I have for now . . .
- On rare occasions, a shot for a difficult theme can just land in your lap.
- It was nice to do something totally different this week, even if it's not a subject that I'd deliberately pick.
and
- Sometimes it's better to just cross your legs and head for home
smilies.Really not an easy theme for me to get inspired or excited by.
It did work out a bit better than expected, but that was just through luck rather than planning.
This morning I had an hour out with the camera in our local cemetery. Nothing particular in mind, but it's the oldest public cemetery in the UK and they have some absolutely beautiful Victorian headstones and monuments that I wanted to try to shoot.
Grunge was going to have to wait until this afternoon. I had a couple of ideas, but nothing very good and I had absolutely no enthusiasm for it
. . . and then utterly unexpectedly, I found something far grungier than anything I could hope to manufacture
Believe it or not, this is actually far better than what I thought I'd be submitting this week!
GRUNGE
Lessons Learnt
Not much to say this week as this was all a bit unplanned, but I'm sure I have learnt more than I think I have
All I have for now . . .
- On rare occasions, a shot for a difficult theme can just land in your lap.
- It was nice to do something totally different this week, even if it's not a subject that I'd deliberately pick.
and
- Sometimes it's better to just cross your legs and head for home
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Daysleeper40
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Sorry I'm so horribly behind with your thread Sarah - I have been looking in and for what it's now worth here is what I thought:
Exposed #1 - the word that sprang to mind was "jumble"... and then I scrolled a bit further and found:
Exposed #2 - which is a VAST improvement! I love the effort you put into your shots and it really paid off on this one - it's like an apple glamour shot
Mono - Again, you've put a lot of effort in and are rightly proud of this one - I prefer the first crop and the only crit I can give is I find it a nats too dark - but that could well be my carp monitor.
Season - Shot of the week for me - beautiful colours, composition and lighting
Grunge - I'd definately have crossed my legs rather than go in there!! Certainly fits the them and it's good to see you shooting something a bit different. Just looked at it again and realised that the composition is very good - it must have been pretty cramped in there!
Exposed #1 - the word that sprang to mind was "jumble"... and then I scrolled a bit further and found:
Exposed #2 - which is a VAST improvement! I love the effort you put into your shots and it really paid off on this one - it's like an apple glamour shot
Mono - Again, you've put a lot of effort in and are rightly proud of this one - I prefer the first crop and the only crit I can give is I find it a nats too dark - but that could well be my carp monitor.
Season - Shot of the week for me - beautiful colours, composition and lighting
Grunge - I'd definately have crossed my legs rather than go in there!! Certainly fits the them and it's good to see you shooting something a bit different. Just looked at it again and realised that the composition is very good - it must have been pretty cramped in there!
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Don't worry about being behind - I always seem to manage to miss at least one thread every week.
I really appreciate you taking the time to comment, whenever it is.
Absolutely agree my first exposed shot was definitely not one of my best. Just glad that I did a reshoot
Re: Brightness. That's one thing I'm never sure about. My laptop screen is massively different to my work screen and I never really know what other people are seeing . . . I must think about getting my laptop calibrated.
Thank you so much for your comment on season. I'm surprised by how many positive comments I had on that one.
Grunge was actually taken from just outside the door . . . there was no way that I was getting any closer than that
Anyway, I thought I'd pop this one in too.
I rejected it because it doesn't say "grunge" as much as the first shot and the angles were impossible - nothing was straight in there. I settled for getting the verticals as level as I could, but the horizontals are still all over the place!
I quite liked the window in this one which is why I thought I'd share it.
(Unforunately I couldn't get back far enough to get a shot incorporating both elements and keep the door open with my foot at the same time)
Grunge II
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great photo
so glad there was nt an option to click the photo for a large version....
composition and processing spot on for me...
so glad there was nt an option to click the photo for a large version....
composition and processing spot on for me...
Kiwi Jaz
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Great shots for Grunge Sarah. I really like those urben ex type photos..find them very alluring (well maybe not with the toilet shot!) and there is something really interesting and throught provoking about seeing abandoned buildings in various states of decay.
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Sarah - I'm giggling so much I can hardly type. That is definitely top of the grunge hit parade for me this week.
How awful - there's no loo roll!
Photographically - I think it's spot on for the theme and the mono conversion creates the right atmosphere.
I love your lessons - especially the last one.
Jean
How awful - there's no loo roll!
Photographically - I think it's spot on for the theme and the mono conversion creates the right atmosphere.
I love your lessons - especially the last one.
Jean
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Both very good grunge shots, I think I prefer the second offering, but I'd have been pleased with either of them.
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Wow, your photography is coming on in leaps and bounds
Season, I love the mountainscape effect of mirroring the salt and the peppercorns
Grunge, yuck I can understand why you'd want to cross your legs and head home. They are both great shots and perfectly suited to the theme.Well done you
Season, I love the mountainscape effect of mirroring the salt and the peppercorns
Grunge, yuck
I can understand why you'd want to cross your legs and head home. They are both great shots and perfectly suited to the theme.Well done you
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great photo
so glad there was nt an option to click the photo for a large version....
composition and processing spot on for me...
Thank you. . . and you're right believe me. You really don't want to see any more detail than what's available in this shot
Thanks KJ. That was the type of look I was going for. I wasn't quite sure about the processing, but a bit of playing in curves and with saturation gave me the effect that I wanted.
It would be fun to try it on something other than a toilet though!
Thank you. I think it's fair to say that it was definitely grungey!
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Sarah - I'm giggling so much I can hardly type. That is definitely top of the grunge hit parade for me this week.
How awful - there's no loo roll!
Photographically - I think it's spot on for the theme and the mono conversion creates the right atmosphere.
I love your lessons - especially the last one.
Jean
I thought the last lesson might bring a smile!
I'm glad you like it . . . well the processing bit anyway. It'd be a bit worrying if anyone found something to like in the subject matter!
now that is one public loo you hope you dont have use.
I agree with Jean though works well for the theme
I think I win the prize for the grungiest location this week! You couldn't pay me enough to use that public loo. But as you said, the theme was grunge!
Thank you. Photographically the second was my favourite too, but the first really has to be the grungiest of all grunge shots.
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Wow, your photography is coming on in leaps and bounds
Season, I love the mountainscape effect of mirroring the salt and the peppercorns
Grunge, yuck
Thank you so much.
I'm trying to raise the bar a little each week, but I've still got a long way to go until I'm completely happy with my shots.
I just hope that I can keep it up for "respect".
That's a brilliant grunge shot...
and fits the theme sooo very well...
Wow! Thanks!
I really wasn't expecting such high praise for a toilet. Very kind of you.
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Excellent grunge shot! Absolutely love it. And again a different slant on it. Loving the interprations on this theme
Big from me
Big
from me
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Excellent grunge shot! Absolutely love it. And again a different slant on it. Loving the interprations on this theme
Big
Thanks KG. One of the most interesting things about these 52s is seeing how other people interpret the themes.
Grunge - bog standard shot
I like the first of the two best - its horrible but well taken
As for 'great atmosphere' I bet its seen some of those in its time
Nicely done and yeuk!
Thank you. Definitely yeeeeuuuuuuk, but glad you think it was a good shot for the theme.
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Another week where I struggled for inspiration.
I was planning on using one of my cemetery shots from last weekend, but I couldn't find one that was quite right and I'm still in the process of looking through them.
The sun was out this morning though, so I decided to take a walk around a local lake.
Every Autumn we get a huge flock of Canada Geese settling around this area and I thought that I might get a few shots of them.
For the most part these geese are very placid. They're accustomed to people feeding them and when the sun's out they bask along the edge of the lake and even on the footpath. It's very easy to make the mistake of thinking that they're tame. However, if you startle them or get too close they can turn on you. At best you'll get hissed at . . . at worst they're quite capable of inflicting real injuries.
Like all wild animals they need to approached with caution and respect . . . which brings me around to this week's theme.
I was trying to shoot the geese along the bank of the lake and this one took exception to me getting too close with the camera. Fortunately he/she was too lethargic to do anything more than hiss and honk at me.
I hadn't even realised that I'd got the shot until I got home and loaded them onto the laptop, so it was a pleasant surprise.
I would have liked the beak to be better focused, and if it had been deliberate I wouldn't have composed it in this way . . . The second goose in the background is a bit distracting and the bright sun from the left is creating some harsh shadows.
For a lucky shot of a moving subject I think it's come out OK though and it fits this week's theme.
Lessons Learnt
- The second lucky week for me, where I found an accidental shot that said what I wanted it to.
- I really must stop relying on luck and start putting a bit more effort in from next week. My luck's not going to last forever
- Bird photography isn't something that ever appealed to me, but I really did enjoy this morning's trip.
- I must get a bit more organised with sorting through and processing my shots. I now have a load of duck / geese photos in addition to last week's cemetery shoot that I need to do something with. Even if it's just a crop and tweak to brightness I really should tidy them up and get them posted for C&C.
- And finally. The most important lesson . . . RESPECT THE GEESE!
I was planning on using one of my cemetery shots from last weekend, but I couldn't find one that was quite right and I'm still in the process of looking through them.
The sun was out this morning though, so I decided to take a walk around a local lake.
Every Autumn we get a huge flock of Canada Geese settling around this area and I thought that I might get a few shots of them.
For the most part these geese are very placid. They're accustomed to people feeding them and when the sun's out they bask along the edge of the lake and even on the footpath. It's very easy to make the mistake of thinking that they're tame. However, if you startle them or get too close they can turn on you. At best you'll get hissed at . . . at worst they're quite capable of inflicting real injuries.
Like all wild animals they need to approached with caution and respect . . . which brings me around to this week's theme.
I was trying to shoot the geese along the bank of the lake and this one took exception to me getting too close with the camera. Fortunately he/she was too lethargic to do anything more than hiss and honk at me.
I hadn't even realised that I'd got the shot until I got home and loaded them onto the laptop, so it was a pleasant surprise.
I would have liked the beak to be better focused, and if it had been deliberate I wouldn't have composed it in this way . . . The second goose in the background is a bit distracting and the bright sun from the left is creating some harsh shadows.
For a lucky shot of a moving subject I think it's come out OK though and it fits this week's theme.
RESPECT
Lessons Learnt
- The second lucky week for me, where I found an accidental shot that said what I wanted it to.
- I really must stop relying on luck and start putting a bit more effort in from next week. My luck's not going to last forever
- Bird photography isn't something that ever appealed to me, but I really did enjoy this morning's trip.
- I must get a bit more organised with sorting through and processing my shots. I now have a load of duck / geese photos in addition to last week's cemetery shoot that I need to do something with. Even if it's just a crop and tweak to brightness I really should tidy them up and get them posted for C&C.
- And finally. The most important lesson . . . RESPECT THE GEESE!
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Haha! Nice capture! Really caught the emotion of the bird, well done!