Sarah's 52 - FINAL WEEK - "Texture"

Excellent capture, Sarah - that bird's not a happy bunny! :D

Well done for getting the shot before beating a hasty retreat. My only criticism (small niggle - not anywhere near 'ruining the shot') it would be nice to have a little more contrast between the goose and the water. However, I actually like the shadows and the definition on the bird's feathers, and the dark shadow on his right adds to the drama he's stirring up. :clap::clap:

Jean
 
Sarah, very nicely captured, and a very wise move to beat a respectful retreat once that started. Looks spot on to me, lovely details in the feathers.
 
He He He, yep this has happened to me...but I didn't get my shot before running...:lol:

It's a nice twist on the theme and a good shot, nicely done...:clap::clap::clap:
 
karmagarda said:
Haha! Nice capture! Really caught the emotion of the bird, well done! :thumbs:
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Thanks KG

Hyster said:
Very good grunge shots Sarah, remind me of the film Trainspotting.

Both versions work very well.

Respect is ace, made me smile and well done for getting the shot in while making your retreat.
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I hadn't actually thought about Trainspotting until you mentioned it. But yep I can definitely see where you're coming from with that.
Glad that respect made you smile.

jeangenie said:
Excellent capture, Sarah - that bird's not a happy bunny! :D

Well done for getting the shot before beating a hasty retreat. My only criticism (small niggle - not anywhere near 'ruining the shot') it would be nice to have a little more contrast between the goose and the water. However, I actually like the shadows and the definition on the bird's feathers, and the dark shadow on his right adds to the drama he's stirring up. :clap::clap:

Jean
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Glad you like it Jean. I may have a play around and see if I can do any more PP on it (PP is really not one of my strong points) but I really wouldn't lose too much detail from the feathers.
And yes . . . it was a rather hasty retreat :lol:

jgs001 said:
Sarah, very nicely captured, and a very wise move to beat a respectful retreat once that started. Looks spot on to me, lovely details in the feathers.
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Thanks John.
Glad that you like it. Despite the rubbish light I was pleased with how much detail I managed to get in the feathers.

Spartacus said:
He He He, yep this has happened to me...but I didn't get my shot before running...:lol:

It's a nice twist on the theme and a good shot, nicely done...:clap::clap::clap:
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Thank you!
At least I'm not the only one this has happened to :lol:
I hadn't realised that I'd even taken the shot until I got home and looked on the laptop.

kennysarmy said:
Made me smile...I think we've all "been there!"...

a bit dark....wondered if it could have been lightened a little...perhaps selectively...
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I'm glad it made you smile - and it makes me feel better knowing that others have had "wildlife moments" :lol:

TBH I always struggle a bit with brightness. My laptop screen is stupidly shiny and depending on the angle things tend to look ridiculously bright or very, very dark.
Thank you for the tip - I'll have a play.
 
Love the pose and framing on this one - a touch dark on my screen but the context and detail and theme come across very well :)

Thats one mean looking goose!! :D
 
Respect the Goose, that phrase is going to live with me for a while:lol: It's true though geese are not a bird you want to get on the wrong side of, very painful.

You've already pointed what's not quite right about the shot, so I won't repeat. It still works and it still says Respect.

Long may our luck hold!:thumbs:
 
I like that, yes it would be better without the other bird but still a great shot and really displays the moment :D
 
Dark Star said:
Love the pose and framing on this one - a touch dark on my screen but the context and detail and theme come across very well :)

Thats one mean looking goose!! :D
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:D Yep, he was a vicious one alright.
I didn't want to hang about for too much longer after that.

maddog.mark said:
Respect the Goose, that phrase is going to live with me for a while:lol: It's true though geese are not a bird you want to get on the wrong side of, very painful.

You've already pointed what's not quite right about the shot, so I won't repeat. It still works and it still says Respect.

Long may our luck hold!:thumbs:
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:lol: "Respect the goose" indeed! Makes kind of a catchy slogan.
No luck so far this week, but I've been so busy with work I haven't really had time to think about photography :(

Toothie said:
I like that, yes it would be better without the other bird but still a great shot and really displays the moment :D
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Thanks Ruth. There are definitely a lot of flaws but I'm glad you liked it. It definitely made me smile when I processed it.

Kiwi Jaz said:
Very humourous shot. I like it.
The black border suits it perfectly too.
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Thanks KG. I'm glad that it made you smile.

I am going to have a go with a bit more PP on this and see if I can correct some of the flaws. . . just been too busy so far this week :(
I know it's a very long way from being technically perfect, but it made me smile despite the problems which is why I decided to share it.
I'm glad that it brought some smiles to all of you too.
 
Well my original idea was a complete failure this week. I'd planned on getting a shot of the dog cuddling her teddy. . . but her camera radar was working well. Even when I tried stealth mode (waiting for her to be asleep) she managed to sense me coming :D
It's also been an awful week at work, so today's been the only chance I've had for photography :(

Anyway, this is what I ended up with. It really isn't easy trying to photograph your own hand while holding the camera in the other :lol:
I don't dislike this, but I do think that the crop is too tight . . . another side effect of holding the camera while trying to get your own hand in shot!

I was also planning on trying some PP on the respect shot this weekend, but since I wasn't completely happy with the framing of "friendship", I ended up getting too engrossed in playing with that instead.

. . . So something a bit different from me this week as a bonus in "Friendship Part II". It's more for fun than anything else. I really want to start improving my PP and getting to grips with Photoshop.
It also shows you just how many shots I forced my poor husband to endure when I was doing this :lol:

On a serious note, I'm happy with the concept of these images (amateur Photoshop status and technical imperfections aside). In fact I prefer this to my original idea. What I was trying to convey was that as well as being my significant other, lover, helper and occasional pain in the butt he's my friend too. I'm hoping that it's come across.


FRIENDSHIP

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FRIENDSHIP PART II (just for fun)

friendsize.jpg


I think I've covered most of my lessons learnt already, so that's it from me this week.
 
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As you said a little on the tight side with the crop, but still works very well...:clap::clap::clap:

Guess you need to get spending and get a tripod now...:D

Tell your other half you need it to progress to the next level and he shouldn't hold you back...:lol:

Not sure about the fun shot, think that may have works ok in B&W...:thinking:

Good theme for you by the looks of it...:thumbs:
 
Sometimes the simplest of shots tell the best story and I think you nailed it with No1. Well done. Sorry , but no2 doesn't do it for me :'(
 
Sarah, I see what you mean, very similar ;). I don't think the close in crop is an issue, it works very well and is spot on theme... Take a look at the redsnappers, search on here...

Not sure on the second one, the concept is intriguing, but perhaps needs to be less colourful...
 
Ohh, I'm going against the flow here on this one :D the first shot is good. You've pointed out the flaws I would have so I don't need to do so.

Now, the second artistic shot, I really like this... apart from the Green colouring. If you chose something warmer I think it would have worked way better. I love the composition and idea behind it. I think a really old fashioned (something close to a washed out sepia) may have worked here. Plus clone out the black spot on the top left hand, it's a tad off putting. But apart from that, the oddity and nonconformance of it appeals to me. I say keep working on those, there's definitely something in that. :thumbs:
 
I love the second shot - that just works for me on so many levels and I could see it as an album or book cover - love it :) Well done

The first I find a tad dark for my tastes :( great detail and idea though!

#2 for me :) Brilliant!
 
So sorry to everyone whose friendship shots I've missed. . . I promise a big catch up tonight!
I've been working away for the last week and yesterday was my mother's 60th birthday so I haven't even had time to think about the 52s.

Anyway, thank you all for your comments on friendship - they're all appreciated.
I see there are mixed opinions on this one :lol:

Personally, I still think that the crop is a bit too tight on No.1, but I'm glad that not everyone agrees with me!
:$ Marcus / John, I do already have a cheap, light-weight tripod . . . I'm afraid that the lack of use last week was laziness rather than anything else.
I find it hard to get the focus right with the auto-timer and I've been far to lazy to work out how to use live-view.
Definitely got a decent tripod on my wish-list though - so thank you John for the link. The one I have is fine for indoor still-life shots, but I wouldn't trust it outdoors!

No.2 I see has created split opinions too.
It really was just a bit of playing around - nothing too serious, so no need for anyone to apologise for not liking it!

It is starting to grow on me as I've looked at it again though :shrug:
So thank you again to those of you who liked it. And just for you, here it is without the greenish tint.

friendsize2.jpg


It's now almost 10 o'clock on Sunday morning and I still have absolutely no idea what to do for fresh start :(
I'd better get thinking if I want to get something by tonight.
 
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"Fresh Start" was hardly the easiest of themes.

My first thought was seed pods in the garden . . . end of the season . . . plants getting ready for a fresh start in the Spring etc etc
Then I thought . . . "morning" . . . new day . . . every new day is a fresh start in its own way . . . and what's prettier in the early morning than cobwebs shimmering with dew in the morning sun?
So there's a bit of both in this week's shot . . . seed pods and shiny "dewy webs". . .

Ohhhhhh OK . . . who am I kidding????
That was my pathetic attempt at trying to make this shot fit the theme :lol:
The truth is that it's been a heavy week (as I said in my earlier post) and I've really left this to the last minute.

The early morning dew was actually at about 10:30 this morning. Fortunately the sun's very low at this time of year and there was a bit of shimmer left on the webs.
I know it's not exactly on theme, but I've just about got it in by the skin of my teeth and it's all I've got this week :shrug:


Week 38 - FRESH START

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Lessons Learnt

- Life sometimes gets in the way of hobbies.

- A difficult theme is 10 times harder when it's left to the last minute.

- I might HATE spiders, but their webs are very beautiful.

- Their webs might be very beautiful, but their beauty isn't easy to capture in a photograph . . . :shrug: seems another good reason to hate spiders ;)
 
Nice shot, but are is the web slightly out of focus?
Please tell me those are lollies on the branch and not spider eggs, or I wont be able to sleep tonight! :)
 
:lol: Definitely not spider eggs!
Believe me if they were I wouldn't have got so close. The branch is from a Cordyline and those are seed pods that you can see (from when it flowered in the Summer)

If you're looking at the top left of the image then there's definitely some blur (it's not your eyesight :p). I think it's motion blur rather than a focus problem as such though.

That was one of the difficulties that I found with shooting the webs. The slightest breeze and they start quivering like mad.
This was one of my better attempts. The bottom part of the web, at least, was staying still :D

I've put some of my other efforts here if anyone's interested in looking.
 
Catch up time again!

Respect: This made me chuckle as I love geese - SO full of attitude! Nice take on the theme (even if it wasn't intentional) and an interesting shot of a common bird. It is a tad dark but you have managed to capture a good amount of detail.

Friendship: I love the sentiment of this one (very similar to mine if you have seen it) and I think you have conveyed it very well. You are right - the crop is too tight but I know it's not easy shooting with one hand! I think the second effort could work but there is a bit too much going on :thumbs:

Fresh Start: I see what you were trying to do but it doesn't work for me I'm afraid. Kudos for getting the web (and getting it in on time!)though - I know that is super-tricky!
 
Oh dear - it seems we're all catching up one way or another this week. :)

Friendship: The first shot is fine - well composed etc, and the tight crop is understandable in the circumstances. Although, I don't know where else you would crop a hands shot. If you cropped at, say, the wrists I think it would look a bit odd. So, imho, the crops is good as it is. btw - I love the sentiment it expresses, too. :love:

Friendship #2: I almost agree with Karmagarda on this one! It's artistic and creative, and, for some reason, I think the green tint suits it. Perhaps the green makes it seem more abstract, and the colour's not too strong. I hope it grows on you some more, Sarah. Well done on the pp involved too. I wouldn't know where to start on that one. :) The b&w should work better, but for me it's nice, but lacks the 'stop and look at me' factor in the green one.

Fresh Start: I know what you mean about making the photo fit the theme - Mr JG says I do that most weeks. :lol:

I know this was an 'I've got to do something' shot for you, but I think it works well. I like the play of light on the top of the web and the changes in focus add to the ethereal quality of the web. Normally I like spiders, but I've just spent a couple of hours with a feather duster making a whole army of them homeless, and I'm feeling less charitable towards them, so I sympathise with your loathing of them. :)


I totally sympathise with the problem of life getting in the way of hobbies, too :lol:

Jean
 
Thanks DS and Jean.

I'll admit to feeling a bit despondent this week at posting a "that'll have to do" / filler shot.
But :shrug: I suppose there's bound to be weeks like it.
I think this is a definite candidate for a re-shoot. I love the idea of the web, but just didn't have the time to practice and really execute it how I wanted it.

I've posted in general photos in the hope of getting some tips on how to do better, so watch this space it might make a comeback, new and improved if we get a re-shoot week.

Anyway onwards and upwards. I'm hoping for a good theme this week and the time to do something about it.
 
I rather like it. The subtleties of the web and the buds works well. I went for something very similar this week, and was aiming for it, not as a filler... I think possibly a little more DOF would have helped, you had some room to play with... 1/500 at f5.6, then maybe make a little more of the motion blur from the webs as well (where on earth did I find an arty hat :D)... It works for me... I'll have a nose at the others shortly.
 
Sounds like you had a tough week, but you got a shot and it fits the theme. So for that well done, we've all been there. :clap:It's not your best work it's a bit cluttered and the focus isn't quite right, but I'll let you off, sometimes it's just about getting a shot, any shot! Good luck for this weeks theme.:thumbs:
 
Respect - You've got to have respect for a beak like that :eek: It certainly fits the theme on 2 levels, one for the shot and two for you taking it before running :) and , apart from what you've said about I think it's a good shot too :thumbs:

Friendship - I love this shot, and the words behind it. SPs are easier if you have something like an infra red shutter release as you can set up the shot and focus and then press the transmitter (and use a tripod of course :lol:) At least that's how I manage them. Don't do what I did last time though and have your laptop in the room farthest away ..... :bang:

Fresh Start - I can't see anything I don't like in this shot Sarah. You've captured a difficult subject very well :clap:
 
kennysarmy said:
Fresh start : not enough in sharp focus for me and find the composition a little cluttered. Surprised as you normally produce such high quality stuff :)
Will forgive you if you make it up to me this week ;)
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Sorry I'm with Jeff on this one...:(

You raised the bar to such a great level that I can't let you get away with a ok shot when I know you have brilliant shot inside you...:nono:

he He He only joking, we all have a week that falls a little flat and we just have to let it go and move on the the next theme...:thumbs:
 
Not up to your usual high standard, but i'm sure you'll blow us out of the water with this weeks theme ;)
 
Well I'm glad that this has fallen off onto the previous page, so that I don't have to look at it again :lol:
Thank you all for your support and kind words though . . . this is the first week that I've rushed and put something in that I know isn't up to scratch and it's not a good feeling.

jgs001 said:
I rather like it. The subtleties of the web and the buds works well. I went for something very similar this week, and was aiming for it, not as a filler... I think possibly a little more DOF would have helped, you had some room to play with... 1/500 at f5.6, then maybe make a little more of the motion blur from the webs as well (where on earth did I find an arty hat :D)... It works for me... I'll have a nose at the others shortly.
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John thank you. That's very kind of you and I'm glad that you found your arty hat! I'll give that a try next time I give cobwebs a go.
If I'm honest with myself though, I know that I could do better . . . in fact none of my cobweb shots were really as good as I'd like . . .

kennysarmy said:
Fresh start : not enough in sharp focus for me and find the composition a little cluttered. Surprised as you normally produce such high quality stuff :)
Will forgive you if you make it up to me this week ;)
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:lol: well I'm feeling slightly more inspired and have a bit more time this week, so I'll try my best.
In fact having a bad week has motivated me to be a bit more focused (excuse the pun) next time around.
Thank you for your honesty . . . and for saying that my stuff is normally high quality :$

maddog.mark said:
Sounds like you had a tough week, but you got a shot and it fits the theme. So for that well done, we've all been there. :clap:It's not your best work it's a bit cluttered and the focus isn't quite right, but I'll let you off, sometimes it's just about getting a shot, any shot! Good luck for this weeks theme.:thumbs:
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Well it was inevitable that I'd hit a bad week sooner or later . . . good to know that everyone else has been there too so I'm not alone.
I've got the optimism and motivation for this week's theme, now all I need is a bit of inspiration :D
 
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Bruja said:
Respect - You've got to have respect for a beak like that :eek: It certainly fits the theme on 2 levels, one for the shot and two for you taking it before running :) and , apart from what you've said about I think it's a good shot too :thumbs:

Friendship - I love this shot, and the words behind it. SPs are easier if you have something like an infra red shutter release as you can set up the shot and focus and then press the transmitter (and use a tripod of course :lol:) At least that's how I manage them. Don't do what I did last time though and have your laptop in the room farthest away ..... :bang:

Fresh Start - I can't see anything I don't like in this shot Sarah. You've captured a difficult subject very well :clap:
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Thank you Jill. I'm glad that you liked respect and friendship and relieved that you've found more to like in "fresh start" than I did.
It was definitely a difficult subject and not one to attempt in haste . . . which is where I think I went wrong.

Spartacus said:
Sorry I'm with Jeff on this one...:(

You raised the bar to such a great level that I can't let you get away with a ok shot when I know you have brilliant shot inside you...:nono:

he He He only joking, we all have a week that falls a little flat and we just have to let it go and move on the the next theme...
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Thank you Marcus. Definitely not my best week, but looking on the positive side, I suppose that now I've had a flat week, it can only go back up from here :D
I really appreciate the comments about having raised the bar high . . . I'm just hoping that I do manage to find something a bit more than OK this week.

corky said:
Not up to your usual high standard, but i'm sure you'll blow us out of the water with this weeks theme ;)
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Thanks Corky.
:eek: Shhhhhh Don't build this week's theme up too much. . . I still need some inspiration :bang:
 
I like this for the composition - for me the focus is on the stem and just at the point of the center of the web which is a little oof (as had been said)

I like the idea of looking through the 'eye' of the web to the plant :)

Well done - my fresh start is less fresh :) In fact its not in the bag yet :D
 
tbh im not keen on friendship but its a personal taste thing.

The web i love the lighting is spot on imo, but i don't think the branch adds to it.

sorry i can't be more positive.
 
I do like it. Would have preferred a spider on it though! But maybe you wouldn't have taken the photo if there was :D
 
Dark Star said:
I like this for the composition - for me the focus is on the stem and just at the point of the center of the web which is a little oof (as had been said)

I like the idea of looking through the 'eye' of the web to the plant :)

Well done - my fresh start is less fresh :) In fact its not in the bag yet :D
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Thank you John. Good luck finding inspiration for yours :)
(as you'll see from my next post, I still can't quite let go of this theme)

Toothie said:
tbh im not keen on friendship but its a personal taste thing.

The web i love the lighting is spot on imo, but i don't think the branch adds to it.

sorry i can't be more positive.
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No need to apologise. I think it was the lighting that attracted me to it, but it was all far too rushed and you're right, I wish I'd found a web without a branch.
Maybe my reshoot will do a bit more for you.

karmagarda said:
I do like it. Would have preferred a spider on it though! But maybe you wouldn't have taken the photo if there was :D
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You're right. I wouldn't have gone anywhere near it with a spider in it :lol:
 
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Thank you all for your kind comments and your honesty.
I just can't seem to let this one lie though. I'm really not happy with what was a rushed filler shot for last week, so here's my second attempt at this.

"Fresh Start" = "Blank Canvas"

I'm definitely happier with this one. Now I just need to get something in for this week ;)


Week 38 - Fresh Start - Reshoot

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Originally the pallette was arranged for a right handed artist, but I flipped the image for composition. It just felt better this way around :shrug:
 
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And so you should be happy with that! Excellent photo. DOF is fantastic on it. :thumbs:
 
I agree, that's a really good shot Sarah. Nothing wrong with reversing the image, it works well like this. :thumbs:
 
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