Sarah's 52 for 2010 - Now continued in part 2

Hi Sarah,

I think these shots are technically great shots (lighting, composition etc) and your PP is (as always) spot on. I like the way you've tried different things with it but...

I'm afraid it doesn't do anything for me. :(

I almost wish it did, because it's a great series, but that bubble seems a bit incongruous. It doesn't look real, yet reading your post, you talk about glass sculptures, so I'm assuming it is real.

#2 has something strange going on where the lamp-post is and the bubble intersects it.

I guess this is down to my simple mind not really getting my head around what you were trying to do with this shot. Sorry!

Ian.

:exit:
 
Wow Sarah - these are COOL! Number 2 is my favourite though - fab perspective! :thumbs:
 
Number 2 for me, I think it has the strongest colours an excellent composition. Excellent work as always Sarah, muchly impressed.
 
Now they are very different, it took me a while to find the people. I was also undecided, although my first thought was the bubble was added, as to whether that was sculpture or not...

I think the best of the three for the theme is the last one, the angles in the bubbles look more natural, but the colours seem better in the second.
 
This is a wonderful shot - such imagination! The colours and lighting are really pleasing, and the bubble lifts it way out of the ordinary.

I like the second version a lot but my favourite is the third, mainly because the silver outline of the bubble stands out better against the background.

:clap::clap::clap:
 
Hmm, yes, the struggle with photographing people!
I think you have done an amazing and original job here, Sarah.
I don't find image 1 'people' enough to fit the theme but would have been proud to have produced this image anyway.
The more open aspect in the bubble in image 3 makes it my favourite of a very strong set.
I like that you worked on presenting such an over photographed location in a new way.

And now for a complaint: I only have a certain amount of superlatives in my voacabulary and at this rate I'm going to run out before the end of the challenge :lol:
 
Three for me too, they get better and closer to the theme from the first to the last for me. Very nice processing even if it is seemingly a bit odd and not really there, guess that means I like them technically *and* artistically too!

Arthur

PS - this week should be interesting as you promised less processing... :D
 
It's been an absolutely crazy week for me :bang:
A couple of days working in London; two charity meetings, I had an interview on Friday for a promotion at work and we had family over all day yesterday and last night . . . all in all my head's been all over the place this week.

So I'm really sorry that I haven't had chance to pop in here and reply to everyone individually - I do appreciate everyone's comments and I'll try to pick up some of the main points below.

Apologies for being a bit rubbish at commenting on everyone else's this week too :(

Thanks for all the positive feedback on this one, I'm surprised that it went down as well as it did.
For those of you who were not completely sold, I actually agree with you - I'm still a bit unsure of it myself, but I'm going to live with it for a while to see if it grows on me before deciding whether it's a candidate for a reshoot.
I also absolutely agree about it not being very "peopley", but then people are just not my thing !!!

Incidentally, it's not a real bubble sculpture thingy.
There are a few of that sort of sculpture dotted around though, and I just wondered how it would look with on of them in front of the MC.

Ambermile said:
PS - this week should be interesting as you promised less processing... :D
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Yes I did!
And I already have my shot in mind. :D

This is my third apology of the post though, because it's going to be late. I've got a day off work tomorrow, so I'll get my shot done then and normal service should resume for the rest of the week ;)
 
Back on track!

Not much time to do anything this week. I'd been saving this idea for a reshoot week but it seemed to fit here.
The concept is from last year's 52 - "Out of Context".

I liked the idea but the execution from last year was lacking for me . . . not that I've done much better this week, lacking on time again!!!!

Week 8 - mechanical




​

Self Critique

- Would have liked a bit more DoF to bring the nuts and raisins at the front into sharper focus - although the OOF bits do add a bit more depth to the shot I suppose :shrug:

- I used a mixture of old and bright shiny new nuts. Totally randomly placed, but I think I should have stuck with new only. The old dull one at the front looks a bit odd.
 
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Well, interesting... the one at the front does seem a bit out on a limb maybe but overall I sort of like this, even if there's rather too much oof for my taste... does it improve overall any if you desaturate the colour?

Arthur
 
Well done Sarah, you've kept on track with your 52:thumbs:

I like your mechanical entry, you have called the dof so no need to mention it.
I like the composition of your shot, the opening of the bag looks like a set of lips with lipstick on (a bit random but hey thats what I see:D)
I like the colours in it too, what was your processing on this?

Again well done, on theme, on time(ish);) and onwards to this weeks theme
Iain
 
Your first one gets my vote Sarah FWIW:)
 
Go with the original. Much better IMHO........

Nice take on the idea and love the nuts pun........

Agree with your comments on DOF, Sarah..........


Lastly, I think you should put the bag of nuts and raisins into an envelope and send to the "not completely satisifed" address on the back, and await their reply! :lol: and post it on here........... :naughty:
 
personally, I feel somewhere between to two shots.
A little less saturated, as the raisins lost their juicyness. I think it should feel weathered but not dull (does that makes sense?)

Agreed about the silver nuts only, especially having the bronze grips in the background.
This would be worth a reshoot - time permitting.
Work on the depth and focus as you said.

If I were to chose I think the first edges it ;)
 
Agree with Dade, I think the saturation needs to be in the middle somewhere. Also agree with your own points about DoF and the odd nut. Still works very well as a concept, definitely one to revisit if you haven't eaten all the raisins :)
 
Hi Sarah,

I think this is a cool idea, but you've hit the nail bang on in your own self crits. I think the trouble isn't only the nuts being oof in the foreground, but the lighting. This needs a bit more light to define the nuts and raisins better.
 
Oh how I LOL'd,

Very very good Sarah.

I prefer the desaturated colour myself.

Great idea and DOF which really draws you into this. If the mixed nuts and raisins wasn't in view this would have been a major fail.

Good luck for week 9....im sure il be fascinated yet agin by your magic wonders
 
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Nice idea Sarah, overall i think it is an improvement on "out of context" i like the de saturated version better but wonder if you have pushed it a little too far as the bag seems like its been selectively coloured?
 
blakester said:
Well done Sarah, you've kept on track with your 52:thumbs:

I like your mechanical entry, you have called the dof so no need to mention it.
I like the composition of your shot, the opening of the bag looks like a set of lips with lipstick on (a bit random but hey thats what I see:D)
I like the colours in it too, what was your processing on this?

Again well done, on theme, on time(ish);) and onwards to this weeks theme
Iain
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Thanks Iain - a few things that I'd change in it, but really not got much time for a reshoot right now.
Very little PP on this. It was shot in RAW, so some adjustments to contrast, brightness and saturation but nothing very drastic.

Lasagne said:
Scarily, we had very similar ideas this week Sarah - but yours is executed a lot better than mine :'(
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Slowly working through the other 52s now, so I'll look out for yours . . . not sure I'll agree about mine being the better executed though.

acrobatx said:
Great shot, I really like the second version.
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Thank you!

blakester said:
Your first one gets my vote Sarah FWIW:)
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:thinking: Well I did like the second, but looking back on them again I prefer the first.
Normally I have my shot by Saturday night and can look back on any variants with a fresh pair of eyes the next day.
I'm finding it difficult to decide so soon after shooting it.

Lynton said:
Go with the original. Much better IMHO........

Nice take on the idea and love the nuts pun........

Agree with your comments on DOF, Sarah..........


Lastly, I think you should put the bag of nuts and raisins into an envelope and send to the "not completely satisifed" address on the back, and await their reply! :lol: and post it on here........... :naughty:
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:lol: Now that's a tempting idea!

dade_f said:
personally, I feel somewhere between to two shots.
A little less saturated, as the raisins lost their juicyness. I think it should feel weathered but not dull (does that makes sense?)

Agreed about the silver nuts only, especially having the bronze grips in the background.
This would be worth a reshoot - time permitting.
Work on the depth and focus as you said.

If I were to chose I think the first edges it ;)
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Thanks Dade.
Not sure if I'll get round to reshooting. I do like the idea though, that's why I was storing it up for a reshoot week . . . time to fiddle just got the better of me!
 
dlh said:
Agree with Dade, I think the saturation needs to be in the middle somewhere. Also agree with your own points about DoF and the odd nut. Still works very well as a concept, definitely one to revisit if you haven't eaten all the raisins :)
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Thanks Darren.
:gag: and no I didn't eat them . . . have you noticed how dirty and grungy that background is. Dragged out of the shed just for the shot.

The23rdman said:
Hi Sarah,

I think this is a cool idea, but you've hit the nail bang on in your own self crits. I think the trouble isn't only the nuts being oof in the foreground, but the lighting. This needs a bit more light to define the nuts and raisins better.
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Yes. Lighting was a bit of a balancing act. Trying to get enough light in there, while controlling the reflections. I did try to add some extra light on the raisins with an LED torch and cardboard shade . . . maybe not enough though?

clud17 said:
Nice idea Sarah, overall i think it is an improvement on "out of context" i like the de saturated version better but wonder if you have pushed it a little too far as the bag seems like its been selectively coloured?
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Thank you.
I think it's a step forward, but still not quite there. Maybe one to practice again when I have more time.
 
Sara really like the idea and the processing on these , and i think the desaturated version just nudges it for me.
 
Yes, I can see it would be a tough one to balance with all those different reflections. :)
 
Thank you for all the comments above - all taken on board and stored up for a rainy weekend. But I really don't have the time or energy for a reshoot right now.

I have had a quick fiddle round in PS to see if I could come up with anything better from the original shot.
Totally against my mission to avoid PS this week, so this isn't a real submission . . . but I came up with this.
Just a bit of fun and probably a step too far away from reality :D

PP'd Mechanical : Just for Fun

​
 
I really like the idea Sarah, the way it has been shot and the DoF used.

Think I prefer the desaturated version, purely for the cold metalic feel it gives the nuts, just a shame it loses the rasins a tad.

Maybe layer the desaturated up with the original and bring the raisins through.

Dan
 
Hi Sarah, great shot yet again and love the idea of the nuts and raisins. Of the 3 images you've posted, definitely prefer the 1st one as I love the contrast between the red bag and the rest of the image. 2nd shot seems too dark and the 3rd shot looks a bit 'cartoon-y'. Not much else to say as you've already picked everything up with your self crit - only thing to say I guess is well done on (yet) another fantastic shot.
 
I think your first shot has the edge on this theme, Sarah. I like the idea but, as a raisin-lover, I wouldn't be tempted by these :lol: so I suppose I'm saying I'd like the raisins to be plump, succulent and yummy-looking, and then I think both the new shiny nuts the old brass ones would contrast. How did you light this? (I'm sorry if you explained anywhere, but I can't see it!)

Sometimes life just gets in the way of a 52 and I think you're feeling this on this one. The good news is - there's always next week, and knowing you, you'll be back at the top of your game. ;)

Jean
 
Desaturated version for me gives it a more workman like feel but that is just my take on it :thumbs:
 
Interesting idea - I think the de-sat is my favourite. I think I'd prefer the nuts in the middle a little more spread out as they kind of roll into one blob, but it's a good shot!

Phil
 
another great shot I prefer the first pic although when i first looked i didnt know that they were raisins
 
Hi Sarah,

I really like this shot - especially the desaturated version.

And after reading your comments, I think I'm the only one that sees that bag as a huge gaping mouth with red lipstick gobbling up all the nuts (shots #1 & #3). I must stop eating paint.

Ian.
 
Hey Sarah,

It's the desaturated version for me!
I agree that a mixture of old and new would have been better, rust is always a good texture to include in a shot. And yeah, tiny bit more DOF for the front few items to be sharp and that's all i'd say.

Good work :thumbs:
 
Hi Sarah, what an incredibly interesting 52 :) I love the originality!

I especially like your speed shot no.1 brilliant concept and I think it has worked really well.

I really have to run now but will try to get back very soon to have another look through your images ..... Can't wait to see what else you come up with :)
 
I recognise that bag :D... I think the slightly desaturated version works the best. It's on theme and works well for me.
 
I prefer the first one. Regarding your own comment about the slightly tarnished nut in the foreground, and thinking you should have stayed with all new, I am wondering if it would have worked better if there had been a couple more of the dull ones, so that the one you do have wasn't so prominent.
 
:D What an amusing way of twisting the theme. I would never have thought of this. Well done. :clap:

Reading your notes on how you wish you'd stuck with the new nuts instead of putting the old one in I wonder how it would have come out with just the old ones. Just their colour would have been subtle and made them blend in with the raisins more.
 
CLEVER STUFF :)

Once again you haven't disappointed. I'm not too keen on the desaturated version. But then it's all personal preference isn't it? Technically there's nothing I can say other than it looks perfectly composed, lit and shot, certainly 100 times better than anything I could produce. Bottom line is I saw it, I smiled and I thought "neat". What more could you want from a photograph other than a positive reaction ?
 
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