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

[louise-knight]

Hey Sarah,

I really like your entry for present. I wanted to say that the cot off corners of the outer cards was distracting.. but it's not, infact, I think it makes the image more 'intimate'. weird word to describe it I know, but that's the word I think I mean! colours are all great and I love that the future card is turned down to represent that we're only at 'present'! horrah

 

[louise-knight]

oohhh PS your new re-edited entry for speed has so much more impact, love it!

 

[jollyjack]

Another great shot sarah, you have not let us down at all. well done

 

[Lufbrarunner]

Once again you have come up with a unique idea, well set out and presented.

 

[Vic]

Present is absoloutely gorgeous Sarah. Colours work wonderfully together and the lighting is brilliant. Still loving your 52

 

[SarahLee]

love the colours .. makes me want to move the crystal to see comes before "words"

Thank you - nothing exciting under there though. It actually says "swords"

The purple steam works a treat and overall it's a very good idea for the theme. Not sure about the crystal, which whilst it does act as a focal point I feel clashes too much with the white wordy background beneath it. The words and the crystal are both fighting for my attention.

Thanks Darren.
I did try a couple without and I thought they looked lacking something. I do see what you mean though.

Really I haven't noticed

I agree the placement of the crystal makes me wonder what the other words are.

I'm glad you expained your concept although for a neanderthal like myself probably a little too mentally challenging

Lovely shot anyway

I'll have to see if I can try something different for week 7.

In the absence of an 'over the head' smiley, I've had to opt for this...



Way too clever for me.

Nice looking shot though.

I'll settle for "nice looking shot" - and thanks.

Love the speed edit Sarah! It's very Dr Who

The Tarot shot is an excellent idea too. Would have like full cards in the shot as opposed to the corners being cropped out, but great idea again. Very creative 52 you have developing here!

Thanks Conor.
My mind seems to have gone a bit strange and "other-worldly" these last few weeks!
I'm still waiting for inspiration for week 7, so we'll have to see what happens.

Hi Sarah,

Yet another flawless image that is nothing to do with gift boxes/flowers etc etc considering this weeks theme. The last few images you've thought out the box so might try and give it a go to for next weeks theme.
Well done.
cheers
Chris

Thanks Chris.
I really do prefer to do something out of the ordinary, but it doesn't look like week 7's going to be easy for this!

Definitely a spiritual / new worldy side to you Sarah

Another very nice shot from you. I always look forward to seeing your interpretations.

Not quite sure where that side of me has come from though, but it sems to be the way that my mind's been working for the last few weeks.

 

[SarahLee]

Another well thought out, well shot and beautifully processed image Sarah. Well done.

Thank You.

I noticed that too!! Not that it's a bad thing....

This 52 is turning in to a real gem, some really really good images! Weeks 5 and 6 are brilliant!

Thanks Damien. Hmmmm don't want everything getting too samey though. Will have to think harder for week 7!

Sorry I haven't popped in for a while, Sarah - Oh, my busy, busy life etc etc.

Anyway, to business:

Street - I didn't think this was too streety. Having said that, I think it's a beautiful, beautiful shot. I love the IR treatment. The ghostie doesn't add anything for me. It somehow looks too artificial.

Speed - I felt that your high standards dipped for 'street' but think you are bang back on form here with image 1. Okay as I find gritty realism-type stuff I love imaginative stuff (it's why I liked your globe shot image so much). Yep, agree with you that it has visual impact. I happen to like the softness of the raindrops and the contrast this creates with the rigidity of the hour glass.
The re-edit is brilliant, if you ask me. So much more dynamic and a much better fit for the theme.

Present - nicely original I like the purple steam but find that the crystal gets in the way. Nice 'n' simple shot and very effective for being so.

Thanks for taking the time to catch up Rob.
Shame that you didn't like Street so much, but it was a good excuse for me to get out with the IR filter and give it a trial run.

I'm glad that you've enjoyed the last 2 weeks.

Beatiful. You're really developing a theme here, Sarah. If I was going to pick up on anything I'd like to be able to read the swords better.

Thank you.

Good interpretation Sarah. Did you think about turning over only the present card, which would have, with your explanation, focussed very clearly on the here and now?

The smoke was a great idea, but I too find the crystal distracting.

Really like the panoramic aspect and the regal purple was a nice occult touch

Thanks Jill. I did try a couple of different combinations - crystal / no crystal and various combinations of cards turned and not turned.
Personally, I preferred this version but I do see where youre coming from with the crystal.

its a great shot, and a very comprehensive explanation, which is good as that picture would have gone straight over my head otherwise!! I think the purple works really well and seems a very close match to the item on the middle card!

Thank you Peter.

Nice shot Sarah it took me a bit of thinking about it until i remembered what my Aunty taught me about Tarot when i was younger. The purple in the background doeas add to the atmosphere of the shot.

Thanks Wayne - seems like this one was a bit obscure but I'm glad that it made sense in the end.

 

[SarahLee]

You do come up with some very clever ideas, Sarah. This is another lovely photo but, at first, I did not know it was a crystal that I was looking at. Love the purple steam.

Jenny

Thanks Jenny. Seems like the crystal was a bit bleeeuuurrrgggg for a lot of people and I do take that point on board.
I still quite like it though

love this weeks submission although I am desperate to pick up the cyrstal lol

Thank you Rachel.

Loving the re-edit version of Speed, great colours and real sense of speeding through time.

As for 'present' - like the concept and colour over all, not sure the talisman adds to the shot - it does make me want to see whats hiding under it perhaps consider using it but perhaps in a dousing method instead - so it hanging above the card on a chain?!
Just an idea - but other than that, great work yet again

Thanks Dade . . . and I do really like that dowsing idea
Not sure that this one is on my reshoot list, but if I do revisit it I'll definitely give that a go.

A very well thought out image indeed and I think it more than fits the theme of 'present' - I too wanted to do something with the time concept and my first thought was a wrapped up present box too!
Unlike a few others - I actually like the crystal on the card - it almost adds a sense of mystery to the image (which I think fits in really well with the overall feel of this image) and makes me want to find out more about what the card actually says.

Thank you. . . and at least that's one vote for the crystal.

Superb ! - Very impressed with Speed Sarah - both the shots and the PP to combine them

Not sure about the subject for this week but then again I'm not really into anything like this.

I've no idea how you manage to find the time to get the shots, do the PP on them and have time to make all the many detailed comments for both your shots and the rest of ours. Well done.

Thanks Paul . . . I clearly have no life.
Although if the truth be known I'm always a bit hyper in the evenings.
I'm always so busy at work that it takes a while for my brain to slow down.
Quite often I'm browsing on here, browsing another site, watching TV, editing a shot, working on some charity stuff all at the same time in different windows.
Queen of multi-tasking that's me!!!!

Another creative well worked image Sarah
If you hadn't explained the thought process behind the shot I would have struggled to think of present but then I don't know owt about tarot

I like the colours and dof in the image and the crystal adds to the mystical/spiritual theme. I know what it says under the crystal because you mentioned it your explanation

Another good week for you

Oh its Sunday again, new theme tonight

I will leave it there as I have run out of smilies

Thanks Iain . . . now I bet this post is going to overrun the 12 smilie limit!!!!

Again, superb

Something I have noticed with your work is that you come up with some fantastic backgrounds which really do boost the quality of the pics

Whats your secret? Have you got a monkey hid in your photoshop that works for bananas

Not too keen on your take of the theme personally but it certainly works so well done. The image is very striking and the composition is perfect. The crop also helps

When you say you think your developing a theme for the 52, i have noticed that with mine too, i seem to like contrasting colours and they seem to be very dark also

Good luck for week 7

Thanks Stephen.
And nope - no little monkey hidden in PS. That would take all the fun out of it.
In last year's 52 I developed a real liking for black backgrounds - this year I want to try to take it a step further.
I really don't want this 52 to get too samey though. Must try something different for week 7.

 

[SarahLee]

Just to echo what everyone else has said about present.. lovely atmospheric background.. nice framing... maybe move the crystal to the right-hand card.

Well done

Thanks Stuart - and thanks for popping in to comment.

Really good shot. The colour and really nice. I'm really enjoying your 52. Keep up the stunning work

Thank you Darren. Glad that you're enjoying it.
I'm trying to avoid fillers this year so that I can get the whole thing printed, but I'm already lumbered with one reshoot.

A very different interpretation. I love the purple steam background. I think the crystal is distracting though.

Thank you Sue.
You seem to be with the majority on the crystal, so I'm not going to disagree.

I like that!

Thanks Kay.

Blimey, that's definitely a multi-layered interpretation! The purple smoke effect is very clever, I couldn't tell that there was a table there if you hadn't mentioned it.

Thank you Ben. I was quite pleased with the smoke.
It needed some help in PS, but didn't really come out too badly.

Really like this Sarah, once again I was looking forward to seeing how you'd interprit the theme and I've not been disapointed. Lovely strong colours and I so want to move that crystal to read what it's hiding.

Thank you Rob

I really like how you're interpreting the themes differently to most, it's nice seeing some new ideas! I missed your re-edit of 'speed', but much prefer it, it's awesome!

'Present' is once more nice and different, well done and keep it up

Chris

Thanks Chris

you do have some fabulous ideas!.. not into tarot and stuff like that so dont really understand it all but it is a great image, nicely shot and processed.. dont mind the crystal but as mentioned do have the urge to pick it up to see whats under it

Thank you Mich.
To tell you the truth I'm not really into it either, I just thought that it made a good interpretation of the theme.

Clever interpretation of the theme and I really like the background echoing the colour of the crystal.

Phil

Thanks Phil

right, im kicking myself here, i though i had commented on your 52 at least once or twice, i know i viewed all your entries, but just realised i have never commented , and for that im sorry (and to someone who comments so much)

speed :
great take on the theme , and building it into an artwork instead of a photo as such, takes a lot of creative thinking , this works very well good job

present:
can only really echo what everyone else has already said , great shot , but not sure about the crystal , other than that , great suff

Richard, thank you for taking the time to catch up - it is really appreciated.
I'm glad that speed was liked so much. It was my first proper attempt at that sort of thing.

Hey Sarah,

I really like your entry for present. I wanted to say that the cot off corners of the outer cards was distracting.. but it's not, infact, I think it makes the image more 'intimate'. weird word to describe it I know, but that's the word I think I mean! colours are all great and I love that the future card is turned down to represent that we're only at 'present'! horrah

Thank you Louise. Glad that you liked it.

Another great shot sarah, you have not let us down at all. well done

Thank you Jon.

Once again you have come up with a unique idea, well set out and presented.

Thanks Steven.

Present is absoloutely gorgeous Sarah. Colours work wonderfully together and the lighting is brilliant. Still loving your 52

Thank you Vic. I haven't seen any updates to yours for a while. I'll have to track it down and see if I've missed any.

 

[Tracer]

I love your Tarot cards for present - really original take on the theme (again!). Like a lot of the others I could do without the crystal, but the purple steam and the overall mood and colours are great.

I also think your Speed edit is a big improvement - more dramatic now, and a stunning shot.

 

[jgs001]

That's excellent work Sarah... really liking it. The colour in the steam/smoke really suit the image perfectly and it has just the right mood. Not sure on the crystal though.

 

[mickyluv]

Sorry Sarah but I looked at this and thought What? And so being a typical fella I then read the instructions and all was clear,I think A little deep for my very limited grey matter,having said that, I like it, a lot. Well lit with good lighting,obviously a lot of thought and application went into this.Nice one....Mick

 

[jeangenie]

Back cover is an interesting idea . . . although I'm not sure that the drug shot is something that I want in my face every time I pick the book up, so it may be the other one.

I'm trying to remember what you did for colour, but I can't. Might have to go back and have a look for it. Sorry - I've had to take all the 2009 52s down from my Gallery - it was full. The 2 shots were a meadow of colourful flowers and an abstract macro of strings of beads.

Thanks for the tip on printing too.
I can see me tweaking a lot of these for print before I actually send them off, and that little tip may have just saved me a load of time. I'm going to do mine when I get my computer back, and I'll let you know what (if any) pitfalls I find!







.

Hi Sarah Not having a computer is a pain and I have only just had a look at your Present. I read the words first and as I read them I formed a picture in my mind of what the photo might be like. It's a brilliantly conceived idea but there is a but .... I imagined a larger, clear crystal with light refracted through it casting light and shade on the cards. I agree with the 'I want to see the words, and all of the cards' camp too. With all the interest in the lower part of the frame the (very clever) purple mist doesn't make quite as much impact as it could. I know you like honest feedback, and there's lots I do like in this, and a few tweaks to the composition would put it up there in the stratosphere. Perhaps taking it from an angle looking from the Past to the Future would work? :shrug:

Jean

 

[Harlequin565]

Hi Sarah,

Been a nightmare of a week for me so far, and it's typical that there are 2 pages of comments since your last shot (which I haven't been through mainly to make sure other comments don't influence what I have to say).

I think it's a brilliant idea, and that shot was the first 52 I've looked at and thought "Why didn't I think of that?". I love the processing and I love the story. The crystal gets a bit lost in the noise for me though, and doesn't add anything to the shot (/opinion).

Also, the three cards side by side seem a bit... expansive (couldn't think of a better word) ... Perhaps standing them up in some sort of semi-circle formation (lean them against something) with a focal point in the centre of the semi- might work a bit better. It would detract from the converging lines though so I'm not so sure.

I still think it was a brilliant idea though.

Good stuff. Going to be a great book eh?

I’ve just noticed that I seem to have quite a dark other-worldly theme developing in this year's 52 . . . I wonder if week 7’s theme will suggest something a bit brighter and lighter

It's the Goth-chick in you. Go on... admit it and get your All About Eve album on

Ian.

 

[aztec]

Hi Sarah

your 52 just seems to be going from strength to strength the first picture for your speed entry works best for me with your clever composition of your three images combined then onto your tarot cards good colours throughout the image which is crisp and straight to the point looking forward to your next image.

Shaun

 

[TheThistle]

Hello Sarah,

Its been a while...sorry.

The hourglass is out of this world (literally), truely amazing Sarah and you said I was talented. As mentioned already and when I first saw it, it does have the "Doctor Who" factor - I love it

Present is very deep and it does look like you are edgeing or already there "the darkside". The image is very good, the crystal doesn't distract too much (how about dangling from above).

You put so much effort into all your work (52s) it simply amazes me - they are brilliant.

 

[SarahLee]

I love your Tarot cards for present - really original take on the theme (again!). Like a lot of the others I could do without the crystal, but the purple steam and the overall mood and colours are great.

I also think your Speed edit is a big improvement - more dramatic now, and a stunning shot.

Thank you Tracer - really glad that you like it.

That's excellent work Sarah... really liking it. The colour in the steam/smoke really suit the image perfectly and it has just the right mood. Not sure on the crystal though.

Thanks John. Seems that there were quite a lot that didn't like the crystal. Personally. I prefer it with it in, but maybe it could have been positioned better.

Sorry Sarah but I looked at this and thought What? And so being a typical fella I then read the instructions and all was clear,I think A little deep for my very limited grey matter,having said that, I like it, a lot. Well lit with good lighting,obviously a lot of thought and application went into this.Nice one....Mick

Thanks Mick . . . maybe I did overthink present a bit. Will try to do something more straightforward for week 7.

Hi Sarah Not having a computer is a pain and I have only just had a look at your Present. I read the words first and as I read them I formed a picture in my mind of what the photo might be like. It's a brilliantly conceived idea but there is a but .... I imagined a larger, clear crystal with light refracted through it casting light and shade on the cards. I agree with the 'I want to see the words, and all of the cards' camp too. With all the interest in the lower part of the frame the (very clever) purple mist doesn't make quite as much impact as it could. I know you like honest feedback, and there's lots I do like in this, and a few tweaks to the composition would put it up there in the stratosphere. Perhaps taking it from an angle looking from the Past to the Future would work? :shrug:

Jean

Thanks Jean . . . and what a brilliant idea with the large clear crystal! I didn't have this earmarked for a reshoot, but I might just have to think about it now.
Only problem is that I'll have to try and track one down. Despite my last few weeks I'm not really a new-agey crystal type of person. That one came out from the bottom of the jewelery box!

p.s. I remember your colour week now. I think I preferred the field of flowers, but iirc there was a brilliant optical illusion going on with the beads.

Hi Sarah,

Been a nightmare of a week for me so far, and it's typical that there are 2 pages of comments since your last shot (which I haven't been through mainly to make sure other comments don't influence what I have to say).

I think it's a brilliant idea, and that shot was the first 52 I've looked at and thought "Why didn't I think of that?". I love the processing and I love the story. The crystal gets a bit lost in the noise for me though, and doesn't add anything to the shot (/opinion).

Also, the three cards side by side seem a bit... expansive (couldn't think of a better word) ... Perhaps standing them up in some sort of semi-circle formation (lean them against something) with a focal point in the centre of the semi- might work a bit better. It would detract from the converging lines though so I'm not so sure.

I still think it was a brilliant idea though.

Good stuff. Going to be a great book eh?



It's the Goth-chick in you. Go on... admit it and get your All About Eve album on

Ian.

Thanks Ian. And some more great ideas for a reshoot there - I really am coming round to the idea of redoing this at some point.

Hi Sarah

your 52 just seems to be going from strength to strength the first picture for your speed entry works best for me with your clever composition of your three images combined then onto your tarot cards good colours throughout the image which is crisp and straight to the point looking forward to your next image.

Shaun

Thank you Shaun.

Hello Sarah,

Its been a while...sorry.

The hourglass is out of this world (literally), truely amazing Sarah and you said I was talented. As mentioned already and when I first saw it, it does have the "Doctor Who" factor - I love it

Present is very deep and it does look like you are edgeing or already there "the darkside". The image is very good, the crystal doesn't distract too much (how about dangling from above).

You put so much effort into all your work (52s) it simply amazes me - they are brilliant.

Thanks Graham.
That really does mean a lot to me - thank you so much for your comments.

 

[SarahLee]

OK this week I decided to lose the Goth-Chick, New Age, dark feel from the last few weeks.
I had a lot of ideas for indoor interpretations, but since a) the sun was out yesterday and b) my street shot was a bit of a cop out on that theme, I decided to get out to Cardiff Bay with the camera yesterday and try some people shots.

Unfortunately, this just confirmed my initial opinion of street photography I don't find much inspiration or excitement in shooting people going about their day to day lives . . . and I don't get very excited by the results.
But with no time to do anything else, the shot that I decided to go with is of the Millennium Centre.
This is a location that has been done to death. Usually shot from the front and at night, so I wanted to go for a side-on shot in full daylight with lots of people milling about outside.

Second disappointment of the day was that there weren't actually that many people about - and to get a wide enough angle to fit the building in the people were all a bit lost in the frame.
Then, being me and getting inspired by some of the steel and glass sculptures around the Bay I wondered what it would look like with a big "bubble" reflecting and magnifying the people

p.s. The words actually read "In these stones horizons sing" in Welsh and English . . . and no it doesn't mean much to me either :shrug:

Week 7 - People I





Week 7 - People II





Week 7 - People III

​

Self Critique

- Please don't take this too seriously (I'm not!) It really was a bit of fun and an attempt to add a twist to the usual Millenium Centre Shots . . . I suspect that I'll look back on these and cringe but :shrug:

- I've included 3 shots to show the progression of this idea. The first shot IMO works best, but doesn't really say people. The second incorporated some people shot from a slightly different angle (but didn't look right) and the third progressed the idea further and added some PP.

- To be able to get an angle including the fountain, there are a really annoying number of lamp posts in the way.
I could write something arty about trying to combine the strong linear angles of the lamps, the hedges and the pool with the curves of the building and the bubble . . . but they were basically just in the way and I worked with it the best I could.

- This is not HDR, but the light has given it that sort of feel and I'm not sure I really like it (I'm not a HDR fan)
The main image is almost straight from camera with very little PP. I think the effect has been caused by bright sunlight bouncing around off so many reflective surfaces (water, shiny metal and glass) that it's not really clear which direction the main light source was coming from and there are shadows / highlights where you wouldn't expect them to be.

 

[The23rdman]

I'm amazed it's not an HDR, Sarah. Looks very much so, doesn't it? I like all three shots, but the second and third fit the theme better than the first. I think if I had to pick I'd go for #2 simply because of the position of the people in the reflection and the play of light around them.

 

[dlh]

Another good week for you Sarah. I will admit, firstly, that I thought the bubble was some sort of sculpture and had no idea you'd photoshopped it in. They're all very good shots but I will agree with Dean that the second just pips it as it brings the bubble and people in the background closer together. It may well be a very photographed building but I doubt there are too many which look like this

 

[Stephen Ramsay]

Surprised yet again this week Sarah, how do you do it?

I prefer number 2 and 3 as stated above.

Excellent shot this week, great composition, well thought out...and some very clever post processing.

The only thing I dont like is the Big pole that divides the picture in half...its very distracting, although in the second image the poles leading into the people could also follow under the theme 'leading lines'

All in all.... It got me thinking and I am still looking at it now, so great effort. Good luck for week 8

 

[madmadam]

I like the shot, I must admit I like your photography so far...and i am sure I will continue to

I love the reflection of the people in the bubble well done

 

[Lasagne]

Your shots are always inventive and good to look at Sarah, and these are no exception.

They don't scream 'people' to me, but I never think it's worth getting too hung up on the theme anyway.

 

[dade_f]

WOW, nice idea.
I like the shot in pic 2 but prefer the more defined 'bubble' in 3.
2 seems stronger and your eyes focus nicely on the 'bubble' but it bleeds into the building
whereas in 3 my eyes are competing as to what to look at, the bubble or the writing below, yet the bubble works better and is more apparent; hope that makes sense!?

 

[Rob Bartley]

Your shots are always inventive and good to look at Sarah, and these are no exception.

They don't scream 'people' to me, but I never think it's worth getting too hung up on the theme anyway.

Sarah, all 3 are cool looking abstract shots and I wish I had some of your PP skills. It is just a little bit of a shame it's not very peopley (if you know what I mean) but looks great regardless.

Cheers, Rob

 

[Dave450]

As above, your work is inspiring!! Love no 2 and 3!

 

[mich66]

wow, very different.. i'm drawn to the second shot, for reasons already mentioned.. your PP skills are fabulous another clever take on the weeks theme

 

[RobC]

Wow !!
What an imaginative image. I must say I'm insanely jealous of your pp skills.
I'm going to pick #2 as my personal fave. The colours, the light, that sphere, it's a bonkers image and I for one think it's a stroke of genius.

 

[justlooking]

very different, you are very good at using photoshop to get some interesting results

 

[RichM]

Loving 2 and 3. Really cool shots. Well done

 

[bobsbabes]

love 2 and 3 amazings shots

 

[mowse73]

Hi Sarah, I guess you couldn't resist the artistic urge in you. I can't decide between 2 or 3, at a push i think 2, Nice PP anyway.

 

[68lbs]

My thoughts... Number I doesn't have any people. II and III do, but I can't work out what the giant steel ball bearing is. Is this something that's there in real life? Have you pp'd it? :shrug:

I quite like the shot FWIW, it just seems odd and not right.

 

[jollyjack]

Outstanding yet again sarah, great photo's. Clear, crisp, wonderful detail and colour.

#3 best for me

 

[foggy4ever]

I'm going for numer 2 Sarah as it has more emphasis on the sphere, Great idea

 

[jennyb]

This is another winner Sarah. Very clever. I prefer number 2 mainly because it fits the theme better. I love the colours.

Jenny

 

[aztec]

Does looks like a HDR image like other people have said, has a very futuristic feel about it,the bubble brings a big brother 1984 into the image of people being watched so its a thought provoking picture so it works for me ps I would chose No2 out of the bunch.

 

[louise-knight]

I think this is fabulous is that bubble 'real'.. or did you add it in PP? If you added it in pp then you've done a marvelous job! If not, then you've captured it well.. it's confused me.. so late on a Sunday night, it's going to confuse me all night now too!

Personal preference, number 2. I like the way the text wraps the bubble, and I like the colours in all of them

 

[jeangenie]

I know People aren't your favourite photographic subjects, Sarah, but I honestly think you've come up with a totally original take on the theme. It's certainly a different angle on the Millenium Centre and that in itself is excellent, but the addition of the bubble is pure 'Sarah' and I love the way you've used the words in it.

I thought you'd gone over to HDR at first glance, and while I'm not a great fan, I thought it had worked very well - but natural light is even better.

Of the 3 shots, my vote would be for #2 not only because it reflects the theme People better but also because the people in the bubble add emphasis to the curves and swirls.

Jean

 

[Yv]

I am thinking number 2 is the the best version. They are kind of weird, unlike some of your stuff, its less immediately obvious it is a wonderfully mad bad pp fest, so it takes a few moments to work out what you are looking at and to realise there is some special fx processing in there. I like it, I really like it!