SimonTALM's Photo 52 Thread

Very nice image for the theme. The legs really convey the feel of being in a crowd and the motion blur emphasises the 'business' of the situation. Spot on!:clap::thumbs:
 
Toothie said:
Interesting shot, almost like a small childs point of view, hope you enjoyed focus :)
Click to expand...

Thank you, I really like low angles and child like view points. It's interesting you say that because it brings to my mind a photo I took at a wedding last summer.


Click for EXIF

P.S. I did enjoy Focus, (my CC didn't).

The Matt said:
I like this. The slight motion blur captures the busy atmosphere nicely. For my bank account's sake, I'm glad I didn't go to Focus...
Click to expand...

Thank you. I had planned to have motion blur on this for, it was one of the rare occasions my plan (as far as the blur) worked.

Spartacus said:
The low angle works really well with this shot and nice to see some colour, most people seem to think they only work in B&W...:lol:

Very nice indeed...:clap:
Click to expand...

Thank you, Sometimes B&W work and sometimes it just doesn't, I haven't put this in B&W (I personally think the Yellow of Nikon is really critical to the success of this image)

However, for the wedding shot above check this comparison out.


Click for Larger Versions & EXIF

maddog.mark said:
Fits the brief perfectly Simon. I like the angle too.
Click to expand...

Cheers :thumbs:

Duckydoodle said:
Nice interpretation executed well. That was actualy something I had in mind but haven't been able to get out so I think I'll leave it for another day and time now especially after seeing your great shot :thumbs:
Click to expand...

No reason to hold back, get out learn my mistakes (no real focus point) and shoot a better one :D

adrury said:
Nice shot, wish I had known about this event earlier as it would have been nice to go. Unfortunately with work/study/kids things need to be booked well in advance. Oh well theres always next year!

I really like the angle on this shot and as someone else said it makes me feel like a child peering through the crowd.

well done
Click to expand...

You missed a great one, the dates for next year are early March IIRC, come along it is great (especially meeting other TPers over lunch)

Dark Star said:
I agree plus the wonderful take of just legs and bags!!! Great interpretation Simon!
Click to expand...

Cheers :)

Graulges said:
Very nice image for the theme. The legs really convey the feel of being in a crowd and the motion blur emphasises the 'business' of the situation. Spot on!
Click to expand...

Cheers, I agree the legs certainly bring about a slight sense of claustrophobia that I feel in large crowds.
 
The low angle really makes this image, emphasises the feeling of the crowd because of the legs I think - twice as many legs as people.:clap:
 
Blast, been really tired ths week and I'm only catching up now and it's all been said :(

Love the child's eye view, the blur, and as you said the yellow really sets it off :clap::clap:
 
Some really nice images here. I really like the crowds shot from the Focus show it has a real sense of motion and works very well :)
 
I found this week's theme particularly difficult, not only was I struggling with what to shoot I also wanted to use a few things I've not used before including my large 5in1 reflector and my flash stands and umbrellas in an attempt to get some more experience sill life lighting.

I'm not 100% happy with this as the shadows don't seem quite right to me. Plus I don't like the line reflection in the right eye. But I suppose improving my photography is why I started the 52 project.


Click for EXIF

Things I've learned this week:

1) Lighting is difficult to get right and I don't yet have the ability to know I've nailed it just by looking at the camera screen (even on a 3" D700 screen :D)
2) Don't dismantle the set before looking at images on a larger screen :bang:
3) Even with using a white reflector as a base it's difficult to get that nice white background we all want without resorting to photoshop (as I did, although I think that's where the shadow problem I don't like is made worse).
4) The mask function in CS4 is great especially it seemingly new ability to feather masks and adjust the feather of the mask) but I need more practice to get it right.
 
quick Simon he's eating your money.

as you say there are a few little bits and bobs that arent 100% but i do like the image, he looks like a cheeky little feller :)
 
Very nice. :)

A good clear image and a nice clean background. Your comments re cs4 are beyond my realm but whatever you did it works :clap:

This character is sooo sweet, and the colour is good too.

Excellent :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
That's why I've avoided using lights in my images but unless you use these things there's no chance of learning stuff. Nice image and your reflection you don't like isn't too noticable thigs like that seem to be really difficult with a curved surface. I'd be pleased to have manages that image.:clap:
 
Simon, I think it's worked well, lovely colour definition, the DOF works well, it looks well lit to me :thumbs:
 
yep works well for me, I see what you mean about the reflection, but I can live with it.

Mark:thumbs:
 
I don't see any problems with the image. Works well

Jon
 
Toothie said:
quick Simon he's eating your money.

as you say there are a few little bits and bobs that arent 100% but i do like the image, he looks like a cheeky little feller :)
Click to expand...

He is and thanks to my GF for letting me take it's photo.

adrury said:
Very nice. :)

A good clear image and a nice clean background. Your comments re cs4 are beyond my realm but whatever you did it works :clap:

This character is sooo sweet, and the colour is good too.

Excellent
Click to expand...

Thank you :)

Graulges said:
That's why I've avoided using lights in my images but unless you use these things there's no chance of learning stuff. Nice image and your reflection you don't like isn't too noticable thigs like that seem to be really difficult with a curved surface. I'd be pleased to have manages that image.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I think I figured what it was last night that caused it - I was shooting in my GF's dining room and shut the curtains to drop the ambient level. I suspect that I left a bit of a crack and this is the line I don't like :bang:

jgs001 said:
Simon, I think it's worked well, lovely colour definition, the DOF works well, it looks well lit to me :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks

maddog.mark said:
yep works well for me, I see what you mean about the reflection, but I can live with it.

Mark:thumbs:
Click to expand...

Cheers, I do think sometimes that I'm my harshest critic

corky said:
I don't see any problems with the image. Works well

Jon
Click to expand...

Thanks :)
 
He looks happy to be chomping on your money :D

Works for me and although I know the focus is on his mouth and the coin, the eyes being slightly oof draw my eyes a little. I suppose it's because you have used a figure and I expect the eyes to be in focus. Other than that it looks good to me :thumbs:
 
Bruja said:
He looks happy to be chomping on your money :D

Works for me and although I know the focus is on his mouth and the coin, the eyes being slightly oof draw my eyes a little. I suppose it's because you have used a figure and I expect the eyes to be in focus. Other than that it looks good to me :thumbs:
Click to expand...

You are right, I'm partially blaming my new D700 ;) I've not yet got fully used to the reduced DoF that full frame brings. I think I'm going to need the high ISO performance to make up for the reduced aperture I'm going to need :lol:.

Spartacus said:
:lol::lol::lol:

I can't see much wrong with this myself...:thinking:

think your being a little hard on yourself...:nono:
Click to expand...

Thanks, I do think I am a little hard on myself sometimes, but that I suppose is a good thing (especially when you are being paid for your work).

Toothie said:
quick Simon he's eating your money.
Click to expand...

Not as fast as Photography is :lol:
 
I love the idea of this little character being stuffed full of money!

It's great you're pushing the boundaries with lighting and apart from the reflection you mentioned, there aren't any serious probs here. I know excatly what you mean about checking images on-camera. I find it difficult, too, especially when it's on a tripod.

What did you do to the background? And, how did you want it to look? What are you unhappy with? Sorry for the inquisition - I'm just interested. :)

Jean
 
jeangenie said:
I love the idea of this little character being stuffed full of money!

It's great you're pushing the boundaries with lighting and apart from the reflection you mentioned, there aren't any serious probs here. I know excatly what you mean about checking images on-camera. I find it difficult, too, especially when it's on a tripod.

What did you do to the background? And, how did you want it to look? What are you unhappy with? Sorry for the inquisition - I'm just interested. :)

Jean
Click to expand...

Thanks Jean,

The background was my new 5 in 1 reflector on the white side. I'm unhappy with the shadows to the left edge of the robot that I introduced by using masks when I tried to correct the exposure (the original BG was more grey than white).

I was after an effect more like this


Click for EXIF
 
Bruja said:
He looks happy to be chomping on your money :D

Works for me and although I know the focus is on his mouth and the coin, the eyes being slightly oof draw my eyes a little. I suppose it's because you have used a figure and I expect the eyes to be in focus. Other than that it looks good to me :thumbs:
Click to expand...


I have to agree with Bruja - I'm also finding the eyes a bit distracting. Like the idea though - good colours too :thumbs:
 
SimonTALM said:
Thanks Jean,

The background was my new 5 in 1 reflector on the white side. I'm unhappy with the shadows to the left edge of the robot that I introduced by using masks when I tried to correct the exposure (the original BG was more grey than white).

I was after an effect more like this


Click for EXIF
Click to expand...


Yep, I like this much better, too. :clap:


I think even 'white' reflectors can look off white. The catchlights in the robot's eyes suggest you had 2 lights in front of him. And the shadows seem to be coming from 2 angles. Did you try directing one light onto the backdrop and the other on the robot? I don't know what lights you're using, so I'm sorry if this is a stupid question. :)

Jean
 
You are right there are 2 lights. But to be honest I can't remember.much about the setup. All I know is that the main one is a shoot through umbrella to the left .

As I said I need more practice, this was the first time using umbrellas, far more used to on camera flash :lol:
 
SimonTALM said:
You are right there are 2 lights. But to be honest I can't remember.much about the setup. All I know is that the main one is a shoot through umbrella to the left .

As I said I need more practice, this was the first time using umbrellas, far more used to on camera flash :lol:
Click to expand...


Well done - first-time-umbrella-togger :clap:

Like everything else, it's practice, time and at some point money. :D I find it helps to draw myself a little diagram sometimes - either for using again, or more likely, working out what went wrong. :lol:

Jean
 
Damn I missed this - cute fella ain't he :)

The colours are great and the lighting to me looks spot on!

Nice wealth shot :)!
 
I love that - especially the lighter/whiter version. Its a very charismatic photo - yellow is a friendly colour and he is so happy munching away on your coin :)
 
jeangenie said:
I find it helps to draw myself a little diagram sometimes - either for using again, or more likely, working out what went wrong. :lol:

Jean
Click to expand...

That's a good idea, I might try that :thumbs:

Dark Star said:
Damn I missed this - cute fella ain't he :)

The colours are great and the lighting to me looks spot on!

Nice wealth shot :)!
Click to expand...

Not to worry, it's difficult to keep up, there are so many of us in this project now. But thanks for the support :D

ScotlandTheScare said:
I love that - especially the lighter/whiter version. Its a very charismatic photo - yellow is a friendly colour and he is so happy munching away on your coin :)
Click to expand...

Far too happy for my liking :lol:

The Matt said:
Excellent. Very nicely lit.
Click to expand...

Cheers :thumbs:
 
Hmm, I've had a busy week this week so despite wanting to do the RESHOOT and the Identity photo at the start of the week I've reached Sunday only just managing to get the Identity shot.

I first thought about trying to get a portrait that really captured the person but that's a bit difficult to get in a single week so I sat down and drew up a mind map on the subject and settled on Fingerprint as the original form of forensic identity.

There were a number of ways I thought of presenting the prints, I did think of producing a police style finger print sheet but thought that the ink thing would be quite messy and didn't want to start cleaning my lenses. So I resorted to glossy surface and put my finger print down on the surface and then use a very thin layer of talc to highlight the print off.


Click for EXIF

Things I've learned this week:

1) Talc is very difficult to get to show finger prints
2) A very sharp lens (Nikon 105mm VR Macro) is not always what you want, the swirls and loops need a bit of softness to show up properly.
3) You need very low angled lighting to highlight the prints properly

I did do a recoloured version to make it a bit more CSI - which I like but I don't think it says Identity as well


Click for Larger Version & EXIF
 
Last edited:
I like it Simon, strong image, instantly recognizable and fits the theme well.

I had a go at the fingerprint thing with paint and it was a nightmare, you've found a better way.
 
I also thought of doing fingerprints but decided they would be to difficult...you've done an excellent job though, really clear prints.
 
Very well done (not a SOCO by any chance are you ?:))

Looks authentic and the composition is spot on!

Good one Simon! :clap:

I think the B&W version works best!
 
An unusual looking image. Very effective for 'Identity'. There seems to be something in the centre of the top fingerprint. It looks like a face :eek:

Nice strong image :clap::clap:
 
I like this - I too was trying to figure out how fingerprints might be photographed. It proved too much effort for me! But this image really works - great contrast - clear detail - excellent dof. Whats not to like :)
 
Ah the old finger print shot...how many thought of that one and backed away after trying it...:lol:

But yours looks amazing...not sure why but you just have to keep looking at it, it somehow draws you in to the shot...:thinking:

and yes the B&W works better for me too...:thumbs:
 
really like the identity shots! :) great DOF too! :thumbs:

I tried a similar this with calligraphy ink on thursday, and my fingers are still black now (monday!) try explaining that to people! :lol: i gave up because i couldn't do what i wanted :( doesnt look as though you had that trouble. lol

nice 1!
 
Superb Simon, the talc has worked brilliantly. The B&W for me too.
 
I really like this interpretation Simon, and as Marcus said, something keeps drawing me back to this. Well done :clap::clap: Can't see how you could improve this (and I prefer the b&w too)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top