Slimberts 52, Week 26, "Beginnings" (Page 15)

Brilliant take on the theme. she's a beaut too !!

I really like the desaturated shot.
 
Thanks Rob and Sarah! :thumbs: I'm putting last weeks "Shoot" down as a bad one, but at least I'm on theme, and it wasn't late for a change....:thumbs:

This weeks "Single" shot, will hopefully be an improvement.....and the 500 wedding photos I have from Saturday might help me out a little bit!! ;)
 
Slightly odd one this week from me....

I started a thread a couple of days ago questioning this shot. There was something I liked about it, but plenty I didn't! So I posted it on here to see what others thought and to hopefully get some advice....

Turned out, those that commented did like it, but very kindly offered a couple of bits of suggestions. I listened, stuck it out, fiddled with it some more, and came up with a photo that I'm actually quite pleased with :thumbs: First suggestion was from DarkStar that said it needed to be more contrasty, and the secong suggestion was from Lynton who said it would benefit from a Mono conversion....I agree with both, so thanks guys! :thumbs:

Not sure how this fits the theme :thinking: but I like it, and surely it fits it in some way or another??! :shrug:

This is my nephew Brandon (5 years old) that came to visit us a few days ago. He was a bit camera shy, but I got him in the end...!! :D

195mm, f2.8, 1/1000, ISO100
IMG_3816-3-2a.jpg

Constructive criticism is very welcome from anyone of any ability! Please don't be shy, and please say what you think!! :thumbs:
 
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Easy. There is a single (i.e. 1) person in the picture.
 
very nice, I didnt see the previous version, but this works very well!!
 
Damien, I can't quite comment on the quality of your recent photos as due to a half-dead graphics card my screen is running at very low resolution (stretched) with rogue lines everywhere - the, what I think is sepia-toned, pillbox image actually has bright green patches on my screen :\

Anyway, I'm glad you are keeping up with the 52 and hope you & family are well.
The reshoot of the Play image is fantastic! I really love the composition and I think it is a good metaphor for how as your daughters grow up they will grow further away from each other but, as sisters, they will always have each other in their line of sight.

Regards, Steven.
 
I predict a lot of tenuous links to the theme this week (and I'm including my own in that :lol:)
Anyway as Lynton said, there's one person in the image and that'll do for me.

I'm not very good at offering any sort of constructive critique on portraits, so I can't say much more than that I like it.

I didn't see the "before" but it does seem to have lent itself well to B&W.
I like the angle that you've caught him at and the streak of sunlight across his face adds a nice feel to it. It's perhaps a little too bright over the end of his nose, but that's not enough of an issue to detract from it IMO.
 
Cunniffe66_ said:
Damien, I can't quite comment on the quality of your recent photos as due to a half-dead graphics card my screen is running at very low resolution (stretched) with rogue lines everywhere - the, what I think is sepia-toned, pillbox image actually has bright green patches on my screen :\

Anyway, I'm glad you are keeping up with the 52 and hope you & family are well.
The reshoot of the Play image is fantastic! I really love the composition and I think it is a good metaphor for how as your daughters grow up they will grow further away from each other but, as sisters, they will always have each other in their line of sight.

Regards, Steven.
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Thanks Steven! :thumbs: Your comments are really appreciated! Any news on whether you'll be over this way at some point this year? :thinking:

SarahLee said:
I predict a lot of tenuous links to the theme this week (and I'm including my own in that :lol:)
Anyway as Lynton said, there's one person in the image and that'll do for me.

I'm not very good at offering any sort of constructive critique on portraits, so I can't say much more than that I like it.

I didn't see the "before" but it does seem to have lent itself well to B&W.
I like the angle that you've caught him at and the streak of sunlight across his face adds a nice feel to it. It's perhaps a little too bright over the end of his nose, but that's not enough of an issue to detract from it IMO.
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Thanks Sarah! :D Portraits ain't normally my thing either, but I'm trying to do as many varied types of shot as I can over the course of the year. My plan for next week is to do something a little more abstract, but I guess I'll have to wait and see what the theme is first!! ;)

OptimusBri said:
For me, the black and white version of the 'shoot' shot works better. I really like it :) nice job!
And a simple but nice take on the theme this week :) I like the light across his face, and it works well in black and white.
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Thanks Briony! :thumbs: Very much appreciated! :D
 
Damien, liking your single image a lot (even though Lynton helped with the theme ;)). I like the contrast in the image, focus is bang on too. I like how the frame is filled, great composition. All round good week :thumbs: Iain
 
blakester said:
Damien, liking your single image a lot (even though Lynton helped with the theme ;)). I like the contrast in the image, focus is bang on too. I like how the frame is filled, great composition. All round good week :thumbs: Iain
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Thanks Iain! :thumbs: I feel much happier about this weeks effort than I did about the pillbox photos....:gag: Just hope we have a "kind" theme this week so I can get some momentum going!! :thumbs: Thanks again Iain, very much appreciated! :)
 
That's a really nice image, mate. Love the really shallow dof on the eye and the plaintive look.
 
I have a picture of my step daughter taken last year on holiday, all you can see is a mad pink straw hat, her forearm and a parrot. EVERYONE in my family love it. This is the same sort of thing, there are times when eye contact just isnt needed, this is one of those occasions. It's a cracking image mate, the mono suits and there's just ebough contrast to really pull it off my screen.
 
Love it Damien. I couldn't say what precisely but it works
 
Slimbert said:
Thanks Steven! :thumbs: Your comments are really appreciated! Any news on whether you'll be over this way at some point this year? :thinking:
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Well, I have approx 7-8 weeks left at college then I am free till September when I start UNI So I plan on coming down there for atleast a week, maybe two, at the end of June perhaps. :thumbs:

Although, yesterday I applied for a weekend waiter job at a local steakhouse, so if I get that i'll only be coming down your way for a few days.

Will be fun to see you and other norfolk folk again:thumbs:
 
There's something fascinating about photographing small children who are totally absorbed in something other than the camera/photographer. And with eyelashes like that, who needs eye contact. :D

It's a beautiful portrait, Damien - and I bet his parents love it too. Well done. Theme? What theme? Who cares? It's just such a special shot. :clap::clap::clap:

Jean
 
The23rdman said:
That's a really nice image, mate. Love the really shallow dof on the eye and the plaintive look.
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Thanks Dean! :thumbs: Much appreciated! :D

RobC said:
I have a picture of my step daughter taken last year on holiday, all you can see is a mad pink straw hat, her forearm and a parrot. EVERYONE in my family love it. This is the same sort of thing, there are times when eye contact just isnt needed, this is one of those occasions. It's a cracking image mate, the mono suits and there's just ebough contrast to really pull it off my screen.
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Thank you Rob! :) Good clear eyes are what I usually try to capture in people/portrait shots, but this seems to work without them! :thumbs:

jgs001 said:
Love it Damien. I couldn't say what precisely but it works
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Thanks John! :D Had to do a few different edits on this one as there was always something bugging me, but I'm happy with this version....but like you, I still can't say what it is precisely that I like about it! :shrug:

jeangenie said:
There's something fascinating about photographing small children who are totally absorbed in something other than the camera/photographer. And with eyelashes like that, who needs eye contact. :D

It's a beautiful portrait, Damien - and I bet his parents love it too. Well done. Theme? What theme? Who cares? It's just such a special shot. :clap::clap::clap:

Jean
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Very kind of you Jean, thank you! :thumbs: I agree, those eye lashes are something else!! :)
 
Cunniffe66_ said:
Well, I have approx 7-8 weeks left at college then I am free till September when I start UNI So I plan on coming down there for atleast a week, maybe two, at the end of June perhaps. :thumbs:

Although, yesterday I applied for a weekend waiter job at a local steakhouse, so if I get that i'll only be coming down your way for a few days.

Will be fun to see you and other norfolk folk again:thumbs:
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Well if you get a date in the diary, get in touch and I'll see what we're all doing! It all hush hush at the moment, but there's whispers of another day out on the broads! ;)
 
Lovely portrait Damien. As Sarah said, that splash of light on the nose is a bit distracting, but it's a minor thing for me.

Ian.
 
Lovely and different image... Nice focusing and DoF too... great black + white conversion.

Very interesting way of getting the image too. :)
 
Little bit behind with this, but this should bring me up to date!

Week 16 "Stare"....

Lynton visited a graveyard in Norwich recently which he used for his 52, so I thought I'd steal re-use the location to grab a couple of shots for my 52 :naughty:

As I've mentioned before in my 52, my PP skills are that of a 2 year old....I really do struggle! :$ I wanted/tried to figure out how to use "layers" in elements to stick a lovely fluffy sky behind the statue in this one, but to be honest, it looked absolutely ridiculous! :shake: So I've left it a little more abstract and kept the boring plain very very light grey (ok it's a blown white!) sky in....but I might post my first go with "layers", if I pluck up the courage!!

Week 16 "Stare"
IMG_4062-2b.jpg

Comments and crit is welcome from anybody, whatever your ability, or experience! Please please please, say what you think!! :thumbs:
 
I saw it and straight away thought of last weeks episode of doctor who! Creepy. lol. I'm now just checking over my shoulder... :lol:

I really like it though... Nice texture...

Could be worth posting your 'layered' attempt. :D
 
norvic-boy said:
I saw it and straight away thought of last weeks episode of doctor who! Creepy. lol. I'm now just checking over my shoulder... :lol:

I really like it though... Nice texture...

Could be worth posting your 'layered' attempt. :D
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Thanks Toby! :) I'm kinda tempted to post my layered effort......we'll see! :thumbs:
 
my PP skills are that of a 2 year old
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Give the mouse to Poppy then. (Damien's 2 yr old daughter!)

Good subject and I'm not sure about THAT graveyard at night......... but it looks a bit odd with the plain white background........ I can see what you're trying to do, but it looks like you've accidently picked spot metering, gone for the angel and nuked the sky..... (sorry I am a harsh [PLEASE DON'T TRY TO BYPASS THE SWEAR FILTER]!)

Edit don't work either really mate.........

My suggestion for something like this would be (and I am no expert) would be "to frig" the DOF by blurring the background - keeping the natural background, but making it look like you have a f 1.4 or something. )

You can do this by

a) duplicating the layer (Layer>Duplicate Layer)
b) applying a Gaussian blur to the layer ..( Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur - 2 pixels does it on the 800 pixel image, may want to up it a bit for full size)
c) select the eraser tool (looks like a rubber, change yours brush to something with soft edges, and I would go for opacity about 80%, - erase over the bits you want sharp, and then change opacity to 100% and go over the bits you want really sharp.)


As you are off next week, if you want an hour or so going through some stuff on photoshop, more than willing to pop over, and I promise not to maim your dog this time!!!)
 
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Lynton said:
Edit don't work either really mate.........
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Yeah I know!! :lol:

Lynton said:
You can do this by

a) duplicating the layer (Layer>Duplicate Layer)
b) applying a Gaussian blur to the layer ..( Filter>Blur>Gaussian Blur - 2 pixels does it on the 800 pixel image, may want to up it a bit for full size)
c) select the eraser tool (looks like a rubber, change yours brush to something with soft edges, and I would go for opacity about 80%, - erase over the bits you want sharp, and then change opacity to 100% and go over the bits you want really sharp.)
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See, I try reading that, but all I see is "blah blah blah, blah blah blah" :shrug:

Once I got lightroom, elements got sent to the naughty corner, where it's stayed ever since!!
 
Week 17 "Peace"....

This probably isn't the best "frame of mind" for me to post in (booze and emotions never mix well!), but what the hell....

Another shot from my afternoon out with Lynton the other day in the graveyard. Nothing ground breaking, but it fits the theme well, and keeps me up to date! :thumbs: I know it ain't great, but it fits the theme so perfectly on a number of levels that aren't apparent in this thread....and that will do for me!! ;)

Rest In "Peace"
IMG_4082a.jpg

Please please please, feel free to comment, even if you don't think you're "qualified" to do so....I'm extremely thick skinned, and welcome comments from people of all abilities and experience....say exactly what you think and don't hold back!! :thumbs:
 
I like the idea, composition and the mono conversion, I just feel it would look better with a bit more texture to the stones surface.
 
Hi Damien - just catching up! :)

Stare: It fits the theme very well and I like the mono treatment. As for pp skills - I know the feeling! :lol: Howevr, your clouds are nowhere near the disaster I imagined from what you'd said. The only bit I thought didn't work quite so well were the two little white fluffy clouds sitting on the shoulders of the statue. But honestly, I think the shot works either way. :thumbs:

Peace: There's obviously a lot more to this than meets the eye, so I'll just agree, it does meet the theme well, and other than a slight straighten (or sharper angle) I don't think there's anything else you need to do with it. :)

Jean
 
Hi Mate,

Just now had a (more sober) play with your angels and a background.

damiensangel.jpg



It's not perfect, I know, and if anyone knows how to do something to lessen the sharpness of Angel to Background, please say so.

I have done the following:

For Damien - Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

To others -

1) Took one of my pics from the cemetary with lots of background and resized to same size as Damiens original (different crop factors), and applied a Gaussian Blur to create an illusion of Shallow DOF.
2) Copied it in as a layer with mask and erased round where the angel should be to bring her back through to the op layer
3) Selected the angel, inversed the selection and then went and touched up the bits where I had erased too much
4) Using the blur tool, went over the bit where angel meets background.


Damien, Elements has its place as does Lightroom, and both are good for differert things. I don't think yuo can create new layers in Lightroom (may be wrong) but if you can't then unlikely you can put a new background in? :shrug:

More than happy to go through what I have done face to face with you. Be brave, Elements isn't scary!

As for Peace, Fits perfectly in more ways than one! :thumbs:
 
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Hi Damien,

With regard to Stare, you have a lovely shot there. The fudged in backgrounds look OK, but I think I prefer the original. I had a similar shot taken a couple of years ago, only with a flat blue sky (no clouds). When I converted to black & white, I then went with a "Negative" style, effectively turning the sky black and inverting the black/white tones in the statue. The final effect was very well received at college. Might be worth a punt?

As to "Peace". I like the textures and the composition, but my Latin (if that's what it is) is not very good, so the words don't mean anything to me... That detracts a little from the overall impression. Any chance of a clue?

Ian.
 
Interesting take on the theme. I would have liked it more if it had a little more detail in the shot.
As for your Stare shot I prefer your 2nd shot with the detail in the sky, and the detail in the statue is brilliant
 
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