Squawk's 52 2010 - Week 15: single (I'm back)

Week 7: People

Real life got in the way this week so I'm a day late. My first idea was to have another go at street photography but that seemed a bit samey so soon after so I went in another direction. This week has been an attempt at a self portrait. Well, two attempts. It's also yet another photoshop week, for reasons that will become apparent.

Candidate 1

52_people_eyes_small.jpg


Candidate 2
52_people_me3.jpg


Two different takes. The second one possibly fits the theme a little better but I think the first image has much more impact so is my current favourite. I wanted to include the second image as I've seen a few people do things like this in the past, this one is a bit of a proof of concept. Any tips on how to improve it will be much apprecitated.

One thing I learned this week. getting focus on your own eye is tough. I must have had 100 or so images which I whittled down to 4 or 5 with the eye sharp.


##edit. Quick note since you can't read it. The book I'm reading in this photo is "Darwins Dangerous Idea" by Dan Dennet, which was my geeky scientist version of a joke for the photo. I've "evolved" into three people
 
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Both images are fantastic but No1 definitely my favourite - really good self portrait.
 
I think you've said it all already in your self critique.

No.1 is the better image, really well taken and worth the 100 takes that it took to get it right, but no.2 is definitely more on theme.
And no.2 is still a very good image - very nicely put together in PP. Shame that we can't read the book title, but the image still works well without the Darwin joke.

IMO you've done very well with both of these, and it's a tough job to pick just one of them for the week.
 
I like both of those, I agree that the 1st one is the better image as it has more impact.

I like the 2nd picture though, this is something I've been meaning to try and I think you've done a good job with the processing :)
 
First is definitely the more striking image. I know how hard it is to get sharp focus on the eye and I usually give up. You should be glad you persevered.

The second whilst perhaps more on theme doesn't quite have the impact of the first. Perhaps a closer crop to lose some of the space and it seems these work a lot better if you change clothes between frames. Technically good, just not enough wow :)
 
#1 for me. Doing a self portrait myself this week wasn't much fun in terms of "getting it right", so I'm with you on that.

Nice composition and I find myself wanting to see what it is reflected in your eye.

Ian.
 
I'll echo the above comments. #1 is my favourite as I love these close up kinda portraits. I think it could use a little contrast tweak. I did one if you want me to post it?
 
Well done on both of these shots.

I agree #1 has the wow factor, and getting your own eye sharp is sooo difficult.

I also love #2. I've never tried this technique - 1 sp was enough for me! - but I really love it and as yu say, it's got great possibilities for visual jokes. I think you've done a very good job being in 3 places at once, and I can't help wondering what you on the left of the picture is saying to you in the middle! :)

A good week indeed. :clap::clap::clap:

Jean
 
have to agree with everyone else.. the first is great, suits B+W and the close crop does give more impact

was going to try something similar to your second shot myself but with my daughter who proved a tad unwilling.... this time! ;) its nicely done, a change of clothes as suggested might have worked better, like your poses in it..
 
ProG77 said:
Both images are fantastic but No1 definitely my favourite - really good self portrait.
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Thankyou, glad you like them.

SarahLee said:
I think you've said it all already in your self critique.

No.1 is the better image, really well taken and worth the 100 takes that it took to get it right, but no.2 is definitely more on theme.
And no.2 is still a very good image - very nicely put together in PP. Shame that we can't read the book title, but the image still works well without the Darwin joke.

IMO you've done very well with both of these, and it's a tough job to pick just one of them for the week.
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Thanks, good to see someone agrees with me :D

SpidersEye said:
I like both of those, I agree that the 1st one is the better image as it has more impact.

I like the 2nd picture though, this is something I've been meaning to try and I think you've done a good job with the processing :)
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, this was my first go at it, I had no idea how it would come out and just took three quick photos. The PP was easier than expected, just lots of zooming in to 400% to get the edges right.

dlh said:
First is definitely the more striking image. I know how hard it is to get sharp focus on the eye and I usually give up. You should be glad you persevered.

The second whilst perhaps more on theme doesn't quite have the impact of the first. Perhaps a closer crop to lose some of the space and it seems these work a lot better if you change clothes between frames. Technically good, just not enough wow :)
Click to expand...

Hmm, I hadn't considered a crop, when I boot back into windows I might have a play with that. Thanks for the tip.

Harlequin565 said:
#1 for me. Doing a self portrait myself this week wasn't much fun in terms of "getting it right", so I'm with you on that.

Nice composition and I find myself wanting to see what it is reflected in your eye.

Ian.
Click to expand...

The reflection is part garden and part tripod, both fortunately in focus and only really possible to make them out when viewed at 100%.

The23rdman said:
I'll echo the above comments. #1 is my favourite as I love these close up kinda portraits. I think it could use a little contrast tweak. I did one if you want me to post it?
Click to expand...

Post away, but could you do me the favour of removing it after a couple of days. I'd like to keep this to just my images in the long run. I might have another play with it but I did spend quite a while messing about with various masks, I kinda like how it turned out to be honest (is it weird that I like looking at my own eye?)

jeangenie said:
Well done on both of these shots.

I agree #1 has the wow factor, and getting your own eye sharp is sooo difficult.

I also love #2. I've never tried this technique - 1 sp was enough for me! - but I really love it and as yu say, it's got great possibilities for visual jokes. I think you've done a very good job being in 3 places at once, and I can't help wondering what you on the left of the picture is saying to you in the middle! :)

A good week indeed. :clap::clap::clap:

Jean
Click to expand...

Hehe, well the thought process was "what the hell, two more of me?" :D

mich66 said:
have to agree with everyone else.. the first is great, suits B+W and the close crop does give more impact

was going to try something similar to your second shot myself but with my daughter who proved a tad unwilling.... this time! ;) its nicely done, a change of clothes as suggested might have worked better, like your poses in it..
Click to expand...

Ahh, always a danger when your props have a mind of their own. I might have another pop at this while doing something a bit more interesting, someone posted something along this lines of a girl getting ready for a night out a while back and that was my inspiration for having a go.


Thanks all.
 
A pair of great images James... as individuals #1 is a far better image, but 2 works very well anyway and fits the theme a little better.
 
Thanks to all for the feedback this week. Number 1 it is, the self portrait. Onto week 8, posted here in about 2 mins
 
Week 8 - Mechanical

I've had a problem all week. My car has been staring at me. Shooooot me, shooooot meeeee. I can hear it, and it's driven me nuts (no pun intended). I don't wanna shoot my car engine, won't won't won't.

Fortunately I managed to avoid it. The perfect shot for the week was already in the bag a month ago, I was in the railway museum in York and have some great shots inside one of the locomotives, but that was outside the remit. The goal is to make me take photos, not post up old ones.

I thought about playing with levers, and to be honest the very idea bored me. I'd have liked to have done something with cogs and springs, but I don't have an appropriate watch/clock. And then, this evening, I spotted it. My powerball. I've been pondering photographing it for a while, tonight was the night, this weeks theme is perfect.

The candidates first, then some explanation for those who don't know what a powerball is.

Candidate 1:
52_mechanical-3.jpg


This weeks winner
52_mechanical-2.jpg


Ok, so what the hell is a powerball? Essentially it's a gyroscope, one fairly heavy plastic ball inside with a metal axel shoved through it, sat inside another lighter plastic ball. The ball inside has a weight attached to one side to give it an inbalance. After getting the ball spinning slightly you sychronise the movements of your arm with the motion of the ball for and using nothing but your own body increase the speed of the gyro anything up to around 17000rpm. It's pure, undiluted mechanical force, nothing else added, and its a great workout for your arms. It's also good for rehab for anyone with tennis elbow, golfers elbow or even arthritis.

In my particular model there are LED's inside that light up as some of the kinetic energy is transformed into electrical energy, and it makes a pretty pattern.

So, to photograph it. There is a problem though. The gyro is extremely powerful, you can't hold the damn thing still. But, to get a nice image a longish exposure was required. That resulted in much testing of exposures, variable iso and shutter speed and intentional over exposures to get the images I was after.

The first of the two was shot at 1/8, ISO 400, F5.6. I focused on a mark on the desktop, switched to manual focus, and then held my hand over the mark while releasing the shutter with a remote release.

The second image was 1/2, ISO 100, F5.6

I think the slight motion blur adds to the shots rather than detracting, others of course free to disagree. I have an inkling nobody else will have done this this week :D
 
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I think the second image is superb, there's a real sense of movement in it. A great take on the theme, and thanks for the explanation. Great stuff :)
 
The first one could have done the trick except for the massive blown highlight on the front of it. The second (thanks to the explanation) shows good movement and an interesting shape and pattern.

Thanks for explaining what a power ball is. I always wondered :)
 
Those things are HARD work. We have one, but I'm too big as girl to use it. Perfect for golf though, as you know.

I like them both, but have a suggestion to throw at you. Why not shoot another two shots and put them together, one in each corner. You could have a progression form static to fast.
 
Liking the second shot there. Definately says mechanical to me. Looks like a gear. :thumbs:
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys. It would seem that image 2 is the clear favourite of the two and after contemplation on it I'm starting to see it that way too. Might be the first week in which I change my mind.

The23rdman, I like that suggestion but gonna need a reshoot, I deleted all but 5 or 6 images.

dlh, not figured out how not to blow it out. It seems to be either blow out the front or lose the sides, no choice really, alas. I agree with you, not sure about a solution.

Just for reference the pp was pretty minimal. I used a slightly tweaked version of a lightroom preset to give it a split tone/old look, but the content hasn't been altered at all. I shot in a dark room.
 
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Second one for me, like the effect. Good idea for the theme

The first is just a tad blown for me.
 
:facepalm:

And I have a Powerball on my desk next to my monitor.... What a great idea.

And what a great shot. When I saw the second shot my first thought was "how the heck did you hold it still?". Must have been tricky to shoot, but you managed it, and with a good result. Hats off sir.

Ian.
 
Second one gets my vote but narrowly, great sense of movement and very abstract looking shot - nicely done :thumbs:
 
Another vote for the second... really like that James, lovely movement and motion in there. The shot itself doesn't shout mechanical, but in the context of the explanation it's clear. Thanks for explaining what a powerball is too.
 
Second shot does it for me. For some reason my Mrs has one of these but it didn't light up. I did wonder why she needed to buy something to strengthen her wrists so I suggested that I've got something she could use instead but all I got was :coat: :D

First shout would be better with slightly different lighting. It's just a bit too bright on the very front.
 
Ok, final verdict, the second image it is. First one this year where I have changed my mind, thanks to all for the feedback. This weeks image pending in about 2 mins
 
Week 9: Play

A great theme this week, so many options. My first thought was to do something golf related but there is a pretty good chance I'll be coming back to that through the year and will get much better images in the summer on nice green golf courses than in the drab weather.

So, I went in a different direction and dusted off an old guitar. It's not the best looking of guitars as it's a pretty rotten orange colour hence the PP for a bit of a sepia/black and white look. It seems my PP rule is going by the wayside, alas.

Candidate 1:
52_play-3.jpg


Candidate 2:
52_play.jpg


Candidate 3:
52_play-2.jpg


At the moment candidate 1 is taking it for me, but I've given myself a dilemma. I can't make my mind up if the image would be better with a bit more of hand on show. As of right now I decided I like it as is but I'd like second opinions on that one.

Technique:
Pretty simple, camera on a tripod with a remote release. Light was provided by a single bedside spotlamp aimed away from me, reflecting off the white wall. ISO 400 to get a bit of a grainy feel and 1/2 second exposures at F5 ish for all. I didn't think it was gonna be quite that dark, shutter speed was longer than I expected, much holding still ensued. With hindsight I should have had a go outdoors in the sunlight, possibly a project for another day.
 
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Definitely the first for me. Good angle and lighting and you've kept it nice and tight to avoid anything unneeded creeping into the image. PP works a treat, perhaps just add a very small vignette to even up the brighter corners a little.
 
I agree about #1 being the shot, James. Really like the angle and tight crop too. The pp works really well as it gives it an aged feel as well as a bit of a gritty look. Nice work!
 
Yup, #1 for me too, much more intense and so somehow more interesting. At least it *holds* the interest more rather than giving it something else to hold onto!

Arthur
 
#1 for all the reasons above.

It's a wonderful composition. Were you self-portraiting and guessing, or did you have a model? If it's the former, then that's a very well framed shot.

The considered lighting has worked well too, as has the processing.

:thumbs:

Ian.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone, it seems that number 1 is the clear favourite this week so unless something drastic happens that's gonna be the one I stick with. DLH, I'll have a play with a vignette and see what the result is, thanks for the suggestion.


Harlequin565 said:
It's a wonderful composition. Were you self-portraiting and guessing, or did you have a model? If it's the former, then that's a very well framed shot.
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Self-portrait and much guesswork. First up I got behind the camera and held the guitar approximately where I was going to be to get a rough idea of composition.

I set the camera to the center focus point and using a wired remote half pressed for focus while trying to get my hand dead center in the frame by guessing where the lens was pointing. Once I'd got focus I moved slightly forwards to get the composition correct.

The three shots here were a result of 16 frames total which was actually less than I expected to take.
 
Another vote for the first... it's clean and on theme :thumbs:
 
Sorry to be unoriginal, but it's number 1 for me too.

It's just a far more intimate shot.
The angle and the DoF give a fantastic sense of perspective and the focus on the fingers is spot on.
The B&W conversions worked brilliantly to lose that horrible orange too. I think I know the exact colour that you mean. We have a guitar very much like that one up in the attic somewhere :lol:

I see what you mean about the crop on the hand being a little tight, but TBH I hardly notice it when I look at the shot. IMO it's nothing to worry about.
 
Major problems this week, and probably next week too. I've completely buggered up my computer, erased the partition table while trying to fix a faulty windows install. I ran the windows installer with a view to simply repairing the install, but the installer took it upon itself to erase the partition table and MBR without prompting. Very nice of it. I hate windows, I really do.

Anyway, the upshot is that I have no working computer (posting this from a relatives) and so no way of getting my raw files off camera and processed. Ergo, my 52 is taking an enforced break.

New hard drive will be with me by the end of next week, followed by a bit for bit copying for backup purposes and then experiments with recovery software. Updates to follow.
 
Quick update. New hard drive arrived and has been furnished with a clean install of debian. After making sure all was stable I embarked on the process of recovering the data I'd lost from the old hard drive and have now managed to get everything back.

Once I have all the important stuff backed up properly I will embark on re-installing windows, with photography commencing somewhere towards the back end of this week. It seems I have a few images to catch up on.

Lesson learned, back your stuff up. I've been lucky but it's been quite a bit of work getting it all back.
 
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