Sunni's 52 for 2010 - Week 5, Speed!

Glass Books

Glass Books

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Sunni
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Having tried and failed to run my own "themed" 52 in 2009, I'm joining the bandwagon and will follow the weekly themes for all of 2010!

I've just got a new Nikon D90, and this should give me some good opportunities to explore exactly what it can do. Plus I have so much I need to learn :)

I have three simple rules:
1) I will shoot a picture specifically for each week's theme - no finding old shots and making them fit the theme!
2) I will comment on at least three felllow 52ers' threads each week
3) I will not look at any threads until I've posted my own picture.

I'm adding another rule! I've noticed that when I look at other people's pictures (once I've done my own), I'll read the comments as well and if there are many comments I'll end up reading them all and then not having anything to say in the end, and so I don't post a comment. So, my new rule is to not read the comments to a picture until I've posted my own comment. :thumbs:

If I can figure it out, I'll post a link below to the weekly post, like I've seen cleverly done in another thread!

Link to Week 5, Speed!
 
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Week 1 - Curved

So I've gone for the obvious in this one :D

I've always wanted to take a shot like this, but never got around to it until now. I wanted a soft picture, and I wanted the curve of the back to align with the curve of the tattoo - which is why I used such a shallow DOF (f 2.8). I've also tried to make it as light as possible - too light perhaps?

I'm not 100% happy with it, but I had fun! And I learned a little more about how to use my continuous light softbox, so all in all it was good :thumbs:

Comments, tips and advice on how to improve are welcome as always!

DSC_5038v1s.jpg
 
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A good start.

I did wonder what the subject was until I read the description.

As you have already pointed out it is probably a touch too light.

I like the idea though. It fits the theme well.
 
I thought it was a bath towel at first - but it didn't seem quite right
then I read the text :bonk:

amazing curve on the model's back :thumbs:
not sure about the tattoo though
 
I thought it was a tea towel to start
just wondered what it was like with more colour ??
 
I can't see it!
 
I didn't know what it was either until I read the description. :)

I like how light this is, it adds to the softness you aimed for. The more I look at it the more I like it. Well done. :thumbs:
 
Nice start Sunni fits the theme well, but as mentioned already it is the contrast between the Bg and the curvy back. I like the idea and I am looking forward to the rest of your 52's. :)

Graham
______
 
For me its just a tad too light. Took me a while to see what it was then I read the text
 
Another great idea, I agree with you and others that it's a touch too light.

Great start and looking forward to the next challenge.
 
i think thats a great shot, once youve read what it is! as has been said, when i first looked at it, i struggled to work out what it was!!
 
Wow, thank you for your comments everyone!

So, to summarise:
1. My back looks like a tea towel! :lol:
2. It's too light
3. The body blends into the background

I had problems with the body blending into the background even when I made a darker version - anyone know what I can do to prevent this from happening? I assume I've done something wrong with the light - the light from the softbox spilled on to the background when I was taking it, but I couldn't manage to place it such that it wouldn't. I didn't use flash as I only have the horrible on-body flash.

I'll see if I can get some time to put up a darker version later in the week. :thumbs:

Thanks again for all the lovely comments people, I really didn't expect this much interest! :love:
 
aahhh I thought it was a babies blanket! I think it's beautiful, I love the tones although perhaps just a little too light, but only a touch :) good start :D
 
Hi Sunni.

Really, really creative shot and I hadn't realised it was a SP until I read your later post.
On this monitor I can see what it is straight away and I absolutely love it. :clap:
(Although I did have a little peek at work earlier and I really couldn't see it at all on that screen - so I can see where other people are coming from)

I think you've achieved what you set out to do and it sounds like you learnt a lot in the process. I would be interested in seeing a slightly darker one though.
 
I have nothing to add really to what's already been said. So I will just say I'm looking forward to see what you do next and good luck with your 52.
 
Glass Books said:
Wow, thank you for your comments everyone!

So, to summarise:
1. My back looks like a tea towel! :lol:
2. It's too light
3. The body blends into the background

I had problems with the body blending into the background even when I made a darker version - anyone know what I can do to prevent this from happening? I assume I've done something wrong with the light - the light from the softbox spilled on to the background when I was taking it, but I couldn't manage to place it such that it wouldn't. I didn't use flash as I only have the horrible on-body flash.

I'll see if I can get some time to put up a darker version later in the week. :thumbs:

Thanks again for all the lovely comments people, I really didn't expect this much interest! :love:
Click to expand...

Really like the shot and agree with the comments already made. Getting the overall lightness down is easy - just shorten your exposure / make your aperture smaller. As far as separation goes to make the background darker there are a few ways to do it. 1.Get further away from the background. 2.Get the light source closer to your back and reduce the amount of light it gives out. or 3.Use some sort of gobo to restrict the light spill. A piece of black cloth over the side of your softbox nearest the background should help. I can't stop your back looking like a teatowel though;)
 
Great start Sunni....I too took a moment to get the image in perspective but having got it I am swaying between thinking its too light and spot on :) It has an ethereal dreamy quality to it which serves it well I think....a darker version would lose that I think...and a very interesting tattoo too which reminds me of Tolkien elvish script for some reason! :)
 
I think it needs a little more contrast. But good effort though!
 
I thought I'd commented on this already, but it seems not. I'm going to say I like it and the lighting. As has been mentioned, it gives it that dreamy look and more contrast would remove that. You've framed the tatoo well so it doesn't draw your attention but makes a nice addition. Well done :thumbs:
 
I am swaying between too over exposed and perfect. I love the detail of the tattoo.

All the best of luck for your 52. :thumbs:
 
I like it just as it is, the dreaminess and DOF blur works well with the lightness. An excellent curved image, and it took me reading the description to work out what it was too (I was thinking a towel or blanket of some sort... :D)...
 
louise-knight said:
aahhh I thought it was a babies blanket! I think it's beautiful, I love the tones although perhaps just a little too light, but only a touch :) good start
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Hehe, a babies blanket! Well, at least they're soft so I guess you got the intended feeling from it :)

SarahLee said:
Hi Sunni.

Really, really creative shot and I hadn't realised it was a SP until I read your later post.
On this monitor I can see what it is straight away and I absolutely love it. :clap:
(Although I did have a little peek at work earlier and I really couldn't see it at all on that screen - so I can see where other people are coming from)

I think you've achieved what you set out to do and it sounds like you learnt a lot in the process. I would be interested in seeing a slightly darker one though.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I've just got a new laptop, and on that one I can't see it at all so I know what you mean.. Will try to re-shoot this at some point and will definitely post an update when I do :)

CGeezer said:
I have nothing to add really to what's already been said. So I will just say I'm looking forward to see what you do next and good luck with your 52.
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Thanks!

Dark Star said:
Great start Sunni....I too took a moment to get the image in perspective but having got it I am swaying between thinking its too light and spot on. It has an ethereal dreamy quality to it which serves it well I think....a darker version would lose that I think...and a very interesting tattoo too which reminds me of Tolkien elvish script for some reason! :)
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Thank you, the tattoo is indeed Tolkien. Well spotted! It's the 'one ring' poem, I got it must be ten years ago now. I had just read the book and fallen in love with it. It's still one of my favourite books!

EdBray said:
I think it needs a little more contrast. But good effort though!
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I think when I do the darker version I'll add more contrast to it, but for me it'd not fit this picture. Thank you for commenting though :)

dlh said:
I thought I'd commented on this already, but it seems not. I'm going to say I like it and the lighting. As has been mentioned, it gives it that dreamy look and more contrast would remove that. You've framed the tatoo well so it doesn't draw your attention but makes a nice addition. Well done :thumbs:
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Thank you! Glad you're feeling the dreamy look :)

Eeyore said:
I am swaying between too over exposed and perfect. I love the detail of the tattoo.

All the best of luck for your 52. :thumbs:
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Thank you :)

jgs001 said:
I like it just as it is, the dreaminess and DOF blur works well with the lightness. An excellent curved image, and it took me reading the description to work out what it was too (I was thinking a towel or blanket of some sort... :D)...
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Thank you. Glad you like the shallow DOF and the added blur! I'm thinking if it was in portrait orientation people would probably see what it was easier.,. but then I wasn't after making it easy for anyone, hehe :)
 
ranarama said:
Really like the shot and agree with the comments already made. Getting the overall lightness down is easy - just shorten your exposure / make your aperture smaller. As far as separation goes to make the background darker there are a few ways to do it. 1.Get further away from the background. 2.Get the light source closer to your back and reduce the amount of light it gives out. or 3.Use some sort of gobo to restrict the light spill. A piece of black cloth over the side of your softbox nearest the background should help. I can't stop your back looking like a teatowel though;)
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Thank you SO much for taking the time giving suggestions for how to improve! I've made a note of all you've said and will be using your advice when I do the re-shoot. Thank you thank you :clap::clap::thumbs:
 
I really struggled with this theme. I didn't want to use an old picture of some landscape and find a poem to fit it, which would have been too easy. I went to an ice sculpting event hoping I could get something there, but sadly the sculptures were melting and I didn't really get any pictures I liked. So I was stuck!

One poem I've always liked is Robert Browning's 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came'. I guess it's from when I was a huge Stephen King fan and devoured the Dark Tower series. It was the first poem that popped up in my head when I read the theme...I could even picture how I wanted it to look, but how would I be able to find a dark, isolated, massive tower, with a lonely road leading up to it, perhaps with a lonely figure half way up the road, in the middle of London? Not likely. So I had to make do, and this is what I took while at the ice sculpting event. I'm not happy with it in the slightest and wish I had more creativity to think of something original. At any rate, I thought this fit the poem well enough, although far from the picture I wanted to take. I like the colours and the steam and clouds in the picture, it makes it more atmospheric and suits the tone of the poem. Perhaps this is what the Dark Tower would look like for the modern day Roland?

The whole poem can be found here. It's quite long so I've only quoted my two favourite verses:

Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came

My first thought was, he lied in every word,
that hoary cripple with malicious eye
Askance to watch the workings of his lie
On mine, and mouth scarce able to afford
Suppression of the glee, that pursed and scored
Its edge, at one more victim gained thereby.

There they stood, ranged along the hill-sides, met
To view the last of me, a living frame
For one more picture! in a sheet of flame
I saw them and I knew them all. And yet
Dauntless the slug-horn to my lips I set,
And blew. ``Childe Roland to the Dark Tower came.''

DSC_5887Small.jpg


Ah well, onwards and upwards as they say - CHOPPED here I come, right after I've finished looking at all the other submissions for poetry! :D

By the way - I've edited this on my new laptop, so please tell me if it's too dark or too bright! I find it so much harder to get it right on a laptop than on my desktop. Thanks :)
 
Hi Sunni - I think yours is going to be a really creative thread and one I'll look forward to seeing each week.

Week 1: I loved the soft dreamy look of this - even before I'd worked out what the subject matter was! And very curvy. :)

Week 2: I don't know this poem, and was picturing Gothic as I read it and it made me think of a Victorian water tower in a nearby town, so the bright modern tower block was a real surprise (good, I hasten to add!). I love the perspective and the colours picked up by the air con emissions.

Looking forward to Week 3 :)

Jean
 
Shame I missed your thread first time around. I love the high key feel of your week one and think the composition is spot on.

Week 2 looks dark and sinister, very moody, excellent angle and colours, I like it :thumbs:
 
Hi Sunni, it looks good to me, great angle, very atomospheric and the colours are pretty cool too, doesn't look like you're struggling to me, fine job


Graham :)
______
 
I agree with Jean, I was expecting some form of gothic interpretation, but the mood of that shot suits the poem really well. Very good Sunni :clap:
 
Glass Books said:
I'm not happy with it in the slightest and wish I had more creativity to think of something original.
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Well I'd be EXTREMELY happy with that :clap: :clap: :clap:
This is the type of shot that I want to get out of my comfort zone and start being able to produce this year. I do far too much still life stuff and I really need to find more outdoor inspiration - and seeing this sort of thing gives me the push I need.

As soon as I saw the poem you'd chosen I thought of Stephen King's Dark Tower. I'm a fan too, so I can see exactly where you're coming from with this one.

Absolutely love the warm glow in the cut out bit of the left hand building and the clouds on top of the towers (not sure if they've had some PP help and I don't care - they look great!!!!)
 
That image is stunning! I love it. I don't know the poem but if you were looking for a dark menacing tower you found one! Don't beat yourself up about the image - its excellent! :)

Glad to see also that my hunch about the tattoo was on the mark - my fave book of all time :) Great taste ;) :D!
 
love the shot for week 2, must have been hard to find poem to do it justice.
 
jeangenie said:
Hi Sunni - I think yours is going to be a really creative thread and one I'll look forward to seeing each week.

Week 1: I loved the soft dreamy look of this - even before I'd worked out what the subject matter was! And very curvy. :)

Week 2: I don't know this poem, and was picturing Gothic as I read it and it made me think of a Victorian water tower in a nearby town, so the bright modern tower block was a real surprise (good, I hasten to add!). I love the perspective and the colours picked up by the air con emissions.

Looking forward to Week 3 :)

Jean
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Hi Jean, thank you for those lovely comments! If asked to describe me, 'creative' is the last word I'd use normally, but perhaps this project will help me find my creative streak at last.

kejago said:
I really like the way you are interperting the themes. I'll definately come back for more later.
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Thank you for that :)

treeman said:
Shame I missed your thread first time around. I love the high key feel of your week one and think the composition is spot on.

Week 2 looks dark and sinister, very moody, excellent angle and colours, I like it :thumbs:
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Thank you! Glad to hear someone likes the second shot, I was so unhappy with it.

uniquegardens said:
Hi Sunni, it looks good to me, great angle, very atomospheric and the colours are pretty cool too, doesn't look like you're struggling to me, fine job


Graham :)
______
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Hi Graham, thank you for that! I'm feeling encouraged now :)
 
jgs001 said:
I agree with Jean, I was expecting some form of gothic interpretation, but the mood of that shot suits the poem really well. Very good Sunni :clap:
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Aww thank you!

SarahLee said:
Well I'd be EXTREMELY happy with that :clap: :clap: :clap:
This is the type of shot that I want to get out of my comfort zone and start being able to produce this year. I do far too much still life stuff and I really need to find more outdoor inspiration - and seeing this sort of thing gives me the push I need.

As soon as I saw the poem you'd chosen I thought of Stephen King's Dark Tower. I'm a fan too, so I can see exactly where you're coming from with this one.

Absolutely love the warm glow in the cut out bit of the left hand building and the clouds on top of the towers (not sure if they've had some PP help and I don't care - they look great!!!!)
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Ah, a fellow fan! Well met :) Thank you for the lovely comments, you're all too kind! Not much PP in this picture; sharpening, and a little vibrance and contrast if I remember correctly. The sky was that colour, which is what made me take the picture in the first place :)

Dark Star said:
That image is stunning! I love it. I don't know the poem but if you were looking for a dark menacing tower you found one! Don't beat yourself up about the image - its excellent! :)

Glad to see also that my hunch about the tattoo was on the mark - my fave book of all time :) Great taste ;) :D!
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Thank you! Glad you found it menacing :) Looking at it again I should probably have cloned out the Citi logo right at the top as it spoils the effect a little, but ah well..

foggy4ever said:
love the shot for week 2, must have been hard to find poem to do it justice.
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Thank you, glad you like it :) I found the poem first (well, it's always in my head) so when I saw the scene I thought of it straight away.
 
I thought I'd take advantage of this week's theme to learn a bit about lighting. I'd just bought a speedlight, and hadn't really used it apart from checking that it worked! So, I decided on a still life as that was something I'd never done before. :thumbs:

So to keep it simple and keep the focus on the lighting I chose to take a picture of a chopped pineapple - dead boring, but as long as it helps me learn anything goes! I went through various variations of the same picture with this one, using different backgrounds.

The first I used was the hob (it's induction, so a reflective, black glass surface) which would have been great if not for the markings on the surface. Next I tried was the dinner table, which turned out to be too similar in colour to the pineapple to be any good. Next up was a matte, black paper background that I draped over the dinner table and chairs, but that gave a weird feeling of the pineapple just floating in black space, no good. I then tried a sheet of white paper draped over a chair, which was ok but again very boring. :bonk:

Accidentally, while I was placing the pineapple on the chair, I took a picture with the flash lying on the floor - and I could see the light coming up through the holes in the chair and making a lovely pattern on the paper, lighting the pineapple from underneath. I thought this would make a slightly more interesting picture, so went for that approach in the end. In addition to the flash lighting it from underneath, I also had a continuous lightbox from above, to the side. I would have liked to have had another flash (or some light source) that could have lit up the background, as I think it's too dark as it is. But all in all I'm fairly happy with this picture, and although the subject was dull I did learn something about lighting and the importance of just trying stuff until it works! :lol:

DSC_7973small.jpg
 
Think your Dark Tower image is great Sunni. The sky and the angle it's shot from gives it a sense of menace.
 
I really like the effect through the chair, the lighting is good. I like what you've done, although there's something about the pineapple I can't put my finger on. Overall I like it thouth.
 
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