View Full Version : One a day from a week away...
Having just spent a week with some time to devote to my thoughts and photography I though that since I regularly critique your photos I will offer a few of my efforts for the culling. To start with we have a typical scenic picture of a boat house on Ullswater in the Lake District. This was shot with the 20D, 17-40L, tripod, remote shutter release, ND filters and other than conversion, crop and borders has had nothing done to it.
All comments and critique is warmly welcomed…
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1336-01.jpg
I will add a few more over the next few nights. One a day.
Very nice. Do you think it is better to have a reflection exactly half way, or to use the rule of thirds as you have done here?
Its rubbish Steve !!! ;)
Actually, I really like it !
Not sure if it needs much doing to be honest ! a teeny touch lighter maybe, but not sure if that would ruin the effect !
Very nice. Do you think it is better to have a reflection exactly half way, or to use the rule of thirds as you have done here?
I chose this crop to have the mountain reflection on the lower left lead your eye into the picture. The reflections add to the picture rather than make it for me and when viewed fully (as in the original) the symitry actually distracts rather than adds. The horizon falling into the rules of thirds also makes it a more conforming and appealing picture.
Steve - it's a lovely well thought out shot - I really like the subdued almost pastel tones, but my eye is drawn like a magnet to that blank white bit of sky. Photoshop is your friend! :lol:
nice image steve, very pleasing
Steve - it's a lovely well thought out shot - I really like the subdued almost pastel tones, but my eye is drawn like a magnet to that blank white bit of sky. Photoshop is your friend! :lol:
Maybe thats what my problem with it is ! It seems to overpower the other parts of the picture ! Is why i though it may need lightening up a bit, maybe its just that bright bit of sky that needs knocking downa peg !
Steve - it's a lovely well thought out shot - I really like the subdued almost pastel tones, but my eye is drawn like a magnet to that blank white bit of sky. Photoshop is your friend! :lol:
Cheers, closely followed by you if you keep offering spot on advice like that!! :)
I will load it into Photoshop tomorrow and see what I can do :wink:
I'm not sure if its my monitor, but its a bit dark?
It just lacks a bit of punch I reckon. I'd go for...
http://www.tomkinson.org/albums/Ced-Jan/boathouse_1.jpg
or even...
http://www.tomkinson.org/albums/Ced-Jan/boathouse_2.jpg
Lovely shot which would be a good candidate for the freebie Epson jumbo print and a nice frame?
Gary Bagshawe
21-04-2005, 10:35
Fantastic composition but as others have said, it appears a little too dark.
I know I am going to be way off the mark but, I would like to see the boat house stand out that little more.
This is a wonderful shot and CT. is right with regards the pastel tones, very tranquil.
Now it means something to me with the new camera, is there any chance of letting me in on the settings? Please.
:)
If I were you Ken, I'd put the camera on AP (Aperture priority)- select a small aperture for max DOF, and let the camera sort out the shutter speed. Your camera will go to 30 seconds in AP mode, and there's enough exposure latitude with digital to make any adjustments necessary in PS later, but I find the long exposures down to 30 secs are pretty accurate anyway.
Obviously, a tripod is essential for exposures of that length. If you need to go longer than 30 secs switch to Manual Mode and B then it gets very hi tech - you use our wrist watch! :lol: A lockable cable release is needed over 30 secs too.
NICE PICTURE.
I think as the others may be a little to dark, but its great any way.
Cheers!
Great shot Steve, of a great place.
I'm glad you got the weather , as it was terrible here last week.
All that is needed on this image IMO is a little saturation boost.
Then using the marquee tool select the middle band of the image and adjust the levels, using an adlustment layer.
This will bring some of the detail out in the darker areas.
I'd then apply usm at 20%/30/1 to rid the image of the digital haze.
HTH
Thanks for all the comments and fantastic advice. I have just had a terrible day at work and only just got in but intend to attempt some of the suggestions you have made over the weekend.
Thanks CT for the alterations and the conversion to B&W in your examples. Although the B&W does work I have taken a few shots over the last week specifically for B&W, watch this thread during the next few days as they might get shown here. I also have taken a shot that I will be getting printed by Epson and their generous free offer. Unfortunately I am unable to show that as it includes a personal friend as the subject and she has not given permission for public display of the picture.
Ok on with tonight’s offering, again shot last week with the 20D and 17-40L.
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1299edit.jpg
Again if I receive feedback similar to the above I would be eternally grateful.
I really like that one Steve !
Wouldnt dream of offering the level of advice you are getting from the others !
Gary Bagshawe
21-04-2005, 21:03
Wow, I can honestly say Im gobsmacked. That is a fantastic photograph. :D
At first glance I thoght you'd converted the sky to B&W. but I guess not? It's a cracker-and it's the limited number of colours which makes it work so well I think.
Wow! Now that's nice. I think it's the colour of the field and the extreme sky that makes the photo. Perfect composure too!
I also love the black and white version of the boat house. It converts beautifully!
No conversion in the sky CT, that’s exactly how the scene was painted by Mother Nature and I was very lucky with being in the right place at the right time. Despite how the picture looks it was absolutely freezing and blowing a gale. The camera never lies ehh? ;)
Great response people, thanks very much. Maybe I should have saved that picture till the end, I think I may have peaked a little prematurely :shock:
If you cropped bottom and left though to put the cottage on a 3rd intersection look how much stronger it becomes?
http://www.tomkinson.org/albums/Ced-Jan/cottage.jpg
Thats interesting as I actually prefer the original as it shows the scale and how isolated the cottage is better. Horses for courses :D
Great image Steve! thats a great picture
LOL just an alternative. It's a stunner anyway - you've set the standard for the week! :lol:
It's a stunner anyway - you've set the standard for the week! :lol:
Lay on the pressure why don't you!!!! :shock: :?
:P :lol:
[smilie=w:
Well I know you're good for it!
I could do with a couple of weeks in that cotttage with no phone and no internet connection. Angelina Jolie could pop round though if she liked!!
I'm guessing it's just some sort of storm refuge?
Well if not i am willing to fail in style and very publically :D
I’m not sure about it being a storm refuse to be honest, I didn’t get any closer than where I took the photo from as it was freezing!!!
The cottage I rented for the week was almost as remote though and was such a breath of fresh air to be away from all the modern chains that technology has condemned us to. I have come back with a clear head and my batteries recharged ready to take on the world all over again.
You know that for a city boy like me I always thought the country was quiet and peaceful but when you are isolated there and learn to listen, it’s full of noise night and day. The sound of the birds, the wind and in my case a babbling brook running through the cottage grounds all equalled or exceeded the noise levels that I am use to in the city. Different but equally as noisy.
I'm a townie. I love the country in small doses but after a couple of days I can hear the grass growing! :shock: Once I get back and watch the traffic lights clicking on and off for a few minutes I'm OK.
Still fearing that I may have peaked too soon I now move over to a almost B&W. This was shot handheld using the 20D, Canon 70-200L and Kenko 1.4x converter from a moving train on the Settle to Carlisle railway. I metered of the sky and underexposed the shot buy 1 stop to allow me a fast enough shutter to remove both motion blur form the moving train and any camera shake generated by my not so steady hands.
Although maybe not carrying as much wow factor as some of the other pictures I still quite like this shot. As usual comments and critique is welcomed. :)
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1458-01.jpg
I like this Steve, its simple yet clever, 3 stepped monotone layers its a joy to look at.
Have I said I hate you lately? :wink:
I like this Steve, its simple yet clever, 3 stepped monotone layers its a joy to look at.
Have I said I hate you lately? :wink:
Thank you sir
[smilie=l: [smilie=i:
another nice shot...did you 'see' that shot before you took it or rop it to be that shot?
Nice! Cropped just right too.
another nice shot...did you 'see' that shot before you took it or rop it to be that shot?
I sort of saw it, I had just missed a very similar shot due to the proximity of the train to a tree right at the side of the track ending up with it being moved into frame just as I had taken the shot so decided to be patient and wait with the camera for the next few minutes. I was looking ahead but generally only had a couple of seconds to acquire the shot, so this is the best of three for this subject.
Having just gone through some more images taken last week I have realised that I have more keepers than I thought. With this in mind it would take me past my next holiday before I displayed them all so I will throw up a few more at random intervals for you all to rip apart.
So far I have shown mainly landscape type shots but I photograph just about anything that catches my eye, and recently thanks to Matt I will also attempt to photograph animals.
Using sheep/lambs as a main subject I offer you two totally different shots..
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1229-01.jpg
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1226-01.jpg
One a day means a cracker a day, lovely shots all of them :)
One a day means a cracker a day, lovely shots all of them :)
Thank you dod, very kind of you.
Here is the first of the pictures I will add today.
Taken using the 20D again but this time with 50mm F1.8 lens and a 20mm extension tube. As the DOF is massively reduced when extension tubes are used this was shot at F8 to get the desired effect.
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1276-01.jpg
Hope you like? :)
My - what a productive week you had. It's all good stuff. I like the DOF inthe lamb shot.
stunning detail for a shot resized to fit on the net Steve, well done!
the nearlly perfect symetry is peacefull .. there is no rule except sensibility and brain working together
i like your foto
i am allways surprised to read a comment like : <i>it doesn't respect the rule of...</i>
before enjoying a poem do you compt the number of letters ?
Thanks for the comments so far ladies and gentlemen. :)
Here is another from the last week. Shot in a small church, I was drawn to the way the light was falling on the flowers at the front and the candlestick in the background. I have applied some selective dodging and burning to emphasize the subject but it is the lighting that makes this shot for me. Hopefully I have done this subject matter justice.
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1305-01.jpg
Hopefully I have done this subject matter justice.
That's quite possibly THE best shot I've seen on here. I love it, absolutely beautiful.
Thanks again for the coments gents..have you had enough yet?
Today’s offering was shot using natural light only. My Canon 50mm f1.8 lens shows unbelievable sharpness for such cheap glass. If you use Canon equipment and don’t already own a copy of this lens I would highly suggest adding onto you wish list. I think they can be picked up for a little under £60 currently in the UK.
Anyway this photograph is of some old machinery at a clay pottery just outside Penrith.
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1377-01.jpg
Superb shots. And you were worrying about peaking early? :wink:
My Canon 50mm f1.8 lens shows....
I love it too !
Wow! All wonderfull shot's, espcially the first two :)
I was in the Lake district a couple of weeks ago too, but the weather was apauling and i was too busy moutain biking to take many artistic photo's!
Keep them coming!
Yes these last 2 are wonderful each in there own way. the last is so sharp i love it.
superb again steve, do you ever sell any of your images to make a buck or 2?
superb again steve, do you ever sell any of your images to make a buck or 2?
Nah all this is just for fun :)
You’ll be glad to know that I am on the home straight now and only have another 50 or so pictures to show you ;)
Moving temporarily from landscape to cute, we have Sunday dinner ;)
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1415-01.jpg
You’ll be glad to know that I am on the home straight now and only have another 50 or so pictures to show you ;)
Moving temporarily from landscape to cute, we have Sunday dinner ;)
Awwwwww :) nice pic Steve ! lol
Another one from my week away, this time one that has colour, detail and texture.
Surprisingly maybe, this was shot (from a distance) using the 70-200L and 1.4X converter as I found the subject and couldn’t be bothered to change lenses. I knew I could rely on the quality from this setup so took a chance and on this occasion think I pulled it off.
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1268-01.jpg
Comments and critique still welcomed.
The good news is that I only have two more pictures left to show you :)
Another one from my week away, this time one that has colour, detail and texture.
Surprisingly maybe, this was shot (from a distance) using the 70-200L and 1.4X converter as I found the subject and couldn’t be bothered to change lenses. I knew I could rely on the quality from this setup so took a chance and on this occasion think I pulled it off.
It wouldn't have worked with a different lens anyway... nothing wrong with that. Well observed.. good use of colour... nice. I'm not a fan of these types of shots to be honest... landscape and still life etc.. but a good photo is a good photo, and transcends personal preferences... if a landscape or still life gets my attention, it must be good.
I think the story element is there too.. I know I bang on about this, but I still maintain that it's essential for a good photo. Photos that just look nice are boring.. here.. even the title re-inforces the narrative element.. What IS behind the door??? I actually want to know!! I'm dying to peep through that keyhole.
It's a belter. 8)
What IS behind the door - a church?
The door belongs to a church, although I never got to see what was behind it as it was locked :?
If you cropped bottom and left though to put the cottage on a 3rd intersection look how much stronger it becomes?
http://www.tomkinson.org/albums/Ced-Jan/cottage.jpg
Time to stick my head above the parrapet. :D
I've really enjoyed the images in this thread and this is my personal fave of the lot. For me the sight of cloud shadow moving across an open plain is just about the most magical thing to witness and the way there is both sunlight and shadow on the top of the hill running across the frame is just lovely.
One small improvement I can see that may have been possible would have been to raise the camera a tad to keep the chimneys below the skyline.
Time to stick my head above the parrapet. :D
.
Are you *cough* agreeing with my crop suggestion then? :lol:
I'm not usualy one to sit on the fence but I've got to call the middle line here.
I do prefer the foreground cropped a bit, it does add strength to my mind but I'd leave alot of the width there. I'd cut a tiny bit off the left edge, so as to keep the shadow on the hill going to the frame edge.
It's very easy for these sorts of comments to start sounding negative ( I rerember when that counted as a (bad) pun... bloody pixles :roll: :lol: ) but I'd like to stress again that I absolutley love the shot. 8)
Wow Steve there are alot of great photos there. My favorite is the first one of the boat house. Absolutely beautiful! You should consider selling your pics though, you would make a pretty penny that's for sure.
Jewel :D
Before I post the last image I would just like to thank everyone for their input, comments and critique offered on the photos I have posted here in the last fortnight. I appreciate you all looking and tolerating me bombarding you with my images. Hopefully we may have learned a few things together along the way. :)
To finish this thread, I present a landscape shot looking across High Brae which was taken on my way home. I think that this shot shows that the weather wasn’t as nice as it looks on some of the other photos.
Equipment used for this shot was my trusty 20D and 17-40L lens. Converted from RAW using Raw Shooter Essentials and edited slightly in Photoshop CS.
I was very tempted to use this shot for round three of the competition but have decided to try to capture something else for that. :)
http://www.thephotographyforums.com/steve/pics/Kirkdale/IMG_1499-02.jpg
I was very tempted to use this shot for round three of the competition but have decided to try to capture something else for that. :)
I should hope so too! Aren't we supposed to take shots specifically for the competition? :wink: Another lovely shot mate. 8)
I've no idea what I'm going to do for Picture Postcard. It might have to be a night street shot with the pimps and ho's. :D
I should hope so too! Aren't we supposed to take shots specifically for the competition?
Nope, it has to be recent and preferably taken for the competition. Looking back at the previous two rounds and judging from the other member’s submissions, the above shot would have been more in line with the rules than most ;)
ROTFL!
How are you settling down with the 20D now?
another absolutely stunning shot mate.
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