weekly Drodd's Photo52 for 2011 - Week 51, 52 and bonus: Light, Glass, Nature (post 1545)

drodd

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Well here it is a new year and a new start. I have had my camera for nearly a year, which has been put to good use so far during my learning experience. I now hope to continue my photography learning through this Photo52.

I am also doing a personal Project 365, so hope I manage to keep up with both projects through the year.

All feedback and comments will be greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance for any c&c you have on any of the photos I post here, and as usual any comments, technique advice and tips will be most welcome. Thanks

So here goes .....

Cheers

Dawn :)

List of links to images:

Week 1: Accommodation http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3283036&postcount=6
Week 1: Accommodation (re-shoot) http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3289110&postcount=27
Week 2: New http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3308599&postcount=62
Week 3: Style http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3340928&postcount=122
Week 4: Open http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3348021&postcount=171
Week 5: Hard http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3377279&postcount=238
Week 6: Clutter http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3387764&postcount=291
Week 7: Delicate http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3409513&postcount=350
Week 8: Chaos http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3433953&postcount=415
Week 9: Finishhttp://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3457819&postcount=456
Week 10: Trio http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3472470&postcount=477
Week 11: Revist of Week 3 (Style) and Week 11 (Knowledge) http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3489702&postcount=496
Week 12: Moderation http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3527250&postcount=527
Week 13: Empty http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3546870&postcount=537
Week 14: Object http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3560668&postcount=572
Week 15: Wrong http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3592958&postcount=630
Week 16: Paradox http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3608324&postcount=648
Week 16: Re-shoot (a photo summarising the past 16 weeks) http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3614863&postcount=675
Week 17: Tropical http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3614960&postcount=676
Week 18: Power http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3647577&postcount=727
Week 19: Divided http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3655050&postcount=744
Week 20: Promise http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3678773&postcount=771
Week 21: Twisted http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3696417&postcount=795
Week 22: Hidden http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3718157&postcount=863
Week 23: Broken http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3751258&postcount=916
Week 24: Bright http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3767106&postcount=934
Week 25: Rescue (Father's Day Special): http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3777423&postcount=954
Week 25: Rescue http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/fo...k/forums/showpost.php?p=3778571&postcount=961
Week 26: Sensual http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3808287&postcount=985)
Week 27: Elaborate http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3828014&postcount=1065
Week 28: Celebrate http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3852450&postcount=1117
Week 29: Smell http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3871602&postcount=1157
Week 30: Weird http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3878129&postcount=1173
Week 31: Wind http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3905243&postcount=1212
Week 32: Evolution http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3926349&postcount=1223
Week 33: Record http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3944536&postcount=1242
Week 34: Work http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3964796&postcount=1262
Week 35: Blur http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=3979265&postcount=1284
Week 36: Time http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4007071&postcount=1297 & http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4012741&postcount=1313
Week 37: Mix http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4018770&postcount=1319
Week 38: Fun http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4072123&postcount=1344
Week 39: Volume http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4072318&postcount=1349
Week 40: Explode http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4074821&postcount=1352
Week 41: Rapid http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4094267&postcount=1364
Week 42: Weave http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4115837&postcount=1388
Week 43: Abstract http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4148905&postcount=1409
Week 44: Pair http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4167659&postcount=1435
Week 45: Safe http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4170497&postcount=1451 & http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4188768&postcount=1465
Week 46: Living http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4189357&postcount=1472
Week 47: Light and Re-shoot of clutter/chaos weeks http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4223045&postcount=1491
Week 48: Cute http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4225967&postcount=1502
Week 49: Talk http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4246698&postcount=1511
Week 50: Weather http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4259366&postcount=1521
Week 51, 52 and bonus: Light, Glass, Nature http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showpost.php?p=4276399&postcount=1545
 
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Good luck Dawn, (y) your taking on a heck of challenges, are you doing them both on TP?

Thanks Dave, I think I'm going to need all the luck I can get to make it through these challenges, but hey I'm ready for a good challenge :)

I've started the 365 on my FB profile and will also host on my Flickr, I'm still debating whether to do both here. Mainly because the 365 are going to be based on random pics on a day, no set theme as such (just a bit of fun) using either my DSLR or mobile phone. Whereas the 52 is going to be my serious, put my mind to use and follow the set themes and apply techniques.

Do you think I should also post a 365 thread here on TP? Bearing in mind that it would just be more for fun than learning from a technical aspect.

Thanks again for the good luck and I hope you are enjoying your new camera and equipment. Best wishes for 2011.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Look forward to seeing the images,

Its up to you if you put your 365 on here, lots of folks just do random shots I think :thinking:, Ive never attempted either a 52 or 365 myself though,

Not really used the 7D yet well just finding out where everything is,
 
Look forward to seeing the images,

Its up to you if you put your 365 on here, lots of folks just do random shots I think :thinking:, Ive never attempted either a 52 or 365 myself though,

Not really used the 7D yet well just finding out where everything is,

Thanks Dave, I think I am going to just stick to posting my 52 here, but you may see the 365 on Flickr (it is going to be a bit of a photographic diary, which I thought would be good fun and quite a challenge in itself).

Now my brain is in overdrive thinking of the Week 1 theme for the Photo52, heaven knows but I think my brain will be frazzled by the end of the year, not to mention the cameras :LOL:

It would be great if you could keep the encouragement up as I think this may at times feel like running a marathon. I must be :bonk:'ers :LOL:

Cheers for the support so far, and I am sure that the 70-300 lens is going to get a good workout with both projects on the go ;)

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
So here we have it, the first of my 52.....

I gave a lot of thought to this one and decided to take a different glance on the theme. Looking at the various definitions of 'accommodation', I opted for the physiological definition, i.e., 'the automatic or voluntary adjustment of the shape of the lens of the eye for far or near vision'

'The adjustment in the focal length of the lens of the eye. Accommodation permits images at different distances to be focused on the retina.' As some people require glasses or contact lenses to accommodate this I thought I would go with this for the theme:

5321593937_940260efdf_b.jpg


I hope to learn and progress my photography by doing this Photo52, so any c&c would be greatly appreciated.

I am also hoping to challenge myself to think outside of the box with each weekly theme, although I suppose there may be some topics that I will have to go with the most obvious.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
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Dawn,

Really like the concept and the feel of the picture.

I am by no means an expert, but maybe this could have been lit slighlty differently for a cleaner picture as there is a lot of shadow from the glasses
 
Dawn,

Really like the concept and the feel of the picture.

I am by no means an expert, but maybe this could have been lit slighlty differently for a cleaner picture as there is a lot of shadow from the glasses

Hiya Ray, thanks for the comment. I see what you mean about the shadow of the glasses. I might try and take this shot again and try some different lighting to try to avoid the shadow and see what that looks like.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
That's a great start to your 52 Dawn. I love the idea and the DOF on this one. You have set the bar very high for yourself. Good luck and hope to see you at some point in the new year too :)
 
That's a great start to your 52 Dawn. I love the idea and the DOF on this one. You have set the bar very high for yourself. Good luck and hope to see you at some point in the new year too :)

Hiya John, thanks for the compliment, it was quite a challenge trying to maintain the shallow DOF yet still focus on the word 'accommodation' through the glasses lens.

I bought myself a flexi-tripod in December so used that for the first time last night to take this pic, also used a shutter release cable to prevent movement once I had it set up.

I think the lighting needs some improvement though, as Hippo_MC pointed out about the shadow. I will try to improve on that one.

Thanks for the 'good luck', I think I am going to need it, as you said I have set the bar very high for myself, I just hope I can improve :D

Indeed, would be great to see you, Ess and kids in the new year, hope you are all keeping well. We will have to make a plan to meet up some time and take the kids somewhere for some togging. How is Jade coming along with her photography? I see Ess has been doing well.

Take care and will catch up soon.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Nice take on the theme Dawn, I would like also to be able to read the word Accommodation a little better (y) dont know if thats possible though, maybe by tilting the book up slightly at the back
 
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Nice take on the theme Dawn, I would like also to be able to read the word Accommodation a little better (y)

Hiya Dave

Thanks, I think I might try a re-shoot of this tonight and try to get a shot with no shadow and a better focus on the word.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Initially I had the same idea for this week. Very nice photo I like the hue it has. The only thing that might be better in the theme you took is if you rotate the glasses as if you are looking through them to read. I mean if they will be "accommodating" your sight they need to be positioned the other way around. This may also allow you to catch the text in the book from better perspective.
 
Initially I had the same idea for this week. Very nice photo I like the hue it has. The only thing that might be better in the theme you took is if you rotate the glasses as if you are looking through them to read. I mean if they will be "accommodating" your sight they need to be positioned the other way around. This may also allow you to catch the text in the book from better perspective.

Hiya Rayna,

Thanks for the compliment on the photo and also for the constructive critique and suggestions.

I tried a number of ways to position the glasses, including the one you suggested, but the glasses kept slipping off the edge of the book as the word 'accommodation' is so close to the bottom right of the page. I might see if I have another dictionary that has the word in another place on the page. I will give it another go tonight when I have more time to play around with the setup, lighting etc.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
I like the faded yellow of the pages myself and also think you can see enough of the word to understand what the theme is. Now you have a dilemma as I see it :) :LOL:
 
I actually quite like the shadows :) It could be quite interesting if the shadows were longer, so they cast a different shape to the glasses.

Thanks Zeek, I quite like the shadows too. I actually enjoyed taking this photo so I'm going to do a re-shoot and see what other images I can produce.

I'll see if I can get a longer shadow too.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
I like the faded yellow of the pages myself and also think you can see enough of the word to understand what the theme is. Now you have a dilemma as I see it :) :LOL:

Thanks John, :LOL: a dilemma indeed.

I think the dim light and the fact that the dictionary is quite old now contributed to the faded yellow.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Thanks John, :LOL: a dilemma indeed.

I think the dim light and the fact that the dictionary is quite old now contributed to the faded yellow.

Cheers

Dawn :)

Adds to the antiquity of it, I suppose. Great take on the theme. :)
 
Adds to the antiquity of it, I suppose. Great take on the theme. :)

Thanks Ray, in a way that is what I was trying to achieve.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Like the shot, Dawn. Maybe a slightly less sharp angle on the page would give more impact to the word "accomodation" but I definitely like your latteral thinking on the theme :)
 
Great take on the theme. I particularly like the colour effect.
 
Like the shot, Dawn. Maybe a slightly less sharp angle on the page would give more impact to the word "accomodation" but I definitely like your latteral thinking on the theme :)

Hi Graham, thanks for your comment and point noted. I attempted a re-shoot last night, which I will add here. Not sure if it has improved on orignal take, would be keen to hear what you think. My aim for this 52 is to try to use as much 'latteral thinking' as possible.

Superb take on the theme! I wish I was a more lateral thinker... :)

Thanks Mark, it is a challenge to think outside of the box, but that is what makes it more fun. Let your mind go, it's amazing what it comes up with. I know this sounds cliche, but it does help to 'sleep on it'. If you go to sleep at night knowing that you want to achieve something 'original', do so ..... just let your imagination take control, it works wonders in the semi-concious state. I have used the technique many times, including for interview presentations that have come up ace.

Great take on the theme. I particularly like the colour effect.

Thanks Joan, the colour is mainly due to a bog standard 60W overhead light, that is concealed by a pretty much opaque fitting, so pretty dim. Not forgetting that the dictionary is probably about 25 years old, so the pages are yellowing, not the glossy type (real paper!) :LOL:

Thanks all for you comments, they are very much appreciated.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
I can't express how much I appreciate all the feedback on my original photo for this Week 1 theme.

This is the first time I am attempting such a serious challenge and as such accept all comments. I don't see there being any negative comments, as any comments made are constructive and I have tried to act on them.

Granted, we are all 'individual' and rightly so should be able to express our own opinions. I hope I have managed to take everything onboard and encompass all in the re-take of this experience.

Cheers

Dawn :)

So here it is ..... the re-shoot

(not sure if I am doing this in the right way either, so if not, some direction would be welcome)

5328044437_577b0056ec_b.jpg


Any c&c welcome

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Very interesting take Dawn. I prefer the re-shoot to the original. I like how you look through the lens to see the word accommodation. Maybe this can be emphasized more by selective exposure adjustments maybe some vignetting. I like the composition and the tight crop.
 
Very interesting take Dawn. I prefer the re-shoot to the original. I like how you look through the lens to see the word accommodation. Maybe this can be emphasized more by selective exposure adjustments maybe some vignetting. I like the composition and the tight crop.

Thanks Kaz for the compliments, comments and suggestion. Something for me to look into as I have not tried the selective exposure adjustment technique before. Now that you mention it, a bit of vignetting could compliment the image. I'll have a go.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Difficult to choose but I think the first one is my favourite - again, for me, it's the colours that make the first one so interesting:)
 
Much better now Dawn, pleased that you took on board my suggestion of being able to read the word better, you over came that challenge well, and i like the fact that you have used a lower light source rather than above (y)

Hope you dont think I'm being picky, the white balance is slightly out, I think I would have taken the shot then used that shot as a custom WB and then re-shot it, one other teeny nit pick is the framing you have clipped the the earpiece and on our left as we look at the image clipped the frame slightly,

But fab 2nd effort, well done to you :clap:

Hope you dont mind I edited the WB

5330601496_deb2f1dbc2_b.jpg


Dave
 
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I like the second image with the text easier to read as well, I quite like the shot with the white balance off too, I think it gives it a kind of antique look.
 
Difficult to choose but I think the first one is my favourite - again, for me, it's the colours that make the first one so interesting:)

Thanks Joan, I also like the colours in the first shot, but couldn't get the same again in the second shot due to lighting and the change in angle.

Another reason I like the first better is that it looks more natural in some respects, i.e., even though I don't wear glasses for reading, I always notice how people who do, seem to take there glasses off and place them upside-down on a book, table etc.

I think the second looks a bit 'staged'. :LOL: Now there's me being critical of my own image.

Cheers for your comments.

D :)

Much better now Dawn, pleased that you took on board my suggestion of being able to read the word better, you over came that challenge well, and i like the fact that you have used a lower light source rather than above (y)

Hope you dont think I'm being picky, the white balance is slightly out, I think I would have taken the shot then used that shot as a custom WB and then re-shot it, one other teeny nit pick is the framing you have clipped the the earpiece and on our left as we look at the image clipped the frame slightly,

But fab 2nd effort, well done to you :clap:

Hope you dont mind I edited the WB

5330601496_deb2f1dbc2_b.jpg


Dave

Hiya Dave,

Thanks for the feedback, and nit-picking is always welcome, it makes me look closer at the image and the faults.

As for the lighting, I'll let you in on a secret .... it was still overhead lighting, but I took this shot on the kitchen table, where I have one of those lights with 4 smallish halogen bulbs. When I had the arrangment set up on the table, I climbed up on a kitchen table stool and altered their positions until I got the lighting where I wanted it to be. I did try your suggestion of the table lamp, but I still got a lot of shadow. I have asked my brother to check at work to see if there are any old bits of mirror and 2x4 blocks etc so I can follow similar technique in the video link you sent me - which is excellent.

Regards the WB, I know what you mean, and actually I got a shot very similar to your edit. Thanks for that as it helps me see what one is talking about or suggesting.

The reason I decided to go with my second pic was because I liked the way the yellow gives it an antique feel.

I will have to pay more attention to detail when framing the pick to make sure I don't clip bits. I think here I was concentrating so much on getting the word focused through the lens that I missed the earpiece. Not to mention that the darn glasses kept sliding down the page (as I had it slightly propped up to get a clearer view of the word).

It was a very challenging and tricky setup, so I don't think I will be attempting another go at this stage :LOL:

I have learned so much from this first week, hey by the end of the 52 I should hopefully be a more seasoned photographer :D

Thanks for all your help Dave, both here and by PM, very much appreciated.

Cheers

Dawn :)

I like the second image with the text easier to read as well, I quite like the shot with the white balance off too, I think it gives it a kind of antique look.

Hiya David,

Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you like the second shot with the WB off as the antique look is what I was trying to achieve, and your comment makes me realise that I achieved that.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
I actually prefer the original WB too for the antique feel. I can imagine it sat in a old bookshop or something.

Hiya Kaz

Thanks for that, it is exactly what I was visualising when I took the photo and the image I was trying to produce.

I had this picture in my mind of a person in an old, dimly lit, dusty book emporium, getting out of a rocking chair and putting the book and glasses down.

Amazing where my mind wonders to when I am thinking of a setting for a photo. I think that is why I am enjoying my photography learning experience so much and hopefully this 52 will challenge that thought process even more.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
Hiya Dave,

Thanks for the feedback, and nit-picking is always welcome, it makes me look closer at the image and the faults.

Regards the WB, I know what you mean, and actually I got a shot very similar to your edit. Thanks for that as it helps me see what one is talking about or suggesting.

The reason I decided to go with my second pic was because I liked the way the yellow gives it an antique feel.

It was a very challenging and tricky setup, so I don't think I will be attempting another go at this stage :LOL:

I have learned so much from this first week, hey by the end of the 52 I should hopefully be a more seasoned photographer :D

Thanks for all your help Dave, both here and by PM, very much appreciated.

Cheers

Dawn :)
Hi Dawn

Pleased you see my comments as constructive Dawn, thats a relief,

I do quite like the antique look myself, I think that you have learned a lot from this week, and will progress even further because of it,

I agree think you've done enough with this shot and its time to move on to bigger a better things (y) it was an inspired shot to start with so all credit for thinking outside the box in the first place, :clap: most of the 52s this week will probably be houses

No problem with the help, any time you need help give me a pm, Im also pleased you found the lighting tutorial useful, it does show in your 2nd image that you have thought about it.

Look forward to seeing next weeks challenge image from you (y)

Dave
 
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Interesting, unusual and original, well done..
Without having a technical opinion, I prefer the first one for atmosphere

A great start..
 
Interesting, unusual and original, well done..
Without having a technical opinion, I prefer the first one for atmosphere

A great start..

Hiya Martin,

Welcome to TP and thanks for your comments, much appreciated.

I am sure you will have a great time here at TP and you will learn so much from the members.

I have been with TP for nearly a year now, and when I first joined didn't have much clue about photography, but over the year I have learned much valuable information and techniques.

Cheers

Dawn :)
 
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