weekly Judi's 52 in 2014 week 33 and 34 added

Crtm said:

I can appreciate they would be heavy to move Judi, well done on the cloning nice bit of work and I won't tell my daughter the rabbit is coveted by your Great Grandson.

Click to expand...

Pinkbikerbabe said:

Rich - Two good images i like the closer version on the first image bang on theme for me.
Skill - Again good image and i can imagine that it would take some skill to produce good results like that in topiary not something i have ever tried or know much about.

Click to expand...

alsjazzera said:

Hi Judi, i do like a bit of topiary, the pic looks a little busy but as you say not easily moved, but works for me.

Click to expand...

Dark Knight said:

Hey Judi
Rich - Great minds think alike
A great setup you have there, sets a scene very nicely, and with just the one cup & plate, looks a wonderful afternoon planned for a quiet read
Skill - Certainly plenty of skill on show there, photography wise a bit plain for me, an odd low/wide angle on the rabbit would have been more interesting Etc... but I read you did some cloning and stuff so nice one and perfect for the theme

Click to expand...

pjm1 said:

Hi Judi... you definitely hit the theme with skill - well done you for crafting those, they look amazing!

For once, I feel your photography isn't as strong though - as Dean says, it's just a bit flat. For me, a few things jump out:
1. Perspective/angle of shot - I see sloping horizontals and it's a bit off-putting
2. Confused point of interest - I know what I should be looking at, but I'm distracted by things which are less interesting
3. Lighting - perhaps choosing a different time of day to shoot might rescue it? Longer shadows etc. could help, as could some zooming in and shallower DOF to really pinpoint just one of the bushes?

Sorry if this sounds a bit harsh, but I know you're a good photographer and I'm only being honest... please don't take it to heart! I love 99% your pictures and this is just the 1%...

Click to expand...

susiejb said:

Hi Judi....well done with the topiary ...it can't be easy to do ....I love the rabbit (super pic with your great grandson) I agree the background is a bit distracting, but as you say it's sometimes unavoidable.

Click to expand...

overbez said:

Super subject, all very neatly clipped and good cloning.
Just the location as already mentioned.

Click to expand...

Tango32 said:

Hi Judi
Rich - That's a nice little set up you have there, its on theme and looks good hope you enjoyed
Skill - very skilful must take you long time?

Click to expand...

Phil-D said:

Hi Judi, topiary, very skilful
composition has been mentioned but I would like to see the rabbit against a lovely blue sky, it really would make it pop

Click to expand...

XenosElaine said:

Wow Judi, that IS skillful, especially the rabbit, I just wouldn't know where to start and he'd probably end up earless!

Click to expand...

blondie606 said:

HI Judi
Topiary fascinates me....wouldn't know where to begin , the Rabbit is fab ...composition wise I get that you are limited so you've done well with what you had Might be worth a try for a low POV shot though...maybe for a reshoot card ?

Click to expand...

d00d said:

Judi, you are always busy commenting on everyone's work whilst bringing us your lovely, happy images. Thank you.

Click to expand...

superpippo said:

Hi Judi
Rich very English, quite rustic, very peaceful. I prefer the one with the pouring taking place. Nice subdued, washed out colours which suit the subject
Skill - aptly demonstrated. Perhaps need s more separation between the objects to gain their full impact. Lighting a bit flat. Super shot of your grandson - those are memories are made of - just imagine when he is older being able to refer to those little quirks of his character.

Thank you Alan

posiview said:

Hi Judy a nice simple take on the theme and I think you carried the sugar and spoon off really well. I prefer the bag of sugar were out of the Frame and maybe get a bit closer and try a few different angles with a spoon and sugar.
Cheers.

Click to expand...

Thanks Andy I did try a few angles and positions, this one gave a little more definition round the spoon

Crtm said:

Half - Very good take on the theme, might have got down lower on the spoon and sugar making it the prominent feature with the bag in the BG slightly oof. But hay that's just my opinion still like what you have done.

Click to expand...

Thanks Carol, I did try a lower one but it didn't show the sugar in the spoon very well

alsjazzera said:

Hi Judi, have to agree with above concerning the spoon, making it more prominent, nicely exposed image and good colour though

Click to expand...

Thanks Allan

pjm1 said:

Hi Judi... clever take. I like that it's different. Perhaps a different composition would have made it stronger... if you could have had the sugar bag OOF but still able to (just) read the "half spoon" text that would improve it for me. As it is, it's just looking a bit like a product shot for me, leaving me wondering what the product is... (not meaning to be harsh, btw!)

Click to expand...

Thanks Paul

Pinkbikerbabe said:

Half - a nice simple take on the theme, I think it would of been good to play about with some different angles as Andy suggested. And have the bag of sugar slightly oof.

Click to expand...

Thanks for commenting Mandy

JasonGlyn said:

Hi Judi,
Half: For me simple striking image. I think the composition and arrangement works well. Perhaps a boost of contrast to give it a bit more punch, otherwise a solid submission this week.
Skill: I am impressed! that is a skill for sure!! Love the bunny. Think lighting is a bit harsh to show them off to their best but I know this cant be helped. Well done on your cloning efforts too. Keep up the good work...its a lovely skill to induldge!
Rich: Made me smile this did . Wish we could all make time in our lives to relax like this. Number 1 for me....just feels more 'alive' and less static. This shows off your other skill too.....that is arranging complex sets with multiple props.....number 1 looks like its need of a slight rotation, though I think you know that already. Good stuff again and I like your style!

Click to expand...

Thanks Jason, everyone likes my bunny have to check that he hasn't crept into some peoples car boots
I enjoyed doing Rich, and did manage to get my cup of tea.. after i warmed it up!

XenosElaine said:

Very clever Judi! A shot of the bag alone would have been on theme, but the addition of an actual half a teaspoon of sugar makes it a much more interesting composition

Click to expand...

Thanks Elaine

Tango32 said:

HI Judi - great idea composition is good the spoon adds interest colours are nice

Click to expand...

Thank you Craig

susiejb said:

Hi Judi ...I'm losing the plot a bit on what I have commented on and what I haven't

This is a really good idea for theme, I think a closer crop would work well, but the choice of product is spot on and half spoon really makes it...

Click to expand...

Thank you Susie

superpippo said:

Hi Judi
Half - cannot but agree with everyone else that you have taken a good shot - good exposure and colours - just that the bag has more prominence than it deserves - perhaps less of it and more oof

Click to expand...

Thanks Alan

Dark Knight said:

Hi Judi
Half - Certainly, not sure what background you have used but on monitor there looks like there could be a lot of texture ?? the sugar is also blending a little too much into it for me... Well lit shot though and the perfect idea with the half spoon of sugar too

Click to expand...

Thank you Dean, it was shot on a textured table cloth outside on the garden table

overbez said:

Nowt wrong with half for me, the fact you carefully created a half spoonful of sugar too goes a long way to making it for me. WB is spot on here too.

Click to expand...

Thanks Graham

Delta Skies said:

Catch up time........
Rich - #2 for me. A lovely British summer garden image. I feel all the elements go together well. Even having the right title of book shows attention to detail. very nice.
Skill - Another from the garden - very clever stuff. As an image is feels a bit full of foliage. Maybe one (and the half one on the left) less pot would have worked better. They always say odd numbers of things attract the eye more. Looks like you did well with exposure given the brightness of the Sun.
Half - Good thinking and use of the spoon being half full of sugar. Maybe a different coloured surface would have shown the sugar up a little bit more.

Click to expand...

Thanks Peter, The plant pots were too heavy for me to move about, Perhaps when the heavy gang are here i can do a reshoot

Click to expand...

SarahLee said:

Good catch up Judi.

Absolutely no need for a crowbar either IMO for promise.
Suits the theme perfectly - and funnily enough it's exactly what I plan to be doing tomorrow.
Is this a shot of the shop display or do you have a lot of planting ahead of you?

I like it. Random, colourful and it actually really speaks to me.
I'd love to see this side by side with a photo of the end results come spring time.

Click to expand...

Pinkbikerbabe said:

Architectural - some lovely selection of images for the theme i find the first image my favourite one. My only crit would of been not to have the cars in the image and a wider angle so the church is not to tight in the frame. But that aside I think it's a pleasing image and the detail in the church is lovely.
Promise - a nice selection of bulbs, fingers crossed they all come out in bloom beautifully with no dramas. Works for the theme for me, so no crow bar required, I hope you manage to catch up soon.

Click to expand...

susiejb said:

Hi Judi ....lovely to see you back ....the church is the architecture shot for me ...it is a shame about the cars, but it certainly looks an amazing building.

Love the bulbs for promise ... great idea and a super bright and sharp shot to go with it.

Click to expand...