... I'd like a little more contrast.
....Wonder if a quite high key effect would work
I agree and its not easy is it?plus I hate doing the same this as other people I like to try and find something different.
Elegant indeed. Nicely composed with soft shadows. I'd like a little more contrast.
Cheers.
Hi Nathan
Lovely shot for Elegant,subtle lighting, nice shadow ....very Elegant indeed ......Wonder if a quite high key effect would work
@blondie606 Fight...fight...fight
I agree and its not easy is it?
But I think you got away with it
Elegant - a nice shot lovely lighting on the figurines, I think I'd probably like a whiter background.
Welcome aboard Nathan !!!
And that's very nice for elegant.
I do like the composition with the figures to the far right giving room for the shadows and a bit of negative space.
Hi Nathan and first off, apologies, I don't know how I've missed your thread
Patterns - I like your choice of angle and the DOF is spot on so well done
Bliss - Apart from a bit of a straighten and cloning out the white bits on top left of the cup that is a great image for the theme. I love the steam rising....
Scenic - I agree with what has been said, it's ok but lacks a focal point for me, something to give it a bit more interest rather than more pp as was suggested earlier. My rule of thumb is if I have to mess around with an image a lot that I should have taken a better pic in the first place
Companions - prefer the second shot and agree it would have been a little better if you had held hands but life is full of shoulda, woulda, coulda.......
Elegant - They certainly look Elegant and, just a nitpicky personal preference, I think it would look better reversed with the dancers on the left as though they were moving into the space on the right. I think that has something to do with the fact that we read L to R. But it's also good to break the rules too and I'm sure @pjm1 said he prefers stuff that way.
Good start to the 52
Hi Nathan
I really like your Elegant shot. It stands out on the photos thread. I like the soft shadows and the lack of traditional B&W contrast. The softness works well and compliments the lines in the image and the square crop works well. Terribly minor crit would be to flip horizontally as I personally prefer space on the right but that's really pedantic
I can't believe I overlooked that easy ps workaround. thank you for waking me up to that one ha ha
Haha yes but I could pretend its polish or some other language then though, especially if its my handwritingJust have to watch out for anything with writing in it...
Thanks for your comments,Hi Nathan, I think your elegant shot is rather beautiful and would be just as fitting for companion! I quite like the tones as they are.
@Harlequin565 makes an interesting point re: left vs right compositions. Bryan Peterson has written a good book (IMO) on photographic composition called "Learn to See Creatively". In it, he talks about the left-right rule and makes the assertion that most (but not all) shots look better to western eyes if the subject is placed on the right of the frame with space on the left. The reasoning for this is our left-to-right reading sense and by placing the subject at the right, we look first at the space, then lock onto the subject. Because it's close to the end of the frame our immediate peripheral vision tells us not to go any further and we stay looking at the subject (this can be verified by eye tracking experiments). Conversely, flipping it around means we start looking at the subject on the left, but then drift to the open space which is obviously less engaging... and keep going until we look out of the frame and away. Of course, he then goes to show an image which absolutely defies this logic but that's because an interesting part of the image is actually the supposed negative space and the subject's close relationship with that space... but that's more unusual. I should also say, I don't always subscribe to the L-R view myself - not sure whether that means I'm not actually Western but hey ho! Supposedly the significant majority do...
ok some crit, you'll find I am usually contrary lol, I go with looks rather than techniques tho as I'm not an expert. so,
bliss - love the steam and makes a good subject for the theme. I think the object on the right makes it too cluttered for such a tight crop tho
scenic - I like this one fine as it is, colours work for me.
companions - I prefer the vignetted version lol
elegant - I would like to see the shadow either stronger with better defined edges or not there at all. I like the muted b&w tones tho
don't give up yet, loadsa weeks left yet lol
Hi, I'd echo Summer's comments, stick with it. This is my 5th year and trust me I've had some real low points (as, I'm sure @blondie606 and @michael23) have.
You've done well. I like the idea, just needs some tweaking. 1 second exposure, not sure if this has contributed to the softness or if it's slightly pit of focus
Put this one to bed and move on
Cheer.
Hi Nathan, I wouldn't worry about a struggle, as Andy says it happens quite bit some times, and when you are least expecting it. Water droplets have all sorts of potential. I like your thinking here. My preferred one is the 1st. Mainly because it has a bit more brightness behind the big droplet. It does look a little soft, probably a difficult surface to af on. Also if you haven't already done so, set the self timer and use that to allow any excess vibrations to disappear before the shutter is released.
Have a look out for other objects with rain drops on, even mundane things like a clothes line pole can look good, And of course, you can re visit this theme when a re-shoot pops up.
Hi Nath,
the second shot for watery works best for me. I think the composition works slightly better. I think I also prefer the colours of it too!
Watery - two great images I like the reflections in the droplets in the first image.
Watery....I like both images, the second being my favourite.
I tried something like this during the week, and I just couldn't get the droplets to look "right", so kudos to you on that.
Hi Nathan,
Watery - two nice shots. I think I prefer the first, I couldn't say why, but it's the one my eyes keep going to
Watery: Prefer number one, I like the tiny droplets.
Watery - #2 for me please
And don't give up yet as we all struggle at some point with this kind of challenge. What it means to me is that I have got the camera out 8 more times than I would have if I hadn't jumped in this year. Every time we use the camera it brings down the cost per use and therefore we can justify spending money on gear at least that's what I tell myself
Hi Nathan,
Bold - I see what you were aiming at with the cottages, but I think the foreground swamps them - is there any way you could have got in closer?
The letters work - very bold indeed
Bold coloured cottages, they are that
I'm in two minds whether them peeping through the trees like that works,
Possibly I'd say yes, as the colours showing through a drab bald winter tree.
Yeah, bold colours indeed, but as said, they are a little lost. Pity you could not have got either closer of around the other side.
Cheers.
Hi Nathan
I often wonder why people paint their homes such loud colors Agree they're a little lost in the frame but wonder if a boost in color saturation would help ?