weekly Delta Skies 2014 TP52 - Week 51 Extravagant & Week 52 Support (that's 2014 done)

[Delta Skies]

I like the fact that this is still in colour but you have kept it very simple with just black and white. Nice lighting and sharp focus.

Thanks Richard. It was only when you said this that it made me think of a B&W approach. I do like just the smattering of colour in this one but it does remind me that I should always consider mono when taking the shot.

Bubble - I like your choice of black background -- it works well with the dice. For me, the bubbles themselves get a little lost in the frame.

Thanks Nathalie. I know what you mean about this

Nice take on the theme, I do like the dark background and the shape of the glass. It's nicely lit but the bubbles are just to small would off liked bigger or to be closer to them.

Cheers Mandy. Again I understand about the bubbles being too small

If it was my photo -- and I had thought about it at the time -- I might have put a ring of salt around the rim to highlight it.

As far as the image as it is goes, it's just about spot on and I have nothing critical to say about it.

Great idea about the salt Martin. I wouldn't have thought of that.

 

[Delta Skies]

Yeah, Nice clean BG and some nice bubbles on the die.

I, too, would prefer a closer crop of just the lower section of the glass.

Cheers.

Thanks Andy.

Can't agree, I think the rim of the glass is important to show the whole story.

Debate - Great stuff. That is what this feedback is all about. I'm siding with Martin on this one though. I did look at a cropped version but for me it lost the sense of the dice being in the glass.

I really like the dice/bubbles, works well against the bg

I'm not so sure about the glass, I've studied the image and can't just put my finger on it

Cheers Phil. Whilst I've said I wanted the glass in there it was this that me caused most difficultly. I'm not sold on the result either. Too much photoshopping!

Beautiful shot! Love its simplicity, the outline of the glass and the white dice against the black background. Lighting is great too.

Thanks for the comment Mercurius

 

[Delta Skies]

The dice and the bubbles on them is top notch - works really well....

Have you done some clean up (in PP) around the water line and under the rim of the glass??

Thanks Graham. Lots and lots of clean up. It was just horrible. One of the worst areas was the very part you talk about. I cleaned the glass to a fraction of its life and then discovered what a mess the fizz made of the surface even when carefully poured in :banghead:

Hi, nice image, works well good black BG and plenty of bubbles, i also think the whole glass should be in the pic otherwise it would be slightly odd

Thanks Allan

Hi Peter - Bubble, interesting shot - looks great. Thanks for sharing the technique.

Cheers Mike

I like the dice and their bubbles ... a close up would be nice.

I like the shape/outline of the glass ... but there is something a little artificial.

I'm not really a fan of black backgrounds or any background at all

We see the outline of the glass, we see through the glass

I don't know ... something a bit one dimensional.

I'm not normally that critical ... so please take that as a compliment.

Please don't hold back any criticism David. The main reason I am doing the 52 is to learn more about photography, PP, lighting, techniques, etc. I've probably said before that I did exactly that in 2012. Last year I did the POTY and with the lack of crit felt I didn't make the improvements I would have liked to have done in 2013.

Artificial? - Definitely. There's more than a few layers, adjustments, cloning, etc. that has gone into this one. What have I learned? I couldn't quite get the lighting how I wanted and couldn't quite hone my pp skills to get the final image to how I wanted it either. I agree with you - other than around the dice it does look 2D.

Oh and the other thing I learned was not to mix liquid with cameras. There was a "coming together" after the shot plus some expletives from me (sorry Sarah). After mopping everything up I thought it was ok and then soon found I had no power to the camera. Luckily it has "just" the handgrip rather than the camera itself and even better after a night in the airing cupboard all is back to normal. Can we have a dry theme next week please?

I like it Peter, I do like dark bg's fits the theme well

Thanks Judi.

 

[Suvv]

Its all been said really, so I will just add that I like it, the lighting is good for me and so is the glass.

 

[Sonriendo]

Excellent idea - no reflections, nice even lighting and it works really well on the black background.

 

[d00d]

sexy cocktail class, transparent drinks with a touch of fizz, evocative black, true art of the surreal variety? So yes artificial or one dimensional maybe … but all the better for it.

 

[Dark Knight]

Hi Peter

Bubble - As per the others (That's the trouble commenting so late... well if Tuesday is late nowadays) Liking the background, and again impressed with the lighting from a torch, LED I gather??

 

[blakester]

Hi Peter, I am coming to this a bit late and a lot of crit has been offered but just to say, I do like it both in its execution and concept.
It says to me James Bond, Casino Royale, IYSWIM

 

[superpippo]

Hi Peter

Bubble - good b/g, good contrast to the dice, just enough bubbles. I like the idea very much, the whole of the glass is just right for me indicating the cocktail and the 'salted' rim. Did you put nay bicarb or alka seltzer in the glass to aid the bubbles? would have been nice to see them rising to the top.

 

[JasonGlyn]

Wonderful work Peter. I can really appreciate the effort and execution of this. Good work

 

[Dubn83]

Yea another good photo mate, thought out and taken/ edited well just like ur close one too.

 

[Delta Skies]

Its all been said really, so I will just add that I like it, the lighting is good for me and so is the glass.

Cheers Kev

Excellent idea - no reflections, nice even lighting and it works really well on the black background.

Thanks Sarah. I started with the lights on but much preferred using the blacked out approach on this one

sexy cocktail class, transparent drinks with a touch of fizz, evocative black, true art of the surreal variety? So yes artificial or one dimensional maybe … but all the better for it.

Thanks David

Hi Peter

Bubble - As per the others (That's the trouble commenting so late... well if Tuesday is late nowadays) Liking the background, and again impressed with the lighting from a torch, LED I gather??

Cheers Dean. Yes an LED torch which I carry in my camera bag at all times - including daytime for some reason

 

[Delta Skies]

Hi Peter, I am coming to this a bit late and a lot of crit has been offered but just to say, I do like it both in its execution and concept.
It says to me James Bond, Casino Royale, IYSWIM

Thanks Iain. It's funny I thought of naming the image "shaken not stirred"

Hi Peter

Bubble - good b/g, good contrast to the dice, just enough bubbles. I like the idea very much, the whole of the glass is just right for me indicating the cocktail and the 'salted' rim. Did you put nay bicarb or alka seltzer in the glass to aid the bubbles? would have been nice to see them rising to the top.

Cheers Alan. It was actually Lemonade. I read after it would have been better to use a mix of sparkling and still water to get just the right amount of bubbles

Wonderful work Peter. I can really appreciate the effort and execution of this. Good work

Thanks Jason

Yea another good photo mate, thought out and taken/ edited well just like ur close one too.

Thanks David

 

[*Sarah*]

Hi Peter,
I know how hard you worked on this shot and how your camera wasn't impressed at getting wet but at least its dried out now!!
You did a good job lighting a tricky subject, I think everyone else has said everything but if you do a reshoot can you give me warning so I can depart the house!!

 

[cowboy]

I like it Peter, I do like dark bg's fits the theme well

The bubbles also sit well over the spots on the dice.

 

[DrRusty]

I think the critic has been said by others, I would prefer a closer crop on the dice.

 

[Delta Skies]

Hi Peter,
I know how hard you worked on this shot and how your camera wasn't impressed at getting wet but at least its dried out now!!
You did a good job lighting a tricky subject, I think everyone else has said everything but if you do a reshoot can you give me warning so I can depart the house!!

Ooooops

The bubbles also sit well over the spots on the dice.

Cheers Mark

I think the critic has been said by others, I would prefer a closer crop on the dice.

Thanks Richard

 

[Dark Knight]

...
Yes an LED torch which I carry in my camera bag at all times - including daytime for some reason

Seems to produce good results... I have now got one in my kit bag, but not really used it yet, hope to give it a go at the Feb Meet

 

[Delta Skies]

Week 5 - Smoke/Smokey


Smokin' Chilli by Delta Skies, on Flickr

I had two ideas this one. One that would have been a nightmare to set up and this one. OK it's been done before but I wanted to try to replicate it. It's a composite of two images. Firstly the Chilli against a white background which was far enough away that it didn't get any shadows from the subject but also so that it didn't blow out from the studio lights. The second image of the smoke was taken in the dark and lit by a single Speedlight to the side with big pieces of card positioned so that no light hit the background or into the lens. Invert the smoke image, add a coloured gradient and then copy the subsequent result into a new layer on the first shot.

 

[Phil-D]

Clever pp Peter, looks good, I like it

 

[Sonriendo]

A most excellent idea - I've not seen it before - so it gets a from me - Was the smoke shot on a white background or black and inverted?

 

[Delta Skies]

Clever pp Peter, looks good, I like it

Thanks Phil

A most excellent idea - I've not seen it before - so it gets a from me - Was the smoke shot on a white background or black and inverted?

Thanks Sarah. The smoke was taken against a black background in a darkened room and then inverted in PS

 

[Bobby Gold]

Bubble - Great concept, I have to agree though with others when it comes to a closer crop - it seems to distract from the bubbles. Good shot nonetheless

Smoke - I really like this not much to crit on, if I was being really picky I'd maybe like to see what it looks like with the smoke coming out of the very end of the chilli (might flow better - I don't know), really good effort though I like it!

 

[Sonriendo]

Thanks Phil

Thanks Sarah. The smoke was taken against a black background in a darkened room and then inverted in PS

Cool thanks - I'm going to need all the help I can get with this one

 

[Delta Skies]

Bubble - Great concept, I have to agree though with others when it comes to a closer crop - it seems to distract from the bubbles. Good shot nonetheless
Smoke - I really like this not much to crit on, if I was being really picky I'd maybe like to see what it looks like with the smoke coming out of the very end of the chilli (might flow better - I don't know), really good effort though I like it!

Thanks for the feedback Simon. I see what you mean regarding your last comment. I might give it a go in PS later

Cool thanks - I'm going to need all the help I can get with this one

Hi Sarah. I did my first smoke image in the 52 a couple of years ago and had a blast. This was the tutorial I used back then. http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/my-tutorial-to-my-smoke-art-images.62030/ All I can say is I'm glad I don't use film. I got through 150 shots this afternoon and the incense stick was still going. Hope that helps. Good luck.

 

[blakester]

Another one quick off the mark Peter

I like this, the vivid red against the white background is very striking. No real crit to add except to agree with Simon, maybe smoke and chilli point to point IYSWIM

 

[blondie606]

Hi Peter

oooohh, very 007 for the bubbles , perfect focus on the bubbles ,great lighting

& as for your Smokey image..... , simply stunning

 

[posiview]

Hi, Peter, well, if I were to look at this 3 year's ago I'd have been really, really impressed. As it is, I'm just really impressed.

It's well composed, nice clean BG and bang on theme....but it feels a tad too clean IYSWIM. Hard to explain....because I've had a few .

The connection between the chilli and the smoke needs a bit of work and the edges of the smoke, in parts, needs a bit of work.

I'm going to come back to this one later on.....

Cheers.

 

[Pinkbikerbabe]

A very well executed and well put together image i like it a great deal, stunning and good pp work as well.

 

[Delta Skies]

Another one quick off the mark Peter

I like this, the vivid red against the white background is very striking. No real crit to add except to agree with Simon, maybe smoke and chilli point to point IYSWIM

Thanks for the comments Iain

Hi Peter

oooohh, very 007 for the bubbles , perfect focus on the bubbles ,great lighting

& as for your Smokey image..... , simply stunning

Thanks for the feedback Lynne

Hi, Peter, well, if I were to look at this 3 year's ago I'd have been really, really impressed. As it is, I'm just really impressed.

It's well composed, nice clean BG and bang on theme....but it feels a tad too clean IYSWIM. Hard to explain....because I've had a few .

The connection between the chilli and the smoke needs a bit of work and the edges of the smoke, in parts, needs a bit of work.

I'm going to come back to this one later on.....

Cheers.

Thanks Andy. "Had a few"? I thought you'd gone dry. Oh wait it's February already.

A very well executed and well put together image i like it a great deal, stunning and good pp work as well.

Thanks Mandy

 

[Greengo]

Well composed Peter... good take on the theme and great work in PP...

 

[Dark Knight]

Very nice indeed Peter

... I really must get myself some black card

 

[Judi]

Really good idea Peter, I like it a lot

 

[Nathalie]

Smoke - Love the bold colour. Minor thing, looks like there's blown highlights in the smoke?

 

[Tango32]

think it looks fantastic well done

 

[cowboy]

Very vivid colour works well

 

[Delta Skies]

Well composed Peter... good take on the theme and great work in PP...

Thanks Colin

Very nice indeed Peter

... I really must get myself some black card

Cheers Dean. We got our card (it's mounting board) from the Range if you've got one near you.

Really good idea Peter, I like it a lot

Thanks Judi

 

[Delta Skies]

Smoke - Love the bold colour. Minor thing, looks like there's blown highlights in the smoke?

Thanks Nathalie.

think it looks fantastic well done

Cheers Craig

Very vivid colour works well

Thanks Mark. I did have some green chillis but I'm not sure it would have had the same impact.

 

[Dark Knight]

...

Cheers Dean. We got our card (it's mounting board) from the Range if you've got one near you.

...

Ooo we did have one in Norwich, not been past it in years, I'll pop that way on the way home one night hopefully

 

[susiejb]

I love it ....even just the red smoke is absolutely fabulous....but putting the two images together is a great idea. Thank you for saying 'how it's done'.... I had never even thought of inverting for the white background....I just had a try with it, very interesting, a huge help for me