I think that's worked much better Sue... but the colour looks a little faded...
having just gone read your post... I'm really sorry to hear your news, and I understand too
John and Andy have beaten me to it with the C&C - and as usual they're spot on.
Of the three versions, I think the middle one works best for me - although with just a little more work I think no.3 could be the winner.
Having just gone to read your post in OOF I understand why your mind wasn't really on it though.
So sorry to hear your news, my thoughts are with you and your family.
good take on this weeks poor theme. Out of the 3rd edits I prefer the text in the 2nd one
Sue, one of the great things about the 52, is when people keep going back to a shot and improving it in response to suggestions - and your Grunge shot is a case in point. It's great to see how you've moved the shot along from a good idea to a convincing shot. Brilliant - and a good take on a lousy theme as well.
I'm really pleased to see you've got your macro lens. I thought about sprouting some beans, but thought they wouldn't grow fast enough - so well done on getting them to shoot like that. As to the photo - it's a bit soft, and I wonder how close you were to the bean? Your point of focus might be sharper if you took if from a bit further away and then cropped in pp. But it fills the frame well and there's good detail.
The Bible shot is excellent - I love how you've got the focus spot on on the word Beginning. So that gives you another beginning - beginning to get the hang of dof on the macro lens.
I still find the dof on my macro lens is a difficult beast to master. The slightest change in the point of focus can throw is out and getting the right dof for a given situation isn't easy. But, when it works, it's my favourite lens. Enjoy yours, and I look forward to seeing lots more of your 52s in close up.
Jean
Great takes on the 'beginnings' theme. I love macro photography and the way it shows a world that normally passes us by.
Both good ideas for the theme. As Jean says the bean is just a little soft but that is part of the learning curve with macro. It helps if you have a tripod and cable release, so that you can choose a smaller aperture for greater DoF if you want it. Also you can be sure you can keep the focus distance you have set. I find when hand-holding I can sway backwards and forwards a little - only a tiny fraction but it can be enough to spoil the focusing.
You have got it spot on in the Bible shot, though, and this works very well. I like the diagonals of the printed lines and the way you have isolated "beginning". Good work - you will have lot of fun with your new macro lens.
Both images work well with the theme Sue. #2 gets my vote, I like the dof used, isolating the word. You have got your point of focus spot on, very sharp.
I like the first image too, rich colours and good composition. It just needs a different focus point, which is easier said than done I appreciate. Like you said practice practice practice
Fisrt one is a bit too oof for me but I think the second is really good. Really well focused on the important word for this theme.
2 really good ideas for this weeks theme, for me the bean shot isn't quite right but with a bit of practice you'll get it spot on.
As for the Bible shot I think this wors really well and is my favourite of the two
Hi Sue, your bean shot was a great idea, but as others have said, getting the DOF right is tricky with macros. I find it impossible to take macro shots without a tripod. I am just too shaky. You also need lots of light to get a better DOF.
Having said that, you have obviously mastered it pretty well already with your bible shot. I love it. It fits the theme perfectly. The DOF is spot on and the focus point is perfect too.
Jenny
Hey Sue, first sorry to hear about your cousins loss
as for your Beginnings shots, very cool!!! Look macro lenses they open up a whole new world, enjoy it
Second shot for me Sue.
The first does nothing for me as an image, regardless of the miss focus.
The second is on the money, whilst each theme could be taken in a similar fashion the famous quote you have taken has needed much less of a crowbar, well done!
Glad to see you having fun with the new lens Sue.
And while the bean isn't perfect, for your first attempt I think it's an impressive start. Extra points from me for sprouting the beans specifically for the theme too.
I think you've got it spot on with the bible though.
The focus looks perfect and the DoF spot on to isolate the one word. In fact I think this is my favourite from your 52 so far.
Looking forward to seeing more macro stuff from you.
Congrats on the new lens Sue
The bean shot is so close, but when you get in this close, the DOF is so narrow that it's way to easy for the subject to slip out of the area of focus. Even if you're running at f/16 (I'd love to know how Alby and others manage it) I have trouble a lot. I think it's suffered from being shot at the aperture you have.
Now the bible verse on the other hand... very well done, as has been said, spot on with the DOF and the angles.
Art - likethe first one - the figure looks very 3D
Relaxation - fits the theme well and I like all the different colours and textures in the walls and steps/
Art - I agree with your choice. Even thought the second one shows more of the artwork the first is much more dramatic as the main subject is isolated.
Relaxation - well spotted and well captured, and good contrasts of shapes, colours and textures. If it were mine I would crop the top a little to get rid of the black horizontal railing which I find a bit distracting. I think it would increase the impact - but that is only my opinion.
I wonder if his nose peeled after all that sun...
ART: definitely the first one for me Definitely more dramatic. I think #2 is useful in that it gives more of the context but for me #1 is the winner
RELAXATION: definitely fits the bill for the theme although I agree it would be a better composition without the railing. Other than that, well spotted
Wow Sue! Your photography seems to have taken a huge leap forward these last couple of weeks.
The second art shot is an interesting record of the place, but I really like the first one a lot.
I like the fact that you've chosen an interesting angle rather than just shooting it straight on and the focus looks perfect. It's a shame that you seem to have caught the sky at a moment when a cloud is passing by, rather than the lovely blue in no.2, but it really doesn't put me off at all.
I also like your relaxation shot. Bang on theme, well spotted and well composed. The edit without the railing finishes it off perfectly for me.
That edit makes a good picture great
I like your "art" image(s) a lot Sue. I feel these images are more about the content than the photography, what I mean by that is that they are strong images and represent the art, (if that makes sense ))
I like your relaxation image too, a cracking candid image, good composition, colours and the second one cropped gets a big from me. Iain
That's a good candid shot! I like the context given by the building, but I'd be tempted to crop even tighter by taking some off the rhs.
Phil
Very good Sue... love the chosen Art image, even if it's not the whole artwork. A Much stronger image.
Relaxing.. sure looks relaxed to me, very well shot.
I like your chosen art shot, but I feel a front on would have worked a little better? Especially in the secons image, which may be why the angle is off.. if it were front on I think it'd look great!
relaxation fits the bill perfectly!