weekly Michael23's 2012 52 COMPLETED! WooHoo! Slide show added

Just going through my pictures from last sundays visit to Liverpool and the Albert Docks, I remembered this picture of the Statue of Captain Johnny Walker

At the time we were getting a little bit wet, I now wished I had spent more time and more than just the one pic, but a good excuse to go back I suppose.


Week 16, Pride by scilly puffin, on Flickr

Hopefully I will get something else done for this during the week, but if I don't at least I have this.
 
Soft - I like #1 but find it a bit too tight at the top. #2 came a close second. Nice shot.

Pride - I'm afraid I'm not getting the pride connection. I thought the shot was a B&W at first and then spotted some colour in the buildings in the background. That subdued effect works well.
 
'Soft' I like the composition and context in #3 so that's me favourite of the 3.
'Pride' again I'm not really getting the theme and in the absence of that it's like one or two of mine have been :)
 
pride maybe because he's a war hero? proud of our boys and all that? dunno but I like the shot, the pov is good too, tho maybe it should be mono?
 
Hi Michael :)

Soft - Oooo the second one for me... really like that, a great image, love the sky catchlights !!!!

Pride - "was the most famous escort commander to be based at Liverpool during the war and the most successful ever in anti-submarine warfare" sure must give pride to thousands... great on theme shot - Nice One (y)
 
Good job Michael... looks great to me, and it sure sounds to me like it's bang on theme
 
Pride - bang on theme (once I googled him :) )but as you say I can see why you wish you'd taken a few more. I like the shot overall as you've got him to one side and looking over the water to the city on the other side but for me that fence is really annoying.

Well exposed though and loving the sky as it gives it some mood especially the graduation from dark to light from the top too.
 
I sometimes do that, I like the effect on certain scenes
 
it might of been better from a lower angle to try and get rid of the railings but on theme
 
Hi Michael, that certainly does say pride, and the PP is just right IMHO, but it's perhaps not one of your most imaginative submissions? I can't help wanting to see his face every time I look at it.

Please take this as a compliment though; you've set too high a standard for yourself!
 
Hi,

Soft...Really liking the final edit of the three teddy big eyed bears, cute soft eyes and soft teddys,the colours works really well against the background.

Pride, bang on theme, nice concept

Matt
 
Love the soft trypitch and the pride could have worked well if you'd shot more details to tell us the story. As you said, better get out there in the rain for a reshoot! Mandy
 
Hi Michael


1st thought when I saw the name was alcohol :LOL:.....

Can't really add to what's been said....like the muted colors in the distance , sky is sky , possibly a little lighter on the statue itself to show more of the detail ? Given the rain I think you've done well mister (y)
 
I sometimes do that, I like the effect on certain scenes

it might of been better from a lower angle to try and get rid of the railings but on theme

Hi Michael, that certainly does say pride, and the PP is just right IMHO, but it's perhaps not one of your most imaginative submissions? I can't help wanting to see his face every time I look at it.

Please take this as a compliment though; you've set too high a standard for yourself!

Hi,

Soft...Really liking the final edit of the three teddy big eyed bears, cute soft eyes and soft teddys,the colours works really well against the background.

Pride, bang on theme, nice concept

Matt

Love the soft trypitch and the pride could have worked well if you'd shot more details to tell us the story. As you said, better get out there in the rain for a reshoot! Mandy

Pride...I guessed there was a military connection :D and it's a damn fine sculpture.

Shallower DOF maybe??

Cheers.

Hi Michael


1st thought when I saw the name was alcohol :LOL:.....

Can't really add to what's been said....like the muted colors in the distance , sky is sky , possibly a little lighter on the statue itself to show more of the detail ? Given the rain I think you've done well mister (y)


Good evening one and all :wave: Thanks very much for those replies, all very much appreciated and noted for the future. Plenty of ideas, and hopefully at some point we will be back there and I can have another crack at it, hopefully on a beautiful sunny day! Formby first for the squirrels and then in to the docks for the rest of the day. Sorry I didn't reply to each comment individually, I am exhausted, but can't sleep :bonk:
 
Hi Michael,

Welcome back and I hope you had an enjoyable mini-break and captured some nice images.

'Pride' - Captain Walker RN - great interpretation and a truly inspirational man. nice PP too ! works a treat.

Nick
 
Thank you Allan and Nick for your comments, much appreciated.

After 1 very long week, I can finally add my picture for short, which was actually taken last saturday! But to be honest I just couldn't relate to them whilst being ill. Still not much better but have have found this one which I quite like and is fitting for the theme! IIRC it is a Male Ringed Teal, this is at Barnes, London Wetland Centre in there "themed" areas they have as well as the normal reserve. It is a great place to visit and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in wildlife. The connection here as I am sure you will all get is Short Legs!


Short Legs by scilly puffin, on Flickr

Now I am going to include flight today as well, using a montage of pictures I took of Marsh Harriers on my visit to Blacktoft Sands in Yorkshire on the 18th April. Perfect for the theme, but if I do manage a new picture this week, I shall of course post it up, but could be unlikely due to a painfully bruised right hand :bang:


Marsh Harrier Set by scilly puffin, on Flickr
 
Hi Michael, what have you been doing to yourself? I hope your on the mend now?

Short legs is a lovely shot, what a pretty little bird. I love the reflection. My only teeny crit is the small bit of I don't know what floating bottom left in from of the reflected beak. It's obviously not something you could control at the time but I would consider editing it out:thinking:

Flight: I bet you thought YAY with this theme? I think your montage of marsh harriers is excellent. Fingers crossed you get something new shot this week.
 
Hi Michael, seem to have missed out on a few weeks.
Like the out of box thinking for entrance. Flowers can be difficult at times.
Soft - The tryptych definately works and is the best of all.
Pride - the weather has not helped this shot but it works.
Short - Love this shot, just the reflection spoilt as already pointed out.
Flight - Wonderful set. Don't get these in my part of the world
 
Hi Michael

hope your hands not painful mister

Lovely montage for Flight...right on theme , only little thing...are they quite heavy crops ? Asking cos some seem rather noisey ?

Like you I think I shall be raiding the hard drive this week...with the monsoon outside I have no chance of getting anything in flight :bang:
 
Hi Michael,

I love the Teal shot, especially the reflection. Excellent take on the theme because the legs are very short.

I agree with Lynne that some of the montage shots look a bit noisy, but it is a really good take on the theme. BIF are particularly difficult and something I really struggle with. You have managed some really nice ones there.

Hope your hand is better soon.

Jenny
 
nice set for flight i dont mind the noise at all knowing how difficult it is to get pics of birds in flight
 
blondie606 said:
I think I shall be raiding the hard drive this week...with the monsoon outside I have no chance of getting anything in flight :bang:
Oh I don't know, there are quite a few things going flying in this wind, like wheelie bins, trees and all sorts down here!

As for birds in flight come to Oxfordshire, we are regularly mobbed by red kites!
 
Hi Michael, what have you been doing to yourself? I hope your on the mend now?

Short legs is a lovely shot, what a pretty little bird. I love the reflection. My only teeny crit is the small bit of I don't know what floating bottom left in from of the reflected beak. It's obviously not something you could control at the time but I would consider editing it out:thinking:

Flight: I bet you thought YAY with this theme? I think your montage of marsh harriers is excellent. Fingers crossed you get something new shot this week.

Hi Marsha, thanks for popping by,I suffer with dizzy spells and blackouts and I ended up banging my hand during a spell. I hadn't noticed the bit floating in, I have cloned it out and it looks better, see below (y)

Hi Michael, seem to have missed out on a few weeks.
Like the out of box thinking for entrance. Flowers can be difficult at times.
Soft - The tryptych definately works and is the best of all.
Pride - the weather has not helped this shot but it works.
Short - Love this shot, just the reflection spoilt as already pointed out.
Flight - Wonderful set. Don't get these in my part of the world

Hi John, thank you for taking a look through, pleased you like the pics.

Hi Michael

hope your hands not painful mister

Lovely montage for Flight...right on theme , only little thing...are they quite heavy crops ? Asking cos some seem rather noisey ?

Like you I think I shall be raiding the hard drive this week...with the monsoon outside I have no chance of getting anything in flight :bang:

Hiya Lynne, hand is easing a little now, thanks. Yep, these were quite big crops taken on a very windy, cold and dull day, some were a little under exposed so that is where the noise has come from. Also these were taken with my new 50-500, quite pleased with its performance.

Hi Michael,

I love the Teal shot, especially the reflection. Excellent take on the theme because the legs are very short.

I agree with Lynne that some of the montage shots look a bit noisy, but it is a really good take on the theme. BIF are particularly difficult and something I really struggle with. You have managed some really nice ones there.

Hope your hand is better soon.

Jenny

Hiya Jenny, thanks very much for popping by, the teal was a cracking bird and seemed to love being photographed! As said, the pics are fairly heavy crops and suffered some under exposure which showed the noise up after pp. I enjoy bif stuff, but not done much for a while. My main stuff being done on pelagic trips when on holiday.

nice set for flight i dont mind the noise at all knowing how difficult it is to get pics of birds in flight

Thanks Alan,

Oh I don't know, there are quite a few things going flying in this wind, like wheelie bins, trees and all sorts down here!

As for birds in flight come to Oxfordshire, we are regularly mobbed by red kites!

I need to get some Red Kite pics, as my last bunch got lost when my hdd failed and I lost a load of stuff.


Short by scilly puffin, on Flickr

Just thinking, have I sorted the bit that was mentioned?
 
Last edited:
'Short' really nice image and like the reflection.

'Flight' Very nice montage and fits the theme nicely.

I'm sorry your feeling little out of kilter this week, hope you feel better soon.

Nick (y)
 
Hi, Michael, montage is nice. Main issue for me are the power lines.

The Teal is another decent photograph, I'd just like to see more on left and right and less on top and bottom.

Get well soon...(y)
 
'Short' really nice image and like the reflection.

'Flight' Very nice montage and fits the theme nicely.

I'm sorry your feeling little out of kilter this week, hope you feel better soon.

Nick (y)

Hi, Michael, montage is nice. Main issue for me are the power lines.

The Teal is another decent photograph, I'd just like to see more on left and right and less on top and bottom.

Get well soon...(y)

Thanks both for the comments and well wishes, looking forward to getting my inspiration back..
 
michael23 said:
Hi Marsha, thanks for popping by,I suffer with dizzy spells and blackouts and I ended up banging my hand during a spell.
Ouch, that doesn't sound good, I hope it doesn't happen too often!

michael23 said:
I need to get some Red Kite pics, as my last bunch got lost when my hdd failed and I lost a load of stuff.

Seriously they're more common than house sparrows around here! I tried getting a photo yesterday (have posted one for this theme) but only found one bird! On my way home from work tonight they were mocking me, I saw 5-6 circling in one spot near the M40 and about 20 over one house in a village! I had my camera and stopped but needed to get home. I'll try a better shot again this week.

michael23 said:
Just thinking, have I sorted the bit that was mentioned?

Yes you did, but I've only just noticed quite a few dust bunnies :( Was it yours that were noticed before?
 
Hi Michael

Short - I like that, nice colours against the background, the reflection adds to the pic very well too, it looks a little short of water too for a good swim - poor thing :)

Flight - Great captures, only done birds in flight once and I found it tough to get them right - so really impressed, a really good set (y)
 
What can I say, both short and flight are amazing. If I look really really hard for something to crit, it'd be nice to see the two main Kite shots on opposite thirds; one left and one right for balance, but it's lovely as it is :)
 
Ouch, that doesn't sound good, I hope it doesn't happen too often!



Seriously they're more common than house sparrows around here! I tried getting a photo yesterday (have posted one for this theme) but only found one bird! On my way home from work tonight they were mocking me, I saw 5-6 circling in one spot near the M40 and about 20 over one house in a village! I had my camera and stopped but needed to get home. I'll try a better shot again this week.



Yes you did, but I've only just noticed quite a few dust bunnies :( Was it yours that were noticed before?

Thanks Marsha, I totally forgot about those pesky dust bunnies! I didn't notice them during pp this time, but I can see them now :bonk:

Hi Michael

Short - I like that, nice colours against the background, the reflection adds to the pic very well too, it looks a little short of water too for a good swim - poor thing :)

Flight - Great captures, only done birds in flight once and I found it tough to get them right - so really impressed, a really good set (y)

Thanks very much Dk, bif are tricky but very rewarding when you get a decent set.

What can I say, both short and flight are amazing. If I look really really hard for something to crit, it'd be nice to see the two main Kite shots on opposite thirds; one left and one right for balance, but it's lovely as it is :)

Thanks Mark, pleased you like the Marsh Harriers (not kites ;)) I did do something similar to your suggestion, but went for this one in the end.
 
Oops!
 
:D

Well, managed an evening walk after school today at Carsington Resevoir. It was so nice just to be out in the open again. Blue skies were a welcome sight, and not many but a few birds in flight too.

To start of with ducks and geese were swimming past quacking and honking whilst looking at me! I reckon they new I wanted them in flight :LOL: But did manage a couple of Swans and a Black Headed Gull in flight and they don't seem to bad. So taken in a very stiff wind and awkward light...


swan by scilly puffin, on Flickr


swan2 by scilly puffin, on Flickr


Black Headed Gull by scilly puffin, on Flickr
 
although all three shots are excellent i think that number 1 just pips for me the shape of the wings and the slight reflection in the water are just ace:clap: just out of interest what lens is it taken with?:thinking:
 
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