robp's 52 for 2010 week 15 - Single

[Rob Bartley]

The four shots together Rob is magic The "not sure what the heck I'm doing" in shot one through to the joy on shot four is priceless!

Cheers, Rob

 

[SarahLee]

There seem to have been a lot of these "storyboard" type layouts this week - but watching a reaction happen is what chemistry's all about and I think they work perfectly for this theme.
And in this one, not only have you caught the reaction unfolding in the glass but the reaction unfolding on his face too . . . absolutely brilliant

I think the lighting is perhaps a bit harsh, but there probably wasn't much you could do about that and it certainly doesn't detract from the image.

I'm glad Mrs RobP relented on the Coke and Mentos . . . have fun next weekend
(Could that maybe be a candidate for candid?)

 

[jgs001]

Well done Rob.. the single shot on it's own is very good, but the sequence sums it all up nicely indeed. Pure chemistry in action ...

Have fun with exploding bottles

 

[jeangenie]

Thank you, Jean.
Yep, he's enjoying it loads, especially when I let him win the odd game.


Just wait 'till he start letting you win the odd game.

Well done Rob.. the single shot on it's own is very good, but the sequence sums it all up nicely indeed. Pure chemistry in action ...

Have fun with exploding bottles

I can't put it any better than John. Pure chemistry in action. Brilliant.

Jean

 

[philthejuggler]

Great work on chemistry. In some ways I think the original is the most powerful because it says everything in that one shot. Having said that, the set of four tell a great story - well done!

Phil

 

[Tracer]

What a fabulous expression! And I think the sequence is even better - just a shame you have to shrink it to fit it into the forum page. It is a perfect illustration of a chemical reaction.

You should get that printed and put on your wall.

 

[daveb99]

I love the sequence - really excellent from the frown to the smile! Very well done.

 

[robp]

BRILLIANT

nuff said.

Thank you, Rob

nuff said

 

[robp]

The four shots together Rob is magic The "not sure what the heck I'm doing" in shot one through to the joy on shot four is priceless!

Cheers, Rob

Thank you, Rob.
Yes, I like the expressions. We did this again a few moments later, but because he knew what was going to happen, the expressions were nowhere near as good.

There seem to have been a lot of these "storyboard" type layouts this week - but watching a reaction happen is what chemistry's all about and I think they work perfectly for this theme.
And in this one, not only have you caught the reaction unfolding in the glass but the reaction unfolding on his face too . . . absolutely brilliant

I think the lighting is perhaps a bit harsh, but there probably wasn't much you could do about that and it certainly doesn't detract from the image.

I'm glad Mrs RobP relented on the Coke and Mentos . . . have fun next weekend
(Could that maybe be a candidate for candid?)

Thank you for your comments, Sarah.
I was aware that lighting might be an issue but was concentrating too much on the expressions and to be quite honest, I didn't really know how to go about lighting it anyway.

We're rather busy this weekend and next, so it won't be boys having fun time until Easter. Bit of a but something to look forward to

And as far as the candidate for a candid is concerned, well, one did it yesterday, which is unnervingly early for me. I'm just letting it stew on Photobucket for a few hours in case I come up with anything better. As if that's gonna happen!

Well done Rob.. the single shot on it's own is very good, but the sequence sums it all up nicely indeed. Pure chemistry in action ...

Have fun with exploding bottles

Thank you John.
certainly will have fun, ta.

 

[robp]

I can't put it any better than John. Pure chemistry in action. Brilliant.

Thank you, Jean.
And as far as my son soon letting me win the odd game of chess is concerned, it won't be long before that happens, what with his sharp young mind and my ancient addled brain.

Great work on chemistry. In some ways I think the original is the most powerful because it says everything in that one shot. Having said that, the set of four tell a great story - well done!

Phil

Yep, I think you've summed that up about right, Phil.
Thank you for your comments.

What a fabulous expression! And I think the sequence is even better - just a shame you have to shrink it to fit it into the forum page. It is a perfect illustration of a chemical reaction.

You should get that printed and put on your wall.

Thank you, Tracer
I had discussed with Mrs Robp about getting it printed but first of all I think I'd recrop the first three images to include all of his right arm.

I love the sequence - really excellent from the frown to the smile! Very well done.

Many thanks for your comments, Dave.

 

[robp]

Week 11 - Candid

My, how things can progress in a week.
As I said earlier in this thread I feel very uncomfortable snapping strangers and so I wasn't too delighted to see this week's theme. In fact, I had been putting off doing it.
Then yesterday I decided that I had dithered enough and popped down to the Trent-Mersey canal for some canal-life shots...and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Anyway, here's my preferred poison from yesterday's shoot (ooh, get me, sounding all professional-like ):

 

[philthejuggler]

Well done with getting out of your comfort zone and shooting a stranger!

Phil

 

[ladysue]

Well done . An interesting looking character.

 

[SarahLee]

Well done on . . .

a) getting out of your comfort zone
and
b) actually enjoying it !!!!

Good colours in that and quite a nice composition. The steam from the boat adds a nice touch, but it's a shame that so much of it has blown across the top half of the man - it's just made him a touch misty and indistinct - not a major bother for me though.

I love that bit of bubbling water at the bottom. It might have been nice to see a bit more of that and the reflection . . . but then again, the shot is supposed to be about the man, not the boat so for the theme it works well just as it is

 

[daddy day care]

Not a comfortable theme for many of us this week.

So well done for getting out there and doing it.

I love canal shots. I am going to work my way along the caldon canal and shoot as much as I can this year so this really works for me

Andy

 

[jgs001]

Well done Rob for getting out there... it's a good shot for the theme

 

[jeangenie]

I like canal shots, too and I'm so glad you enjoyed leaping out of your comfort zone and in at the deep end (not literally!). So, first of all, loads of kudos for getting an interesting and truly candid shot.

You've caught a real 'character', engrossed in his tiller (the one steering the barge/boat ) and have some wonderful traditional river-boat artwork as well. I'd love you to give it a bit of a contrast boost, Rob, to make it leap out of the screen.

Jean

 

[RobC]

Nice one on getting out there. It's an odd feeling isn't it? Did you realise you enjoyed it whilst out and about or after the fact ? I like the shot the composition is great, the colours really pop and the smoke adds a really nice effect. I keep wondering where he's off too

 

[lizbeth]

Nice shot - great composition and colours.

 

[jennyb]

Hi Rob,

I don't know how I have managed to miss this thread for so long. There are some really good images. I love your take on speed, but the chemistry, play and people shots are my favourites. The different expressions on your son's face are amazing. I guess they don't so fun things like that in chemistry classes these days.

Jenny

 

[robp]

Well done with getting out of your comfort zone and shooting a stranger!

Phil

Thank you, Phil.
Actually I managed to shoot a fair few strangers in the end - it seemed to get easier as I went on.

Well done . An interesting looking character.

Thank you, Sue.
Yes, he was. He untied his barge and allowed it to drift aimlessly while he attached the handle onto the rudder. He still has his screwdriver in his right hand. Then with all the casualness of an old hand at such things he revved up, brought his barge straight, and chugged on his way.

Well done on . . .

a) getting out of your comfort zone
and
b) actually enjoying it !!!!

Good colours in that and quite a nice composition. The steam from the boat adds a nice touch, but it's a shame that so much of it has blown across the top half of the man - it's just made him a touch misty and indistinct - not a major bother for me though.

I love that bit of bubbling water at the bottom. It might have been nice to see a bit more of that and the reflection . . . but then again, the shot is supposed to be about the man, not the boat so for the theme it works well just as it is

Thank you as always, Sarah.
Your last point is something I did wonder about before posting. I also liked the bubbling water and reflection and so cropped accordingly. But then, as you say, it rather reduced the impact of the man.

 

[robp]

Not a comfortable theme for many of us this week.

So well done for getting out there and doing it.

I love canal shots. I am going to work my way along the caldon canal and shoot as much as I can this year so this really works for me

Andy

Thanks, Andy.
Yes, canals and canal life fascinate me too. It's probably what inspired me to get shooting.
There's a bloke who lives on one of the barges where this was shot who sits working at his laptop with his back to the window. He obviously gets fed up with people knocking on said window to ask him stuff, so he has a sign up which reads: P*** off, I'm busy.
Enjoy your Caldon Canal shoot and don't forget to show us the results.

Well done Rob for getting out there... it's a good shot for the theme

Thank you, John.

I like canal shots, too and I'm so glad you enjoyed leaping out of your comfort zone and in at the deep end (not literally!). So, first of all, loads of kudos for getting an interesting and truly candid shot.

You've caught a real 'character', engrossed in his tiller (the one steering the barge/boat ) and have some wonderful traditional river-boat artwork as well. I'd love you to give it a bit of a contrast boost, Rob, to make it leap out of the screen.

Jean

Tiller!
There I was in the post before this, going on about how he screwed the handle to the rudder, and all the time I was thinking, there must be a proper word for it, it's not a handle:bonk:

Thank you for your comments (saucy and otherwise), Jean, and particularly for the contrast suggestions. I always felt it looked a bit wishy washy but couldn't work out how to sort it nicely. Will give contrast a go

 

[robp]

Nice one on getting out there. It's an odd feeling isn't it? Did you realise you enjoyed it whilst out and about or after the fact ? I like the shot the composition is great, the colours really pop and the smoke adds a really nice effect. I keep wondering where he's off too

Thank you Rob.
Yes, very odd feeling. The realisation that I was enjoying it grew as I shot. Great feeling!!
The smoke gives it that extra bit of realism, I think.
He was so in command of all he did and was so unrushed that he could quite easily have been popping up the canal for his newspaper and an ounce of Golden Virginia.

Nice shot - great composition and colours.

Thank you very much, Lizbeth

Hi Rob,

I don't know how I have managed to miss this thread for so long. There are some really good images. I love your take on speed, but the chemistry, play and people shots are my favourites. The different expressions on your son's face are amazing. I guess they don't so fun things like that in chemistry classes these days.

Jenny

Hello Jenny, pleased to meet you.

Thank you for popping in and for your positive comments.
All of which reminds me that I must return the compliment. See you at yours soon.

 

[robp]

With many thanks, Sarah and Jean, for your suggestions, here's a revised version with wider crop to include the bubbling water and reflection, and a contrast boost.

 

[robp]

PS. I hope this version stays put. The original is sometimes here and sometimes it seems to have chugged up the canal, when I visit, leaving only a tiddly red x in its place.
Most odd.

 

[Tracer]

I really like this one - your second version with better contrast and a slightly larger crop was worth doing. You have a nice arrangement of shapes and colours, and the man engrossed in his steering is still the centre of interest.

 

[robp]

I really like this one - your second version with better contrast and a slightly larger crop was worth doing. You have a nice arrangement of shapes and colours, and the man engrossed in his steering is still the centre of interest.

Thank you for taking the time to pop in and for your comments. Very much appreciated.
I just wish I'd been a few minutes earlier, when he was untying his barge, because I could have got much closer then.

 

[robp]

Produce

Notes

1. This recipe does not require a whole bottle of Pinot Grigio. In fact, it only requires a good glug. Not that the chef minds...

2. I don't go in for poncy ooh-look-what-a-top-chef-I-am bits of herb garnishing all over the place. I just cook, serve, and we eat. Unfortunately this shows here. I decided to do the poncy basil bit for the photograph - I even coated it with olive oil to make it shine - but I think I selected a disproportionately big sprig for the image size.

3. I now appreciate how difficult good food photography is. I spent ages taking shots of the finished product, trying to avoid the unappetising look you see on some restaurant menus. In the end I gave up....my dinner was getting cold!

4. I really enjoyed this. It's something I would never have thought about doing if it wasn't for this week's theme. So...

5. I still need to pay more attention to detail in my set up. I didn't realise until I came to grate Parmesan over my dinner that I had forgotten to include it in the original group of raw materials.

 

[jeangenie]

Thank you for your comments (saucy and otherwise), Jean

Moi? Saucy? Never!

The new version of the canal shot is ace! I captures the atmosphere of canal life beautifully. The tweaks were well worthwhile - love it, love it, love it. Oh - did I say I love it?

Jean

 

[robp]

Moi? Saucy? Never!

The new version of the canal shot is ace! I captures the atmosphere of canal life beautifully. The tweaks were well worthwhile - love it, love it, love it. Oh - did I say I love it?

Jean

Coquin? Oui!

Yes, I much prefer it. Thank you for the tip

 

[jgs001]

The canal edit is much better Rob... nicely done...

Produce, a good take on the theme and a diptych to boot... I wonder what a four panel would be called... hmmm... sorry I digress ... I like it... although the lighting seems a little unbalanced between the two shots... it seems warmer in the produced and cooler in the produce... perhaps that was the intent of course...

 

[mich66]

great candid shot.. do have a soft spot for canals and barges, like the tweaks..

produce.. hmmmm... the finished result looked delicious, nicely put together with the framing

 

[L'Cham]

I tried to take a picture of a fantastic salad I was served in Spain and I agree with you about appreciating food photographers now. Even if they do make take-away food look far too tempting after a few too many beers.
You're shot does make the food look fantastic too. Surprised to see such a tight crop as normally food shots show the whole plate.

 

[SarahLee]

for the canal edit. That's far better!

And your food shot is very good too.
I love the idea of the "before and after" framing and both shots work well in their own right.
The only thing I would have tweaked would have been to put something underneath the back of the mince packet to angle it up towards the camera slightly. I think you would have got less reflection on the cellophane that way and given the mince a bit more impact.

The produced shot is perfect though. Looks good enough to grace the pages of a cookery magazine.
The attention to detail, like oiling the basil has really paid off. I know that food photography is hard, but you've really pulled it off

 

[robp]

The canal edit is much better Rob... nicely done...

Produce, a good take on the theme and a diptych to boot... I wonder what a four panel would be called... hmmm... sorry I digress ... I like it... although the lighting seems a little unbalanced between the two shots... it seems warmer in the produced and cooler in the produce... perhaps that was the intent of course...

Thank you as always, John.
I suppose a four panel would be a quadtych which would fit rather nicely in the current theme.
Yes, I did notice the difference in lighting but me being me, I thought nothing more of it. There were two hours between images, using natural light from the kitchen window (it was getting a bit dusky for the Produced shot). I used a sheet of white A4 to the left of the Produce shot to cancel out some of the shadow.
No intent, I have to admit, but now you've raised the issue, I wish I could honestly claim that it was intended to portray the cold ingredients and the nice hot dinner.
But it wasn't - never even crossed my mind.

 

[robp]

great candid shot.. do have a soft spot for canals and barges, like the tweaks..

produce.. hmmmm... the finished result looked delicious, nicely put together with the framing

Thank you very much, Michelle.
Yes, I like canals too. So much life but so peaceful.

 

[robp]

I tried to take a picture of a fantastic salad I was served in Spain and I agree with you about appreciating food photographers now. Even if they do make take-away food look far too tempting after a few too many beers.
You're shot does make the food look fantastic too. Surprised to see such a tight crop as normally food shots show the whole plate.

Thank you for your comments, Steve.
I did take a few shots of the whole plate but they didn't look overly good to me, hence the tight crop.

And yes, take-away food does push one's sensiblilties to the max after a few beers, doesn't it?
Mind you, I have to admit a partiality to kebabs with hot chilli sauce, even in a sober state.

 

[jeangenie]

just seen your Produce shot, Rob and I like it very much. The cooked food looks totally yummy and you've made a decent job of setting out the ingredients. My only suggestion would be to remove the cling film from the mince to get a bit more colour and texture, but it's only a minor niggle.

Nice idea for the theme, and very well presented. I like the tight crop to the cooked food because you get all the mouth-watering detail. I just wonder what happened to the rest of the Pinot Grigio - I hope it didn't go to waste!

Jean

 

[robp]

for the canal edit. That's far better!

And your food shot is very good too.
I love the idea of the "before and after" framing and both shots work well in their own right.
The only thing I would have tweaked would have been to put something underneath the back of the mince packet to angle it up towards the camera slightly. I think you would have got less reflection on the cellophane that way and given the mince a bit more impact.

The produced shot is perfect though. Looks good enough to grace the pages of a cookery magazine.
The attention to detail, like oiling the basil has really paid off. I know that food photography is hard, but you've really pulled it off

Thanks for the advice and positive comments, Sarah.
I spent some time trying to reduce the reflection on the cellophane which in itself is a big leap forward for me, but didn't think to raise it at the back:bonk:

I have to say that the basil annoys me. I think it looks a bit limp. I wish I'd saved one of the nice billowy leaves, rather than chopping the for the sauce.

 

[robp]

just seen your Produce shot, Rob and I like it very much. The cooked food looks totally yummy and you've made a decent job of setting out the ingredients. My only suggestion would be to remove the cling film from the mince to get a bit more colour and texture, but it's only a minor niggle.

Nice idea for the theme, and very well presented. I like the tight crop to the cooked food because you get all the mouth-watering detail. I just wonder what happened to the rest of the Pinot Grigio - I hope it didn't go to waste!

Jean

Thank you, Jean.
Good point about the mince wrapping. Sarah touched on it too.
Something I've learned for next time, which can't be bad.

Never fear, wine never goes to waste with this chef