Photo Assignment: Weekend 10/27/07

[SNC1923]

Our photo assignments keep rolling along. People are having fun; we're seeing some great photography; let's do it again!

Because anarchy is a bummer, we humbly offer these simple rules:


Photos must be shot this weekend: Fri, Sat, or Sun.
You must provide the EXIF information if asked (we'll help you, if you'd like to know how to get it).
No photoshop alteration (we're looking to improve your skills with your camera, not software).
Your photograph must adhere to the theme, which will be described below.
Post only one photo per post, so that commentary can be easily provided for that photo.
Post your photos in this thread only. Do not start a thread in reply to this assignment. Please post your photos no later than next Wednesday.
And, the most important rule: have fun! We're looking to spread the joy that many of us derive from taking pictures, particularly ones that tell a story of some kind.


This week's assignment will include an instructional component, as did our thread focusing on composition, "Balance." This is competely optional and take it only for what it is worth to you.

This week's theme: "Open Wide"

Certainly this familiar phrase connotes the confinement of a dentist's chair or the taste of bitter medicine. Perhaps this may involve trick-or-treaters, as well. Could be what we like to do to our throttles. Certainly this theme captures the feel of the great outdoors, too.

This theme could also be interpreted as "wide open." You may (but are not required to) want to play with depth-of-field here. For those of you unfamiliar, depth-of-field refers to how much—or how little—is in focus in front of and behind the subject. Here's an example of a shallow depth-of-field:

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/164020119-L.jpg (http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=164020119)

If you click on the image, you will see the exif information. This was taken on fully automatic, 1/60 sec. at f/5.6 with a telephoto lens. The shallow depth-of-field was accomplished through close-focusing with a telephoto lens.

Depth-of-Field is controlled by three factors:


Aperture: If your camera is user-adjustable, the larger the aperture (f/5.6, F/4.0, F/2.8), the shallower the depth-of-field. These numbers are fractions; the smaller the number, the larger the aperture. Rounding the numbers for convenience, these become 1/5, 1/4, and 1/3, meaning the lens opening is growing larger, the depth-of-field, shallower.

Magnification: This is simple: The closer you are to your subject, the shallower the depth-of-field.

Magnification 2: Also simple: The more telephoto your lens, the shallower the depth of field.


For those of you with point-and-shoot cameras, a shallow depth-of-field can be accomplished by setting your camera to the "action" mode. This increases the shutter speed which will necessarily open your lens to a larger aperature and a shallower depth-of-field. Your camera may also have an aperature control, sometimes labeled "AV." Refer to your owner's manual for more details. Zooming your lens to telephoto and/or focusing closely will also achieve this effect. Using two or three of these technicques in combination will accentuate the effect. Play around with this if you are so inclined.

HOWEVER, if the above techncial mumbo-jumbo doesn't appeal to you, just shoot something that you intepret as "open wide."

Remember, shooting commences at 12:01 a.m. That's tomorrow! What are you waiting for?

[Voni]

Remember, shooting commences at 12:01 a.m. That's tomorrow! What are you waiting for?

Tomorrow!

Thanks for the hints for my point and shoot camera . . .

Voni
sMiling

[RebeccaV]

I will try to stay 'wide open' to the theme and maybe I will learn something. :)

[rocketman]

Question? Does the photo have to be taken while riding? Or be connected to riding in some fastion? I ask because I will on vacation and without my machine(s), though I may rent a scooter for a day while in sunny Cabo Mexico. :D

RM

[RebeccaV]

Question? Does the photo have to be taken while riding? Or be connected to riding in some fastion? I ask because I will on vacation and without my machine(s), though I may rent a scooter for a day while in sunny Cabo Mexico. :D

RM
You don't HAVE to do anything. Except make some photographs and share them with us. :nod

[rocketman]

You don't HAVE to do anything. Except make some photographs and share them with us. :nod


Yes well that's pretty much what I planned on doing on vacation.... a lot of nothing! Oops, wrong thread......:D

RM

(when people say I'm shallow, I just tell them to check thier depth of field setting!:brow )

[Sue]

I hope to have time to work on this concept this weekend! Thanks for the fun idea......

[kbasa]

Wide open wide!

Sweet!

[Rapid_Roy]

I may take a picture of my wallet, as viewed by the IRS!
Wide open. Hah!
Just kidding. I snapped 60 or 70 at my brothers last night, I just have to go through them.
Edit: I did,here it is:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PA260034.jpg

[grossjohann]

I may take a picture of my wallet, as viewed by the IRS!
Wide open. Hah!
Just kidding. I snapped 60 or 70 at my brothers last night, I just have to go through them.
Edit: I did,here it is:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PA260034.jpg

This is a great shot!

[RebeccaV]

Wow - great images already and the weekend isn't even half over!

[kbasa]

From the rain chain in our backyard. We have these instead of downspouts.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/213585307-XL.jpg

[kbasa]

Yes, it's still daylily season here. I shot this at about noon time, with what is rapidly becoming a winter sun. The exposure is a bit too much, I think, though if it went lower, the image would probably be too dark.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/213582507-XL.jpg

[kbasa]

This one feels kind of underexposed and I'm not too psyched about the background. It did get the depth of field pretty well, though.

Tom, thanks for encouraging work with DoF. It made me finally get out the manual for my camera and start playing with the A program. :ha

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/213581057-XL.jpg

[Rapid_Roy]

I was just gonna say that!

Remember when seats were open, wide, and you rode them wide open?

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PA260055.jpg

I am not happy with the background, I couldn't get it blurry dangit!

[Rapid_Roy]

Remember when handlebars where open wide?
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PA260077.jpg

[bricciphoto]

Wow! Statdawg your first shot is awesome. I'm not certain I'm gonna post this week, but dang you set the bar high! :clap

Very nice use of an inventive technique with excellent composition and subject. :bow Your second post is :thumb too, but I would have quit with the first one. :wave

[Voni]

Our door was Open Wide for an Open House today.

Voni
sMiling

[Rapid_Roy]

This is a great shot!
Thank You. :thumb

[kbasa]

Our door was Open Wide for an Open House today.

Voni
sMiling

I like that one quite a bit. It makes me feel like I'm getting ready to go greet visiting riders, which is always a treat.

[kbasa]

The focusing is a challenge do you go far, close, very unique application ?

I think you focus on the exact item you want to show most clearly. I think of the shot as a series of stacked planes, one of which I can choose to be in focus.

You can expand or contract the thickness of the plane that's in focus by altering the aperture.

[bricciphoto]

Another great shot Voni! I really liked your post last week, too (very creative and meaningful--with gorgeous lighting). I don't want to steal Tom's thunder, but this week's effort had potential for some technical difficulties, but you avoided them nicely. What a great captured moment. :thumb

[bricciphoto]

This one feels kind of underexposed and I'm not too psyched about the background. It did get the depth of field pretty well, though.

Tom, thanks for encouraging work with DoF. It made me finally get out the manual for my camera and start playing with the A program. :ha

I think your exposure is very close to being "right" (only a fraction of a stop under exposed). Years ago I took garden photography courses at a major horticultural facility (Longwood Gardens) and one of the things they stressed in composition is the flower (or other horticultural subject) is clearly the focal point of the frame, but back- and foregrounds* have diminished many otherwise great garden shots. Unless you intended it to be there, I wouldn't worry about it. Also every camera composed shot deserves a good cropping, and your's would take on a whole new look with a little perimeter clipping. :wave

*Which is true of most compositions. There's an old adage "Check your corners," that means before you press the shutter look in the upper righthand corner, lower righthand corner, upper lefthand corner, lower lefthand corner of the frame. If you see something you don't want in a print, move your shooting position or zoom in.

[Rapid_Roy]

Should I be posting mine in the thread about nothing? :laugh

Kbasa, excellent description, that helped me a lot.

[snoone]

Sunday cool fall Morning

[snoone]

wider angle

[BeerTeam]

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/213921381-XL.jpg

Lip's Wide Open
Uke's HD
Kenosha, WI

Hand held, no flash and no tripod. I was lucky and got a private tour of Uke's Museum. This bike was a give a way of the 1980's Stones tour. The owner traded it in on a dresser. What a dumb move.

[BeerTeam]

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/213924092-XL.jpg




More Uke's photos here: (http://klasjm.smugmug.com/Motorcycles)

[BeerTeam]

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/213957404-XL.jpg


DOF

Hit F11 on your keyboard for best viewing

[Crow18]

Wide angle, wide aperture.

http://homepage.mac.com/ericgibbs/snaps/DSC_0021.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/ericgibbs/snaps/DSC_0030.jpg

[snoone]

For those of you using Macs and iphoto and are upgrading to the new Leopard operating system it seems that the EXIF info that used to be available with Tiger is now no longer saved within the program. If you hit command I, the headings for exif are there but there is no info. The only info available now is date , time , kind and size of file.. Hopefully there will be a software update to correct this problem soon.

[sonnata]

http://www.homeproductsnmore.net/photos/BMWMOA/IMG_1756_XLrg.jpg

[RandallIsland]

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1202726_1

Open Arch, Wide Bridge

[Gil]

Photographed at the Pittsburgh zoo.

[darcym]

My riding day is usually on Monday. plus lots of fire damage in the usual riding areas today (San Diego), so my photo ops came while in the back yard. Sorry for not being motorcycle related ... All at ISO 100

I saw this ant go into this flower, caught him as he was leaving ... just barely!
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/doomscribe/dof/_MG_3054.jpg

1/250
Aperture: f/4.5

Yellow hibiscus - wanted more depth so f9.0
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/doomscribe/dof/_MG_3056.jpg
1/250
Aperture: f/9.0

Brilliant red dragonfly, first I've ever seen in my yard!
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/doomscribe/dof/_MG_3038.jpg
1/800
Aperture: f/4.0

[tourunigo]

... three contributions of 'ordinary life in the wide open' at Larry's River, Nova Scotia.

The first is at the river's edge looking out to the ocean. Almost time to bring in the boats.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007016.jpg

With no running water yet we draw from the well.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007046.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007041.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007033.jpg

This last is looking up the river, away from the ocean, and opening into some fine trout territory.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007021.jpg

I hope that I have good fortune posting these. Last time was a bit challenging (:doh ) -Bob

[Voni]

Gorgeous photos!

The lion gets my vote for the best following the theme picture.

This is the best thread EVER!

And thanks, Santa, for pointing out the F11 key.

Voni
sMiling

[tourunigo]

.... one more just for the fun of it. Actually a shoot gone wrong but I thought it still looked appropriate for the season and suitable for the theme, albeit obliquely.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007057.jpg

[RebeccaV]

Does anyone else think that this week's pictures are particularly good??
:clap

[PGlaves]

This old steam tractor at Castolon, in Big Bend National Park obviously "got the memo" this week!

[MLS2GO]

This one speaks to me in several ways, hopefully you too.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce09b3127ccebf02febb1f1a00000026100AYuWrJw0aOG Kg


My Grandson and Granddaughter on my RT. No explanation needed.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce09b3127ccebf02fe951f3400000026100AYuWrJw0aOG Kg

[Voni]

Sweet!

Voni
sMiling

[Voni]

The Chisos Basin Window was wide open.

Voni
sMiling

[grossjohann]

Does anyone else think that this week's pictures are particularly good??
:clap

No kidding!!! ...and some new "faces"!

[wezul]

Yes. An excellent crop of pics this time 'round.
Good on all of you!

[JohnF]

Bainbridge, OH

The first dentist's school was at this location, that is now a museum.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01084.jpg

I had wanted to go to far Eastern Ohio for a shot of the remains of "Big Muskie," the drag bucket for a large strip mining piece of equipment. They have a photo at the site with the entire marching band of a local high school in the bucket. But, a daughter's birthday and the grandchildren's neighborhood Halloween parade made riding time short on this gorgeous fall Sunday. There are priorities.


John F
Cincinnati, OH

[BMWDEAN]

Open wide

Portrait of Deryle.

[BMWDEAN]

Open wide.

Cycle World show entrance, Phoenix, Oct. 28, 2007

[BMWDEAN]

Open wide.

BMW display at Cycle World Show, Phoenix.

[SNC1923]

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/214193615-L.jpg (http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=214193615)

Actually, I was only doing about 70 mph, but I wanted a cockpit photo that showed some motion. The car in the on-coming lane adds a feeling of speed. The goober in the ULC tells me that I should have cleaned my sensor before leaving this weekend.

Don't worry about the flames on my Zumo. Kind of an inside joke. They won't last.

[SNC1923]

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/214198478-L.jpg (http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=214198478)

[SNC1923]

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/214193881-L.jpg (http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=214193881)

[SNC1923]

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/214195792-L.jpg (http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=214195792)

[SNC1923]

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/214199918-L.jpg
(http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=214199918)
I shot this at my medium zoom lens's maximum aperature, f/5.6. It blurs a mundane background just enough to focus interest on the subject.

[franze]

Took a ride through the vinyards north east of Geneva. Lots of color. Camera set to "Idiot".

[bluestune]

Does anyone else think that this week's pictures are particularly good??
:clap

Really good! It's great to see all the new folks here.

[BeerTeam]

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/214304901-XL-1.jpg

W-I-D-E Load

[grossjohann]

http://lh5.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyXg2N6f5FI/AAAAAAAAATs/U_HEdzsE73w/s800/DSC01211.JPG

Nothing much from me this weekend, but we did have a lot of fun.

[grossjohann]

http://lh3.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyXg5t6f5KI/AAAAAAAAAUY/ol_zyAEOLmE/s800/DSC_5271.JPG

[grossjohann]

http://lh5.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyXg5N6f5JI/AAAAAAAAAUM/El-fwrMXi5E/s800/DSC_5268.JPG

Notice the small glow inside her camera? This is the CMOS sensor!

http://lh6.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyXgbd6f4wI/AAAAAAAAARI/OlrIm3gn4nk/s800/DSC01224.JPG

This is the shot that she was taking of me at precisely the same moment. She was trying to take a shot of me, but I had jokingly turned my camera on her. What are the chances of that happing?

[grossjohann]

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/AbbySPictures102807/photo#5126750534797091618"><img src="http://lh3.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyXgct6f4yI/AAAAAAAAARY/8lo1UXj6s8M/DSC01226.JPG?imgmax=640" alt="Abby Reynolds - Photo Assignment: Wide Open"/></a>

This is Abby’s contribution to the assignment. She’s 10 (going on 16)…

[bricciphoto]

With garden photography is there a limit or rule of how much out of focus is allowed or accepted ?

If the subject is an insect and it is in the flower for an example. How do the rules change as far as how much soft focus is acceptable ? Did the rule change or the subject ?

Also since the new cameras have a light meter and are digital should one use an independent light meter as if you were working with a 35mm ? I almost said old school or old but there has to be something said about those days. Comparing them to an airhead here ?

For editorial purposes, anything goes. For more formal applications, books, illustrations, etc. it's strictly maximum DoF, which is almost impossible to do with a standard camera lens. The problems arise because most flowers have areas which are on two planes: parallel and perpendicular to the film (sensor) plane. This requires either a tilting lens or flexible bellows (like a view camera). And because the shots are usually magnified, shooting with a narrow aperture means shooting with a slow shutter speed and because the shot may be outdoors motion blur becomes an issue. The tiltable lens/bellows allows sharp focus with wider apertures (generally).

If the insect is the subject, the flower or plant is somewhat less important and totally sharp focus isn't always necessary for anything but the insect.

As far as metering goes, most modern cameras have good internal metering systems and unless it's a complex scene or strobe lighting is involved a handheld meter isn't usually necessary.

[bricciphoto]

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/AbbySPictures102807/photo#5126750513322255106"><img src="http://lh6.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyXgbd6f4wI/AAAAAAAAARI/OlrIm3gn4nk/DSC01224.JPG?imgmax=640" alt="Abby Reynolds - Photo Assignment: Wide Open" /></a>

This is the shot that she was taking of me at precisely the same moment. She was trying to take a shot of me, but I had jokingly turned my camera on her. What are the chances of that happing?

Pretty cool! I once had this happen at a basketball game. I fellow photographer and I were facing each other on opposite sides of the court and triggered our shutters at the same moment. Serendipity aside, that's a neat shot.

[cjack]

ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...ding...

[bricciphoto]

Does anyone else think that this week's pictures are particularly good??
:clap


Definitely. :clap Collectively the best week yet (in my humble opinion). Tom is gonna be busy with the feedback. I tried shooting something yesterday on my way out the door to Mass, but flubbed it because of my haste. Maybe I'll post it anyway because it will be a good lesson in what not to do. :blush

[Voni]

I don't know why, but I like this second shot even more, Jack.

Great sound effects ; )

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10499&stc=1&d=1193668218

Voni
sMiling

[cjack]

I don't know why, but I like this second shot even more, Jack.

Great sound effects ; )

http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10499&stc=1&d=1193668218

Voni
sMiling

I've got red cabooses too.
Thanks on the sound effects. I tried to get just the right bell sound.
I added the water last night...it needed water.

[grossjohann]

Pretty cool! I once had this happen at a basketball game. I fellow photographer and I were facing each other on opposite sides of the court and triggered our shutters at the same moment. Serendipity aside, that's a neat shot.

Hey, thanks! Do you still have the shot?

Nice images on your site, by the way...

[lamble]

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/214562374-M.jpg

Skagit river behind autumn foliage.

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/214561881-M.jpg

Bridge with Open-wide hut (Middle section used to open wide to allow boats through-the controls were in the hut).

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/214562049-M.jpg

ditto, different angle.

[Sue]

I love mornings and sunrises. I wish my little point & shoot could have captured the vapors coming from the surface of the coffee in the crisp morning air.

[Burnszilla]

Saturday we rode out to Davenport for a burger at Whale City Bakery. Then we rode south to Santa Cruz to go for a sundown sail in Monterey Bay. I was wearing my 'stich. As we exited the harbor a boater coming from the opposite direction yelled, "Nice motorcycle suit!"

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burnszilla/1799465195/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2273/1799465195_e89abd54e6_b.jpg" width="800" alt="Sailing in Santa Cruz" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burnszilla/1799471333/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/1799471333_c74517c02b_b.jpg" width="500" alt="Sailing in Santa Cruz" /></a>

[jdmetzger]

I went for a nice ride yesterday in an attempt to find a nice photo. It was probably in the mid 40's when I was out. I DID see one or two other riders out who were not wearing any helmet (or just a peanut shell) who had that "I'm cool!" grimace on their face... or was that "Please send for help, my face is frozen in this position!"?

Anyhow, I wasn't going to post my photo result, because it didn't come out how I wanted. I was attempting a "wide open road" shot. I took several (at different angles and not all at ground level) but none of them gave that "road goes on forever with no cars on it" look I was going for. FWIW, the road DID go on for quite a long time, with no traffic on it, through wide open farm fields. All the corn is down and the only thing growing is winter wheat... and it's not that tall, yet. Here is one of the shots I took. Rather uninspired, I think (gives me a good reason to try again next week):

[The_Veg]

OK I'll confess that this one came from the weekend before the one of this assignment, but it'll have to do:

http://vegomatic.smugmug.com/photos/212003277-M.jpg

[BeerTeam]

Photo Assignment: Weekend 10/27/07 "Open Wide" (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21286)



Photo Assignment: Weekend 10/19/07 "Shadow of a Doubt" (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21141)



Photo Assignment: Weekend 10/13/07 "Group Dynamic." (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20999&highlight=Photo+Assignment)



Photo Assignment: Weekend 10/06/07 "Blue." (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20845&highlight=Photo+Assignment)



Photo Assignment: Weekend 9/29 "Evolution." (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20687&highlight=Photo+Assignment)



Photo Assignment: Weekend 9/22/07 "Balance." (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20513&highlight=Photo+Assignment)



Photo Assignment: Weekend 9/15/07 "Where I Want to Be." (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20361&highlight=Photo+Assignment)



Photo Assignment: Weekend of 9/8/07 "A long way to go". (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20239&highlight=Photo+Assignment)



:thumb
:bolt

[PAULBACH]

Awesome pictures this week. They seem to get better and better. Nice job folks.

[BeerTeam]

I hope Tom gets some help reviewing these photos. About 60 photos this week, and at ten minutes per photo we are talking a bunch of work.

I enjoyed some of the in depth reviews of some photos of past weeks by various reviewers.

[grossjohann]

I hope Tom gets some help reviewing these photos. About 60 photos this week, and at ten minutes per photo we are talking a bunch of work.

I enjoyed some of the in depth reviews of some photos of past weeks by various reviewers.

No kidding... I was thinking the same this morning.

I vote that he choose 5-10 of the best or most interesting and review only those. We want more participation, but can't tax even Tom with ten hours of reviews!

[PAULBACH]

We all could help by submitting just one photo.

[grossjohann]

We all could help by submitting just one photo.

:blush

[SNC1923]

:blush

:rofl

[bricciphoto]

http://bricciphoto.smugmug.com/photos/215411788-M.jpg

Here’s my submission for the week. I’ll spare Tom a little work and offer my own critique. Others (including Tom) are welcome to add their remarks, too. I shot this on my way to church, literally while walking out the back door of my house. It just struck me as “wide open” because of the space between the terrestrial (my neighbor’s roof) and the moon were rather symbolic and obvious—and you can’t get much more open than that. I have a few different angles of this shot, but this one was the first exposure and I’ll leave it at that. I wanted to do a couple things with this shot: capture something appropriate to the theme, capture something simple that required little effort and capture something common in a somewhat less common view (relative to the theme). The trick and flaw of this shot was trying to capture the color of the morning sun, which was still yellowish (on the house) while keeping the moon and sky exposed properly. It’s under exposed about 1 stop. It was shot at ISO 100, 1/320 at f/4.8 with my P&S camera fully zoomed out to about an equivalent of 210 mms. I didn’t use a tripod so I had to shoot at least 1/200th or above to minimize motion blur from handholding. The proper exposure would have been about 1/125th. So to make this shot technically correct, I would have needed a more open aperture, which wasn’t available because f/4.8 is the max on my camera, so my best option should have been increasing the ISO to 200. And as a side note I have no excuse for the under exposure because this was shot facing northwest and the northern sky on a cloudless sunlit day has about 18% reflectance, which is about the same as a grey card—I just was in a hurry and not paying attention.

Compositionally I was just aiming for the simple geometry of the round moon and triangular roof line, while balancing (poorly) the contrasting yellowish sunlight against a clear blue sky.

That’s my story…and I’m sticking to it.

And excellent photos everyone else! It was a banner week. :clap

[Voni]

It has indeed!

And M1ka, in his Morning Reads today give us this:

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/13-lessons-to-teach-your-child-about-digital-photography/

More basics that I needed to hear. What a supportive place to learn this thread is!!

Thanks Tom, and ALL of you.

Voni
sMiling

[SNC1923]

It has indeed!

And M1ka, in his Morning Reads today give us this:

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/13-lessons-to-teach-your-child-about-digital-photography/

More basics that I needed to hear. What a supportive place to learn this thread is!!

Thanks Tom, and ALL of you.

Voni
sMiling

Voni,

You are most welcome! And I echo your thanks--everyone's participation is what makes this so enjoyable and interesting.

I saw M1ka's link for "beginners," and thought it was good advice for lots of photographers. He also has been running links to these threads, too. Much appreciated.

I would be remiss were I not to give a shout out (I have no idea what that means) to Kbasa who got this whole thing rolling.

What fun!

:clap

[RandallIsland]

I would be remiss were I not to give a shout out (I have no idea what that means) to Kbasa who got this whole thing rolling.

What fun!

:clap

Poobah :bow Poobah :bow Poobah :bow Poobah :bow
Poobah :bow Poobah :bow Poobah :bow Poobah :bow
Poobah :bow Poobah :bow Poobah :bow Poobah :bow

[kbasa]

If there's one thing I know how to do, it's steal an idea and run with it.

Big props to Tom for keeping it going.

Do we want to have a larger "review and comment" team?

[SNC1923]

I'm impressed with how many people seem to be reading what I have to say about the photo submissions. I'm one of many experienced voices on this board. I enjoy this process and the exercise of having to think critically and make substantive comments on your artistic interpretations. I only hope I do your efforts and intentions justice.

As has already been pointed out, this has been a banner week. I'll comment on at least one photo from each submitter. If I don't comment on a photo you'd like to hear about, repost or PM me.

Like many of you, I've really enjoyed this week's results. Let's get to it, shall we?

This week's theme was "wide open." Shooters were asked to interpret this how they may, and--if they desired--to play with the depth-of-field (DoF) on their cameras.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PA260034.jpg

This week's first submission is from Rapid_Roy. This shot addresses the theme both technically and aesthetically. It is, indeed, shot with a wide-open aperature, as the very limited DoF will attest to. But it's also a large opening, one crucially important to a motorcyclist. This appears to be an airhead, and one can just make out the right cylinder head in the distance. I almost want that in slightly sharper relief, making it evident that this is a motorcycle, and indeed, a BMW motorcycle. Of course the stamping on the muffler does indicate that. It's sharp, clear, and well-composed. Notice that it conforms to the "Golden Mean" of composition. I even like the reflection in the chrome. Really nice job here.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618201-L.jpg

Statdawg's with us again this week with a really interesting interpretation. It's a beautiful landscape shot through this. . . . what is it? The opening obviously focuses one's attention, but at the same time, the diffusing of the image through what I assume is plastic really captures the imagination. It's almost as though I'm viewing a reflection the concentric circles of a recent splash in the water. There are two images; I chose this one which I liked better. Both are shots of merit though. The difference seems to be the degree to which the lens is zoomed, this one being wide-angle and the other more telephoto, but I'm guessing.

I recently took a photo like this while in Colorado through a Slurpee lid. It was a fun effect, but this is executed much better. Maybe he'll tell us what this is all about, or maybe not. . . . Nevertheless, really imaginative and thought-provoking rendering of an otherwise standard landscape shot.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/213582507-XL.jpg

KBasa joins us this week with three nice shots, each of which addresses the theme in terms of technique and interpretation. Of the three good shots, I like this one the best. The yellow flower is equally beautiful, but less interesting to me because of the dominance of one color--a subjective impression to be sure. This subject is indeed wide open, a flower in full bloom. the depth of field is quite shallow; as you can see, even the petals foreground and background recede into blur. The subject--the pistil--is in sharp focus and the DoF draws the viewer's eye right to it. The background looks busy, but is sufficiently blurred so as not to distract. It's a well-executed and pretty photograph.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/213581057-XL.jpg

OK, I lied. Here's KBasa's yellow flower. Also a really nice shot, and one that offers an alternate angle, head-on rather than from the side. Arguablly a more flattering angle for the subject. There's a bothersome little shadow at the bottom. What detracts from this photo--slightly--in comparsion to the other is that the DoF is less shallow and the background distracts a bit from the subject. This is magnified by the subject's blank, yellow pallate. Something really interesting in this image, and one that would be less visible in a more colorful flower, is the pistil's shadow.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PA260055.jpg

Another Rapid_Roy shot. I like this because it's a creative interpretation of the theme and an unusual angle for a bike shot. He wants us to look at the seat, and his composition directs us to do that. He comments that he couldn't get the DoF shallow enough to eliminate the background. This is probably due to the fact that the shot is wide-angle. Because the magnification is reduced, the DoF remains fairly deep inspite of a large aperature.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PA260077.jpg

Honorable mention for another unusual angle. It's easy to take a shot of a bike on its side stand; how many of think of unusual angles like these two? 600 bonus points for creativity--200 each for these three shots.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618315-XL.jpg

There is so much to like about Voni's submission that I hardly know where to begin. As KBasa points out, this is an open door welcoming riders, or seemingly so. Fits the theme wonderfully. There are screens or something on the windows, so they are darker than the door's entrance. Again, the viewer's eye is directed to the subject. That the door is red is serendipitous, but makes for a wonderful detail. I like that the bikes are partially obscured and that the riders are in sharp relief. I like how the light falls off as the photo recedes to the right. It's just a wonderful, interesting, and thought-provoking image. Voni's got an eye for this.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618344-XL.jpg

Snoone's back with a nice image this week. Of his two submissions, I think this one fits the theme better. Although typically wider angle works better for a landscape photo, here the telephoto shot reveals more detail and tells more of a story. In the wide-angle shot, the hamlet disappears into the background. The telephoto shot includes the trees and the wonderful autumn colors, but still tells a story about where this is and what the surrounding area includes. If you page back (page 2) and look at the wide-angle shot, the foreground isn't that interesting. In this shot, the foreground is the beautiful trees. Really nice shot.

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/213921381-XL.jpg

Beerteam's back with another batch of really nice submissions. This first one really jumps out to me as a creative interpretation of the theme. It says a lot about HDs, too. It captures the culture and the vibe associated with these bikes well. You may note (for those trying to learn) that the DoF is not too shallow. The image does become softer in the background but only slight so, again attributable to the use of a wide-angle lens, I'd guess.

I'm envious of this private museum tour. Several really nice shots.

http://homepage.mac.com/ericgibbs/snaps/DSC_0021.jpg

Crow18 brings us two nice submissions this week. His first? I don't recall seeing others. This is an especially nice shot for a number of reasons. To begin with, it is wide-angle but because he's so close to the subject and the aperature is wide open, he does achieve a shallow DoF--no mean feat. In addition, the composition layers nicely into the rule of thirds with little more than color, from blue to green to shadow. It's a complex and interesting image with the various blues of the flower, the vivid green leaves, with the dead needles lying on each. It appears to be purposely under-exposed, bringing out the richness in the colors. This is a photo of not only a plant but of a forest atmosphere.

http://www.homeproductsnmore.net/photos/BMWMOA/IMG_1756_XLrg.jpg

Sonnata joins us with a nice image this week. Fits the theme nicely and is a great exposure. The latitude of light in this image exceeds the sensor's ability to record, so decisions must be made. The camera's meter (or the photographer) made good decisions here. The foreground is dark and the background blown-out, but the tunnel entrance, the subject as I see it--has the proper exposure. It connotes mystery and perhaps a little danger. I like the barely-visible grafitti on the left. This shot is somehow just a bit sinister. Maybe it's the dead leaves. Maybe I'm just looking for trouble. It's a nice shot. 100 bonus points for not putting the tunnel entrance dead center in the image.

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1202726_1

I like RandallIsland's submission this week. It addresses the theme with an unexpected vertical composition. The bridge wants to be the subject, but it isn't. The clouds and the opening that reveals them is the interesting aspect of this shot. There's a vague (purple?) cast to the shot that somehow adds to the whole. It's interesting and invites contemplation.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618374-XL.jpg

Gil visited the Pittsburgh Zoo this weekend and caputered a shot that fits the theme quite well. Imagine being a veterinary dentist facing this patient. I'm sure he's just yawning, but these shots are always impressive and are usually the result of at least a little patience. It is a bit fuzzy. Low resolution or motion blur? My eyes just ain't what they used to be.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/doomscribe/dof/_MG_3056.jpg

Darcym joins us this week with several nice submissions, two of which I'd like to comment on. This first is another nice flower shot with limited DoF. It appears to have been shot in glaring, direct sunlight and so is a bit washed out; however, the inclusion of both the entire pistil and its entire shadow is a really nice composition. Fits the theme well.

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l134/doomscribe/dof/_MG_3038.jpg

Darcym's other submission is an exquisite close-up of an unsual (to me) insect. Never seen a red one, in my yard or elsewhere. The DoF is entirely obscured--this is close-up, telephoto, AND wide-open. The dragonfly is in sharp focus though. Really, really nice. The wings are so interesting. It's great lighting, too. My one fault here would be the composition; I'd rather see the dragonfly higher in the frame. Having said that, it may not have been possible and timing may also have been a factor. In post-processing this can be cropped, too. A really successful image.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007016.jpg

Tourunigo is back with several nice images. The well is interesting, but this one gets my vote. It's a very successful landscape and an equally successful boat shot. Everything is right about this composition. The horizon's slightly out of whack, but I've beat that horse to death already. I like the character of this little boat and wish that the red boat in the river weren't obscured by the pier. The sky's a bit washed out, but it's very visible in the water, which is perhaps more interesting. Really pretty picture.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/Oct282007021.jpg

This shot is also worth mentioning. Nice exposure and color. It's a relatively mundane subject, but it's so artfully executed that it makes for an interesting interpretation. It's a very thoughtful composition. Nice.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618406-XL.jpg

PGlaves, having received this week's memo, is back with a nice submission. Fits the theme well and is an interesting, well-composed shot. The exposure on the tractor's opening is right-on, but the rest of the image is a bit over-exposed. This is a RED tractor--I want to see that. I think this could potentially be fixed in processing.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7ce09b3127ccebf02fe951f3400000026100AYuWrJw0aOG Kg

MLS2GO is back with two nice submissions. This one is impossible to resist. I love everything about this. That the kids are wearing helmets (and this has nothing to do with ATGATT, though he does collect 500 bonus points) but that they are play-acting, what kids do so well. The little boy's wide open mouth fits the theme beautifully and reveals his unbridled joy to be on this magnificent motorcycle. What fun! It's lit with a flash (fill-flash) and that adds a sense of excitement or urgency to the photo. Really, really nice stuff.

[SNC1923]

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01084.jpg

JohnF, who apparently has a pretty wry sense of humor, is back again with a nice submission. An interesting old building with a bike included, always good. But that it's a dental museum, open wide, well. . . . You see where he's going. Nice.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618433-L.jpg

BMWDean joins us again this week with three submissions of merit. The shot above is simply hilarious. It addresses the theme perfectly and it's just plain funny. Deryle's teeth have a lot of character and I would recommend that he seek work as a tooth model. 500 bonus points (100 each) for the gold crowns--have two myself. My dentist doesn't get it, but I dig 'em.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618446-L.jpg

Another neat, super wideangle shot from BMWDean--motorcycle related, to boot. There is noticeable barrel distortion in this image and severe fall off in the corners. Is this a lens attachment or a lens? In spite of technical imperfections--which do add drama--this is a powerful and exciting shot. Reminds me a bit of a Sport Illustrated shot in a football stadium.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618484-L.jpg

This is a really interesting close-up. It's an F800 engine cut-away or K1200? I remember something like this from last year's show. This is a great angle, nice lighting, just very successsful. Thinking about DoF, the foreground is a bit blurry and the background is not. This is due to where to point of focus (where the AF was pointed) is centered. Nothing serious, just an observation. I generally prefer the foreground focused and the background trailing off. Takes away nothing from this successful effort.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/214193881-L.jpg

Here's one of mine. Brilliant but flawed. Seriously, I like this shot because it's unusual in that it records a mundane and rarely photogrphed occurance. It's an opening (though hardly wide) and so attempts to address the theme. The shallow DofF really draws attention to the obvious character in Kelly's working-man's hands.

ERROR: Can't display bitmap image

Franze from Switzerland--18 posts--comes in this week with this diminuitive submission. Doesn't really fit the theme that I can see. Also, toooooooo small! But a nice image from a ride and welcome submission from a newer member. "Camera set to idiot." :rofl A sense of humor always helps. Post again and thanks for joining us!

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215707433-L.jpg

Grossjohann is back with a number of submissions this week. The above fails to address the theme and is a fun if ordinary photo. But it garners 10,000 bonus points for including an R1200GSA. Nice.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215707512-L.jpg

GJ's second submission is an excellent composition, addresses the theme well, is an excellent example of shallow DoF, and is really, really gross. (50 bonus points)

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215707463-L.jpg

This should be cropped and displayed. As GJ already asks, what are the odds of capturing a flash in your exposure. A flash's durantion is in the tens-of-thousands of a second range. I'm not a statistician, but those have to be long odds. Neat image.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215655793-L.jpg

CJack joins us this week with a photo from his other expensive hobby. This is a nice product shot, for lack of a better description. It's a clear image with good color, too. The shadows from the flash are a bit of a bummer, but that can be relieved with a simple and inexpensive reflector. They even make them for SLR cameras with built-in flashes. If I can pick on just one other small thing, if the DoF were just a bit greater, the trains would be in focus, too. The point of focus seems to be on the drawbridge and leaves the trains a bit fuzzy. With all that said, it's a pretty successful effort and looks like a lot of fun. I'll never know because if I came home with model train stuff, my wife would kill me and bury me in the backyard.

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/214562374-M.jpg

Nice to have lamble join us this week, though I miss his old avatar. This is a successful shot that addresses the theme through technique, namely DoF. An otherwise ordinary shot of leaves has so much "punch" because they are set in stark relief to the fuzzy background. A nice shot.

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/214561881-M.jpg

Of the two bridge shots, I like this one better. The angle (from below) adds a sense of drama to the image and the vertical composition is unexpected. We actually have two vertically-composed bridge shots this week--although if we include Deryle's bridge, that's three. I kill me. :wave

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618250-L.jpg

How very nice to have Sue Rihn-Manke join us this week with this idyllic sunrise. Sunsets are commonplace subjects, sunrises far less so. This is a beautiful shot that definitely tells a story. I'm not sure if I see revealing an interpretation of the theme (though I could just be a dunderhead) but I don't care--it's a great shot. The inclusion of the tea set (which is actually full of coffee) is splendid. I'm sorry that you missed the steam of the coffee. How great would that have been. The whole shot is a bit undersaturated due to the difficulty of shooting into the sun, but post-processing might help that. Beautiful photo.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/1799471333_c74517c02b_b.jpg

Happy to see Burnzilla back this week with a couple of beautiful submissions. This one is gorgeous. This photo is all about light and I can't say enough nice things about it. The texture in the water is magnificent and the overall cast of maroon is just great. This is more like an oil painting than a photograph. The color, light, and texture completely overshadow its ordinary composition. I love this shot.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/215618291-L.jpg

JDMetzger is back with what may be this week's most unusual submission. He kind of beats this shot up, but I really like it. Very unusual subject and a bold composition, angle of attack. I agree that the vanishing point does sort of prematurely vanish. . . . I wonder if lifting the camera, pointing it down slightly, may have helped? 350 bonus points for creativity. Whereas we like to see the subject off center, rule of thirds, golden mean, and all of that, this shot's absolute and rigid symmetry is what makes is so compelling. This is a shot worth returning to and experimenting with. It's already quite successful. Who knows how it might evolve with further efforts?

http://vegomatic.smugmug.com/photos/212003277-M.jpg

This is a bitchin' picture. Fit the theme? I don't know, but I like it a lot. I love the color and that the bike is in partial sillhouette. It's an iconic image, one that would appeal especially to BMW afficianados, but to others as well, I'm guessing. Love the exposure, the twilight in the bottome. I might crop out the goobers in the lower margin, though. Minus 10 points for goobers.

http://bricciphoto.smugmug.com/photos/215411788-M.jpg

Bricciphoto has already said much of what needs to be said about this fine photo. I really like this. It reminds me, a bit, of the recent shot by Outback UFO. It's no copy, of course, but just a similar study in lines and contrast. Nice submission and a successful effort if I may say. I particularly like the shadowplay on the terrestrial. 100 bonus points for adding "terrestrial" to my vocabulary and 50 bonus points for going to church.

Barring any last-minute submission amidst all the trick or treating, that's all folks. It was a banner week and really nice crop of photos. We've all been thanking each other for our submissions and work, but I would like to add my sincere thanks to everyone who participates and makes this so fun, photographers, critics, and viewers.

Next week's theme will be up in a day or so. Watch for it! :wave

[BMWDEAN]

nother neat, super wideangle shot from BMWDean--motorcycle related, to boot. There is noticeable barrel distortion in this image and severe fall off in the corners. Is this a lens attachment or a lens?

'Twas a fisheye lens. All three were fisheyes. Ergo, distortions.

[cjack]

CJack joins us this week with a photo from his other expensive hobby. This is a nice product shot, for lack of a better description. It's a clear image with good color, too. The shadows from the flash are a bit of a bummer, but that can be relieved with a simple and inexpensive reflector. They even make them for SLR cameras with built-in flashes. If I can pick on just one other small thing, if the DoF were just a bit greater, the trains would be in focus, too. The point of focus seems to be on the drawbridge and leaves the trains a bit fuzzy. With all that said, it's a pretty successful effort and looks like a lot of fun. I'll never know because if I came home with model train stuff, my wife would kill me and bury me in the backyard.


Speaking of expensive hobbies, after taking this while fiddling with the Coolpix camera, I suggested I reactivate my other hobby of decades ago and get a Nikon D44x or maybe a D80. She didn't say she would bury me in the back yard, but did suggest that I sleep on it.

[jdmetzger]

Woo! I did better than I thought! :clap

Thanks for the constructive feedback as always, Tom!!! Really appreciate you doing this; it sure is a lot of work with all the submissions! :thumb

[SNC1923]

'Twas a fisheye lens. All three were fisheyes. Ergo, distortions.

Clearly a very nice lens, Jeff. Are you using a crop sensor camera? Or is it a legit 10.5mm? Either way, a very nice lens.

All three shots were great, but that middle one seemed to have so much fall off. Maybe it was just the light. . . . I'm shooting Canon lately, but I've used Nikkor glass for many years. Great stuff.

[BeerTeam]

Great photos.

By looking at this weeks submissions, I am seeing a lot of nice DSLR with some fancy lenses. It would be great to see the camera info while judging the photo. Having that info would be great for our next camera purchase.

I am shooting with a CanonA 610 and a four year old Canon S70 Point and shoot. The S70 is an advanced P&S. If I were to replace the A610 I would look into purchasing a G9 or a S5 IS.

I would go to a entry level DSL but I like a camera in my pocket not at home on the shelf.

Looking at this weeks photos, the old story of it is the person behind the camera only goes so far.

[grossjohann]

Thanks for taking so much time to address out submissions, Tom. This is such a great project. I hope we can keep it up.

I’m not sure that I’m qualified to help with the reviews, but I’m here if you like. Otherwise, I will try to help by submitting only one image each week.

Let’s see if we can keep this up!

[grossjohann]

Great photos.

By looking at this weeks submissions, I am seeing a lot of nice DSLR with some fancy lenses. It would be great to see the camera info while judging the photo. Having that info would be great for our next camera purchase.

I am shooting with a CanonA 610 and a four year old Canon S70 Point and shoot. The S70 is an advanced P&S. If I were to replace the A610 I would look into purchasing a G9 or a S5 IS.

I would go to a entry level DSL but I like a camera in my pocket not at home on the shelf.

Looking at this weeks photos, the old story of it is the person behind the camera only goes so far.

I held out for years before replacing my Nikon Rebel with a DSLR. The Cannon looked great, but I just wasn’t ready to go with the Cannon lens (this was about 4 years ago). I'm using a Nikon D70 (6 megapixels) with a Nikkor AF 35-70 (F 2.8) lens, and for the "keep it in your pocket all the time" camera, I use a Sony Cyber-shot (DSC-W100) 8.1 megapixels with a Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom.

[grossjohann]

'Twas a fisheye lens. All three were fisheyes. Ergo, distortions.

I love the fish-eye lens, but I have a hard time justifying the expense… I suppose if I had one, then I would have more ideas that require it…

[bricciphoto]

I would go to a entry level DSL but I like a camera in my pocket not at home on the shelf.

Looking at this weeks photos, the old story of it is the person behind the camera only goes so far.

I just sold all my hi-end DSLR gear in July and bought my wife an F800ST and me a Canon G9. I've had all the gear (fisheye to 300mm, tilt/shift lenses, strobes and doohickeys galore) and there are some technical limitations equipment overcomes, but a photo is really all about the subject, the composition and the exposure. If you can't master those three variables, all the equipment in the world isn't going to help. Many of my favorite photos were snapped with an old Canon G2--including some that were technically extremely complex. A skilled photographer with a basic camera can outshoot a less skilled, but well-equipped photographer any day of the week. All that said there are some inherent disadvantages (of equal magnitude) to both simple P&S cameras and DSLRs. I want to challenge myself to reach new technical and creative levels, and I no longer shoot professionally, so I simplified my gear (of course starting with the knowledge of what I can and can't do with a G9 helps). :wave

[tourunigo]

As others have said Tom, thank you very much for taking the time and effort to provide reviews of the many pictures. Additionally, I enjoy and appreciate the contributions themselves (and the commentary). How people see their world and what they value can be seen/implied in these pictures. I remain convinced as well that beyond honing artistic and technical skills, the process itself forces us to move beyond a 'complacency of the familiar' and into looking with 'fresh eyes' and possibly feeling in new (or revitalized) ways. Again, thanks Tom for providing thoughtful and helpful responses. -Bob

[sonnata]

Great photos.

By looking at this weeks submissions, I am seeing a lot of nice DSLR with some fancy lenses. It would be great to see the camera info while judging the photo. Having that info would be great for our next camera purchase.

I am shooting with a CanonA 610 and a four year old Canon S70 Point and shoot. The S70 is an advanced P&S. If I were to replace the A610 I would look into purchasing a G9 or a S5 IS.

I would go to a entry level DSL but I like a camera in my pocket not at home on the shelf.

Looking at this weeks photos, the old story of it is the person behind the camera only goes so far.
I like to use http://www.dpreview.com to compare cameras. With some cameras, they do studio shots of the same subject, so you can view the results of one camera over the other. Had I known about this site several years ago when I bought my DSLR, I would have probably bought a Nikon D100 over the Canon 10D, but I made the mistake of listening to a salesman before thoroughly researching the choices.

[kbasa]

:clap

Thanks for the feedback and the significant time investment, Tom! This whole series of exercises should really help us when riding season starts in earnest again next spring.

[The_Veg]

Thanks Tom for such kind words. Even when I lost points, you said it in a way that made me giggle: "Minus 10 points for goobers." That's a quote that will stay with me. :)

[lamble]

Seems having removed the Panzer, the authorities will not allow me to put it back as a moving avatar.

Buttons...there are so many on everything these days, and so many functions and options and add ons- it's good to get some focused direction (pun intended) on what we can do, then go out and press a few, to see what the result is.

It's even better when someone has the ability to pass valid comments.

Thanks.

[Rapid_Roy]

Thank you both for your time in reviewing the pictures. I have learned much, and the reviews are phrased in such a manner that I will never beat my camera in frustration.
I am upset that I can't remember what I did in that muffler shot to get it that way, out of the 20 or so I took of that subject. I may have to pull the exif data.
The camera is an Olympus 765 Digital with 10X Optical zoom.
Again, thanks for the kind words, and inspiration.

[PGlaves]

Tom Wrote:

"PGlaves, having received this week's memo, is back with a nice submission. Fits the theme well and is an interesting, well-composed shot. The exposure on the tractor's opening is right-on, but the rest of the image is a bit over-exposed. This is a RED tractor--I want to see that. I think this could potentially be fixed in processing."

The tractor is more a brownish red than it appears in the posted photo. It is rusty with a reddish tint to the rust - by eye and by electrons. Several other shots looked a bit browner depending on the angle of the lighting.

I think it got redder for some reason when I resized the photo for posting too. I use an ancient (mid 1990s) version of Arcsoft Photo Studio I got with a camera that recorded the pictures on 3-1/2" floppy disks - yes, that old!!. I use it because it is very convenient but I have noticed before that saturation seems to increase when I shrink photo size.

[Voni]

I think it got redder for some reason when I resized the photo for posting too.
I use an ancient (mid 1990s) version . . .

Or?

; )

I like redder ; )

Voni
sMiling

[SNC1923]

Or?

; )

I like redder ; )

Voni
sMiling



Redder is better!

[rocketman]

Wow! Seems I missed out on on being able to add to quite a good collection this week. While I did have internet access on vacation, I only spend ten minutes (if that) just to check some email,, somehow after flying for the better part of the day just get to San Lucas, and only having a week, well I had better things to do than play on the internet! I don't know maybe I'm crazy, but....:dunno

Did take a ton of shots and will post a report soon and did think of the challange what tried a few along those lines.. so even though its now done, just to keep my hand in the mix, heres one I took and which I will disqualify myself imediately for posting late and out taken outside the window and all but...

Like Grains of Sand......

http://www.roadrunes.com/Cabo-San-Lucas-2007/Cabo%20San%20Lucas-Selected/images/DSC_3943.jpg

RM