Photo Assignment: Weekend 11/03/07 [Archive]

View Full Version : Photo Assignment: Weekend 11/03/07

SNC1923

11-02-2007, 12:16 AM

Big week last week! Lots of submissions and lots of fun.

KBasa posed an interesting question: Do we want to have a larger "review and comment" team?

I'm certainly open to having more voices offer critique. Bluestune, Rebecca, Knary, Ian, Burnzilla, and Bricciphoto have all chimed in. Whether a critique or a question, it's all something we can learn from. I hope folks will chime in with their thoughts as they wish. And if you want to contribute more regularly, PM me and let me know your thoughts--or just do.

Having said all that, 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. Having a creative title for your photo is always nice.
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 theme: "Pure & Simple"

"Pure and simple" can refer to ingredients, one's version of truth, the old days, or many other ideas. What does it mean to you? Take a photo and show us. And for fun, try to include a title without the words "pure" or "simple."

It's already Friday in some parts of the country. Now get out there and shoot.

KBasa

11-02-2007, 01:35 AM

In.

grossjohann

11-02-2007, 05:51 AM

RandallIsland

11-02-2007, 05:53 AM

Click me if you wanna qualify for the bonus rounds! (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=255738#post255738)
:ha :ha :ha

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1212665_1 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21443)

BeerTeam

11-02-2007, 06:02 AM

Photo Assignment: Weekend 11/03/07 "Pure & Simple" (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21441)

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

11-02-2007, 06:06 AM

Great theme! It is so ... pure and simple.

bricciphoto

11-02-2007, 08:07 AM

I'm looking forward to seeing the posts on this theme. After last week and everyone being on a great creative roll....:thumb

Voni

11-02-2007, 11:05 PM

Day of the Dead celebration
Terlingua, TX

Voni
sMiling

PGlaves

11-03-2007, 10:53 AM

Balancing a wheel the old fashioned way - on two level rails - the axle rolls till the heavy spot is down.

PGlaves

11-03-2007, 10:57 AM

Rainwater collection in the Chihuahuan Desert!

SNC1923

11-03-2007, 11:42 AM

Balancing a wheel the old fashioned way - on two level rails - the axle rolls till the heavy spot is down.

I did this yesterday! Why didn't I think to take a picture?

SNC1923

11-03-2007, 12:32 PM

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/216710729-XL.jpg (http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=216710729)

bobh41

11-03-2007, 01:42 PM

http://www.hal4d.com/PICT0052.jpg

Simple as you can get.

grossjohann

11-03-2007, 03:10 PM

http://lh4.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyzRhN6f5YI/AAAAAAAAAW8/zZtkBNA7Jyc/s800/DSC01267.JPG

grossjohann

11-03-2007, 03:21 PM

http://lh4.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyzRfN6f5UI/AAAAAAAAAWc/SQ9oqo1Hn4Q/s800/DSC01302.JPG

grossjohann

11-03-2007, 03:24 PM

http://lh6.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyzRgt6f5XI/AAAAAAAAAW0/I3KmPul-S6g/s800/DSC01281.JPG

bmwdean

11-03-2007, 10:31 PM

Nov. 3, 2007 -- pure and simple

OUTBACKUFO

11-04-2007, 12:46 AM

Since we are on an architechural running deal here is one that is an actual finished image from my B&W work...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/OutbackUfo/Photo/hooverdam.jpg

OUTBACKUFO

11-04-2007, 12:57 AM

Okay following the rules of jus taking shots without any adjustments (except i cropped out my lens shade... was shooting with a 18mm lens today)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/OutbackUfo/Motorcycling/Nov4th07ride/bulldust1.jpg

Found some good old bull dust in NE Utah today... Pure uniform softness... and Simplely engulfed the road. This section was only upto 8 inches deep... went through one earlier to this one that was deep!

OUTBACKUFO

11-04-2007, 01:02 AM

Pure blue sky and Simple track roadhttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/OutbackUfo/Motorcycling/Nov4th07ride/trackroadut.jpg

OUTBACKUFO

11-04-2007, 01:07 AM

grossjohann

11-04-2007, 07:34 AM

Since we are on an architechural running deal here is one that is an actual finished image from my B&W work...

This is a great shot. You would have a great time shooting a the Empire State Plaza in Albany. I was going for "pure and simple" lines, but there are lots of nice contemporary lines (http://picasaweb.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/EmpireStatePlaza).

These shots would be great in the ANARCHY Photo Assignment: Weekend 11/03/07 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21443)

Jamming

11-04-2007, 07:34 AM

Rainwater collection in the Chihuahuan Desert!

Paul, that's awesome. I'm a desert rat, and people don't believe me when I tell them the desert is a far more fragile environment that a woodland environment.

Roger.....in the Sonoran Desert.

grossjohann

11-04-2007, 07:49 AM

Wanted to share this one fro ma couple of weeks ago to demostrate the Pure and Simple elegance of the Elements of the earth at play with organizisms that walk through them.. Bison Tracks: Yellowstone.

Outback,

You come across as a rather spontaneous or even impulsive person. (No offence meant - I would put myself into that category as well, but perhaps not to such and extent.)

When I take a photograph, it’s usually because I can see the desired end result, and I want to capture that “vision” either for the “pure and simple” gratification of having created something tangible from my inspiration, or to show/give it to others.

Often I will take 3-4 shots (or 200 shots) of the same subject in hopes that one will reflect what I want. While there are occasions where I will choose a second or third shot, I usually find the first one to be the most inspired; the rest can often seem like cheap imitations.

Barring any “finishing” like cropping, color compensation, or pushing the exposure, do you find your first picture to be your best, or do you like to go back and work on it to get what you want?

-Alex

JohnF

11-04-2007, 08:21 AM

Riding in SE OH to take pictures of potential "bonus locations" for LD rally to send to a friend. Near Dexter City, OH is a memorial to Johnny Appleseed. I took various shots to identify and verify the memorial. One shot I took was the wording at the base of the memorial, in case the rally master wanted to have an answer the question type bonus.

After I took the photo I started to walk away, and "schazamm..." The photo is in no way artistic. It is just a message to immortalize someone and tell about their life...that (to me) fit perfectly into the theme.

What a great weekend to be out riding...a little nippy (low 30's) when I stopped for this photo...but toured a lot of fun "tourist" type places, rode some great roads, and just enjoyed life.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01104.jpg

JohnF

11-04-2007, 08:34 AM

With my great typing and computer skills...I sent the photo before I was ready.

The title was to be A Good Deed with Seed.

The location of the monument is:
N 39 38.969
W 081 28.388

The submitter is

John F
Cincinnati, OH

p.s. A shot of the entire site with, of course, Apple trees in the back.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01106.jpg

franze

11-04-2007, 11:16 AM

live in color, play in black and white

OUTBACKUFO

11-04-2007, 01:00 PM

Outback,

You come across as a rather spontaneous or even impulsive person. (No offence meant - I would put myself into that category as well, but perhaps not to such and extent.)

When I take a photograph, it’s usually because I can see the desired end result, and I want to capture that “vision” either for the “pure and simple” gratification of having created something tangible from my inspiration, or to show/give it to others.

Often I will take 3-4 shots (or 200 shots) of the same subject in hopes that one will reflect what I want. While there are occasions where I will choose a second or third shot, I usually find the first one to be the most inspired; the rest can often seem like cheap imitations.

Barring any “finishing” like cropping, color compensation, or pushing the exposure, do you find your first picture to be your best, or do you like to go back and work on it to get what you want?

-Alex

It all depends on the image... i print all BW by hand. All color is inported Digitally from film or from digital camera... i do normally the minimum corrections unless i am blending multiple images into an panorama then there is a bit more color corrections needed. There is a principal in photo that goes once you find the image you want then start taking photo of it... i will sometime only have time for one quick shot sometimes i have time to really see what i can get from the image just with the camera. A prof. at Brookes Inst of Photo. (happens to be my father) says to put the camera in to manual mode and shot a half stop up and down from the proper light meter reading to make sure you get the right exposure. The Hoover Dam bw image is one negative out of about 4-5. the only issue i have with digital caputre is that you loose info when blowing up the image... i can take a 35mm neg and scan it at 4000dpi to make a bit print... you will get graininess but you will still see the image... thing of Suret pointalism painting effect... the digital it gets pixelated so there is an limit to enlargement due to the amount of Mega-pixels you capture.. my D70 is a 6mp... can go up to 16x20 image... maybe 20-30 with how i crop...

out about 600 BW and 400 color negs from my Australia riding in 2001 i have 1 image that made it into two museum collections and about 20 maybe 30 images that are portfolio quality... so there is something about finding the higher quality out of the quantity but you still have to train your eye (minds eye) to see the image and think about how you wish it to be seen when it is done. Most artist amature or pro dont do this. for example, when i am in my ceramics studio... i make a piece for what glaze and where in my wood kiln it will go most likely... i think about the finished item before it leave the wheel or work bench... most ceramist i know first make the piece then think about what glaze or firing effect they want... (this is how acedamia instutions teach art)... i find that once i am in photo taking mode i take a lot of picts... have gone for months with out taking the camera out for even a touristy shot of something... then i take a walk up my creek and spend 2 hrs on one ice fall.. its all in the training of you inner aesthetic eye... and knowing most of the time you will spend more energy the higher level of refinement of an image to get it right where you want it even if you do absolutely not correctoins... like the Bison hoof prints in the geyser minerals image above... i spent 20 minutes just figuring out what part i wanted to capture... at least my wife is the same and went off shooting some morning gesyer mist trying to foto a geyser that did not want to be photoed :laugh

tourunigo

11-04-2007, 01:45 PM

Trying out how pure & simple my light meter works.

whoa!! my first take on your fine picture was that it was a joint. Well, I got the 'simple' part right.... as usual :laugh -Bob

RandallIsland

11-04-2007, 04:00 PM

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1213741_1

jdmetzger

11-04-2007, 04:30 PM

Mmmmmm...

PAULBACH

11-04-2007, 04:31 PM

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Motorcycle%20Pics/IMG_1269.jpg
Pure and Simple

lamble

11-04-2007, 05:22 PM

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/217335279-M.jpg

Pure calcium coral...simple torch and piece of white paper.

tourunigo

11-04-2007, 06:20 PM

My son Sean plays a 1932 Lady Conn Tenor Sax in a Jazz/Funk band. While I don't think the sax is 'simple' he makes it sound simple. I will post my odd shots over at Anarchy but for now this is the best I could get from my new camera. I wanted this to be so much better but couldn't. When he plays it really is pure and simple joy. Anyway, the idea is.....

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/SeanPlay005.jpg

-Bob

RebeccaV

11-04-2007, 08:02 PM

http://RebeccaVaughn.smugmug.com/photos/217431276-L.jpg

BeerTeam

11-04-2007, 08:07 PM

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/217433614-L.jpg

SNC1923

11-04-2007, 08:12 PM

http://RebeccaVaughn.smugmug.com/photos/217431276-L.jpg

Rebecca!

I was trying to take this very photo 10 minutes ago. I didn't turn out nearly as good as yours did. Very nice.

rocketman

11-04-2007, 08:13 PM

ok, here's one from this past friday, early AM beach shot

Mexican Still Life 1

http://www.roadrunes.com/images3/Cabo/mexican-still-life.jpg

RM

SNC1923

11-04-2007, 08:16 PM

RebeccaV

11-04-2007, 08:18 PM

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/217433040-L.jpg

Inspired by some of the product-style photography I've seen this week, I thought I'd have a go at it myself. I'm underwhelmed, but there it is. Nothing like a deadline to bring out the heights of mediocrity.
Too funny about the pic I posted, and I was saying the very same thing to myself about deadlines and mediocrity! :)

I like your pic BTW - much better 'product photography' than I produced......

grossjohann

11-04-2007, 08:23 PM

It was a tough one this week. I really had to reach…

SNC1923

11-04-2007, 08:29 PM

It was a tough one this week. I really had to reach…

I liked your submissions this week (few though they were :whistle ). Your interpretation of the theme was quite creative I thought.

This week's theme has invited a wide array of interpretations. Both of mine are tenuous at best, the lock better than the shiny exhaust pipes.

Someone commented a few weeks ago about how an assignment and a deadline pushes us creatively, forces us to work toward a deadline, to be spontaneous, and to meet the challenge. I can't help but think that's a good thing, at least for those who are looking for some photographic calisthenics.

I also think (perhaps optimistically) that each of us is harder on her- or himself than others are.

Nonetheless, another batch of good, fun, and interesting photos. :type

SNC1923

11-04-2007, 08:30 PM

ok, here's one from this past friday, early AM beach shot

Mexican Still Life 1

http://www.roadrunes.com/images3/Cabo/mexican-still-life.jpg

RM

I dig this shot a bunch.

bluestune

11-04-2007, 09:24 PM

This shot was made with the leaf on top of the fuel tank of my R90/6 using a Canon point and shoot camera set to macro and "Wide Screen." The Wide Screen setting crops the top and bottom of the image in the camera, similar to the 16:9 format of HD TV.

Lots of good photos again this week!

MLS2GO

11-04-2007, 11:00 PM

http://mls2go.smugmug.com/photos/216986505-L.jpg

KBasa

11-04-2007, 11:39 PM

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/217568298-XL.jpg

KBasa

11-04-2007, 11:42 PM

I go back and forth on this photo, to be honest. The sun spot on the fender alternates between annoying me and looking like a decent accent. The background looks a bit overexposed, always a problem when shooting a black bike, and I managed to catch something, my helmet, I think, in the bottom of the frame.

Anyway, here we go.

I think I'd like to try this one again, only clean the fender, watch the entire frame when shooting and try to get an angle that eliminates the sun spot.

Next time.

Plain and simple describes a /2 headlight, I think.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/217569894-XL.jpg

KBasa

11-04-2007, 11:46 PM

I really thought this would be the one I'd post first. I liked the reflection in the tank and the way it reflected the spot I picked to shoot. However, I think the roundel is overexposed and the blue color has been lost, to some degree.

Additionally, there's a big mistake with this shot - my shadow. I generally go to great pains to keep myself out of the photo, be it in reflections, shadows or other intrusions into the subject matter.

Today's lesson: Take your helmet off and put on your regular glasses so you can see in the viewfinder. :ha

I might try this one again. I like the spot and with winter coming, the meadow in this valley is getting nice and green.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/217569535-XL.jpg

KBasa

11-04-2007, 11:49 PM

Aside from the first one, this might be my favorite. If you look really carefully, you can see a deer sitting in the meadow, back in the distance. You can just make out his head in profile.

I think the fence and the signage distract from the scene, so I'm going to try another little meadow in a valley I know up in Nicasio, next time.

I picked this spot because I was having so much fun riding I forgot to stop in Nicasio by the church. I figured the old bike by a church with cows would show the "simple" aspect pretty well.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/217567682-XL.jpg

jackie

11-05-2007, 12:49 AM

a little washed out for my taste, but reflects our ride out to Antelope for lunch...
http://magnedengineering.com/images/blog/shadows.jpg

grossjohann

11-05-2007, 06:05 AM

bluestune

11-05-2007, 06:30 AM

Hi Alex,
I set up the shot just outside of my garage. The camera was mounted on a very small tripod set on the saddle and I used the very soft overhead light from above the garage to "light" the set. The camera has a "Vivid" setting which I use to bring out the color and contrast the reds, greens and yellows against the blue tank. The very shallow depth of field is a result of the f2.8 lens setting and using the camera in macro mode. What really makes this image come alive, besides the color, is the soft shadow created by the leaf on the tank, it seems that the leaf is almost floating. Thanks for asking!

grossjohann

11-05-2007, 06:48 AM

I liked your submissions this week (few though they were :whistle ). Your interpretation of the theme was quite creative I thought.

This week's theme has invited a wide array of interpretations. Both of mine are tenuous at best, the lock better than the shiny exhaust pipes.

Someone commented a few weeks ago about how an assignment and a deadline pushes us creatively, forces us to work toward a deadline, to be spontaneous, and to meet the challenge. I can't help but think that's a good thing, at least for those who are looking for some photographic calisthenics.

I also think (perhaps optimistically) that each of us is harder on her- or himself than others are.

Nonetheless, another batch of good, fun, and interesting photos. :type

Thank you, the assignments certainly have pushed me to go out more pictures. I probably wouldn’t have taken my camera to the pee-wee football had it not been for the assignment, and I was able to distribute the pictures to some of the parents (I was offered money, but I declined – bad move since I now “need” a fish-eye lens, a low aperture telephoto, and some filters).

I believe that training the “mind’s eye” is most essential. Initiating a creative response under pressure, while coming naturally for some, is a skill that must be learned and nurtured (refined at the very least).

…its all in the training of you inner aesthetic eye... and knowing most of the time you will spend more energy the higher level of refinement of an image to get it right where you want it even if you do absolutely not correctoins...

I also agree that we can be our worst critics. I often imagine art that is beyond my ability to produce. Even if the end result is very nice, if it isn’t what I believe to be the “realization” of my idea, I can be somewhat disappointed with it.

Case in point, both or your images are very nice. The motorcycle image shows friendship and generosity, it is a “dual” image in that the subject is the exhaust pipe and the people in the reflection, and it highlights the joy of tinkering with your motorcycle. The second image is a great example of “product-style photography” – as you put it. We do quite a bit of this for my company and for a local jewelry store. After struggling to get the right lighting, background, angle and zoom, I can say this is very well done. As you know well, reflective surfaces are not easy to photograph with out “goobers” (thank you for the new word).

jdmetzger

11-05-2007, 06:49 AM

grossjohann

11-05-2007, 06:53 AM

What really makes this image come alive, besides the color, is the soft shadow created by the leaf on the tank, it seems that the leaf is almost floating. Thanks for asking!

The shadow also leads us from the blue to the red/yellow and highlights the beauty of contrasting colors. Thanks for sharing! :thumb

grossjohann

11-05-2007, 07:17 AM

bricciphoto

11-05-2007, 08:46 AM

I love this shot beerteam! It speaks to me. A tough shot to take because light like that lasts only a few minutes and you certainly had to make a decision to wait for the contrail in the reflection to dissipate or snap it while the getting was good. Very nice. :wave

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/217433614-L.jpg

lamble and bluestune had interesting submissions, too. Years ago I taught Introductory Photography at a local high school and invariably one of the students would ask/state, "How do you find interesting subjects. I never see anything I can photograph." I used to tell them in any given environment, there's a dozen opportunities to capture an interesting shot within an arm's length or at the very least within a couple paces in an given direction. Nearly all of the submissions this week prove that theory.

Lots of great pics again this week everyone. I didn't get an opportunity to shoot anything. I spent Saturday re-farkling my bike after getting it back after a couple weeks in the shop for warranty repairs. I spent Sunday enjoying the fruits of my labor and I saw lots of opportunities to grab a few pics while riding, but I have yet to learn how to "stop and smell the roses.*" The light wasn't good at the time, but I did pass a large hawk and a half-dozen buzzards scraping over a deer carcass by the side of the road. Mother Nature doing her thing: pure and simple! :p

*Maybe that's a topic the accomplished roadside shooters can elaborate on? I see more stuff that I can realistically capture on any given ride and by the time I see it, I'm well on my way to enjoying the rest of the ride. :scratch

bmwdean

11-05-2007, 09:20 AM

If we go for tank reflections ...

http://bmwdean.home.att.net/reflections.jpg

SNC1923

11-05-2007, 10:08 AM

If we go for tank reflections ...

http://bmwdean.home.att.net/reflections.jpg

Wow. . . . This borders on bikerotica. Really, really nice. . . .

bmwdean

11-05-2007, 10:29 AM

Wow. . . . This borders on bikerotica. Really, really nice. . . .

Thank you :)

<img border=1 src=http://jeff.dean.home.att.net/reflection.jpg>

rocketman

11-05-2007, 10:49 AM

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/EmpireStatePlaza/photo#5128704409909323074"><img src="http://lh4.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RyzRfN6f5UI/AAAAAAAAAWc/SQ9oqo1Hn4Q/DSC01302.JPG?imgmax=640" target="_new" alt="Alex Grossjohann - Empire State Plaza"/></a>

Wow! I gotta go with this one as my Fav. While there are some nice entries, the candle, the lock, the straws and even my beer can shot all fit the "simple" theme well, as does the old BMW motorcyle fit the simple, (machanically speaking) theme, yet each have multiple elements, but this one, now this has but one element, planes, period! Talk about minimulist and plane or (plain):laugh . Plain and Simple, it capture both elements nicely, Very striking, nothing to distact and I love the angles, the way the picture is divided by the plane running corner to corner, very very nice!
RM

BeerTeam

11-05-2007, 04:53 PM

I love this shot beerteam! It speaks to me. A tough shot to take because light like that lasts only a few minutes and you certainly had to make a decision to wait for the contrail in the reflection to dissipate or snap it while the getting was good. Very nice. :wave

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/217433614-XL.jpg

Thanks bricciphoto,

That shot was taken about 20 miles from West Bend, Wisconsin at Harrington Beach State Park. The photo was shot at a 45 degree angle down from above the water on the Quarry's ledge. Looking down on the water, the water was a mirror reflection of the blue sky and the clouds. The sun was going down in the western sky, which put the low sun on the tree.

bricciphoto you have a well trained eye. An untrained eye would make the assumption that the simple shot was taken looking up and the blue cloudy sky was sky, not a reflection in the water.

Thanks for the review. BTW, I did not know the contrails were in the sky. The photo took less than one minute to take, I was in a hurry cuss I did not want that family with little kids catching up to Buddy and I on the walk around our Quarry Lake.

Hit F11 on your keyboard for Full Screen

BeerTeam

11-05-2007, 05:22 PM

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/217901615-X3.jpg

jdmetzger

11-05-2007, 05:35 PM

RandallIsland

11-05-2007, 06:07 PM

Lots of great photos, this week!

In an attempt to make our unpaid reviewers job easier, I'm going to play thread
nanny and remind everyone to post one photo only, and send the rest over to the
"photo assignment anarchy" thread. Please post them there though, because I still
like seeing them... but having everyone post multiple photos is going to make
SNC1923's reviewing a lot more work than it already is.

:wave

Yeah, the way I originally read it too was only one photo per person.
But the stipulation morphed in either my understanding of it, or the
rules themselves to be one photo per post.

I think, IMHO, the true discernment of a "competitive" (I know, we're all just
having fun here) photo thread, is in the photographer being willing to stand in
front of all their shots and say "Hey! Only one of these is really the best, in my own opinion,
so which one will I submit for 'judging'?"

But what do I know.
I'm not much for "rules" and I certainly have a distinct weakness for bikerotica.
Nice one Mr. Dean!:bow

jdmetzger

11-05-2007, 06:36 PM

Yeah, the way I originally read it too was only one photo per person.
But the stipulation morphed in either my understanding of it, or the
rules themselves to be one photo per post.

I think, IMHO, the true discernment of a "competitive" (I know, we're all just
having fun here) photo thread, is in the photographer being willing to stand in
front of all their shots and say "Hey! Only one of these is really the best, in my own opinion,
so which one will I submit for 'judging'?"

But what do I know.
I'm not much for "rules" and I certainly have a distinct weakness for bikerotica.
Nice one Mr. Dean!:bow

Well, I'm not trying to call anyone out, and it's probably worth noting that Mr. SNC posted more than one photo, as well. :)

Like I said, I like the photos people have posted. I think part of the challenge is picking the "best" for posting. It takes me back to high school photography where we would share a camera between three people (totally manual, black and white), each get 8 shots, and then have to choose one for the assignment. From there, of course, we developed the negatives, did some "test exposures" (photo paper covered by cardboard; moving the cardboard a little bit and doing a bunch of 2-second exposures on the photo paper so we ended up with "2, 4, 6, 8, 10 second exposures - sometimes going back and doing 1-second exposures) and then choosing the best and developing the photo. It was hard work, and you really had to commit to your best photo because you didn't have time to try all the photos.

Anyhow, I think I got off track. I'm being long-winded, today. I'm not big on rigid application of rules for the most part... although in this case I think one per person makes it more of a challenge. See? I want it both ways, no rigid rules, but rigid rules. I'm perfect for politics. :D

Rapid_Roy

11-05-2007, 07:19 PM

I hemmed and hawed , but here it is. I guess I don't work great under a deadline. I really thought I had imagination too. Dang!
Here it is, pure and simple.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PB030022.jpg

grossjohann

11-05-2007, 07:26 PM

Well, I'm not trying to call anyone out, and it's probably worth noting that Mr. SNC posted more than one photo, as well. :)

Like I said, I like the photos people have posted. I think part of the challenge is picking the "best" for posting. It takes me back to high school photography where we would share a camera between three people (totally manual, black and white), each get 8 shots, and then have to choose one for the assignment. From there, of course, we developed the negatives, did some "test exposures" (photo paper covered by cardboard; moving the cardboard a little bit and doing a bunch of 2-second exposures on the photo paper so we ended up with "2, 4, 6, 8, 10 second exposures - sometimes going back and doing 1-second exposures) and then choosing the best and developing the photo. It was hard work, and you really had to commit to your best photo because you didn't have time to try all the photos.

Anyhow, I think I got off track. I'm being long-winded, today. I'm not big on rigid application of rules for the most part... although in this case I think one per person makes it more of a challenge. See? I want it both ways, no rigid rules, but rigid rules. I'm perfect for politics. :D

Tough class. It's hard to be best judge of your own work?

grossjohann

11-05-2007, 07:29 PM

I hemmed and hawed , but here it is. I guess I don't work great under a deadline. I really thought I had imagination too. Dang!
Here it is, pure and simple.

If good humor is a sure sign of both creativity and intelligence, you have both.

jdmetzger

11-05-2007, 07:34 PM

Tough class. It's hard to be best judge of your own work?

Indeed it was tough. I really enjoyed it; the challenge kept me interested. I need to find all my old photos and negatives from that class; they're probably in a box at my parents house, in the attic. For the most part I agonized over picking a photo, but I still remember one that was very obvious. Our theme was people, and I took a picture of the two people I was sharing the camera with. At the time it didn't seem like anything special, but it came out JUST RIGHT. There was no doubt in my mind that it was THE photo. Came out really well, and people were asking me for copies of it. It was just one of those rare photos. I wish I was good enough to do that all the time... or even 1/4 of the time. :p

Most of the time with these photo assignments I don't really like the photos I post (though I liked my "blue" submission). I almost didn't post last weeks, and SNC1923 thought it was OK; I agree with the criticism and suggestions, too. This weeks was interesting because I didn't get around to taking it until Sunday evening. At the time I had a pizza in the oven and realized I had 16 minutes to take a photo while it baked. I used a combination of different lighting in the room (behind me) and a flashlight being moved around, and no flash on the camera. It's ironic, for "pure and simple" I went to the most trouble. :)

grossjohann

11-05-2007, 08:10 PM

Indeed it was tough. I really enjoyed it; the challenge kept me interested. I need to find all my old photos and negatives from that class; they're probably in a box at my parents house, in the attic. For the most part I agonized over picking a photo, but I still remember one that was very obvious. Our theme was people, and I took a picture of the two people I was sharing the camera with. At the time it didn't seem like anything special, but it came out JUST RIGHT. There was no doubt in my mind that it was THE photo. Came out really well, and people were asking me for copies of it. It was just one of those rare photos. I wish I was good enough to do that all the time... or even 1/4 of the time. :p

Most of the time with these photo assignments I don't really like the photos I post (though I liked my "blue" submission). I almost didn't post last weeks, and SNC1923 thought it was OK; I agree with the criticism and suggestions, too. This weeks was interesting because I didn't get around to taking it until Sunday evening. At the time I had a pizza in the oven and realized I had 16 minutes to take a photo while it baked. I used a combination of different lighting in the room (behind me) and a flashlight being moved around, and no flash on the camera. It's ironic, for "pure and simple" I went to the most trouble. :)

Some complain about three days... You gave yourself sixteen minutes :thumb

OK, I accept the challenge. I'll only post one picture to the photo assignment thread next week.

SNC1923

11-05-2007, 09:41 PM

Statdawg, believe me when I say, you are something!

I appreciate everyone's concern about my workload. It's really nice. I would remind everyone that I'm not the only voice here. Ya'll are welcome to chime in. If you don't feel qualified to talk about photo technique, etc., you are welcome to comment on the photo's suitability for the theme. Begin with both of mine--they're not even close!

And a clarification on the "rules." As originally conceived, I think the rule is "one photo per post" and not "one photo per photographer." It would be nice if we each limited our submissions to make it somewhat manageable, but I think it's fine if someone posts a few photos. We have a few prodigous shooters here, and they may be shooting all weekend. If you've got some gold, show it.

Having said all that, if you've got some that aren't real winners (in your opinion) but you want to air them for some comment, the "Anarchy: Photo Assignment" thread is a great place to do that.

When and if I don't have time to comment on the photos, well, I'll burn that bridge when I come to it.

Keep shooting! Keep posting! As long as this continues to be fun, I intend to keep doing it and hope you all do, too.

My wife and I are riding over to Carmel this weekend, so I'm thinking next week's theme will be "Carmel."

:bolt

jdmetzger

11-05-2007, 09:59 PM

And a clarification on the "rules." As originally conceived, I think the rule is "one photo per post" and not "one photo per photographer." It would be nice if we each limited our submissions to make it somewhat manageable, but I think it's fine if someone posts a few photos. We have a few prodigous shooters here, and they may be shooting all weekend. If you've got some gold, show it.

Oh sure; I try to help you out a bit and here you go proving me all wrong. Well that's it. I have a whole memory card full of photos coming your way, buddy. :mad

:wave
:hide

KBasa

11-05-2007, 10:12 PM

SNC1923

11-05-2007, 10:31 PM

Oh sure; I try to help you out a bit and here you go proving me all wrong. Well that's it. I have a whole memory card full of photos coming your way, buddy. :mad

:wave
:hide

:blush

SNC1923

11-05-2007, 10:31 PM

Oooooooooh, Carmel. One of my favorite places on earth.

Probably be at Katie's for breakfast on Monday around 9ish. Just sayin'.

KBasa

11-05-2007, 10:34 PM

Probably be at Katie's for breakfast on Monday around 9ish. Just sayin'.

Is that the little place downtown?

There's a nice spot out on Carmel Valley Road, right next door to the Safeway. Their home made granola is amazing. We usually try to stay out at the Carmel Valley Ranch. I haven't been there since they changed hands, but a room with a fireplace in the bedroom, a private deck and a hot tub isn't hard to take.

RandallIsland

11-06-2007, 05:05 AM

Oh sure; I try to help you out a bit and here you go proving me all wrong. Well that's it. I have a whole memory card full of photos coming your way, buddy. :mad

:wave
:hide

:rofl

rocketman

11-06-2007, 08:32 AM

Rapid_Roy

11-06-2007, 10:08 AM

If good humor is a sure sign of both creativity and intelligence, you have both.
Thank you, that was a nice thing to say. I found I don't like going through life kicking and screaming, laughing is way more fun.

About my picture, ( which nobody has commented on) allow me. It's overexposed, and although it meets the subject, I could have framed it better, and possibly found a better subject. If I have any creativity and imagination, it was my own fault I didn't use it. The problem with this picture was the loose nut on the shutter button. :laugh

SNC1923

11-06-2007, 10:39 AM

I thought I might get a jump start on providing some feedback on this week's fine crop of photos. You still have until Wednesday to post some if you are hanging on to a masterpiece.

As in the past, I will try to comment on at least one photo from each photographer. I may not comment on your photo if I've commented on another or if it has received sufficient comment from others. If you still want some, drop me a PM or say so in this thread.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206667-L.jpg

Voni's back with a fun photo this week. I think that a bonfire or a camp fire fits the theme of "pure and simple" well. I like the composition, too, and seeing the fire through those sitting around it. Because we only catch glimpses of the fire, the exposure is pretty close to right-on. Often, with automatic light meters, such stark contrasts in lighting (fire and night sky) result in over-exposure. Perhaps what works best in this photo is the silhouetted forms in the foreground. Those in the background are lit by the fire; those in the foreground have their outlines illuminated. It's a neat shot, like many "lighting" shots, one that conveys a mood, in this case, pleasant.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206683-L.jpg

PGlaves' first submission this week I like on several counts. First, it fits the theme perfrectly. Second, it's motorcycle related (not required, but always a bonus). Now let's take this brilliance and apply it to the composition. What if this were taken from an angle looking up? Or perhaps from the right, looking down the balancing rails? Such consideration would make this interesting picture an artistic picture. Great interpretation, though.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206696-L.jpg

PGlaves' second submission works differently than the picture above for precisely the reason that it is composed the way it is. Again, it fits the theme very well and the composition (rule of thirds? Anyone?) works here because the large, open sky emphasizes the vastness of the desert, a requisite component to the story of having gravity-fed water tanks. It's a simple and successful photo.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206713-L.jpg

Statdawg brings us a very pretty image this week, not a joint, but what I like to call "a candle." It's beautifully lit and well composed. There is a bit of a stark shadow, but it's not dark at all. He also refers to his light meter. I want to know if that's the one in his camera or if he is using a handheld meter here; if so, was it reflective or incident metering? I ask because the wall behind the candle is grey--as is the candle to some degree. It is immensely difficult to photograph objects that are all white or all black. Camera's light meters are calibrated to 18% grey reflectance. If you give the camera something all white or black, it will try to make it grey. This shot isn't too bad, but you can see it. One way to try to solve this is to meter the scene with an incident light meter, which meters the light falling on the subject rather than the light reflecting off of the subject. All built-in meters, by definition, are reflective. Another tip is to overexpose the picture by a stop or so.

Having said all that, it's a nice still life and one that fits the theme perfectly.

http://www.hal4d.com/PICT0052.jpg

Bobh41 chimes in this week with an interpretation. Pure and smiple? You bet. Nicely composed, too. The (propane?) tank adds tremendous interest to what would otherwise be a rather bland photo. Instead, it's compositionally rather interesting. I love the "pop" of the red knee patches, too. As someone who employees a gardner with a truckload of power mowers, this looks like a lot of work to me.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218235578-XL.jpg

Grossjohann is back again this week with a handful of really nice submissions--good photographs and theme interpretations. I like the one above because of its composition and lighting. I like that this square subject occupies the lower half of the frame. How many of us would have shot this horizontally? I love the interplay of the light and shadows, too. I would have liked to see this taken from an angle to exclude the sign, but that may not have been possible. Who knows what's lurking just outside the frame?

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218235607-L.jpg

As Rocketman already so eloquently pointed out, this photo really works because it is a study of intersecting planes. Pure and simple to be sure, and a really interesting composition. Architecture is always an interesting subject and a challenging one, to boot. GJ does a nice job with these.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218235599-XL.jpg

Grossjohann's third submission is equally interesting to the one above, but this time because of the stark contrast of the two forms. Again, this works so well because of the way it has been composed. When going for stark vertical or horizontal lines, however, it is crucial that they are straight. The building tilts away slightly and this is noticeable because IT is the subject. A minor criticism of an otherwise very successful photo.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206734-L.jpg

BMWDean is back with a submission that, frankly, had been rolling around in my head, too. This is very successful interpretation to our theme. I would have liked to have seen it closer, though the lens used may not have allowed that. The flash exposed the rondel perfectly, but the tank falls into dark underexposure. This results in very rich, royal blue colors that are actually quite pleasing. Pure and simple.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/OutbackUfo/Motorcycling/Nov4th07ride/bulldust1.jpg

Outback UFO returns this week with more of his always interesting shots. I like this interpretation of the theme and that it's pretty much a study in light, the contrast of the inricate shadows in the silty dirt. This photo speaks volumes to anyone who rides off road.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v492/OutbackUfo/Motorcycling/Nov4th07ride/trackroadut.jpg

I like this shot, too. Beautiful blue sky. Polarizing filter? It's also a picture that tells a story rather than a picture of a motorcycle. What a difference just a little compositional elan can make.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01104.jpg

JohnF is back with a pretty successful interpretation of the theme this week. What I love about this photo is just that; what I don't like is it's thoughtless composition. Imagine this photo if it were shot just a bit tighter and perfectly parallel to the plane of the plaque's surface. The two decorative bolts could anchor the lower corners. Or, as an alternative, takens from an extreme left angle. Either might have made this worthy subject compsitionally much more interesting.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01106.jpg

Although we obviously can't read the plaque in this photo, it is much more compositionally interesting. The point of interest, the monument is placed in the "Golden Mean," and the motorcycle adds interest and tells a story. This is a nice companion shot to the one above.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206745-L.jpg

Franze from Switzerland is back with a great interpretation this week. I'm thinking of having a "close-up" theme one of these weeks. This kind of photo is great because it divorces the subject from the rest of the world forcing the viewer to see it with fresh eyes, ones that often can't orient sufficiently to determine what the subject is.

I think it's a rivet and it appears to be anchored in fiberglass (though the color is near enough to human flesh to send a chill down my spine). It appears to be successfully lit with a flash, and I love the character of the head of the rivet. It's seen a lot of wear and tear and is hanging in there. Cool shot.

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1213741_1

I would be less than honest if I were not to say, "I love this photo." Let me get this out of the way: It suffers from the same grayness that statdawg's did. Now, this is a poignant, touching, and revealing self-portrait. It's stark and nakedly honest. The triangle, symbolic of unity, recovery, and service, mirrors this three part composition. What works so well in this impressively simple image is the synergy between the three components: the symbolic triangle, the angel, and the key. Think of three, random objects: a spoon, a thimble, and a toothbrush. These would add up to nothing. RandallIsland's three exhibit a dynamism that tells an ongoing day-by-day story. Great stuff.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206747-L.jpg

JDMetzger brings us another nice shot this week. This is a great still-life, one that fits the theme well. It's very well-lit and I love the ambience of the candles in the background. It's lit from beneath by I'm not sure what. This certainly indicates some forethought. The colors of the (beer?), the highlight in the glass, the water rivulet, all work together nicely. It has an unusually rich color. I would love to eliminate the vertical black pole emminating from the glass, but that may not have been possible. Really nice execution of our theme.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Motorcycle%20Pics/IMG_1269.jpg

PAULBACH is back this week with a successful interpretation of the theme, yet another homage to BMW. Two things strike me about this shot. The first is the composition. Apparently, the engine is the subject, or at least the primary point of interest. This could have been composed a thousand different ways, and I think Paul has made a good choice. The second point is the lighting. Often, with on-camera flashes (I don't know how Paul lit this) a foreground such as this--bright, semi-reflective, light-colored--is blown out. Often photos like this recede into darkness. This photo has great exposure from front to rear. I would guess that the room is very well-lit or that Paul shot this at a higher ISO, 400 perhaps. But these are just guesses. Maybe he'll enlighten us. . . .

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/217335279-M.jpg

Lamble's back with a really interesting photo. We've had a lot of photos this week that are studies in light and this one is no exception. It's a very interesting image and plays well with its shadow. 500 bonus points for the charm of refering to a flashlight as a torch (I'm an anglophile, what are you going to do?).

The top of the coral is overexposed a bit; I could do without that. Of course, the white balance is way off, but whether that was purposeful or not, it works here. A couple of weeks ago Bluestune has some really impressive shots lit by a garage utility light. Now lamble with a torch and white paper. Lighting is everything, folks. "Learn it, know it, live it."

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/SeanPlay005.jpg

I like Tourunigo's submission this week. Imperfect though it is, I think it's a successful photo and a nice interpretation of the theme. Photos taken under extreme lighting conditions often exude this sort of character. And of course the compositional choice of focusing on the sax, rather than the saxophonist, lends an element of focued interest to this image. It's grainy, but that only adds to its charm. It's a bit motion-blurred, but under these circumstances, that seems to work. I'm bothered by the four points of bright light, not for their impact on the photo but that they indicate that this camera may have a few dead pixels. This is not uncommon and they only show up in dark, plain backgrounds such as this.

http://RebeccaVaughn.smugmug.com/photos/217431276-L.jpg

If you bought a BMW motorcycle in 2007, you have one of these lucite blocks. I tried taking a picture of mine against a white background with two flashes and umbrellas. It turned out terribly. Rebecca V grabbed this shot under available light and I think it turned out spectacularly. Simpler is better, no? It's a great close-up (anyone smelling a theme here?) of an ethereal subject. Well-executed, interesting, and fun. One minor detail that really jumps out to me is that you can see the rondels on both sides of the tank, making this look a bit like a giany, sophisticated X-ray.

To be continued. . . .

jdmetzger

11-06-2007, 11:07 AM

JDMetzger brings us another nice shot this week. This is a great still-life, one that fits the theme well. It's very well-lit and I love the ambience of the candles in the background. It's lit from beneath by I'm not sure what. This certainly indicates some forethought. The colors of the (beer?), the highlight in the glass, the water rivulet, all work together nicely. It has an unusually rich color. I would love to eliminate the vertical black pole emminating from the glass, but that may not have been possible. Really nice execution of our theme.

Thanks for the comments, as always. I had not even thought about the lamp (black pole) in the background, or the fact that it was coming out of the glass. It's something for me to remember for next time.

Of all the shots I've taken for the photo assignments, this was the one I set up most. Regarding my process; I took about 8-10 photos. The first was bland; a standard shot with the camera flash. From there I tried different room lighting without the flash - again, bland. The thought then occurred to grab my Xenon flashlight (a bright little thing that runs on lithium batteries - purchased to help spot bears in the far North). I tried different lighting; behind and above, behind and below, to the side, and then finally from below, through the glass top of the table. I had two of those, and this was the one I liked best. This was with a Canon "point and shoot" digital camera, no "vivid" on the camera; all the colors are as they appeared. The hardest part was not shaking, as I was not using any kind of tripod, the camera has no image stabilization, and I was kneeling on the floor with the flashlight in one hand and the camera in the other. Also, if you looked at the first photo and the last one (the one I submitted) you'll see the fluid level in the glass has dropped slightly. :)

RandallIsland

11-06-2007, 12:11 PM

Thanks for the comments, as always. ...

Of all the shots I've taken for the photo assignments, this was the one I set up most. :)

Big ditto on the former and opposite, I'd say, on the latter in my case.
Fastest set-up and shoot ever.

Thanks again!
Best,
-RSS :thumb

lamble

11-06-2007, 12:25 PM

PGlaves

11-06-2007, 12:26 PM

Unless I am way off, the "rivet" is actually a somewhat scarred hockey puck on the ice.

p.s. I grew up in North Dakota

Rapid_Roy

11-06-2007, 12:31 PM

It looks like a top for a drain or something with water flowing around it, IMO

SNC1923

11-06-2007, 01:01 PM

I bought the micro light torch in England, that's probably why it's not a flashlight.
For the shot it was held firmly between my teeth. The auto white balance was "disabled", although I did do another version with it functioning and the result was a cool blue and less pleasing.

I'd welcome a suggestion on how to have compensated for the over exposure at the top of the coral and what effect this might have had on the rest of the image?

+500 points.

You could have stopped down the aperature (or lowered the EV rating) but that would have darkened the rest of the picture.

Perhaps move the torch back a bit (you don't have false teeth by any chance?). Maybe diffuse the light with (more?) paper. It's doable, but a small point in an otherwise cool photo.

grossjohann

11-06-2007, 01:08 PM

Thanks for the always fantastic comments. Your endurance is admirable.

I took a few minutes to photoshop this image to address the tilt. Since the building was about 200 yards away I was getting some natural “thinning” at the top of the building. I seeing the image in retrospect I absolutely agree with your comment.

The photoshoped image does look a bit strange on the far left of the building because the windows are starting to tilt in a bit. I experimented with more and less straightening…and a little color correction and focus.

Have you ever experimented with a telecentric lens? This theoretically straightens the light to avoid distortions like this, but most applications are for machine vision and measurement.

http://lh3.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/RzC4t96f5lI/AAAAAAAAAZU/doD6UkbcXVs/s800/Tilt-a-Tower.jpg

SNC1923

11-06-2007, 01:19 PM

Have you ever experimented with a telecentric lens? This theoretically straightens the light to avoid distortions like this, but most applications are for machine vision and measurement.

I've used what's called a tilt-and-shift lens. It shifts the lens elements away from (but parallel to) the film plane. I had one or two on my account when I worked for Minolta. They are prohibitively expensive, so I never purchased one myself. Handy for architctural photographers, though.

I see your point about the natural receding of the building's lines. Although barely noticeable, the windows do creep in at the margin. Interesting. . . .

PGlaves

11-06-2007, 01:22 PM

I've used what's called a tilt-and-shift lens. It shifts the lens elements away from (but parallel to) the film plane. I had one or two on my account when I worked for Minolta. They are prohibitively expensive, so I never purchased one myself. Handy for architctural photographers, though.

I see your point about the natural receding of the building's lines. Although barely noticeable, the windows do creep in at the margin. Interesting. . . .

Classic parallax problem. The old bellows lens 4x5s often had the parallel lens motion feature for parallax correction. Absolutely a godsend for professional architectural photraphers. Clients hate pointy buildings that aren't pointy.

RebeccaV

11-06-2007, 01:23 PM

I've used what's called a tilt-and-shift lens. It shifts the lens elements away from (but parallel to) the film plane. I had one or two on my account when I worked for Minolta. They are prohibitively expensive, so I never purchased one myself. Handy for architctural photographers, though.

I see your point about the natural receding of the building's lines. Although barely noticeable, the windows do creep in at the margin. Interesting. . . .
You've probably seen these, but they are a great entry-level tilt shift lens:

http://www.lensbabies.com/

franze

11-06-2007, 01:31 PM

Hi Inveterate Lensman.......... didn't realize there was feedback on the shots.. bring it on. Nice guess on the subject but I'm pretty sure that Crowe and Winkel ( that's a new Law Firm) recognized it as a hockey puck on ice........that's the "play in black and white" reference. Anyway, appreciated your comments. I was thinking of calling it... "the only time rubber on ice is a good thing"

grossjohann

11-06-2007, 01:36 PM

You've probably seen these, but they are a great entry-level tilt shift lens:

http://www.lensbabies.com/

Great find, Rebecca! The end result can be very interesting. I’m trying hard to avoid the impulse buy… Do you have one?

Some of the sample images look like the old Vaseline around the edges of your UV filter trick.

franze

11-06-2007, 01:38 PM

Ok Glaves, you're the winner. didn't see your reply. I was born in Fargo........left the next day.........HA, that's true, my parents were in Moorhead, MN.

SNC1923

11-06-2007, 01:48 PM

Hi Inveterate Lensman.......... didn't realize there was feedback on the shots.. bring it on. Nice guess on the subject but I'm pretty sure that Crowe and Winkel ( that's a new Law Firm) recognized it as a hockey puck on ice........

http://utenti.lycos.it/doh/indexfiles/homer_doh.gif

You can take the boy out of Southern California, but. . . .

Rapid_Roy

11-06-2007, 02:23 PM

It doesn't look like any of the Hockey Pucks I have, but mine are relatively un-scarred. I missed too.

lamble

11-06-2007, 03:05 PM

+500 points.

You could have stopped down the aperature (or lowered the EV rating) but that would have darkened the rest of the picture.

Perhaps move the torch back a bit (you don't have false teeth by any chance?). Maybe diffuse the light with (more?) paper. It's doable, but a small point in an otherwise cool photo.

All my own teeth and none from anyone else. The torch was diffused with muslin and on the anarchy pic with a candy wrapper. Perahps a doubling up of the layers?

Thanks for the tips.
Any further back with the torch and I've have swallowed it, or at the very least activated my gag reflex.

sonnata

11-06-2007, 03:50 PM

I had difficulty finding a subject for this assignment. Perhaps it's because I tend to make things more complex than they really are. I shot around 95 images, but this is the only subject appealed to me for some reason. I liked that one of the finials was out of kilter.
http://www.homeproductsnmore.net/photos/BMWMOA/PlyFlags.jpg

bmwdean

11-06-2007, 05:30 PM

I've used what's called a tilt-and-shift lens. It shifts the lens elements away from (but parallel to) the film plane. I had one or two on my account when I worked for Minolta. They are prohibitively expensive, so I never purchased one myself. Handy for architctural photographers, though.

I see your point about the natural receding of the building's lines. Although barely noticeable, the windows do creep in at the margin. Interesting. . . .

Perspective control lenses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_correction_lens)

http://bmwdean.home.att.net/archphot.jpg

bricciphoto

11-06-2007, 05:54 PM

Some of the sample images look like the old Vaseline around the edges of your UV filter trick.

That was my conclusion. Tilt-shift lenses allow selective focus, but they don't distort the softer focus elements of the scene.

SNC1923

11-06-2007, 07:06 PM

Perspective control lenses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_correction_lens)

http://bmwdean.home.att.net/archphot.jpg

Jeff,

You sandbagger! You holding out on us? How cool is that? I'm very impressed. . . .

SNC1923

11-06-2007, 07:55 PM

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/217433614-L.jpg

Beerteam is back with more wonderful photography. The shot is a bit atypical in that it doesn't include a bike, something he is very good about. I'm glad I got to read a bit about this photo in his explanation. I confess that I looked at rather quickly and missed the fact that the sky is actually a reflection of the sky in water. It's a wonderfully lit shot besides. I think like a great painting it's easy to glance at and say, "oh, a tree," but a closer inspection reveals a great deal of thought and even planning, although he did say he took it rather quickly. It's a wondeful photo.

http://www.roadrunes.com/images3/Cabo/mexican-still-life.jpg

I don't think this technically was taken this weekend, but Rocketman isn't trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes, either. He posted a wonderful trip report about his recent holiday. I just love the simplicity, the layers, and the story in this photo. My wife was looking over my shoulder last night as I was showing her some of these and she said, "Ooh, I LOVE that shot!" I do, too. The compression of the telephoto lens and the very shallow depth of field make the subject really pop in this photo. The lighting (late afternoon) is also very subtle, very subdued. It's really an effective photo. Nice work, RM.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218206762-L.jpg

I don't think you need me to tell you what an amazing artifact Bluestune's submission this week is. Quite a lot has already been said about it and I appreciate his willingness to illuminate his technique for us to learn from. It's worth emphasizing that this image was recorded with a "point n' shoot" camera, lending credence to the belief that it's the photographer and not the camera that makes an image. It's a magnificent study. It's a tremendous close-up, but there's no missing what it is. The beautiful, warm earth-tones of the leaf stand in stark relief to the other-worldly blue of his fuel tank. This subtlety and three-dimensionality of the shadows are what is most fascinating to me. If you can recall his previous entries, the raindrops on the fender for example, we can see that Bluestune is a photographer who paints with light. We all do, but he's very thoughtful about how he adds and controls light in these images he's shared.

This is one of my favorite photos submitted to any of these threads so far. It's just wonderful. . . .

http://mls2go.smugmug.com/photos/216986505-L.jpg

MLS2GO is back with another submission this week, one which I think fits the theme well, especially considering that it is on a motorcycle forum. This is, perhaps, our most universally beloved symbols, is it not? His choice of composition is nice, centralizing and focusing on the arrow itself and not so much the sign. The bullet holes add an ominous air to the picture and makes me ask what did this sign do to merit its assasination. Pure and simple, that's for sure.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/217568298-XL.jpg

I think the most important thing to say about this photo is how much I hate Kbasa and curse the good fortune he has to own such a magnificent motorcycle. I don't really know him very well, but whatever his story is, he couldn't possibly deserve this.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/217567682-XL.jpg

Seriously, though, this is a nice series of photos of a beautiful subject. I like the headlight refelcted in the fender but I prefer this shot, I think. Something about an afternoon ride in the country and the no parking sign (as was pointed out) tell a story here. The angle from which it's taken is flattering to the bike (is there a bad angle on a bike like this?) and he handles the lighting well, given that he's starting to shoot into the sun. The leaves, the grass, the rolling hills. . . . It's all good.

Got to put my game face on and go to work. More later. . . .

RebeccaV

11-06-2007, 08:18 PM

Great find, Rebecca! The end result can be very interesting. I’m trying hard to avoid the impulse buy… Do you have one?

Some of the sample images look like the old Vaseline around the edges of your UV filter trick.
I don't have one of the lenses but I have done a few shots with a friends digital SLR with one on it. My sense was that it was more on the artsy side rather than a serious commercial lens. But it was very fun to use and you can see from the sample images on the site that it makes some great images.

I am surprised that no one has one - they have been out a while. If you do a search on Dgrin you might find some info on it.

Where's ian408? He's probably shot with one......

SNC1923

11-07-2007, 08:20 AM

http://magnedengineering.com/images/blog/shadows.jpg

Jackie joins us this week with a photo that might have been as at home in the "Shadow of a Doubt" assignment. Still, this fits our theme well, too. I love these shadow studies, particularly when the shadow is especially distorted as this one is. The picture of this dilapidated old house is infinitely more interesting with the added interest of the shadows. I agree with Jackie's assessment that the image is over-exposed. It is, however, very nicely composed and interesting which goes a long way towards successful.

http://bmwdean.home.att.net/reflections.jpg

I already gushed of BMWDean's second submission, which I referred to as Bikerotica. It's obviously a simple photo but an imaginative interpretation. It also goes to show that have good subjects helps. This would make a nice desktop, greeting card, etc.

Did I actually just quote myself? Sheesh. What's next? Maybe I'll start refering to myself in the third person. . . .

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/217901615-X3.jpg

Speaking of greeting cards, BeerTeam has got another winner here (although it is yet another bikeless picture. This is a disturbing trend. . . .) This photo is just wonderful. It is beautifully composed with the river leading the viewer's eye directly up to the mill. It is spot-on exposure, great saturation. . . . Just a wonderful picture. Both the texture and the reflection in the water add such a degree of interest. Imagine this photo horizontally composed without the water--just a mundane picture of a building. I agree with Rapid_Roy; sometimes BeerTeam makes me want to smash my camera!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PB030022.jpg

Speaking of whom, I think RR was being a little hard on himself with this week's submission. This is a nicely composed, well-exposed shot. It does fit the theme and is not without visual interest. What's not to like? What does grab my attention in this shot is the vine creeping up the wall--this makes for a much more specific subject. Suppose Roy had decided to move in just a bit closer and perhpas compose the shot vertically, for something like this:

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/218605343-L.jpg

It's very easy for me to make a suggestion like this after the fact, and of course I accomplished this by breaking the rules. But it helps to notice the details about a scene that grabs your attention. Sure, it's interesting, but what specifically is interesting about it? Sometimes honing in on a detail reveals a more powerful image.

Oh, by the way, 1,000 bonus points for the new avatar. Very nice.

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

Sonnata joins us this week with a stark image. I like the way this is composed, with the flag poles arrananged in an ascending order. I hate to see a photo of a flag unfurled, but we can't control the wind, can we? The sky in this picture is so dark and so blue. I'm pretty certain a poloraizing filter was used. Perhaps too much of a good thing? I know that I've shot some skies that I thought were too blue. I wonder if a different composition might have greater visual interest, but with a subject so high and inaccessible, I don't know what you might have done differently.

25 bonus points for teaching me the word finial and I agree that one being out of kilter does add a point of visual interest.

Barring any last-minute submissions, that about wraps up this week. Thanks for all the great photos. We've learned a lot this week. We've seen one of the Poobah's cool rides; we've learned that one of our members is a published architectural photographer; we've visited Mexico; we learned what a hockey puck looks like when you are actually playing hockey; we've seen the wisdom of taking it one day at a time; we've learned that a torch is an indispensibel lighting tool; we've seen that with product photography, simpler is better; and--perhaps most importantly--it's the photographer and not the camera.

lamble

11-07-2007, 10:28 AM

Barring any last-minute submissions, that about wraps up this week. Thanks for all the great photos. We've learned a lot this week. We've seen one of the Poobah's cool rides; we've learned that one of our members is a published architectural photographer; we've visited Mexico; we learned what a hockey puck looks like when you are actually playing hockey; we've seen the wisdom of taking it one day at a time; we've learned that a torch is an indispensibel lighting tool; we've seen that with product photography, simpler is better; and--perhaps most importantly--it's the photographer and not the camera.

Damn your anglophilia, I'll have to give you all those bonus points back!
Thanks for all this week's input.

Rapid_Roy

11-07-2007, 10:36 AM

Speaking of whom, I think RR was being a little hard on himself with this week's submission. This is a nicely composed, well-exposed shot. It does fit the theme and is not without visual interest. What's not to like? What does grab my attention in this shot is the vine creeping up the wall--this makes for a much more specific subject. Suppose Roy had decided to move in just a bit closer and perhpas compose the shot vertically, for something like this:

It's very easy for me to make a suggestion like this after the fact, and of course I accomplished this by breaking the rules. But it helps to notice the details about a scene that grabs your attention. Sure, it's interesting, but what specifically is interesting about it? Sometimes honing in on a detail reveals a more powerful image.

Oh, by the way, 1,000 bonus points for the new avatar. Very nice.

Thank you. I knew there was a picture in there, I wasn't happy with why I couldn't find it. There was something about that when I looked at it, and I should have taken more shots. If I had zoomed in and messed with some settings, it might have shown up better. I have learned to not rush. You have also shown me the eye is the best tool, my only drawback is mine is connected to my brain. :laugh

rocketman

11-07-2007, 11:17 AM

Thanks for another great review, I love reading your comments as with each one I am introduced to something new, be it an idea or some aspect or detail of a photograph I would have overwise overlooked.

Oh, and to set the facts straight, I did actually take the beer can Photo on Friday 11/02 so it was within the time frame, but it is equally true that I didn't take it for this Assignment as I hadn't bothered even thinking about the internet or loging in (Gee, I wonder why??):laugh so didn't even knowwhat the assignment was, but that shot seemed to fit and I wanted to keep my hand in!

When I took that I was actually thinking about the previous assignment and during my morinings on the beach before the crowds showed up I had the long lens with me as I was trying to capture some birds shots, it seemed like the perfect time to try some Wide Open close depth-of-field shots. (in between these :drink ) Sandy beaches shot close to ground level are always fun esp. when the sun is still low.

RM

sonnata

11-07-2007, 11:17 AM

Sonnata joins us this week with a stark image. I like the way this is composed, with the flag poles arrananged in an ascending order. I hate to see a photo of a flag unfurled, but we can't control the wind, can we? The sky in this picture is so dark and so blue. I'm pretty certain a poloraizing filter was used. Perhaps too much of a good thing? I know that I've shot some skies that I thought were too blue. I wonder if a different composition might have greater visual interest, but with a subject so high and inaccessible, I don't know what you might have done differently.

25 bonus points for teaching me the word finial and I agree that one being out of kilter does add a point of visual interest.

Actually, only a UV filter was used on a Canon 10D.
ISO Speed 400
Shutter 1/250
Aperture f/22
Focal length 28.0 mm
Metering mode:Average.

Thanks for all the comments. I'm learning a lot. Mostly how formidable our members are with a camera.

While I'm always impressed by the quality of photos people submit, Bluestune's leaf image really appeals to me as well. I especially like the colors as well as the shadow under the leaf & the detail on the edges of the leaf.

BeerTeam

11-07-2007, 07:44 PM

Tom, thanks for the kind words.

The mill shot was also park the bike, climb down the ditch set up the shot, take 9 exposures, climb on the bike and leave. Total time 5 minutes max.

I guess I should clarify myself on stating I did not do much setup on the photos. The real set up was choosing Sunday weather report, and riding in early light rain and cool with a clear skies in the afternoon. Saturday was a very bright sunny late Fall day, which I used to detail the mud off the airhead GS. Moral of the story, cloudy over cast day is the only day to photograph that mill with my point and shot camera.

You were wondering were the weekly motorcycle pictures were? Well I did not want to post to many pictures so I cut back on the number of post. I do not expect you to review these pictures.

Remember hit F11 on your keyboard

BeerTeam

11-07-2007, 07:45 PM

Here is a fun snapshot. When I showed Barb the shot, see mumbled something about simple.

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/218470771-XL.jpg

BeerTeam

11-07-2007, 07:46 PM

A simple reflection shot

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/218471594-XL.jpg

BeerTeam

11-07-2007, 07:47 PM

Depression era McCormick Deering tractor ran on kerosene and had a small gasoline tank for simple starting

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/218478784-XL.jpg

BeerTeam

11-07-2007, 07:47 PM

A simple and pure Wisconsin farm

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/218482618-XL.jpg

BeerTeam

11-07-2007, 07:48 PM

Simple Rule of three: Bike, dog and a barn

http://klasjm.smugmug.com/photos/218487839-XL.jpg

ian408

11-07-2007, 08:22 PM

Someone asked about Tilt-shift lenses.

You can use a tilt shift in two different ways. Architectural control is just one way. With a
Canon TS, you can rotate the mount 90 degrees to make really nice 2 or 3 shot panorama
shot without moving the camera.

Tilt Shift for Landscapes is becoming quite the thing. I'm just starting to get into it.

bmwdean

11-07-2007, 08:52 PM

Someone asked about Tilt-shift lenses.

With a Canon TS, you can rotate the mount 90 degrees to make really nice 2 or 3 shot panorama shot without moving the camera.

Tilt Shift for Landscapes is becoming quite the thing. I'm just starting to get into it.

You can do the same panorama technique with any shift lens, tilt or not, whether made by Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax, Schneider, or Olympus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_correction_lens

cjack

11-07-2007, 09:08 PM

Classic parallax problem. The old bellows lens 4x5s often had the parallel lens motion feature for parallax correction. Absolutely a godsend for professional architectural photographers. Clients hate pointy buildings that aren't pointy.

Nikon made a shift lens. Or two. Seems like Nikon or Canon made a shift/tilt bellows that you could mount a lens on or maybe it came with a 28PC or some such. Is there some problem with vignetting with shifting the new lenses and would an older Nikon lens for example with the 35mm format covering area be a better choice? Wonder if that stuff is still around somewhere...and unappreciated.

And then there was the 8 x 10 Deardorff. I hate it when I remember stuff that far back.

ian408

11-07-2007, 09:55 PM

You can do the same panorama technique with any shift lens, tilt or not, whether made by Canon, Nikon, Minolta, Pentax, Schneider, or Olympus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perspective_correction_lens

Thanks Jeff.

I can only speak to the Canon because that's what I have and that's the modification
I made to mine.

rocketman

11-08-2007, 06:17 AM

Well, since we've morphed into reflection shots :laugh ..

here's one from this summer's local BMW Square route Rally

I played around with it a bit see if you tell whether its right side up or not ?

http://www.roadrunes.com/images2/srr-07/panorama-2-web.jpg

its kinda obvious whats going on once you look closely but still fun (least I had fun doing it!)

RM

rocketman

11-08-2007, 06:29 AM

This pic taken by Beemerchef on his epic ride really had me going for a while till I figured out what was going on with it. Such a simple solution and I thought it very imaginative!
http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/photos/186354207-L.jpg

RM