Photo Assignment: Weekend 12/1/07 [Archive]

SNC1923

11-29-2007, 11:58 PM

It's photo assignment time. This week's theme will include an instructional component of sorts. To stem the tide of nihilistic free expression, 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. You may post more than one photo, but try to keep it to a handful.
Title your photo so it can be referred to later.
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: "Element"

For our purposes, "element" should be defined as "a fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity." In other words, when considering that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, what exactly is one of its parts?

This week you are invited to take a picture of a part of something. This should not be a general or major part, like the top half of a tree, but of one its essential, constituent, and irreducible parts, like a branch or a leaf.

In addressing this theme, I encourage you to think about composition. What will you include in the image, what will you exclude? Look at your screen, or through your viewfinder, and think of that as the final picture. Which part do you want to show, at what angle, and why?

This week's assignment is up close and personal. All I'm asking is that you do your "part."

rocketman

11-30-2007, 05:58 AM

elements? Hmm......

Like a picture of a big "O"?

Now where did I put that periodic table anyway???:brad

RM

franze

11-30-2007, 06:37 AM

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227084489-M.jpg

franze

11-30-2007, 07:20 AM

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227084487-M.jpg

SNC1923

11-30-2007, 07:29 AM

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227084487-M.jpg

Now this is what I'm talkin' about. Clever title, thoughtful composition, dramatic angle. Compare this to the photo above; though both worthy images, I prefer the second one. Not the smallest constituent part, a very small part of what was obviously a much larger whole.

In talking about composition, would you have included the natural bit (the tree) in the far left margin? I can see arguments for yes and no.

Beautiful shot. 200 bonus points for posting the picture within 8 hours of the start time.

franze

11-30-2007, 07:51 AM

In talking about composition, would you have included the natural bit (the tree) in the far left margin? I can see arguments for yes and no.

I was more interested in the columns straddling the bottom corner of the frame and creating that blue sword shape within the columns and the corner of the frame. Putting myself in the position that removed the tree, removed the various blue sky shapes, which I kinda like.

These are actual Roman columns in Nyon, Switzerland. It's funny how the subconscious works. When I read the assignment, all I could think of was a clove of garlic......... I was riding the moto this morning down to the lake and when I saw the columns, the light went on.

Oh, I was chopping garlic for tonight's dinner when the title "Pi" came to me......hmmm

And for the record, this is the first assignment I've ever turned in early.......

SheRidesABeemer

11-30-2007, 08:06 AM

elements? Hmm......

Like a picture of a big "O"?

Now where did I put that periodic table anyway???:brad

RM

Cr - Chrome is an element right? :dance Oh wait...this may be photoshopped...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/2053534795_19642f3f34.jpg

rocketman

11-30-2007, 08:07 AM

Interesting, I never knew the Romans invaded Switzerland! :brad

great shot. tree or no tree? Hmmm... I too would probably have gone the no tree route, if that had been possible, as well, though it doesn't have any seriously negative impact with this shot as it is so "removed" from the whole being mere wisps of thin branches, and at least the placement within the frame and the manor in which they line the edge just between the column and top of the picture does add a nice fringe just in that section. (boy, talk about a non-comitial statement! Ha Ha!)

RM

rocketman

11-30-2007, 08:13 AM

Cr - Chrome is an element right? :dance Oh wait...this may be photoshopped...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2190/2053534795_19642f3f34.jpg
Shhhhhh.........
not too mention that the "blue" in the rondel is not exactly "blue" and we all know how sensitive BMW is about the proper use, display and color correctness of the rondel!:brad Quick, remove it before we all get hit with a big law suit! Ha Ha!

RM

(sorry 'bout that, now back to your regularly scheduled maddness, already in progress....)

Holly

11-30-2007, 08:26 AM

elements? Hmm......
Now where did I put that periodic table anyway???:brad
RM
http://www.privatehand.com/flash/elements.html

franze

11-30-2007, 09:09 AM

Interesting, I never knew the Romans invaded Switzerland! :brad

RM

Yes, the Romans got around. You can find their litter ( bridges, roads, aqueducts, coliseums....) as far north as England, they never did get Germany, despite the great scene in The Gladiator they never established settlements there. To the west they held as far as Spain and Portugal, North African coast all the way from Morroco to Egypt, eastward all of Turkey to Iraq and above that, all of the current Baltic/Slavic countries ( formerly Yugoslavia and who can keep track of what they're called this week:dunno

I'm still looking for that one coin that they left behind, that would make some serious Bling for my 12 year old at his disco:blah

rocketman

11-30-2007, 10:56 AM

Yes, the Romans got around. You can find their litter ( bridges, roads, aqueducts, coliseums....) as far north as England, they never did get Germany, despite the great scene in The Gladiator they never established settlements there. To the west they held as far as Spain and Portugal, North African coast all the way from Morroco to Egypt, eastward all of Turkey to Iraq and above that, all of the current Baltic/Slavic countries ( formerly Yugoslavia and who can keep track of what they're called this week:dunno

I'm still looking for that one coin that they left behind, that would make some serious Bling for my 12 year old at his disco:blah

heck, who didn't invade England at one time or another?:laugh
RM

Rapid_Roy

11-30-2007, 11:43 AM

So, the Roman's roamed? Toga where no man has gone before?

lamble

11-30-2007, 01:31 PM

heck, who didn't invade England at one time or another?:laugh
RM

I do believe the Swiss might head that list.

terham

11-30-2007, 02:12 PM

elements? Hmm......

Like a picture of a big "O"?

Now where did I put that periodic table anyway???:brad

RM

http://www.eblong.com/zarf/periodic/periodic.png

Mika

11-30-2007, 02:14 PM

Links to the Photo Assignment threads:

12/01/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=22018): Element

11/24/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21853): Gratitude – Thanksgiving Special

11/17/2007 ( http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21734): Triangle

11/10/2007 ( http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21574): Harmony

11/03/2007 ( http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21441): Pure & Simple

10/27/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21286): Open Wide

10/19/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21141): Shadow of a Doubt

10/13/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20999&highlight=Photo+Assignment): Group Dynamic

10/06/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20845&highlight=Photo+Assignment): Blue

09/29/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20687&highlight=Photo+Assignment): Evolution

09/22/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20513&highlight=Photo+Assignment): Balance

09/15/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20361&highlight=Photo+Assignment): Where I Want to Be

09/08/2007 (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?t=20239&highlight=Photo+Assignment): A Long Way to Go

rocketman

12-01-2007, 11:35 AM

For my first entry I thought i'd start out with a little game...

you all remember "What Am I?" right?

so here goes....

I am black, although some of my brethren come in chrome or shinny steel.
I sit at the junction between solid and liquid
I pivot and move
I enjoy flying down the road, feeling the wind on my smooth surface and the firm, warm touch of my companion
I am strong though sometimes my existence has ended abruptly and I find myself laying in shattered ruin by the side of road
I am an essential (one could even say “pivotal”) part of the whole
I am responsible for imparting forward momentum to the assemblage of which I belong

What Am I?

http://roadrunes.com/images3/MOA-assignments/element/0083-handle-web.jpg

RM

rocketman

12-01-2007, 11:46 AM

here it is again only in blue, note this was not done by photoshopping it, I used a different color temperature setting in the camera, shooting RAW as above and faster shutter speed. Also in the one above I used both slow and rear curtain with a longer exposure and discovered the flash actually would then flash twice, at the start of the shot and end, so by using an off-camera flash cord I could move the flash between firings to get a more even lighting. I shot these looking INTO the mirror of the LT while holding a white sheet behind the handle bar in the first one, so you would not see anything else in the reflection. The blue shot being so much darker I didn't really need to. I used a 90 mm fixed lens and large F stop to ensure shallow depth of field shooting close up.

Camera mounted on tripod in both shots.

handle two
in blue.

http://roadrunes.com/images3/MOA-assignments/element/0073-blue-handle-web.jpg

RM

rocketman

12-01-2007, 11:58 AM

Trigger-finger

one, or perhaps you could view it as two, the pusher (finger) and the pushed (shutter release button) of the quintessential elements of any successful photographic effort

again with 90 mm lens shooting into a mirror, bathroom this time, on tripod, close crop. No flash.

http://roadrunes.com/images3/MOA-assignments/element/0107-trigger-finger-crop-web.jpg

RM

SNC1923

12-01-2007, 10:42 PM

franze

12-02-2007, 03:19 AM

Weeping window........
http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719304-M.jpg

an element of this church, village, canton, country, continent, hemisphere, planet, solar sytem, galaxy, cosmos......oh, no........

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719302-S.jpg

Stoned!
http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719299-M-2.jpg

again, and again, and again........

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719294-S.jpg

franze

12-02-2007, 04:15 AM

In smugmug mode, I cropped my Pi photo to see what it would look like without the trees on the left and whammy, it's been in changed ad infinitum. I suppose I'll be kept awake tonight thinking about URL's and how they are part of the "big picture" .............

RM- I like that blue twist!!!

rocketman

12-02-2007, 05:13 AM

Weeping window........

Stoned!
http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719299-M-2.jpg

again, and again, and again........

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719294-S.jpg

Stoned, you say...Hmmmmm..........:D

RM

(Not that I'd know Anything about that, you understand??!)

RTRandy

12-02-2007, 12:40 PM

Get it?

tourunigo

12-02-2007, 01:08 PM

two contributions: both taken near the gates of Halifax DND (Dept of National Defense), and judging from the many signs that said "No Cameras Allowed" I kept my focus away from their gaze - I was clearly being watched. Anyway, shot one (through a link/barbedwire fence) is a load of freight car train wheels..... elements seeking utility. -Bob
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/DSCN1871.jpg

tourunigo

12-02-2007, 01:11 PM

...secondly, a piece of pipeline intent on evolving into a 'gateway' in a larger system. I could not get rid of that pole because of other items to the left. -Bob

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/DSCN1875.jpg

RTRandy

12-02-2007, 01:47 PM

While taking my first picture, a jet was flying overhead on final approach so I took a shot.

jdmetzger

12-02-2007, 02:06 PM

This is what I ended up with. Shots like this are hard with a high-megapixel but BASIC digital camera. I think I may have to dig out my 3.3MP which had far more shooting options, and would probably be better stopping the motion in this case. I'm not excited about the blurring, but c'est la vie.

http://www.jdmetzger.com/img/potw/potw-elemental.jpg

JohnF

12-02-2007, 03:19 PM

Many artistic and creative submittals to these photo assignments.

However, I just do not think "outside the box," (pun intended!)

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01228.jpg

John F
Cincinnati, OH

rocketman

12-02-2007, 03:59 PM

This is a really cool shot, very imaginative. I am entirely impressed by your immaculately groomed fingernails.

Oh my! Why thank you!:bow
I was going to have then polished just for this occasion but the manicurist was all out of the more "manly" colors, except for something called "Sissy Pink" and well that's just NOT my color! Ha Ha! :D

RM

grossjohann

12-02-2007, 05:13 PM

http://lh5.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/R1M7rVLA3PI/AAAAAAAAAvE/p1WmIjCocig/s800/DSC01661.JPG

grossjohann

12-02-2007, 05:17 PM

http://lh6.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/R1MzNlLA3NI/AAAAAAAAAu0/FCbR7_4uTrk/s800/DSC01635.JPG

(These need a good cleaning… I had to take these out of her ears for the shot.)

SNC1923

12-02-2007, 07:28 PM

I more or less hate this shot, but if not for this, no submission this week.

Only through herculean effort did I not crop, color-correct, or otherwise fiddle with this in post-processing. Thank goodness for my deeply ingrained sense of integrity, which almost makes up for my absolute inability to photograph an "element."

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/227995535-XL.jpg (http://snc1923.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=227995535)

There are some really imaginative and well-executed efforts this week. I applaud you all.
:clap

wmubrown

12-02-2007, 07:42 PM

I didn't think I'd have anything to post, but I was working on my brother's home stereo with
the complaint "I turned it on and it started smoking". It's only 6 years old, it's too young to smoke ;)

I quickly found the problem and thought it might be a nice entry. It was an interesting
exercise and I got to deploy my new Sunpak flash, and wireless shutter release for my Canon 10D.
I did resize these images as the originals were 2+MB in size each. They were only resized.

This was tricky to catch and I had it autofocus mode unfortunately (focus is apparently on
my finger not the center). This is the only shot that came out because the transistor causing
the problem (60V DC on the speaker output) baked and it didn't spark again:

http://www.robietech.com/johnbrown/temp/sony01.JPG

The offending transistor, clearly toast (it's smoke element was released):

http://www.robietech.com/johnbrown/temp/sony02.JPG

lamble

12-02-2007, 09:39 PM

Judge this if you like, however hands up, I took it two weeks ago when I did the stone with the shadow pick. This weekend I've been drugged up on Vicodin, so have been a bit wobbly and certainly too unstable to take pics, or go out.

We do have a Honda Element, so I'd have gone that way probably.
Still, my submission was taken for a BMWMOA photo assignment.

Ca. elemental.

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/217335459-S.jpg

RandallIsland

12-02-2007, 10:21 PM

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1257995_1

RandallIsland

12-02-2007, 10:22 PM

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1257996_1

Montana

12-03-2007, 01:06 PM

RTRandy, it may only be a fortuitous accident, but I like how the powerlines in your shot help give depth of field to the plane; it conveys "air" to me in three dimensions, even though it's a flat photo.

KBasa

12-03-2007, 01:38 PM

Three elements.

Jack. Coke. Ice.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228093522-L.jpg

KBasa

12-03-2007, 02:04 PM

Lucky shot.

Two elements.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228322030-L.jpg

KBasa

12-03-2007, 02:05 PM

Single element.

Trite, I know.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228320677-L.jpg

Burnszilla

12-03-2007, 03:04 PM

Behind the making of the Element...
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burnszilla/2084887958/" title="Camp Sheideck by Burnszilla, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2384/2084887958_fb8f813f29_b.jpg" width="800" alt="Camp Sheideck" /></a>

Burnszilla

12-03-2007, 03:05 PM

franze

12-03-2007, 03:10 PM

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burnszilla/2084103459/" title="Camp Sheideck by Burnszilla, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2084103459_d65a491990_b.jpg" width="700" alt="Camp Sheideck" /></a>

Yo, next time you're in France, give me a "heads" up, I've got the keys to the executive bidet

KBasa

12-03-2007, 03:11 PM

grossjohann

12-03-2007, 03:23 PM

Yo, next time you're in France, give me a "heads" up, I've got the keys to the executive bidet

Merde! :bottle

lamble

12-03-2007, 03:31 PM

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burnszilla/2084103459/" title="Camp Sheideck by Burnszilla, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2084103459_d65a491990_b.jpg" width="700" alt="Camp Sheideck" /></a>

What's this got to do with element?

I think you are taking the p*ss! :stick

franze

12-03-2007, 03:40 PM

Merde! :bottle

Ha, thanks for not posting the urinal up for the fourth time.................... merde is right, "merde in the pissoir, Mon Dieu, je deteste les Francaise. How often do you get to Berlin? Haven't made it that far north, should I???

Paul F.

grossjohann

12-03-2007, 04:02 PM

Ha, thanks for not posting the urinal up for the fourth time.................... merde is right, "merde in the pissoir, Mon Dieu, je deteste les Francaise. How often do you get to Berlin? Haven't made it that far north, should I???

Paul F.

Paul,

I used to get over there much more than I do now… Our business is divided between the US and DE, so I’m over there at least 3-5 times a year.

I rarely get a chance to ride while I’m there, but I’m considering a break this summer. The hard part is taking that much time off. If I’ve already been in Berlin for the week on business, then the guys in NY need me back in the office. Adding another week to the trip just for “fun” is pushing it, and if I’m taking that much time off, then I had rather involve my family…

Berlin is a great city, but like all other cities, it helps to know someone there who can show you around. It’s not where you are, but who you’re with that counts. (If you think the Parisians have attitude, watch out for the Berliners!!!) Don’t go for the architecture. While some of the castles survived, much of Berlin was flattened during the war. The new buildings were erected in haste. Anything with the original façade is sought after (but often rented by students).

Berlin could go up or down. I’m hoping for an up-tick.

-Alex

Burnszilla

12-03-2007, 04:29 PM

What's this got to do with element?

I think you are taking the p*ss! :stick
I thought I didn't have to explain my art? Element.. leaves on a tree... This urinal is the element of an entire plumbing and sewage system, even though it is out of order. It represents the chaos and the natural beauty of its home. It is a metaphor of its surroundings. It is Camp Sheideck.

Burnszilla

12-03-2007, 04:57 PM

My little Canon SD400 that was almost 3 years old died.. The LCD cracked on it. Good thing for the Best Buy 4 year extended warranty. I upgraded to the Canon SD870 IS. Wider angle and great macro....
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/burnszilla/2085225278/" title="IMG_0057.JPG by Burnszilla, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/2085225278_c3f12a239f_o.jpg" width="800" alt="IMG_0057.JPG" /></a>

lamble

12-03-2007, 05:13 PM

I thought I didn't have to explain my art? Element.. leaves on a tree... This urinal is the element of an entire plumbing and sewage system, even though it is out of order. It represents the chaos and the natural beauty of its home. It is a metaphor of its surroundings. It is Camp Sheideck.

Urinal photographic art was just a flash in the pan! :D

The first message was just a weak excuse for toilet humour.
Bear in mind, I'm still on medication until the end of this week.

The Seattle underground tour perpetuates the urban myth that James Crapper invented the flushing toilet. He did not, there was a flushing toilet recorded as far back as Egyptian times. He invented the ballcock valve I think and it was just coincidence he was called crapper, as crap as we know it, had been used as a term many years prior to his birth. And, he wasn't knighted by Queen Victoria either...it's just for the tourists and is a load of.....

tourunigo

12-03-2007, 05:45 PM

Rapid_Roy

12-03-2007, 06:12 PM

Here it is, and I didn't find this assignment elementary.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PC020048.jpg

Rapid_Roy

12-03-2007, 06:16 PM

glad you're keeping an eye on this thread (sorry....I really couldn't help myself) -Bob
He is a good pupil.:stick

SNC1923

12-03-2007, 11:13 PM

glad you're keeping an eye on this thread (sorry....I really couldn't help myself) -Bob

He is a good pupil.:stick

OK you two, let's put a lid on it. :doh

Rapid_Roy

12-04-2007, 08:20 AM

Eye'm sorry for the cornea jokes. 40 lashes for me.

rocketman

12-04-2007, 09:15 AM

Groan, groan and triple groan,

First we get a “crappy” shot (which was an eye sore at best) then we get a shot of an apparently blood-shot sore eye! Followed by a string of puns followed by a string of lights (well one light actually, but I’m sore there is a string attached!)

Yikes, now I’m doing it!

RM

KBasa

12-04-2007, 10:32 AM

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228123665-L.jpg

This is a bit out of focus, which really cheeses me off.

SNC1923

12-04-2007, 10:42 AM

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228123665-L.jpg

This is a bit out of focus, which really cheeses me off.

This is a really cool shot, Dave. I've got to get out and try one of these long exposures. 30 seconds?

I know what you mean by slightly out of focus. Kind of like being a little bit pregnant. Either it is or it ain't. Best bet is to focus the lens at infinity (if you're more than 15 feet away or so) and stop the lens down.

Again, a great shot.

grossjohann

12-04-2007, 10:55 AM

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228123665-L.jpg

It looks like the rider could have just been abducted by aliens…

Very creative. Did you use a flashlight or is it parked under somd kind of light?

KBasa

12-04-2007, 11:09 AM

It looks like the rider could have just been abducted by aliens…

Very creative. Did you use a flashlight or is it parked under somd kind of light?

Burnszilla and I illuminated it with two LED flashlights for just a second or two during a pretty long exposure. I think I was shooting these at 30 seconds and letting the camera determine the aperture.

I'd been trying to get it to autofocus, but it was reluctant with the lack of light and the distance to the subject, so I set it to manual and gave it a shot.

It would appear that I need to improve my manual focus skills. It's hard to figure it out when it's 25F, you've had a couple Jack and Cokes and you're on your knees in your riding gear (to stay warm) peering through the lens and your glasses. :ha

Next time.

rocketman

12-04-2007, 11:21 AM

Burnszilla and I illuminated it with two LED flashlights for just a second or two during a pretty long exposure. I think I was shooting these at 30 seconds and letting the camera determine the aperture.

I'd been trying to get it to autofocus, but it was reluctant with the lack of light and the distance to the subject, so I set it to manual and gave it a shot.

It would appear that I need to improve my manual focus skills. It's hard to figure it out when it's 25F, you've had a couple Jack and Cokes and you're on your knees in your riding gear (to stay warm) peering through the lens and your glasses. :ha

Next time.

I've noted that with my lenses you can't just set the focus to the maximum stop, if you do its will be slightly past focus even on something as distant as stars, makes night photography, esp astro-photography really tricky!

Very nice shot, the bike almost looks like a miniture, there being so little to provide any referance to scale with the dark background.

Hey, maybe he shot it indoors on someone train layout?!:D

RM

grossjohann

12-04-2007, 12:56 PM

Burnszilla and I illuminated it with two LED flashlights for just a second or two during a pretty long exposure. I think I was shooting these at 30 seconds and letting the camera determine the aperture.

I'd been trying to get it to autofocus, but it was reluctant with the lack of light and the distance to the subject, so I set it to manual and gave it a shot.

It would appear that I need to improve my manual focus skills. It's hard to figure it out when it's 25F, you've had a couple Jack and Cokes and you're on your knees in your riding gear (to stay warm) peering through the lens and your glasses. :ha

Next time.

Thanks for the details. So, are the two of you suggesting that the RT is a fundamental building block (element) of the know universe?

KBasa

12-04-2007, 12:57 PM

Thanks for the details. So, are the two of you suggesting that the RT is a fundamental building block (element) of the know universe?

It's the basis of rapidtransportium, an element that alters time and space to put you somewhere else rapidly.

wmubrown

12-04-2007, 01:42 PM

Thanks for the details. So, are the two of you suggesting that the RT is a fundamental building block (element) of the know universe?

Merely that the bike is out in it's element... :)

Burnszilla

12-04-2007, 01:47 PM

RT Phone Home.

Voni

12-04-2007, 02:51 PM

This is an element that I like!

Voni
sMiling

Voni

12-04-2007, 10:10 PM

A part of a ride to the Hill Country.

Voni
sMiling

martysteinberg

12-04-2007, 10:57 PM

Here's a quick pic of Stoner's GP7 MotoGp bike at the IMS in Seattle.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2087617975_e4c9085579.jpg

SNC1923

12-04-2007, 11:32 PM

Here's a quick pic of Stoner's GP7 MotoGp bike at the IMS in Seattle.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2087617975_e4c9085579.jpg

Cool picture, Marty. Welcome to the forum. I love it when the first post in the photo assignment thread. Good for you, bud.

SNC1923

12-04-2007, 11:45 PM

This link (http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?p=267167#post267167) which I copied from another thread should be of interest to all the photographers and photo lovers here on the Photo Assignment Thread. Get your wallet out and click on the link.

TIP: If you follow the link to the country store, you'll see another wonderful spending opportunity eluded to in this month's ON Editor's column. . . .

rocketman

12-05-2007, 07:03 PM

SNC1923

12-05-2007, 09:29 PM

As I conceived of this week's theme, I was hoping to encourage some thought on composition, specifically what to include and what to exclude within the frame. It then dawned on me that this theme might result in some close-up or macro photography. The talented contributors to this thread did not disappoint.

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227084487-M.jpg

Straight out of the gate this week is Franz's "Pi." I love the title and the photograph. It fits the theme perfectly and is an unusually picturesque subject. Pity we don't all have Roman ruins down the road from our house. Nonetheless, his interpretation of this shot is wonderful and I think the composition and the somewhat extreme upward-looking perspective really add a great deal of interest. There was some discussion of cropping out some tree limbs and he did so. I offered that as food for thought. I prefer this edited version, but they are both great shots. The lack of any distraction in the background strengthens an already dominating subject.

http://roadrunes.com/images3/MOA-assignments/element/0083-handle-web.jpg

Rocketman brings us another cool shot this week: "What Am I?". I confess that I liked this immediately and it has grown on me since. It's an inventive photo (I like that he playfully introduces it with a riddle) and a very cool interpretation of the theme. I'm not altogether sure of what I'm looking at because the perspective is throwing me off. It appears to be a close up shot of the handgrip shot in the mirror, focusing on the bargrip rather than the mirror's surface. I might be way off here. It's a very clever and well-thought-out photo. I prefer it to the processed version, but that's just me.

http://roadrunes.com/images3/MOA-assignments/element/0107-trigger-finger-crop-web.jpg

I already made a few comments on this. It's a simple shot, another close-up in the mirror, but equally inventive and an even better theme interpretation. And those nails, to die for! OK, that's just creepy. . . .

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719304-M.jpg

Franze brought a few more submissions. "Weeping Window" is a great shot, nicely composed, and a picture that tells a story. The water stains speak to the age of this structure and are a nice metaphor as windows are sometimes seen as eyes, or vice versa. I would love to have seen the top of the window in the shot, if that were possible.

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719294-S.jpg

This is another lesson in good composition. I would guess everyone reading this has tread on stones like these, but how many of us stop and compose a shot of them excluding any distracting background. The seemingly infinite repeating pattern is very interesting. Not a profound shot, but one that is visually compelling and demands the viewer's attention.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/229191120-L.jpg

Now, we had a bit of fun with "element," what with all the periodic element tables and multiple photos of Honda Elements. But seriously, this is a nice photo and an excellent lesson in composition. The decisions made here, to shoot a succession of cars in a line, and to include the dealership sign as a story-telling counterpoint, the diminishing perspective. . . . It's all good. It's a joke, but a rather well-executed one from which aspiring photographers can take a lesson.

Well, Mrs. SNC 1923 just called and needs me to head down to the Mexican restaurant and buy her a margarita. I hope that you'll understand that I'll just have to finish this later, and possibly under the influence of tequila. Back soon.

RandallIsland

12-05-2007, 10:01 PM

Well, Mrs. SNC 1923 just called and needs me to head down to the Mexican restaurant and buy her a margarita. I hope that you'll understand that I'll just have to finish this later, and possibly under the influence of tequila. Back soon.

LOL! :ha

SNC1923

12-05-2007, 11:45 PM

OK, I'm back. Only one margarita, so my photo judgement skills should be no worse than normal.

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/DSCN1871.jpg

http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd244/tourunigo/DSCN1875.jpg

Tourunigo trailered in a couple of nice images this week, both of which are intriguing interpretations. I confess a fondness for the first image of the steel wheels. Nice composition and a stronger, starker image for the plain background. Harsh shadows are often the demise of a good photo, but here they really add something to the subject. Another instance of repeating geometric shapes.

The second photo is also an interesting shot, nice perspective and an unusual subject (a blue pipe?) but the background is cluttered. There appears to be little he could have done about that. I was thinking I might have gone for a close up on the joints and the perpendicular valve (I'm struggling here; can I get a plumber?) but that would have lost the dramatic perspective of the pipe thrusting into view. It remains a powerful composition.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/229191151-L.jpg

RTRandy brings another shot, and doesn't assert that it fits the theme, but it's a really neat photo. Montana commented on how the powerlines add to the photo. I agree. All the lines and sense of motion are traveling in one direction. Powerlines are often the ruination of a good picture, but in this grabbed shot, they really add something.

http://www.jdmetzger.com/img/potw/potw-elemental.jpg

JDMetzger brings us a photo that, like mine, he wasn't all that happy with. I appreciate that he decided to post it anyway. It's precisely that sort of courage that's the hallmark of a BMW rider. I confess I don't care for the silver background. The whole image is too monochromatic for me. But that IS subjective. And the blurring doesn't work here, as Josh points out. Your P&S doesn't have shutter/aperture control? Not all do, I guess. It's a good idea and worthy subject, but problems with the execution. I learned that lesson all too well myself this week. It's not without its merit. I really like the texture of the drops in the lower third of the image. Thanks for putting it up for us to discuss.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x55/k12rider/photo%20assignments/DSC01228.jpg

JohnF brings us another literal interpretation--let's face it: I was beggin' for it. It's a nicely composed, practical image that says what it means to say. As a lesson in composition, however, it's worth contrasting this image with RTRandy's Element photo above. Two very different compositional decisions of the same subject. In fairness, JohnF may not have had the weather or even a dealership with freshly washed cars on hand, either. Just a noteworthy comparison of two different and successful images.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/229191101-L.jpg

Grossjohann is becoming a force to be reckoned with. This is a really cool image, very stylish with bold, moody lighting. Flashlight? Pros have hoods they put over their flashes to achieve this effect. Really nice stuff. Great interpretation, interesting staging, great lighting, excellent focus, good color, etc., etc. I'm humbled by this shot.

Go back and take a look at the earring shot. Equally well lit, dramatic, etc. Good for you. 500 points for creativity and coolness.

http://www.robietech.com/johnbrown/temp/sony01.JPG

WMUBrown returns with a really nice image this week. I agree with his assessment about the focus. In fact, the whole thing appears out of focus except for the blue wire. It almost seems like motion blur in addition to a very shallow depth of field. The white lettering seems to have a halo quality that I don't quite understand. The lighting is good and the composition besides. You mentioned your Sunpack. Did you shoot it off camera or on? Bounced? I'd be curious to know how you lit this. The only thing I might have done would be to have stopped way down for greater clarity; I'm assuming you used a tripod.

http://lamble.smugmug.com/photos/217335459-S.jpg

Though admittedly not shot this weekend, Lamble's submission is worth looking at again. Beautiful lighting and a great--if not literal--interpretation. Is this another torch shot? If so, I'm going to start carrying a flashlight in my camera bag.

https://vspace.vassar.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-1257996_1

RandallIsland brings us three essential elements, but I'm such a rube I don't know what for. Just cooking, or is this a recipe I'm overlooking? It's a great concept, but I would have loved a different background. The steelwool scrubbing pad diminishes my appetite. It's also a bit hot for some reason. Your flash has blown it out a bit. Could be a number of reasons; they sometimes do that.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228093522-L.jpg

I really like Kbasa's entry this week. This is a very pretty photo with beautiful light. All the various yellows, golds, and browns combine beautifully. The old-fashioned glass, the half-empty drink, taking pictures in a bar. . . . This is a wonderful combination. What's not to like. I also appreciate the obvious painstaking research that probably went into this photo. It's this sort of sticktoitivness that makes Dave a natural leader. 250 bonus points for drinking Jack and Coke.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228322030-L.jpg

250 bonus points for being honest and admitting that this was a lucky shot. 1,000 bonus points for a flat-out bitchin' picture. I love this shot. Very, very cool.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2084103459_d65a491990_b.jpg

Burnzilla takes us into the eye of the storm this week with this compelling image. Say what you want about it; it got people talking. The camera is an unflinching eye. It never turns away from a subject no matter how unpleasant. It's an absurd but not unfamiliar image--really gross but difficult to turn away from. How does something ever go this bad?

I think that's it for tonight. I've had kind of a long, hard day in a succession of long, hard days. I'm nearing the end of the term and it's work, work, work right now. Besides, I'm suddenly overcome with the overwhelming urge to pee.

lamble

12-06-2007, 12:02 AM

Tom,

The torch again..and it is literaly an element, pure calcium crystal amidst a geod that I found in the lower Atlas Mountains, Tunisia. The rest of the geod crystals are violet, but the calcium is clear.

grossjohann

12-06-2007, 07:22 AM

Tom,

Thank you for persevering… In the face of temptation, exhaustion, and imminent evacuation :D your thoughtful and positive insight makes these exercises almost addictive.

Like you I struggled this week. After a week of business travel (I flew home from Milwaukee Friday night after the Midwest Food Processors Association show and meetings with a local brewery), She Who Must Be Obeyed reminded me of my Saturday night commitment to photograph the grand opening of Frank Adams Jewelers in Saratoga, NY. (Some photos here (http://picasaweb.google.com/Alex.Grossjohann/SaratogaGrandOpening122007)) By Sunday I had 294 images to review and little creative energy to apply to the assignment.

I wanted to take the diamonds through a magnifying lens, but it was nowhere to be found. The little P&S Sony CyberShot is great for macro photography, but the focal length prevented me from getting any closer. The LED flashlight was to highlight the facets of the diamonds. If I had taken more time, and had a true macro lens for the Nikon, then I probably would have gone for more exposure to make the diamonds sing.

I had a little extra cash from Saturday night (the shoot was “pro bono”, but I had put dinner on my card and the guys paid me back in cash), so I tried the same setup as the diamonds but with the penny.

It’s funny how an "after thought" is often more appreciated than the intended project. I suppose it is similar to why the first shot is usually the best. Pictures taken with genuine inspiration show the purity of creative process, and I believe that draws people in more so than technical mastery alone.

Again, thank you, Tom, for these we weekly assignments. It’s like an online course in photography, and you are the beloved professor. :bow

-Alex

KBasa

12-06-2007, 08:57 AM

Thanks, Tom. I appreciate that you're busy, yet you still take the time to help move this along and make a whole bunch of folks better photographers.

SNC1923

12-06-2007, 09:01 AM

I appreciate all these nice comments and you are most welcome. I hope I didn't sound like I was whining. I enjoy doing this very much and am glad that as many of us seem to enjoy it as well. My life has always been a delicate balance of trying to squeeze in everything I have to do with everything I want to do. Probably like an awful lot of others here who find themselves in the same boat.

What can I say. . . . :bikes and the people who ride them.

SNC1923

12-06-2007, 09:02 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2411/2085225278_c3f12a239f_o.jpg

Far more visually appealing, Burnz's second shot is a really nice close-up. The human eye is one of the most amazingly complex parts of the human body (though not nearly so much as the ear) and has always fascinated me. This is such a sharp, clear image. The patterns in the cornea are amazing. It's also amazing that this was shot with a P&S camera. What's even more amazing is that Best Buy will give you a new camera after three years. Whatever that warranty cost, it was clearly worth it.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PC020048.jpg

Once again Rapid_Roy didn't disappoint this week. This is another nice close up. This is a difficult exposure that he handles well. It certainly fits the theme well--perhaps the smallest constituent component of Christmas. I like this kind of close-up shot because, no matter how isolated the image, it's instantly recognizable. I also like the way the light reflects on the needles and the lights in the background, especially the blue one.

http://kbasa.smugmug.com/photos/228123665-L.jpg

Kbasa's bike shot already received some much-deserved praise. This is such a cool picture. Yes, it's a bit out of focus, but we've already covered that. Lesson learned. First, I love that it's composed vertically--that's counter-intuitive, I think, and works really well here. This is also a bit like Burnzilla's eye shot in that it shows just exactly what these cameras are capable of. Dave's camera's meter handles this L O N G exposure very well. What kind of tripod, Dave? A gorillapod by chance, or something else?

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/229191139-XL.jpg

Voni's back with this very cool shot. Reminiscent of Roy's picture this week, it also couldn't be more different. This is very difficult lighting and exposure, and I'm impressed that the focus landed right on the filament. Again, a very recognizable subject photographed in a whole new way. Oddly, it seems to say Christmas is only for the red color.

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/229191131-XL.jpg

I also love this image for the way it fits the theme. This sort of establishment is an essential element to any great ride. This steer's head is an essential element to any West Texas roadhouse. What fun! I often pick on off-kilter horizons, but here it adds a tinge of appropriate wackiness to the image. I mean it's nearly perfect: the illuminated beer signs, the stained ceiling, the cutout of the Duke. . . . Can you say, "Ye Haw!"?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/2087617975_e4c9085579.jpg

Welcome to Martysteinberg and this very nice image of an element of a very fast motorcycle. It's an excellent composition and its focus is spot-on. As someone who likes to photograph bikes, I can tell you it's hard to come up with new angles all the time. For this bike, this is a natural. Very nice.

That's it for this week, barring any last-minute submissions. Some really interesting images this week. Thanks everyone for teaching me a thing or two. . . . :clap

wmubrown

12-06-2007, 09:03 AM

WMUBrown returns with a really nice image this week. I agree with his assessment about the focus. In fact, the whole thing appears out of focus except for the blue wire. It almost seems like motion blur in addition to a very shallow depth of field. The white lettering seems to have a halo quality that I don't quite understand. The lighting is good and the composition besides. You mentioned your Sunpack. Did you shoot it off camera or on? Bounced? I'd be curious to know how you lit this. The only thing I might have done would be to have stopped way down for greater clarity; I'm assuming you used a tripod.

That's a pretty impressive skill to pull all that information out of a photo! And accurate I might add!

I was using a 50mm Canon lens (the closest I have to a macro lens) with f-stop set to 1.8 because I wanted a really shallow depth of field (thought it would be cool to have a the spark in sharp focus and everything else out of focus). Lighting was just an overhead florescent work light and the halo around the lettering is actually a reflection off the white table the stereo was sitting on. I did use a tripod, and tried to aim directly at the stereo to reduce the reflection (and more so in latter attempts but could no longer reproduce the spark). I broke out the Sunpack for the circuit board shot, camera mounted. That shot is much more impressive cropped, all the blackened bits are easily discerned ;)

Thanks for taking the time to review all the submissions, comment, and continuing to posting new challenges :)

Rapid_Roy

12-06-2007, 11:44 AM

Once again Rapid_Roy didn't disappoint this week. This is another nice close up. This is a difficult exposure that he handles well. It certainly fits the theme well--perhaps the smallest constituent component of Christmas. I like this kind of close-up shot because, no matter how isolated the image, it's instantly recognizable. I also like the way the light reflects on the needles and the lights in the background, especially the blue one.
I am in no way going to be any type of threat to a professional photographer. I took about 50 shots, and this was the one that appealed the most, there were a couple others. I broke the Christmas Tree down to its smallest element, a light. Not to mention, bulbs have an element/filament in them, as Voni also demonstrated with her cool shot. I wonder why she used a red bulb? :laugh I was going to just take a picture of a bulb, but having it lit was more appealing to me. Your last line is exactly what my wife said, she is my filter for the picture I will use. Thank you Tom, for your time and knowledge, it is most appreciated. I was feeling rather low about that image. Some of the others cropped, would probably look better. I should try some in the photo anarchy thread.

Rapid_Roy

12-06-2007, 11:54 AM

I would also like to point out that Kbasa's glass should have just been filled with just Jack to reduce it to it's basic element.:stick
I don't know if he would have felt like taking pictures after that though.

KBasa

12-06-2007, 12:31 PM

I have to give Burnszilla credit for suggesting the portrait orientation on that shot. I'm using a $30 tripod I bought at Best Buy. It's small enough that it'll fit in the gear bag with my tent, but will extend to just about 6'.

It's made of aluminum and doesn't weigh much, either.

tourunigo

12-06-2007, 02:59 PM

Tom, thanks again for your insights....and taking the time to review so many contributions. It really is amazing to see what we often overlook or don't take the time to examine/appreciate in the ordinary world. I am sure that there will be many who will thank you with a bottomless tequila glass when we all meet up. Have you tried tequila, beer and lime:bottle ? Again, thanks. -Bob

franze

12-06-2007, 03:14 PM

What all the above said, that goes for me too. It's kinda been a re-awakening for me. Every weekend my two boys have a hockey match, usually different days, different town but if Kohoutek is out, the same rink, one after the other. They need to be in the locker room an hour before the match so now I get to walk around some town with my camera and look and ponder, two things I don't get enough time for...... merci monsieur, pour tous Here's the church window showing the top.

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719311-M.jpg

lamble

12-06-2007, 07:34 PM

[/I] Here's the church window showing the top.

http://elcid.smugmug.com/photos/227719311-M.jpg

Franze, you are annoying me with all the history you have around you which you display in your photography so well, and which I miss incredibly. Therefore it's even harder for me to say this....I really like this version of the weeping window.There's something far more appealing about the geometry.
I had a 2000 year old gate that I used to walk to work through every day...Roman, plus a temple and a Norman Castle, burial grounds, antique yachts, mammoth bones on the beach, smugglers inns etc...See, now you've bought back even fonder memories.

Here's a question where you can redeem yourself. There's a metal sculpture that doubles as a fountain that also doubles as a mobile, that acts as a clock in a town in Switzerland, that I spent a hour watching. I know that's vague, but any ideas-pics? It was modern in the 90's when I was there. Plus the patisserie near by has the best raspberry tarts I've ever eaten...does that help?

(Brit irony button on-he doesn't annoy me really, thought I'd include this as the urinal comment was taken awkwardly).

franze

12-07-2007, 01:11 AM

Here's a question where you can redeem yourself. There's a metal sculpture that doubles as a fountain that also doubles as a mobile, that acts as a clock in a town in Switzerland, that I spent a hour watching. I know that's vague, but any ideas-pics? It was modern in the 90's when I was there. Plus the patisserie near by has the best raspberry tarts I've ever eaten...does that help?

(.

doesn't "ring a bell" at the moment. I've got a few more months here, my guess it's not in the Suisse Romande or Italian areas but with all those functions in one "element" in must be Deutsch. Sounds like Zurich. I'll get on it.

lamble

12-07-2007, 11:41 AM

doesn't "ring a bell" at the moment. I've got a few more months here, my guess it's not in the Suisse Romande or Italian areas but with all those functions in one "element" in must be Deutsch. Sounds like Zurich. I'll get on it.

Much smaller than Zurich, not a city whose name I'd recall, so strike out Laussane too, although the hotel on the lake with the spire like turret is one I'd highly recommend. I'll try from this end too. All the best, bon chance.

lamble

12-07-2007, 11:49 AM

franze

12-07-2007, 03:15 PM

http://www.swissworld.org/en/switzerland/swiss_specials/swiss_watches/the_carillon_at_la_chauxdefonds/

The carillion at La Chaux de Fonds...that's the one. Worthy of a trip for photographs and those raspberry tartlettes.

Well, well, it's a small Suisse Romande after all. I know the town well, my older son plays them away twice a season in hockey and at least once during the pre-season. It's a hilly town, kinda gone downhill since their watch making prowess tubed. I will, post a photo of this incredible multi-function oracle with a lay persons description of the tartelette. Your Google-Fu is top drawer.

lamble

12-07-2007, 04:18 PM

Well, well, it's a small Suisse Romande after all. I know the town well, my older son plays them away twice a season in hockey and at least once during the pre-season. It's a hilly town, kinda gone downhill since their watch making prowess tubed. I will, post a photo of this incredible multi-function oracle with a lay persons description of the tartelette. Your Google-Fu is top drawer.

I was a little worried that entering Swiss and clock , would give me an endless list of cuckoo related possibilities. The info was on the first link I saw, so fate has been kind.
Hope your son's team whollops them by the way.

rocketman

12-07-2007, 04:21 PM

franze

12-07-2007, 04:36 PM

I was a little worried that entering Swiss and clock , would give me an endless list of cookoo related possibilities. The info was on the first link I saw, so fate has been kind.
Hope your son's team whollops them by the way.

The first night I camped in Bavaria we heard cuckoos. Yes, there were other campers nearby, but these were feathered friends in trees. Being from "the New World" and having a Cuckoo Clock brought home by my uncle from Germany, I thought that sound was more like a Looney Tunes......oh wait, that's a term for money and another bird.......ok, yeah, I heard the real cuckoo sing it's song.....damn those neutrinos!!!

lamble

12-07-2007, 04:40 PM

so your saying that all Sweeds are Cookoo? (well maybe for clocks, anyway!):laugh :laugh

RM

That'll be Swedes from Sweden and Swiss from Switzerland.
The clock we are talking about is directly outside the Swiss clock museum and as far as the outside world cares, Switzerland is known for: Watches, Toberlerone triangular chocolate, Swiss Army Knives, Banks of dubious integrity, Heidi, cheese fondue, yodelling and the Alps. And last but not least, cuckoo clocks.

Personally, I tend towards CERN and the Olympic Museum, but that's only because I've done work with them.

Rapid_Roy

12-07-2007, 10:13 PM

I liked this one also. The wife won.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PC020049.jpg

Rapid_Roy

12-07-2007, 10:20 PM

Lastly, this one. Tom, I know you are done, I am posting for fun.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PC020066.jpg

BONEY

12-07-2007, 10:22 PM

I was going to try to get stuff entered in the weekly photo shoots but I keep getting distracted and stuff.

I'm still learning a lot here. Thanks for the great pix everyone.

SNC1923

12-07-2007, 11:31 PM

I was going to try to get stuff entered in the weekly photo shoots but I keep getting distracted and stuff.

I'm still learning a lot here. Thanks for the great pix everyone.

Hang in there, Boney. Bring us a shot when you can. We'd love to see one.

SNC1923

12-07-2007, 11:33 PM

Lastly, this one. Tom, I know you are done, I am posting for fun.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/RapidR/PC020066.jpg

These are neat, Roy. Imagine what this might look like if the exposure were about two stops darker. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but with a smaller aperture, there might be some detail in the filament. These are interesting close-ups in any case.

Rapid_Roy

12-08-2007, 12:08 PM

That is what I was thinking, Thank you Tom. It was kinda "hot" but the details really seemed to stand out. There is also a slight difference between the first one I entered in the contest, and the second one I posted. I liked the second one, my wife liked the first one.

lamble

12-08-2007, 12:16 PM

These are neat, Roy. Imagine what this might look like if the exposure were about two stops darker. Not that there's anything wrong with this, but with a smaller aperture, there might be some detail in the filament. These are interesting close-ups in any case.

And how, step by step, might one go about doing that?

SNC1923

12-08-2007, 12:47 PM

And how, step by step, might one go about doing that?

Great question. Depending on your camera, in one of several ways.

If you can set your camera to manual, you can change either the shutter speed or the aperture. Let's say--for the sake of argument--that this exposure is 1/60 at f/5.6. You would increase the shutter speed two stops from 1/60 to 1/125 to 1/250. This would decrease the light by two stops. OR, you could close the aperture from 5.6 to 8 to 11. This would also decrease the light by two stops.

Changing the shutter speed or aperture has secondary effects on the picture, (motion and depth-of-field, respectively) but neither would be very apparent in this particular shot.

If your camera does not allow for manual exposure, or if you can't be bloody bothered, you can adjust the EV (exposure value) setting. I believe nearly all cameras have this adjustment. This allows you to make the exposure lighter or darker by as much as two stops. On most cameras, this is done in 1/3 increments. You would want to set this to -2 EV.

Another typical use for this adjustment is when taking pictures of a subject against a bright background, typically an open window. The camera's lightmeter is fooled into metering for the bright background and the subject comes out sillouhetted. In this situation--the opposite of Roy's--you would set the EV compensation to +2 EV.

Here's an example (that I hate) and I apologize that I don't have a before and after:

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/12828973-M.jpg

The exposure compensation in this shot is set to +1EV. Although generally somewhat overexposed, in the original photo our faces were too dark. Given the chance to do it again, I might go with +2/3EV or, better still, I may have activated the flash. The result of that would fill in the shadows without changing the background exposure.

Example:

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/12832277-M.jpg

Forgive the pukas. These were taken on our Hawaiian honeymoon. . . .

lamble

12-08-2007, 01:11 PM

Great question. Depending on your camera, in one of several ways.

If you can set your camera to manual, you can change either the shutter speed or the aperture. Let's say--for the sake of argument--that this exposure is 1/60 at f/5.6. You would increase the shutter speed two stops from 1/60 to 1/125 to 1/250. This would decrease the light by two stops. OR, you could close the aperture from 5.6 to 8 to 11. This would also decrease the light by two stops.

Changing the shutter speed or aperture has secondary effects on the picture, (motion and depth-of-field, respectively) but neither would be very apparent in this particular shot.

If your camera does not allow for manual exposure, or if you can't be bloody bothered, you can adjust the EV (exposure value) setting. I believe nearly all cameras have this adjustment. This allows you to make the exposure lighter or darker by as much as two stops. On most cameras, this is done in 1/3 increments. You would want to set this to -2 EV.

Another typical use for this adjustment is when taking pictures of a subject against a bright background, typically an open window. The camera's lightmeter is fooled into metering for the bright background and the subject comes out sillouhetted. In this situation--the opposite of Roy's--you would set the EV compensation to +2 EV.

Here's an example (that I hate) and I apologize that I don't have a before and after:

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/12828973-M.jpg

The exposure compensation in this shot is set to +1EV. Although generally somewhat overexposed, in the original photo our faces were too dark. Given the chance to do it again, I might go with +2/3EV or, better still, I may have activated the flash. The result of that would fill in the shadows without changing the background exposure.

Example:

http://SNC1923.smugmug.com/photos/12832277-M.jpg

Forgive the pukas. These were taken on our Hawaiian honeymoon. . . .

I've so much to learn. Perhaps reading the instructions manual would be a good place to start. Then once I've cracked photography I can move on to learning how to carry off a white shell necklace!

Thanks for the steps.