|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
You are correct about the contrast issue. The goal is to have white, without blowing highlights and blacks while having detail in the shadows. It is really about Ansels zone system and utilizing all 10 zones (or at least as many as possible) I keep a screen capture of Ansels zones in a strip so I can lay it over the image and see how my zones match up. There is a lot of dodging and burning involved. Study Arne's images is is really good at doing the B/W with his dodging and burning.
The only tips I can offer for composition is slow down and look. Take "practice" shots and then study them before taking the final shot. Get there early and experiment.
What you are asking is why I write my long explanations about what I'm trying to do when I shoot. Trying to show how I think about details. It just takes practice,lots of it. There is great improvement in your work over the 6 images you have thus far submitted. Just keep working on it. This is why you were selected for the showcase. just keep it up. |
Apr 19th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Sounds like reaching that summit on skies would have been fun. I have climbed several peaks that were 4350 meters in my younger days---but those days are not gone for sure. |
Apr 14th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
Well lit city scapes at night can have a magical quality and I feel you have captured that quite well. I feel this would have more impact if it was formatted as more of a pano. I would suggest cropping some of that blank space at the bottom, some sky from the top, and of course that person on the left edge. The pano format thus created would enhance the feeling of motion created by the use of the long shutter speed. |
Apr 9th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
This is a wonderful shot of the mountain. As noted, it is iconic Mt. Hood. You decision to render this as B/W was a good choice as with the color removed we see more of the lines and tones of the mountain.
Black and white is about contrast (as everyone seems to have noted) and bringing out those true blacks and whites will really make this come to life. While people are taking about making the sky dark (yes do that) you have to work those shadows on the mountain as well.
I agree the cropping the blank part of the sky from the top is necessary but I would also remove the light area in the bottom right corner as with B/W any light area will draw attention.
One thing you can't fix but you can think about for the future is the clutter in the center of the image. In the center you have some tall dark trees that merge with the dense forest at the foothills of the mountain. If you look carefully there is either water or a meadow behind the foremost trees and the foothills. By raising the camera angle you could drive those trees in the middle down and gain separation with the foothills. This would eliminate the cluttered feeling in the middle. |
Apr 9th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
I feel this image just speaks to stillness, silence and cold. The weather contributed to the assembling of these elements but you captured it perfectly. I feel like I'm standing on the edge of the lake and am afraid if I even breathe, I'll ruin the magic of the moment. It is not the pano that makes this work, it is the "moment". It is one of a kind and perfectly captured.
I do not mind the centered horizon, because of the perfect mirroring of the scene, it ends up being balanced.
Should you do anything to the image I would crop some from the right side to keep the symmetry intact. The mountain on the right just feels a bit heavy.
But I do really love this image. |
Apr 9th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Diane
If you use lightroom it is really easy and there are many easy to follow tutorials on Youtube. (checkout Mark Denny)
Give it a try and it you have questions, just ask me. I'll be glad to help. |
Apr 9th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Thanks Arne
I like these calm still and moody images, especially if they have fog. Looking at this I can feel and hear the silence.
When I first processed this, I liked it the way it is shown. In the ensuing weeks, I've wondered about toning down the water reeds you mention. I'll play around with it later this week. |
Apr 9th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Thanks for commenting and asking. I agree, I love fog since light reacts with it so well. I also like gloom (it is really just diffused light and soft light. I can do lots of things with soft light. It works great on city streets and alleys, streetlights can become mini suns (Lioghtroom can work miracles) In gloom I look for small things or features like a pile of rocks, I single plant in water with a still reflection or look for something breaking through the cloud cover. As to why the water at the bottom I had several reasons, maybe not good ones but at the time they worked for me. Grasses in the everglades do not grow as carpets like in the mid west, they are very spotty and I wanted to keep that feeling. But more important, at least for me, was they were about reflections. I liked the tree reflections in the center, and the reflections of the grasses in the water at the bottom. I was trying to let each element have its own space, and cut them off. I was also working with triangles I had two bright areas. The grasses on the left and the sunlight on the right. See the blue triangles on the image below. I also had a third triangle as seen outlined in red on the image below. I thought I used the blue triangles to frame the red triangle. The reflections of the trees are kind of dark and I thought framing them with the bright blue areas would sort of create some horizontal balance and help the3 viewer see the reflections in the middle
At least that is my reasoning, hoped it sort of worked. :-)
|
Apr 8th |
 |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Barbara
I can't speak for certain for all the instructors (largely because we have just added 2 new ones that I have helped train) but while we encourage the time most of us do not see it as written in stone. I'm quite flexible. Part of the course involves the student going to to take particular types of images and weather does not always cooperate. I currently have a student recovering from unexpected surgery. We are pretty easy going. |
Apr 8th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
I'd suggest starting with Image Evaluation. That explains the tools of photography. Image critique is how to use those tools to review someone's image. |
Apr 5th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
An interesting view of the Mall. Off setting the
Washington Monument is unique and clearly a maker's choice. I like leading lines so this image has appeal to me for the variety of leading lines shown. But my favorite part if the visitation of various ghosts that have appeared throughout the scene. |
Apr 5th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
As always, it is all about the light. The low angle of the sun, matched with your lofty position makes the most out of this light and its dramatic shadows. While I like vertical lines in the fields at the bottom as leading lines I think the best part is the sun lit diagonal lines coming from the right and pointing to the elevator. One of the subtle features that I really like is the "V" shape created by the clump of trees in the center acting as the bottom of the "V" and then the upper points of the "V" being the white buildings on both the left and right power points of the rule of thirds. The bright section of the field sort of fill in the "V". It is subtle,but I think effective.
Sadly Florida is way to flat to hve anything like this. :-( |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
What a great choice to convert this into B/W. Without the color you have revealed the structure of the image with no distractions and that creates impact. I love how the use of multiple leading lines drive the eye of the viewer deep into the scene. Using the long exposure and aperture to create the starbursts are an added visual treat. The scene is clearly urban but the feel is one of being alone on a dark night in the middle of nowhere. There is almost a frightening sensation that makes an emotional connection to the viewer. Adding emotion to an image is not easy, but I feel you managed it here. Very nicely done. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Thank you Barbara. You can relax--gators were not a problem here as the water even 10 or more feet from shore was only 6-8 inches deep. Everglades water is filtered through limestone and is crystal clear and because it is so clear it is also really blue during the daytime. Bluest water I've ever seen. I could see any approaching gators at least 100 feet away. The everglades are very silent and kind of mysterious, I wanted that feeling in the image. And of course you can't beat the golden hour light in the fog.
I teach several classes for PSA Online and one of the things I teach is to have a plan, have a real intent when you take a picture. Try to make the viewer see and feel what you see and feel. I try to explain how to use the elements of photography to build a photo, create one, don't just take a photo. My hope is to let each visible element play its role and this process takes planning and thought. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Thanks Michael. Like you I love fog for the unique impact it provides. I'd checked the weather and knew there would be fog and that is why I was there. I'm really pleased you liked my framing with light, it was something I worked on for this image. Kind of trapping the viewer's eye between the bright areas. I thought the reflection in the center would hold the eye. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Thank you for your input. I never thought of separating the halves. To me this complete image told the story of sunrise in the everglades and I like the way the light, because the glades are so flat, swept across the scene. I would shoot it again the same way. It is a maker's choice. |
Apr 4th |
6 comments - 10 replies for Group 36
|
| 62 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
The camera is only a tool with which the photographer shares their vision of the world.
When I first saw this image I was transported back to the 1960s and could here the soft strains of Henry Mancini's Moon River. I had the music on a LP 33 1/3 record and played it often. The emotion this image created in me was so impactive that I asked Siri to play Moon River so I could listen while writing this.
Looking at this image I can actually see the record spinning. To create an image that imparts such strong emotions to the viewer is a high form of the art. I love images that actually USE light and the angle and quality of the light in this is a strong part of the charm. The unknown shutter speed provides enough motion to make this feel real and make the viewer a part of the action. This is a fine creative choice. The addition of the grain reminds me of the scratching sound that was always a part of 60's recorded music experience. Seeing that grain along with the spinning disk makes the "sound" come through. I have long believed that simple, minimalistic image have so much more visual power because since there is so little to look at the important of each element is increased as is the joy of the viewer. The photography both in planning and execution are as near perfect as you can achieve. Don't dop anything but turn up the volume.
Silver Efex, for me is the gold standard for Black and White processing and was an excellent choice for this image. The clean,sharp tones that range from pure white, to total black bring clarity and impact to this image. The crisp tones and their separation only serve to add strength to the total image. Those 2 screws and the name ring out sharp and clear and hold the eye.
It is all here "waiting round the bend, my huckleberry friend, moon river and me"...
Well Done
Absolutely enter this
|
Apr 3rd |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 62
|
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Hi David
The photo below shows the back of my Nikon D850. On the right side is a large button that can be identified by the white letter "L" located just above the button. This button has a variety of uses and can be programed to do a host of other functions. In the center is a button and surrounding that center button is a ring that can be rocked upward, downward, or to the left and right. With the shutter button partly depressed I can use that ring to move the focus point to the left, right, top or bottom of the center spot in the view finder. Thus if the bird is entering from the left and moving to the right I can shift the focus point to the left so that the bird is then in the rule of thirds position on the left fixation points. This eliminates the need to do so much cropping. It means I can fill the frame with the bird without needed to crop as much as if the bird were in the center of the frame. My subject now takes up more of the frame, and I get a better quality image. I use this feature all the time as I compose my images. |
Apr 19th |
 |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
The monopod does two things. First it supports the camera so I do not have to. Second in allows for steady and smooth movement from left to right or right to left. The gimbal, mounted on the tripod allows for smooth movement up and down like when the bird dives or turns into the camera. Note I am shooting pretty tight to get a better quality image. The shot shown both this month and last month is about 80% of the total frame. That allows for better detail in the final image. I paid for all those pixels and I refuse to crop them off and just throw away the quality. While shooting I track the direction the bird is flying (right to left) and will shift the focus point from the center to either the left or right using the multi-selector button so the bird has room to fly into the frame. My left hand is on the lens barrel to help steady it and to allow for zooming. Note my lens is a 200-400, with a 1.4 tc attached. |
Apr 19th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Hi David
See above comment about getting the exposure--took practice shots. Actually I never thought about the reflection---water was just to choppy. This was all about the action. Maybe next month I'll show the fish in the mouth. :-) That is uch easier to capture. |
Apr 19th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Thanks Richard. I knew the general area where the action would take place so I set the camera on manual and took several practice shots before the action started to get the exposure. The started praying and shooting. I under exposed just to be safe. You are so right---this is about feet and bill being in the water, |
Apr 19th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
Thanks. You are so right. There are so many different elements to capture in an image like this as least one seems to be left out all the time. To the naked eye it seems like it all happens at once. The camera slows the action down and then you see the various stages. You need about 4-6 shots to show it all. But that is what makes it fun to photograph. |
Apr 19th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
I like the snowies, many other birds do not. They are active and provide many opportunities for images. The reddish are also favorite subjects. So much fun when they run across the surface. You have a good image, just need to get it a bit sharper---but that is the hard part. Check out the Therma-Cell it does a great job keeping the large bugs away. (You just wear it on your hip. |
Apr 19th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
I got plenty of shots of them with a fish but by the time they get their bill with fish out of the water they just look like a bird in flight. and I wanted the foot drag with some action and not like they are just taking off. Oh well, back to the drawing board and another try. Still I like this better than another bird sitting on a stick or just standing in the water. |
Apr 19th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Reply |
I've been to Merritt Island---and you can use cars. I was stuck on a foot, on a berm with the mosquitoes. |
Apr 9th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
A face only a mother can love!! You have a lovely, and comical image to show for your efforts. I really like the sharpness and the textures that appear throughout the image.
The limited, and matching, color palette really adds to the impact of the image. Assuming that you will eventually crop out the white areas along the edge I would encourage you to tone down that white area in the upper right corner. Or better yet use content aware fill to just remove it. Then you would have the perfect image.
Would I be right to assume that no one else in your tour group got this shot? I love it. |
Apr 9th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
Note to Susan When capturing this image I used a Nikon D850, 500mm lens shot at f9 (need DOF for that 42" wing span) and shot at 1/2000. But my camera was mounted on a monopod. I'm not to proud to admit that my arms get tired holding my camera rig for several hours. The monopod hold the weight, then I can concentrate on tracking the flying bird as he swoops and dives. Notice how sharp the feathers on the head appear. |
Apr 9th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
You did a nice job of capturing the family squabble which is usually constant this time of year. You should know that there is only ONE right piece of furniture to put in that perfect spot of the patio. They act like a bunch of shoppers at IKEA!
I do not mind the dark(ish) part of the image but for me the trio all look a bit soft. I'm betting you captured this handheld and between your camera movement, their frantic movement and the lower light I'm pretty certain that your 1/1600 shutter speed was not quite fast enough. Remember that crop sensor camera increasing magnification and with the long focal length sharpness is generally an issue. Remember you have multiple kinds of movement going on. That is the reason I strongly suggest using a tripod----it really makes a difference. You have great gear and should get razor sharp image--especially with a tripod. |
Apr 9th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
I'm so glad you enjoy one of the great comics of the Florida waterways. As you noted they put on quite a show as the run across the surface of the water in search of their meals. You got a grand shot of this character with his mouth full. You also had the good fortune to capture him in breeding plumage when he is looking his best. (this is the male) I like the sharpness and the glancing light make him look most handsome.
I just want to know how you managed such a nice full frame with only a 300mm lens I use 500mm and struggle to fill the frame. They are never close to the shores. Nice work!! |
Apr 9th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
I'm not sure I would know this is a volcano without your verbal clue but I do like the colors and the leading lines drawing the eye into the image. For me the best part of the image is the craggy rocks on the left side. With that in mind I would crop even lower and remove all the blank sky in the upper left corner. As the image looks especially soft to me i would strongly suggest changing the camera settings. Since you are shooting with a 16mm lens everything 4-5 feet in from of you will be within the hyperfocal range for infinity so shooting at f11 is completely unnecessary. By reducing the aperture to f4 or f5.6 you could easily rise the shutter speed to somewhere in the range of 1/60 or by increasing ISO you could certainly reach 1/100. This would prevent camera shake and yield a much sharper image. Lacking that I often take off my hat or jacket and place them on the ground, prop the camera on top and use stones to achieve the angle I want and then activate the self timer to make certain I get a very sharp image. |
Apr 5th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
A very nice portrait shot of the sandhill crane searching for a meal. I like how you cropped this from the original so as to eliminate the distractions in the background. The colors look quite natural and the subject is well separated from the background. I do feel the image could benefit from being run through Lightroom's secret sharpening formula as the body feathers seem a bit on the soft side. |
Apr 5th |
| 67 |
Apr 23 |
Comment |
I always laud the efforts of photographers who strive to do something different. I'm not sure that most viewers will know what is happening without your explanation, even with the title. The unusual position of the bird's head certainly provides some context. Someone who is well versed on avian behavior may be able to make an educated guess. For me the inverted head with extended prey would check the box for original bird behavior and with the clean background and solid composition I would award points the capturing this behavior. I would wish for MORE blur to the bird to make the thrashing body move evident.
There are lots of visual clues (feet perfectly sharp for example) but it will take a very careful viewing to make the interpretation. I do like this capture for its unique appearance. Keep it up. |
Apr 5th |
7 comments - 8 replies for Group 67
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14 comments - 18 replies Total
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