|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Thanks Barbara. Necessity is the mother of invention. I wanted a picture and the GND was all I could think of at the time. I was going to use my Lume Cubes to light the pier. When used at long distance they provide pretty even light of a long exposure. The image was a bit dark, but by pushing the whites in the sky and opening the shadow I was able to get a better exposure. Noise reduction compliments of Lightroom. I was afraid to run the exposure longer because of those headlights. I did have to reduce exposure on the pier. |
Jan 11th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
Been there, seen that. You present it exactly like it is. A very nice photo that shows place quite well. I especially like that you kept the bright foreground completely below the tops of the mountains in the background sort of a frame within a frame. |
Jan 10th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
For me the foreground is fine although I would like a bit more space under the ducks. Like like the rays coming from the sun. What does bother me are the "horizontal blockers" that keep the eye from moving. For me, every line in the image runs completely from left to right and they are all massive heavy lines so the eye does not roam. That very solid black line of trees, brush (?) is really distracting. However, that may be just me. |
Jan 10th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
Love the highlights on the rocks with the semi directional light. This is just a simple but interesting image. It works quite well. i like the sunlight embracing the rock in the foreground--nice touch.
really nit picking but I would like just a tiny bit more rock along the bottom of the frame at the first low spot coming from the left. But it is fine as it is, just my preference. |
Jan 10th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Thanks Diane
There will be star trail soon, I hope. I framed this to have the arc of the stars over the pier. With out the star arc I just tried to make it symmetrical an even everything up. I wanted to preserve the simplicity. Thus the title of Silent Night
|
Jan 10th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
Being a fan of long exposures I believe this is my favorite view of New York. I love the towering strength of the city skyline and the manner in which the wooden pilings point toward the city, I've seen this view many times but I do not recall one with this much magenta. Something different.
I'm going to agree with Arne in saying you should crop at least a third of the sky, there are just too many bright areas that draw attention away from the city. |
Jan 7th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
There are so many elements in this that in their own right are compelling, but they work together to create an image that has depth and and high interest scattered throughout the entire frame. I love the oranges in the sky that are reflected in the sea and also found in the rocks and finally with the scattered russet tones of the grasses. This whole palette acs like candy for the eye. The brightest part of the scene are those ice swirles that grab the eye at the base of the frame and then using a series of gentle curves flow through the entire image. Finally, after being lead by the ice swirles my eye arrives at the highest and gently illuminated bright rock that , at least to me, acts like a waiting guide to point toward the islands that lead to infinity. One last note for compositional purposes, I do like that you kept all the islands rising from the sea from breaking above the horizon line. It is the mark of a master of composition.
Simply beautiful |
Jan 7th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
I really like the clean and simple approach to this shot. The choice for B/W I think is wise. In Monochrome you reveal the structure of the mountain and that creates a most different mood. For me including the reflections adds to additional triangular shapes make a total of four. That repetition of shape I feel add a lot to the image. The image is great as it is, so I won't even mention the little detached leaves on the lower right side of the image. |
Jan 7th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
The exposure numbers are in the write up at the top of this page. I have a fascination with simple images as I think they can be very direct and powerful. I had that in mind when I set this up. Remember it was intended to have star trails arcing across the image. I used Photopills to check the direction the camera had to face to achieve this and my composition was geared to this end. Then the cars showed up and nearly ruined everything. I suppose i could crop a post off from the right. |
Jan 7th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Thanks Arne
I'm so glad you spotted my intent. I really wanted to keep this image simple and uncluttered. You also correctly identified why I used the GND filter--those headlights were just terrible. I thought about the crop as well but opted to wait and see what the experts thought. |
Jan 7th |
| 36 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Never thought of making it B/W since it was already dark.
But why not, so based on your suggestion here it is |
Jan 6th |
 |
6 comments - 5 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Hi David
See my above comment. BUt I'll note I am really happy with how the lens captured the wings of the insect. The fine lace really shows. While not shown in this image, I love what the lens does with the very fine hairs on an owl's face. Simply amazing.
I've been using my Platypod to take images of flowers and some grasses at night with the Milky Way above. The platypod lets me get really low and is very stable |
Jan 14th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Richard
I used a frisbee with a screw coming up from the bottom to hold my ball head for years as my original Platypod. When I got a good deao with a sale on the original Platypod I took the p-lunge and got one. I like the real Platypod model be cause of the ability to level it on uneven terrain. However the frisbee version is still be best for working on Florida sandy beaches because it slides through the sand much easier when shooting shore birds.
Feel free to edit my images to your heart's content. It is all about learning. That green stub is actually growing there, I noticed when I was getting up to leave,
After years of using that 200-400 f4 lens (sometimes with tc1.4) I still marvel at just how sharp and crisp the image are. I have never once regretted the dollars spent getting it. And it doesn't matter which body that lens is on (even my very old D70) when I use it correctly it produces. It is heavy (7 pounds)but it is my baby. It is smooth and acquired focus in a heart beat. I've had it 10 years and had the internal motor replaced 2 years ago ($350) but I'm not complaining. |
Jan 14th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Susan
Looking at photos like a judge or a neutral viewer should not be a ways off. Start by looking at the image for technical expertise. Things like exposure, sharpness should be easy to see. Then look at composition. Do you see a story (capturing prey and feeding). How powerful is the image---you decide, good, average, weak. Then decide why. Make a statement about all the above. Have questions, ask. I'll help you. The key is to have photographic reasons for every thing you say. |
Jan 10th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
This is a most unusual view of the Badlands and as you mention is a pure abstract. I think this belongs in a portfolio of the badlands as it shows a view most visitors would just pass over. I like the fact that there is a absolute subject center to hold the eye and of course the blues and orange add a feeling of comfort. The directional light also makes this a bit more interesting. Light always makes a difference. |
Jan 7th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
Oh such vanity! A constant struggle to always look her best. It must be exhausting. I like the background that just retains some environmental detail so set a scene. And while it is a bird on a stick the grooming action does raise it just a notch. This is overall a pleasing comfortable image to view. I would crop a bit off the top to remove that white spot in the upper right and perhaps a bit from the left as the image seems a bit unbalanced. |
Jan 7th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
OK, you fooled me. I am convinced that was taken in total wilderness. There is not a human element for miles. The crop may be a little tight on the right but I'm not going to be that picky. Normally the dappled light would be a turnoff for me but it is soft and well matched with the light in the left foreground. Your blue background and the oranges of the fox and the foreground nicely introduce the complimentary colors. There is a bit of halo around the head of the fox that would detract if the image was enlarged.
STILL IT IS A RED FOX AND I'M JEALOUS! |
Jan 7th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
Oh my, such dramatic impact! The blue ice is an instant winner and I like how it seems to reach out and embrace he penguins. For me the image has great visual balance that leads from a highpoint and reaches down and forward to the gentoos. There is a great deal of space, which is fine, but I think the little touches of texture in the foreground ice make a world of difference for the better.
It feels cold and is visually stunning. |
Jan 7th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Thanks for putting in the effort. I don't mind the reed, because I se it as part of the story. Still I get your reasoning. Note, as a judge, I can see a disturbance in the water where the reed had been. However, I do appreciate the additional real estate on the right. I'm sure the bird feel less confined.
Now what REALLY bothers me is that reddish floating plant just above the tip of the bird's tail. :-)
|
Jan 4th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Reply |
Me too!!!! But I, at least have an excuse---I live in Florida where there is no winter! (But I'm still jealous--don't tell Richard. |
Jan 4th |
| 67 |
Jan 24 |
Comment |
Might as well throw my 3 cents in right now (that is adjusted for inflation)
Glad you were able to capture a nice shot of this little guy. I find them so darn skittish, I have trouble even with a 600mm as they take off when they see me get out of my car.
I find the image sharp and well exposed so the technical issues are just fine. I'm a bit bothered by the ultra bright foreground leaves as they dominate the scene. Personally I select those leaves and then tone them down a bit. I'd select the color range option to make this happen/
Now about that crop. Here is my basic rule for both composition and cropping. First identify the subject, that is easy here. Then proceed with this single thought in mind. In a successful image EVERYTHING in the images serves one single purpose. That is to enhance the subject. If something, no matter what is going to take attention away from the subject then it has just gotta go. Crop it, blur it (adjust aperture) whatever. It just has to go.
The bird and insect are the story and they are wonderful. Including the pine cone just overpowers the bird especially since the pinecone is bigger than the bird. Even in your cropped version the mass on the left of the left is a distraction to me, so it goes. You would be left with that extended little skinny thing that points to the moth. However, this is Nature and you are not supposed to clone. But even with the small distraction it is better than having the biog one. Someone would still complain but just tell them to live with it! If I was going to display the image, then I'd clone.
That's my four cents worth (inflation is a real killer) |
Jan 2nd |
5 comments - 5 replies for Group 67
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11 comments - 10 replies Total
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