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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
Hi Adi
Thanks for commenting. I don't always plan as deeply as some of my recent shots. As I get older I'm not getting to travel to as many places. It used to be if the light was not what I wanted I could just walk back over several days. By planning I know when I'm going to get the light I want. I've always been a planner but I've found that Photopills helps make shots possbile. With out using Photopills I would not have know that this location had the angle neceesary.
I did shoot a rodeo a couple of month ago, just hopped out of the car and walked in. I also regularly shoot Florida's wild birds and that is very spontaneous. Next month's shot for this group was a lot of planning. |
Apr 30th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Thanks Bill. Since everyone agrees, I better turn the lights down. :-) |
Apr 24th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Yep, that is me. Just call me Old School. :-)
Never thought about removing that star, but now that you mention it, I can see that maybe it could be removed.
Everyone thinks the foreground corners should be darkened so guess that will be my next project. Thanks. |
Apr 24th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Thanks for the ideas. I can clone out the picnic table, should have done that before--my error.
I've really struggled with this image. I thought about cropping it a bit more square coming in from the right but the MW then seems small and confined. d If I darken the foreground on the right then I have a big blackhole. I have dimmed the light in the tent as has been suggested. |
Apr 24th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
If you put the p0oles and the road there for a purpose that was meaningful to you, then it is perfect. A photo is all about the "intent" of the maker. Their intent can never be wrong. Just something I picked up after judging a great many PSA Exhibitions. I've come to believe in it. |
Apr 15th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Thanks. That's a good idea about dimming the light in the tent. |
Apr 15th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
My first thought is OMG. I feel like a Medieval crusader getting ready to storm a fortified castle . Those looming walls (cliffs) are frightening. This is such a vibrant image--that polarizing filter really did its job! That low directional light helps the image a great deal. The way the castle wall works down the diagonal and fades into the distance make it seem as it the fortress goes on forever and is invincible. This image just has a great deal of strength and power running through it.
Just a question. Is it just my eyes or are those 12 great rocks sort of "looming" over the scene like they are coming down on top of me? |
Apr 14th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
Another wonderful sky to add impact to a scene. Seems like everyone it looking skyward this month. Your editing certainly brought life to the sky and it makes a great anchor for the entire scene, I like the way you hve revealed the structure of the buildings through your editing.
Lastly, I think you should talk to the city building commission and get that roof top in the lower right corner removed for being an eyesore. |
Apr 14th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
The sky is amazing and the shapes of the clouds are really interesting. I the light colored foreground really does not work for me, it just doesn't seem to belong with that sky above it. However the naturalist in me doesn't like the poles and the wires. I want to go to the wilderness to get away from the modern world and I'm not talking my landline with me. :-)!!! Of course those red and white lights in the distance could be removed as well.
I wonder what a lower angle camera position would do? It would lift the trees and move them into the sky |
Apr 14th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
It is amazing what the touch of a master editor can do to an image. The edited version just comes alive. I especially like the two white peaks, one on each side the add drama to the full with of the image. The work on the central mountain .is just magical. The reds of the buildings leave me a bit conflicted. On one hand the drawing power of red makes the buildings a center stage show stopper but the more I look at it the more I wonder if they are TOO red? If I was entering this in a competition I'd leave it as is. But I'd have to see a muted red version to better make a choice.
I agree about the editing, a flat image is much easier to work with.
Lastly I'm seen this location in a huge number of competitions so Iagree it is not original. But, I've never seen it feel this magical. Maybe with the lights on, but otherwise, nothing close. |
Apr 14th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Hi Michael. It is for sure becoming more difficult to find photographic locations and "progress" keeps encroaching upon what is left of the natural world. I thought about cropping from the right, but then I felt the tent became too centered and that annoyed me. I am hoping the experts in this forum will provide guidance. I'm at a loss. The light in the foreground was actually there. I think it is partly caused by the light in the tent and the low position of the moon filtering through the trees. I just made it a bit brighter, I may have gone too far. If I crop from the right, I would certainly darken the bright spot that would then be on the edge of the image on the right. Again, I'm counting on guidance from this group. |
Apr 11th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
This the the Stonington I remember from a visit in mid April several years ago. The scene you captured feels cold. The only thing missing is the gull hovering over the lobster boats. I think the pano format suits the location and the mood. The sharpness of the vessels really makes them pop against the foggy background. I'm betting your trip was colder than mine. But you have captured the feeling of Maine. |
Apr 10th |
| 36 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
Oh my,I love stormy skies and you certainly made this one come to life. I can almost feel the temperature dropping, the cool breeze and the smell of the rain. I'm so glad that you dropped the horizon line to place greater emphasis on the sky. I like how the single small structure breaks of the empty space and adds foreground interest. (I know there is a barn in the back, but it is pretty well hidden). I think you did well keeping the colors soft and not over sharpening the grasses. The way they are they almost seem to ripple. |
Apr 9th |
7 comments - 6 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
For sure
But we really did learn
I remember loading film canisters inside a black bag.
I used to keep rolls of Kodak 25ASA slide film in the freezer because the film was made with real silver and the cold preserved it. But the colors. I still have 2 11/14 Cibachrome Prints hanging on a wall. They are just as stunning today as the day they were produced. |
Apr 14th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
The work you are doing will get you to the point where you will capture the images with emotion like you see in my bear and gator pictures. First you learn how to use your photo gear. When you don't have to think about how to take a picture you can put all your efforts into creating a picture.
I love your comment about emotion. It is about thinking how to generate that WOW factor. Study pictures you like then ask how did they do that. Then go try it. If you have not watched youtube videos about David Yarrow (Yaro) you should. Look at the images and most important listen to what he says. Look at a bunch of his videos. He is teaching a mind set, a style. You don't have to try it all, but think about what ideas you can take from him. |
Apr 14th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Susan
You are absorbing a great deal of information and really doing it quite well. It really takes hours and hours of experience. But all this practice really pays off in the end. In time you just instinctively will know.
You mentioned having trouble tracking. I taught myself this skills using tennis balls. I'd sit on my driveway, with a bunch of tennis balls. Then throw one at the garage door at an angle so it would bounce off toward the lawn, then I'd track it with my camera using my 70 - 200mm lens, If you can track a tennis ball, you can track anything. |
Apr 14th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
You did a really great job of explaining that. People have a lot of trouble understanding that 18% gray. |
Apr 14th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Hi David
Truth be told, the eyes were not that bright. (lots of time in Lightroom to bring them to life) and I could not see the gator outline in the water. I just saw eyes and a dark spot that was the snout. The everglades are one of the everglades and one of the dark sky areas in the continental US so it get really dark out there. The water was pitch black. On the computer I opened the shadows to reveal what you see here. If I push any more the noise just get horrible. The shadow areas around the eyes have a sight red tint that I remove, or at least tried to. I've been to some secluded lakes in the glades where you can see hundreds of pairs of eyes in the water at one time, they are just pin points, but they are there. They are too faint to photograph, but seeing all those eyes in the water at one time is really terrifying, much more so than this. But talk about a rush---amazing. |
Apr 10th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Thanks Cindy
At the time it wasn't all that frightening. Later sitting in my car, with the doors closed looking over the image on the LCD screen it was so dark it really didn't hit me When I first opened it on my computer it was stunning, awe inspiring. I just think about the amazing things you see when you spend quite time with nature. I'm just grateful for the experiences. |
Apr 10th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
Sorry you couldn't make this trip. You know you are always welcome to come along on any of my adventures. :-)
Great to hear from you.
|
Apr 9th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
The movie was "The Fly". So the question is do you fear the Hollywood generated, artificial fly or the real life or the 12 foot real life gator? There ARE things in the everglades that really do go BUMP in the night. |
Apr 7th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Reply |
All I can say is it is hard to take a photo when you heart is not beating. Thanks |
Apr 6th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
I think you have a good idea. The sunlit buttes on the left really are the better option for this shot. I looked at the original quite closely and noted the lens you used (24-70). In the original shot you are focused on the foreground and used f11 to get the buttes into what is called "acceptable" focus while using the hyperfocal system. So in reality the foreground is actually sharp and the background is just acceptably sharp. Thus when you enlarge the scene y9ou pose detail on objects in the distance.
However, I do have good news!! This same scene will take place on most days of the year. So select a longer lens, take another road trip and be there at sunset on a clear day and you can get this shot again. :-) |
Apr 6th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
I'm very impressed. Getting within a 250mm focal length shot of wild owls is an accomplishment in itself. This is a really nice action shot and you even kept the massive wings in focus. The owl is sharp and nicely separated from the background so it stands out well. Also the snow is nicely handled and even has some detail. So you got everything in in the shot you needed. Well Done! |
Apr 6th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
I'm right there with you. This is a classic shot. The majestic bird soaring over the towering mountain of ice. You were there and you just had to take this shot. |
Apr 6th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
No matter what you do, this is a very tough shot to capture. I can clearly see by the bird on the right just how much you opened (lightened) shadows based on the gray of the neck. The light is really quite harsh.
Over all you have a nice action shot and a great nature story. Your shutter speed is fast enough to make the capture. I have no problem with the background as the birds are clearly well separated from the background and stand out nicely. Personally I'd crop off most of the water at the bottom and turn this into a pano format, all that water is not contributing to the story. You could likely take off some from the top as well.
You did about as well as you could under these conditions. In processing the birds have taken on a gray tone that clearly shows the amount of processing you did. Still, there was noting else you could do.
The following is just my personal choice but I would not even have been there to attempt this shot. There is just not a camera with a dynamic range great enough to correctly make this capture. When the light gets that harsh, I just put the camera away and head for a cold drink, I know I can't save the shot and I won't be happy. I'll shoot white birds on cloudy, diffused light days or at twilight or daybreak. You are still learning (thats good) so the practice for you is great. You just have to decide what quality of image you want and will accept.
Under the conditions that existed you did an exceptional job. |
Apr 6th |
| 67 |
Apr 24 |
Comment |
I see you are plagued by the wildlife photographer's curse: The constant need for longer ,and still longer glass. Truth be told, even if you own a 600mm prime, you still wish it was longer. :-(
At first when looking at the original I thought the crop would be easy then when looking looking at your crop I can see it wasn't. That white sky is a killer and even when cropped it is still more visible than I thought it would be. Not much you can do about it however. I would suggest cropping up from the bottom to remove the worst of the foreground blur. Also clone out that little branch in the upper right corner.
The subject is clear and sharp--maybe a bit too sharp and certainly stands out from the background. The little berry adds a lot to the story and improves the quality of the image. The complimentary colors of yellow and blue greatly increase the impact. It is a pretty cool bird I'll never see live. Good work. |
Apr 6th |
5 comments - 9 replies for Group 67
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12 comments - 15 replies Total
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