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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 11 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Henry: Two very interesting images, the original color and the monochrome conversion. I really like both images equally well and each has its strong points and each has it own special mood.
The original is a kaleidoscope of colors in design patterns, so many colors and they blend together well. This is a picture I do not get tired of looking at.
With the monochrome conversion the design lines of the stairs and railings seem to stand out better. Monochrome patterns every where you look in this picture. The monochrome conversion is very well done. An impressive design image.
You did very well holding the camera high above your head to capture this amazing scene. |
Sep 8th |
| 11 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Nenette: Thanks for showing us the original color and then the close in monochrome of the guy smoking a cigarette.
The original color is an interesting street scene with a lot going on; the person in close smoking a cigarette, then a person dressed in black wearing an apron. In the far distance we see people gathered in an open area, possibly having dinner.
Then the cropped in monochrome version is a good character study of this man and his cigarette. The cropping is well done and the tonality of the monochrome conversion has been handled well. |
Sep 8th |
| 11 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Sheldon: Am glad you mentioned this picture is of the Holocaust Tower, an extremely dark time in history. The person is a good point of interest, it makes one wonder what is behind that large door. The beam of light from above provides interesting top lighting on the person.
In the original the red coat against the black door works well, red and black usually go to together well. |
Sep 8th |
| 11 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Peter: A very interesting radial design. The lighting gradations go from almost pure white to a very dark gray but not quite jet black. In this picture I would imagine everyone's monitor may show this lighting gradation in a slightly different manner depending on calibration.
I am okay with this crop, other photographers may want to see the entire round circle. Perhaps this was not possible to attain as I was not there in person to see this unique design.
What focal length lens did you use for this image ?? |
Sep 8th |
4 comments - 0 replies for Group 11
|
| 63 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Hi Pierre: Pleased you like the old combine picture, photographing old machinery has always been an interest. It is hard to find a really good old machine subject that would photograph well, was fortunate to find this old combine. Am glad the pully belt was still in place as that is a vital part of the picture.
I do not have a "grunge filter" in Elements, perhaps I can find one at B&H. |
Sep 9th |
| 63 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Pierre: You managed excellent sharpness on the insect in flight, not easy to accomplish. Even at 1/1000 second you have slight motion especially on the right wing, to me this is fine as it tells the viewer the insect was in flight and not perched on the flower. |
Sep 7th |
| 63 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Charlie: The square format fits this scene very well.
Super sharp detail in the central part of the flower along with the first group of petals. The background petals are softer in focus and provide a nice backdrop to the flower.
You do not mention the use of a tripod or having your vibration reduction turned on; without either I doubt I could hand hold and obtain this critical sharpness in the central part of the flower at 1/200 second. |
Sep 7th |
| 63 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Alane: First; congratulations on having this White Butterfly picture do so well in the Nikonian Macro Competition, recognition like that does not happen every day.
This image appears to be a monochrome conversion, correct me if I am wrong. The White Butterfly goes well with the light gray background.
If this picture were mine I would clone out the out of focus object at the lower left corner as it does not add anything to this otherwise interesting image of the White Butterfly. |
Sep 7th |
| 63 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Barbara: Violet and yellow always go together well.
Most of the time mid-day open sun lighting is not usually considered the best lighting medium for flower photography.
Case in point is you have a high contrast picture with black shadows within the Lily flower and also a black shadow under the flower. I hope you re-shot this flower in either hazy sun or on a cloudy day; the lighting would be much softer than open sun lighting and would fit this delicate flower much better. |
Sep 7th |
4 comments - 1 reply for Group 63
|
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Hi Mo: We missed your astute comments on our images this month.
Murphy |
Sep 30th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Mo: I view this picture as a creative abstract. Photographers have differing views on abstract photography and what they feel is successful and what seems to fit in their mind as an abstract.
I have seen examples of what the maker has photographed and calls abstract, and then I have viewed other so called abstract pictures that just seem to have "blobs" of colors going just every which way with no clear sense of a design. To me photography is 'art' and I prefer pictures with artistic design elements.
To me this picture has too many simply blown out highlights that are distracting and remove impact from the image. Others may not object to this situation at all. Just my 2 cents!!
You have tried something totally different and kudos to you for doing so.
|
Sep 9th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
If you have any questions regarding flower photography I am glad to help.
Best Regards and Take Care...
|
Sep 9th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Hi John: According to your bio you had a very interesting profession in the medical field.
You mention a special interest in flowers and landscapes, those two are favorites of mine also. If I may would like to offer a suggestion or two regarding the photography of flowers. My best success has been in either hazy sun or just plain cloudy conditions, for the most part stay away from mid day open sun due to blown out highlights and black shadows.
If you want look back in previous months in flower group 75, you will find some good imagery there. Am also a member of Close-in group 63, a lot of varied subject matter you would enjoy viewing. |
Sep 9th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi John: Welcome to flower group #75.
Your picture of Fireweed is a good habitat image; Fireweed grows in various types of habitats and along a stream is one of them.
Good soft lighting, either in the shade or cloudy conditions which are ideal for this subject. If this stream was in open sun you would have experienced harsh lighting and black shadows and neither are ideal for this setting you were photographing. |
Sep 8th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Hi Alison: Please do not get frustrated using the 105 macro lens; the 90mm to 105mm macro lenses are the work horse focal length lenses for macro photography. It just takes a lot of practice in the field; then study your results from a shoot and determine what changes you need to make on the next outing. Have been a photographer for 60 years and still learning.
Regarding depth of field: on your next macro outing if you find a really nice subject take a shot wide open at f/2.8, then f/4 and way out to f/22. Each images will look different and this sequence will be a good learning tool. With macro photography turn off your auto focus and focus manually. I do not use auto focus on macro photography as I most always set focus about 1/3 of the way into a flower grouping. The auto focus does not always set focus exactly where I want it to. Just practice and have fun with it. If you have further questions, please ask. |
Sep 6th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Gaetan: An example of selective focus macro photography. I like of softness of the white flower petals, and then the petals in the far background are even more out of focus which creates a pleasant mood in the picture.
The one "nit-pik" I have is the yellow central portion of the white flower is not as tack sharp as it needs to be for the greatest impact.
You do not mention the f stop used or if you had the camera set on manual focus or auto focus. If you were on auto focus mode in my experience the camera does not always set focus exactly where you may want it to. With this type of selective focus photography I always shoot in manual focus mode. |
Sep 4th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Alison: Having taken up photography in February 2024 you have come a longways, especially so in your post processing abilities. Today you are using pretty advanced tools in your post processing efforts.
The pink daisy is very well photographed, the water droplets add good points of interest. You have reworked the background in filling in dark areas, and then darkening it down as you have makes the pink daisy stand out well.
Adding the thin white border adds that finishing touch. |
Sep 4th |
| 75 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Hi Vincent: This subject appears to be some sort of a grass, there are so many different types.
Your original and original #2 explain very well the affect various f stops have on a picture. The original has a pleasant out of focus background while the grass subject is not totally sharp. Then original #2 shot at f/11 has total sharpness on the subject, how ever with the increased depth of field the background is quite busy.
This is the law of optics in photography and there is no easy way around this. For the most part I try to find a subject more out in the open without anything in the close background that will be distracting. Having a clean out of focus background without distractions is vital in close in and macro photography.
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Sep 4th |
5 comments - 4 replies for Group 75
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13 comments - 5 replies Total
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