Project 52 by Wendy (ScoutR)

[johnbharle]

...this shot is just one that was taken in the appropriate time period. I just liked the colours. Not so happy with the persepective, still working on that....

Wendy

Wow, that barn's RED!

[kdoc856]

Wendy,

Love your "Tracks". I think your WB is perfect for the setting, and that you are masterful at discerning the perfect sky/foreground ratios to confer intended mood and effect. An excellent example of a "thoughtful" composition-no happy accidents here.

Kevin

[johnbharle]

I simply love the tracks. I agree with Kevin that the WB is great. It gives the atmosphere you needed. I do like your barn also. The red really jumps out, but it nicely counterbalances the whiteness of the surroundings. But I also think a bit of offsetting might help the composition. Glad to have you back at the shutter!
john

[Dave Humphries]

Taken this week. Just my usual walk around shot. It was quite windy and lots of blowing snow which doesn't really show up in the shot, but I think give a nice soft diffused light. The snow is a bit blue I think, but I could not overexpose because the sun was just too the right and is already a bit blown on that side.


Along The Tracks by Wendy FS, on Flickr

Hi Wendy,

I like it a lot, but I have 'a thing' about always putting a strong diagonal (like that left hand rail) into the corner - in other words, I'd trim a slice off the left hand edge - and then possibly some off the top too to, so as not have it be too tall and thin

WB looks fine to me too.

I'd be interested to hear what you think of my week 6? (yes, I am still more behind than you)
It has snow, birds, a bit of grass and horses - you must be the CiC expert in that combination

Thanks,

[ScoutR]

Hi Wendy,

I like it a lot, but I have 'a thing' about always putting a strong diagonal (like that left hand rail) into the corner - in other words, I'd trim a slice off the left hand edge - and then possibly some off the top too to, so as not have it be too tall and thin

Dave, I'm sure if you have "a thing" about strong diagonals in corners there is a reason for it. Could you explain. I sort of kind of see what you mean, but I'm not sure what it is about it. For instance I would have liked this shot better IF i could have lined up the tracks so they led me to the tree instead of running beside the tree, but I couldn't do that.
I'm not sure I like the crop you suggested, but I did consider cropping from the bottom and thought I liked it better as is because of the greater sense of space and distance. The horizon is a bit central though.
Anyway, what is it about the corner diagonals???? I know I do it a lot with paths and trails and hills and always sense that it's not quite right but don't really know why.

WB looks fine to me too.

I'd be interested to hear what you think of my week 6? (yes, I am still more behind than you)
It has snow, birds, a bit of grass and horses - you must be the CiC expert in that combination

Thanks,

I'm on my way to check it out.

[ScoutR]

Now that is clever (as is the one after it). It just wouldn't enter my head to try something like that.

I sometimes think I lack imagination or am too conservative (with a small 'c'!). And it's that imaginative vision that I so admire (as well as the skill to do it well). How does it enter your head that you could do this with an image? Must be one of those left brain/right brain thingies.

Donald, trying this didn't enter my mind at time of shooting that's for sure. The reason I liked the shot was because of the lone goose and the other one in the group honking at it, like the lone one was being punished or ostracized from the group. Kind of reminded me of typical human behaviour which I have a habit of applying to animals.

Anyway, I wasn't quite happy with the shot and while editing I happened to look at a post here where someone had stitched a panaroma together, and that's when I started thinking about flipping this shot and trying to put it together so it would look like some kind of game (here I go with the humanizing again) where sides had been chosen. Now I don't know what the game is, but it gave me a chance to try something different in PP and I managed to develop a better workflow if I ever want to try to do something like this again.

Wendy

[ScoutR]

To the backyard this week to shoot some Bluejays. I think these are some of the best (bluejays) I've done so far. I like them because:

1. it was a sunny day and I managed to get a well lit subject without blowing highlights (well just a bit, but that was in PP trying to lighten the blue snow)
2. I also think these are pretty sharp compared to many of my other bird shots
3. I believe I got the focus on the eyes and because of the angle was able to keep most of the bird in focus even with the lens wide open.
4. I remembered to change ISO to 800 because that gave me the shutter speed I wanted. I'm usually shooting at 1600 because it's always cloudy and dull, and I almost always forget to change it when conditions are different

What I don't like:

1. The background snow was in shadow and it is blue. That's how it looked, but I do prefer white snow. I had to expose for the bird though, so even though I'd like it better with a white background it is what it is and it is true to life. I did adjust white balance a bit just to warm it up and emphasize the light on the bird.
2. I don't know if it's me or the camera, but at the top of the birds head in the last 2 shots, there seems to be a hard line that I don't like. CR? halo? Just the way it is, I don't know, but it doesn't look right somehow or other.
3. The last shot... I was anticipating a take off but shot too soon and was way to slow on the actual take off shot. The bird was almost out of the frame. I know I can set for continuous shooting, but in a case like this when I know where the bird is going to be and what it is going to do, I want to be able to get the shot without continuously firing away.

Let me know what you think the good and the bad.

1. I know it's here somewhere
EXIF: 1/1600s, f5.6, ISO 800: 200mm, +2/3 EV

Bluejay-4977-2 by Wendy FS, on Flickr

2. Got It
EXIF: 1/2000s, f5.6, ISO 800, 200mm, +2/3EV

Bluejay-4978 by Wendy FS, on Flickr

3. Gonna Fly Now
EXIF: 1/2000s, f5.6, ISO 800, 200mm, +2/3 EV

Bluejay-4979-2 by Wendy FS, on Flickr

[SpiderBob]

I think they are incredible. Spot on with focus and sharpness. I would not have known that the background was snow unless you had said it. That was the last thing I looked at. Beautiful pictures. But.....if I had to nitpick, could you have asked Jay to just put the nut down for at least one picture

[Donald]

There is a hint of a halo on the top of the head in #2 and #3, but I had to get them as big as I could to detect it.

I think the 'blue snow' background makes them.

They are pin sharp

Quite honestly, we become used to seeing images of the highest quality on here. And to be equally honest, when I read the intro to this on the Latest Threads page, I thought, "This will be good, but it's more birds" (sorry!). But upon opening the post and coming to this image, it literally did take my breath away. My dearly beloved, who's sitting in the next room asked what was wrong, because I gasped so loudly. It really did take my breath away.

The clarity of light. The clarity of detail. The purity of colour screams fresh, clean air. I can see every snow flake and every feather. You can feel the cold air on your face.

Maybe there are better composed images out there. Indeed, maybe #2 is a 'better' picture than #1. But this one, for reasons I'm still trying to properly understand, upon seeing it, just blew me away.

[Andrew1]

#1 and #2 are sharp, colourful and interesting. I only left out 3 because the bird is facing away. Oh, and blue snow is better than yellow snow.

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Wendy,

These are great, aren't they?

The snow flakes and detail in feather and bird table/urn is amazing.

The background snow colour really doesn't worry me at all, so you must have achieved the correct balance of WB.

There does seem to be a slight amount of halo-ing, did you sharpen at more than 0.3px? (at any time in PP) although you really do have to strain to see it.

I sorta see what Andrew means about #3 and not seeing the face, but you have caught the moment of lift off, even without the wings be used! FWIW I (almost) always have mine set for continuous shooting, only time I might not would be shooting still life from a tripod.

Cheers,

[Goldcoastgolfer]

You're a perfectionist, Wendy, aren't you?

[Ricco]

Wendy - they are incredibly sharp and great detail. As Dave said - I wouldn't worry much at all about the background snow.

Good work.

[ScoutR]

But.....if I had to nitpick, could you have asked Jay to just put the nut down for at least one picture

I've asked, but they won't do it - no peanut no shot. They are not going to let anyone think they are posing for pictures without getting paid.

From Donald: Maybe there are better composed images out there. Indeed, maybe #2 is a 'better' picture than #1. But this one, for reasons I'm still trying to properly understand, upon seeing it, just blew me away

Thank you Donald - it almost brings tears to my eyes to get that kind of praise. They are beautiful birds though. Imagine if I could get one in the same light with the crest on his up, no peanut and perhaps a nicer background without the planter.

From Andrew: Oh, and blue snow is better than yellow snow.

hehe, definitely - wasn't there a song about that "Don't eat yellow snow" or something to that effect.

From Dave H.: There does seem to be a slight amount of halo-ing, did you sharpen at more than 0.3px? (at any time in PP) although you really do have to strain to see it.

Yes, Dave I did sharpen the original RAW DNG in Lightroom with .5 or maybe even more radius. I never go higher than .3 in Elements, but LR seems to sharpen differently, so I've been going higher on the radius in LR. I did go back through the LR history on this one. The halos are there to start with but the LR sharpening did make them more prominent. I'll have to keep an eye on that, I never used to sharpen at all in LR, but the new version seems to do a better job so I've been trying it out.

From Ricco: Wendy - they are incredibly sharp and great detail. As Dave said - I wouldn't worry much at all about the background snow

.

Thanks Ricco, I appreciate the feedback.

From Malcom: You're a perfectionist, Wendy, aren't you?

LOL, no not at all, but I don't think I'll ever get a shot where I think there is nothing that could have been done better. Not a perfectionist, just a rookie trying to get better.

Thanks so much for all the great feedback, it really is appreciated, and there are times when it's what keeps me trying.
These are the closest I've come to planning a shot. I was doing the dishes, heard the bluejays in the neighbourhood, saw the nice light, knew if I put some peanuts out the Jays would race to get there before the squirrels so I let the dishes wait, picked the best spot I could find for a clean background put out some peanuts and waited. I'd like them better if I could get a better perch, but although my backyard jays are pretty predictable, they keep tend to stay hidden in the cedar trees until they come in for the peanut. Then it's just a quick landing pickup and off they go to cedar trees again.

Wendy

[ScoutR]

My project this week is to portray the wind. Strange winter this. Yesterday +16 C and most snow was melted. It snowed overnight and today was a very windy day. Seemed like a good day to go back to the snow fence. I've tried in these shots to show the wind, but I'm not sure if I've succeeded in portraying anything but a stormy day. I like the shots, but can you feel the wind? C&C welcome and appreciated.

#1 EXIF: 1/640s, f16, ISO 400, 32mm, -1/3 EV

Windy-5169 by Wendy FS, on Flickr

#2. EXIF: 1/800s, f16, ISO 400, 29mm -2/3 EV

Windy-5091 by Wendy FS, on Flickr

#3. EXIF: 1/400s, f16, ISO 400, 82mm, +1/3 EV

Windy-5076 by Wendy FS, on Flickr

Wendy

[Donald]

I like the shots, but can you feel the wind?

In #2 and #3, Yes. In #1, No. Why?

It's too bright (it's not too bright, but it's too bright for its purpose ... if you see what I mean!). The impact of the wind is not so obvious, to my eye. In #2 and #3 there are skies that tell my brain to expect there to a be a wind at the same time (all about messages to my befuddled brain).

And then, in terms of tone and composition, both #2 and #3 are just wonderful. That fence has been so good to you this winter. You've already got a magnificent series that you could put together in a gallery just about this fence. I love #2 with the telegraph poles in the frame.

[ScoutR]

Thanks Donald, I understand what you're saying. I thought #1 looked more blustery because of the long view, but I see what you mean about the brightness. I should have some zoomed out shots with the sun behind the clouds - I'll check.

Thanks for noticing the telegraph poles, the placement was on purpose.

Do you have any PP or shooting tips for emphasizing the blowing snow in shots like this? I can see it a bit in 2 & 3 but it's not clear enough, mostly it just looks blurry and blends in with the clouds and the rest of the snow, I don't mind the way it looks, but to my eye I could see it clearer - do I need different light? faster/slower shutter speed?

Well, I better get going, I know it's way past my bedtime when Scotland is answering posts and I'm still up

Thanks again
Wendy

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Wendy,

If I reply to you I can put off my week 7 for a bit longer

In #1, I see two possibilities (as it stands it is neither one nor the other and is split in half by the fence), crop 20-30% off the bottom and you have what Donald is trying to achieve - but due to our sunnier disposition in England, I'd prefer 20-30% orr the bottom, losing the rather bland foreground and concentrating on the fact that often when windy, you do get some blue sky and brightness (perhaps Scotland is different ).

However, after my week 6 debacle, I'm not sure I'm to be trusted giving compositional advice
(but it does always seem easier when it isn't your own image to comment upon)


I do agree with Donald that #2 and #3 this week are spot on as they stand.

Although I have just noticed an oddity in the fence in #2, there is, on the extreme left edge, plus a little further in, some green/red false colour effect going on, perhaps aliasing, moire or even just a bad case of lateral chromatic abberation (CA).

Does LR have the CS5/ACR lens correction tab/panel available? If it does, do try ticking the box for an automatic lens profile correction - if this is CA, that simple action may correct it (and any unintentional vignetting, plus barrel/pincushion distortion in one go). Or you may be able to get PT Lens as a plug in for LR or Elements, I think you get 10 goes free or something.

Do you have any PP or shooting tips for emphasizing the blowing snow in shots like this? I can see it a bit in 2 & 3 but it's not clear enough, mostly it just looks blurry and blends in with the clouds and the rest of the snow, I don't mind the way it looks, but to my eye I could see it clearer - do I need different light? faster/slower shutter speed?

Have you tried LCE?
I think a slower shutter speed may just blur it further, but I haven't tried it, so I could be wrong. I think a lot of it is to do with the luck of the lighting; it needs to be very concentrated to actually show that there is something physical (e.g. the snow dust) blowing about in front of the rest of the scene. The wind itself is a bit too 'see through' to photograph

Hope that helps,

[Donald]

Just another thought, if I may. It's about the sky in this one.

#2. EXIF: 1/800s, f16, ISO 400, 29mm -2/3 EV

Windy-5091 by Wendy FS, on Flickr

I've just been looking again (they're the sort of images you go back to look at again, because you just keep seeing more and more in them).

The sky is just wonderful. It would have been so tempting for an awful lot of people easy to overcook the sky by tweaking the curves (or whatever technique you prefer) to increase the contrast in the clouds. But just look at them very closely. Increase the size of the image and just look at the sky. Really look at it. Look at all the nuances of light and shade: Of the subtle tone shifts across the frame.

It really is a total joy to behold.

[Dave Humphries]

The sky is just wonderful. It would have been so tempting for an awful lot of people easy to overcook the sky by tweaking the curves (or whatever technique you prefer) to increase the contrast in the clouds. But just look at them very closely. Increase the size of the image and just look at the sky. Really look at it. Look at all the nuances of light and shade: Of the subtle tone shifts across the frame.

It really is a total joy to behold.

Yes, so selectively apply the LCE I suggested for the 'snow blow', so it doesn't ruin the sky