Project 2013 - Weekly Photos

[Letrow]

The portraits are great Geoff. I like people shots, so of the photos you show I like those best. Difficult to capture sometimes, because a lot of people can't relax with a camera pointed at them (I am one of them, so I know all about it).

[Goldcoastgolfer]

I always find that candid portrait shots tell a better story than anything else. The ones you captured look great - and I think you definitely would have lost something of the story if you'd used a flash.

[Geoff F]

Week 08 - From My February Garden

Last week, I 'wasted' a few warm sunny days by working in the garden instead of taking photographs. There were even some early bumblebees and hoverflies flitting around!

Then it changed back to being grey and cold with a biting easterly wind.

So these scenes are an example of what exists in my garden when the weather isn't co-operating.

Early Flowers



7D with 24-105L, 1/100 F11 Iso 800. Tripod.

I tried zooming in on just a few flowers and also using flash. But eventually thought that showing the full group in one photo gave the best result. Without flash, hence the high Iso. A fairly fast shutter speed was needed to cope with wind rock and a reasonably deep focus to include as much as possible.

An English garden wouldn't be complete without a friendly Robin.



7D with Sigma 150-500, 1/160, F8, Iso 800. Tripod, shooting through an open shed window.

For once, I was glad to have plenty of pixels to crop closer.

A pair of Collared Doves have taken over the bird table.



1/200, F11, Iso 800.

Sitting on the fence - A Wood Pigeon.



1/640 F8 Iso 800. I did decrease the Iso after this one, but thought this shot looked best.

These aren't really welcome in my garden because they can eat food faster than I can put it out!

From this angle, I think it looks rather fierce.

Strutting through the leeks.



1/500 F8 Iso 400.

With the bird photos, I made two Raw conversions with different noise reduction settings then combined them with a mask to create a blend of both sharpness and reduced background noise.

I also went over the background with a slight blur brush after selectively sharpening just the birds.

[Brownbear]

All are especially beautiful shots... My favourites are the flower and the Robin... gorgeous. the colours in the pigeon are very striking.

[nanook]

Greenery, flowers... Ach, the skirts coming out, people getting a spring in their steps... Still some weeks away. Here snow.

Like the welcoming mood of your garden and love to see how time moves.

[Letrow]

Nice colours on those birds Geoff. Pigeons are a pest where I live, but some of them do have great looking feathers.

[Geoff F]

And talking about birds being pests.

Today, I was walking along the street, with few other people around, when a male blackbird flew in front of me and landed on the outside display of a greengrocer.

It ripped one grape from a bunch then flew off with it in its beak; while I just stood there dumbfounded!

Sometimes a good quality point and shoot camera in the pocket would be useful.

[Geoff F]

Week 09 - A patch of blue.

After another week of grey skies and chilly easterly winds - finally a patch of blue sky.



7D with 24-105 L lens. 1/250 F11 400.

Although it was clear directly overhead, there was a lot of mist when looking sideways; but not enough for foggy scenes. Which made landscape shots difficult. So I went for a walk in the woods.

Tried a few shots of the woodland path but rejected all of them. Either too complicated because of the trees or lacking interest. Finally had a go at these oak trees against the sky. Handheld because I was standing in a marsh; so a tripod wasn't an option.

Combination of two Raw edits with different exposure settings. Getting the blue sky resulted in the ivy, which was covering the trunks, becoming a little on the dark side.

Looks like being grey again tomorrow - although from a warmer wind direction.

[Brownbear]

Very pretty.. The colours, lighting and exposure are perfect.

[Letrow]

Geoff, I notice you do these combinations of RAW edits now and then to get your exposure right. I would have to try it out, but would assume that the Curves tool would get you pretty close as well, or doesn't that give the results you are after?

[Geoff F]

Geoff, I notice you do these combinations of RAW edits now and then to get your exposure right. I would have to try it out, but would assume that the Curves tool would get you pretty close as well, or doesn't that give the results you are after?

Virtually the same as a Curves Adjustment Layer with an edited mask, Peter. Although sometimes I add in a few other tweaks.

One benefit from working on two Raw files is where there is a risk of over exposure to the highlights. And a scene which isn't suitable for 'real HDR shooting'

Another option is where the shadows are a bit noisy but I don't want to risk any softening of the other areas. So too different noise reduction settings can be combined.

I do often make some slight extra adjustments with adjustment layers/masks etc where required. For example, giving a slight boost to the highlights, selectively applied, to increase the contrast.

Incidentally, here is one of my better shots of the woodland path from the other day. Straight from the camera. I have tried several edit options with many crop alternatives; but finally gave up.



I also tried a few other small footpath bridges, but they got zapped while still in the camera.

The scenes were just too complicated by those closely spaced trees

[Geoff F]

Week 10 - Loading New Crabpots

This afternoon produced some patchy hazy sunshine so I went to the quay where I found this boat loading some new fishing gear.



7D with 24-105 L lens. 1/250 F11 Iso 400 handheld.

Getting a bit of reflection in that puddle was a bonus which I hadn't actually noticed until after shooting.

Patches of bright white combined with darker shadows so I spot metered for the brightest area then manually set my camera based on that reading. Which obviously meant some variations would be necessary during editing.

So once again, two different Raw conversions; but this enabled me to reduce the over saturated reds while keeping the whites reasonably white.

This alternative angle will help to explain the position of the guy who is leaning on a rail. I was hoping he would move his boat a little closer - and under the deck wash hosepipe. However, once again, no fun today!



Same settings as above.

One of those days with a lot of moisture in the air so looking north was a lot clearer than other angles. But I was mostly shooting east or west so clarity did suffer a little.

[Brownbear]

nice photos. I adore the 2nd photo for the colours, clarity, sharpness and the composition, but because it makes one feel that they are there.

[Cantab]

Incidentally, here is one of my better shots of the woodland path from the other day. Straight from the camera. I have tried several edit options with many crop alternatives; but finally gave up.



I also tried a few other small footpath bridges, but they got zapped while still in the camera.

The scenes were just too complicated by those closely spaced trees

Geoff, a nice photo that captures the feel of the place (or strictly speaking what appears to be the feel!)

[Geoff F]

Andrews Wood - Abandoned Farmhouse

Back in the woods where I spent the day creating a path to this ruined old farmhouse. Must have been a cold and wet place to live. It's a rather damp area all round.

Not much space for a photograph amongst the trees and there was dappled sunshine causing harsh shadows. I tried several angles but rejected all the others.



7D with 24-105 lens. 1/100 F8 Iso 400.

Once again, two Raw edits with different exposure settings to darken the background. Possibly, it would take a bit more darkening.

Taking a Break

Another attempt at a quick candid portrait. She was getting a bit nervous about seeing a camera so I only had one chance and the light angle wasn't ideal.



1/60 F11 Iso 200. Maybe I should have dropped the aperture to F8 and had a shorter shutter speed, but I didn't have any serious problems with this.

A bit of editing was needed to lighten her face.

Diverting the river.

A couple of workers diverting this stream which had breached its banks and was making the path very boggy.



1/160 F8 Iso 800.

Virtually impossible to select ideal camera settings for a quick shot. Dark shadows with patches of sunshine and one worker was wearing red protective trousers. Needed a faster shutter, but the depth of focus was already on the shallow side and I didn't want to go above Iso 800 because I knew there would be noise problems.

There is a little motion blur in places. So I think this needs to be regarded more as an image for recording the event than for photographic merit.

Stoking the Flames

More workers, burning some cleared branches



1/320 F11 Iso 200.

I took several shots of this scene but found it difficult to get a nice mixture of several workers beside the bonfire. And the light angle was restricting.

[Geoff F]

Week 12 - From the path above Bolt Head

A couple of brighter periods between the showers so I went for a walk on a path near the cliff tops.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens at 105 on a tripod. 1/250 F11 Iso 200.

Tried several angles for this scene. Mostly with the distant headland (Prawle Point) closer to the right edge. But eventually decided that having some open sea on the right seemed to produce better balance.

The signpost is pointing towards the left edge and most of my alternative shots tried to place it more central. However, I now think that having it closer to the left edge adds a little mystery to the scene. Where are these places?

Cows on the path



1/200 F11 Iso 200. Handheld.

Tried several different angles, and waited for my models to arrange themselves into a suitable group shot. Finally decided this was the best I was going to get.

Sheep on the path



1/200 F11 Iso 200 Handheld.

Looking over the edge; the grass is always greener somewhere else!

Ponies helping to keep the scrub under control



1/500 F10 Iso 200 handheld.

They took a keen interest in my equipment. Checking out my camera bag and tested the tripod for rigidity! They even took my arm and pointed me towards what they considered to be better camera angles. However, when they also wanted to lick my lens clean I had to withdraw slightly.

And after their fun was over, they went back to eating.

[Brownbear]

Geoff, these are all absolutely gorgeous.. I especially adore the landscapes with the cows and horses.. the composition is stunning and the exposure and detail is perfect. Makes me want to be there.

Week 12 - From the path above Bolt Head

A couple of brighter periods between the showers so I went for a walk on a path near the cliff tops.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens at 105 on a tripod. 1/250 F11 Iso 200.

Tried several angles for this scene. Mostly with the distant headland (Prawle Point) closer to the right edge. But eventually decided that having some open sea on the right seemed to produce better balance.

The signpost is pointing towards the left edge and most of my alternative shots tried to place it more central. However, I now think that having it closer to the left edge adds a little mystery to the scene. Where are these places?

Cows on the path



1/200 F11 Iso 200. Handheld.

Tried several different angles, and waited for my models to arrange themselves into a suitable group shot. Finally decided this was the best I was going to get.

Sheep on the path



1/200 F11 Iso 200 Handheld.

Looking over the edge; the grass is always greener somewhere else!

Ponies helping to keep the scrub under control



1/500 F10 Iso 200 handheld.

They took a keen interest in my equipment. Checking out my camera bag and tested the tripod for rigidity! They even took my arm and pointed me towards what they considered to be better camera angles. However, when they also wanted to lick my lens clean I had to withdraw slightly.

And after their fun was over, they went back to eating.

[pasusan]

Geoff - I really like the image with the ponies - that burnt orange pony has a glow about him.

[Letrow]

Great shots Geoff. I like the ponies especially, must be fun to get them so close. I would love to do that with a very wide-angle lens.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the replies. I did try a few pony portraits but they were against a pale sky which produced a totally washed out background; so I ditched them.

However, here is one more from that day.



'Why is he shooting with that set up when there is a much better lens in this bag'