2016 Project 52, Forth Quarter by Adam

[Adzman808]

It'll be on of these 2:

An Urban Fairy Tale by Adam Bonn, on Flickr

This one - which I like, I like the human moment - I like the juxtaposition & I like how the foliage draws the eye to the couple

What I don't like is that it doesn't look as good as how much I like it !!!

Or this one

River Boat by Adam Bonn, on Flickr

Which (to my eye) is somehow a better photograph, but hasn't really got as much potential viewer engagement

I think maybe what now - to bastardise a popular quote from the Pulp Fiction movie:

What now? Let me tell you what now. I'ma call a coupla hard, pipe-hittin' photo editors, who'll go to work on the homes here with a ton of layers and a editing brush. You hear me talkin', castle in the park shot? I ain't through with you by a damn sight. I'ma get medieval on your ass.

[Geoff F]

A couple of thoughts.

How about cropping the left side of the first image, which doesn't add much to the scene; in fact, for me, it creates distraction from the chief subject. Maybe end up as 4 x 5 ratio or square?

And a similar thought about the second one. Which is the intended subject, the boat or the overall landscape which is rather dark? I would consider going more panoramic and losing a bit from the top.

[Adzman808]

A couple of thoughts.

How about cropping the left side of the first image, which doesn't add much to the scene; in fact, for me, it creates distraction from the chief subject. Maybe end up as 4 x 5 ratio or square?

And a similar thought about the second one. Which is the intended subject, the boat or the overall landscape which is rather dark? I would consider going more panoramic and losing a bit from the top.

Some good thoughts there, thanks Geoff

The first shot can be tighter, but my intention is not a spy shot of a couple, but to try and convey their feeling of romance by the juxtaposition of the fairytale castle and the modern apartments in the bg

There is a bit too much tree in the shot though, I've also warmed it up a bit (image not shown) and that makes it look better too

The second shot is a whole scene, not just the boat and I like the layers of light and dark, and how the details transition in and out from top to bottom like waves, which is in a way then replicated by the wake of the boat. It could do with losing that silver of horizon in the top right though

I did try this with shadow recovery, but I thought it looked a bit flat tbh, there was more mood and feeling by hiding the details than revealing them!

But I think you know by now, I'm a funny bugger in terms of how I like my pictures to look, so I'm not expecting a rousing chorus of approval

But don't get me wrong, feedback is always appreciated and you've been exceedingly consistent and helpful with your comments over the past year

[Adzman808]

OK so for week 51, I've decided to go with the "fairytale" shot.

I just feel a bigger emotive connection to it - I like it more!!

So here it is with more editing than the version above, and with a crop as Geoff suggested (but I suspect less of a crop than Geoff had in mind!)

An Urban Fairy Tale by Adam Bonn, on Flickr

[Adzman808]

For the final shot of the year...

I'll do something a bit different !!

But first, let's do the outtakes!!!


I strongly considered this one:

Come as You Are by Adam Bonn, on Flickr

A bit simple, certainly a non-textbook exposure

But I liked the negative space, and the possibility of tying the approaching cat in the notion of the new year arriving

But no.

Also this one was considered

Fountain of Light by Adam Bonn, on Flickr

Again, I liked the notion that this could be representative of the approaching new, and all the hopes and possibilities that could bring...

....But why jinx it already

so no.

[Adzman808]

I've been thinking about where I want to go with my photography in 2017.

I won't bore you (well not now anyway)

But I want more of a human element and I've been trying my embryonic hand at 'Street Portraits'!

(That's where you approach random strangers and ask if you can take their picture... You're supposed to do it with people that look interesting, but I went for people who looked like they'd say yes :-) )

I had a lot more yeses than nos :-)

It's a bit daunting to approach strangers, but I quickly got comfortable with it, so here one of yesterday's results

Now I'm sure this would benefit from further editing, tidying up, maybe even monochrome

Because ultimately - let's start the year looking to the future with an idea

Thanks for all of your comments and support this year, I hope you liked some of the work

A Life Lived by Adam Bonn, on Flickr

[bnnrcn]

The crop works fine Adam

OK so for week 51, I've decided to go with the "fairytale" shot.

I just feel a bigger emotive connection to it - I like it more!!

So here it is with more editing than the version above, and with a crop as Geoff suggested (but I suspect less of a crop than Geoff had in mind!)

An Urban Fairy Tale by Adam Bonn, on Flickr

[bnnrcn]

I love the cat shot

[Adzman808]

I love the cat shot

Thank you Binnur, happy new year!

[Geoff F]

That crop is virtually what I had in mind. You have to leave those bare branches, and a bit of space between them and the left edge, so that image works fine for me.

I also liked the cat, although I wonder about an alternative with it being closer to the left edge and the shadow leading towards negative space on the right?

A fountain in full flow is a difficult subject so well done on that one.

The portrait is OK but you have some small over exposed areas on the left side, by her arm. Can that be toned down? Or maybe just crop tighter and go square to remove the problem? I think you would still retain enough of the blue curtain in the top left corner to balance the dark bottom right corner.

[Adzman808]

That crop is virtually what I had in mind. You have to leave those bare branches, and a bit of space between them and the left edge, so that image works fine for me.

I also liked the cat, although I wonder about an alternative with it being closer to the left edge and the shadow leading towards negative space on the right?

A fountain in full flow is a difficult subject so well done on that one.

The portrait is OK but you have some small over exposed areas on the left side, by her arm. Can that be toned down? Or maybe just crop tighter and go square to remove the problem? I think you would still retain enough of the blue curtain in the top left corner to balance the dark bottom right corner.

Hi Geoff

Happy new year

Thanks very much

Ironically the fountain was the easiest shot of them all to realise; both at capture and in post

I'm glad you approve of the crop on the "fairytale" shot, what I think really 'fixes' it is that I warmed up the light (plus a some other subtle stuff)

I think the cat would work either way about the same to be honest... My understanding is that we tend to 'read' pictures left to right and top to bottom, so the neg space is about right, but I think it's a 50/50 either way

The slightly blown highlight in the street portrait doesn't really bother me tbh (clearly YMMV ) as it doesn't subject from the subject and her character filled face - it isn't intended to a commercial type shot, but that said I might layer that bit off and tone it down. I'll see