2017 Project 52 - 2nd Quarter by Geoff F

[Cantab]

Week 17. Scenes from the Clifftop Path.

I like all three shots although the first and last are my favourites. What are the blue flowered plants in the first photo, bluebells? We have several types of camas which have somewhat similar flowers (at least from a distance) and are not bluebells: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camassia_quamash.

I was intrigued that the merge of photos with different focal points didn't flatten the sea more, particularly near the coastline. Did you have to take any special steps in doing the merge?

[Geoff F]

Yes Bruce that Coroner series was produced in this area. The film crews seem to have based themselves at the nearby village of Malborough which is a more central location to various parts of the coast etc.

And yes to bluebells which are at the peak of their flowering period now. Your 'bluebells' appear to be taller like the Spanish Bluebells which are often sold in garden centres here. Taller and more vigorous but with a less intense blue colour.

Part of doing landscape focus merges is attempting to choose suitable focusing points so as to provide a definite 'edge' to each area. For example the flowers in the foreground had a firm edge with the cliff line and the second focus point was on the rocks/sea area. I also did a shot of the distant sky but in reality I didn't use that image because the misty day effect meant it wasn't required.

[skitterbug]

Lovely. The first being my favorite! I like the color of the flowers and then the stark nature of the rocks going into the water. It all blends into a very interesting photo.

I wouldn't want to trip over anything and go rolling down the slope!

[joebranko]

Beautiful!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[Geoff F]

Thanks, Sandy and Joe.

You mention concern about the cliff edge, Sandy. Well on Saturday I had a day with the Devon Fly Group along the cliff path near the National Trust Gardens at Coleton Fishacre (Kingswear between Dartmouth and Brixham). So what do you think of these guys!

Week 18 - Devon Fly Group Meeting



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/125 F11 Iso 200. A quick snap shooting towards the light which meant a bit of positive exposure compensation was required and that reduced the shutter speed dangerously low; however I just about got away with it because there wasn't much movement in the scene.

The group isn't just old men; sometimes an entomology student comes along to add a bit of glamour to the event.



A little further along the path we reached the bottom entrance to the garden so I volunteered to work my way through the grounds, photographing anything of interest while they continued along the cliff path.

When I got further into the grounds I realised it was getting a bit crowded for my liking but I managed to work my way along some quieter side paths which eventually led me to a view of the old house.



1/500 F11 Iso 400. A merge of two different conversions from a single raw file.

[Geoff F]

And a few of the insects from that garden.

Red and Black Froghopper - Cercopis vulnerata



A hoverfly feeding on a buttercup. Cheilosia albitarsis/ranunculi



Green Hairstreak butterfly



Some of the little flies are even more difficult to identify than to photograph. This is one of the Dung Fly Family (although that is a rather misleading general term) One of the Nanna species.

[skitterbug]

Hi Geoff ~ Week 18 - Devon Fly Group Meeting - 1st one listed did catch my attention. These fellows are a lot more sure footed than I am. I wouldn't be hanging on the side of the ledge. Now perhaps if I was the young lady's age, I'd could maybe scamper up and down the slope? Or maybe not! LOL

Camera settings still can baffle me. In my pics, I end up setting too high of ISO generally.... but I haven't fully gone to all manual choices. If I set the ISO too low when I am trying to catch items that are moving quickly, all I get are blurry actions. So I will pick ISO and an F stop and let the camera do the rest.

1/125 F11 Iso 200. A quick snap shooting towards the light which meant a bit of positive exposure compensation was required and that reduced the shutter speed dangerously low; however I just about got away with it because there wasn't much movement in the scene.

Anyway, I wanted to put that first because I like the way your pics turn out! Sharp and clear and no "noise"!

And I must ask why the group is bug collecting? Looking for infestation of a certain type? Or just for knowledge of what is hatching right now.

[purplehaze]

This is my favorite of the three from Week 17, for its yellow and blue color contrast and its faint evocation of a distant shoreline...

Nice.

A bit further along the path and gorse took over as the foreground vegetation. Now I had a bit more space to work with.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the replies, Janis and Sandy.

The fly group is recording what species occur at this location. In this area of the world there has been very little previous recording work undertaken so we don't really have much in the way of a benchmark for measuring any changes which may occur in future years. With the great variety of insect life which can be discovered and the complexities of identification it is often a case of one day sampling followed by a week of identification. But some of these guys are the real experts, who write the identification books, so they have a bit of a headstart over those of us who are just learning.

Regarding camera settings; my 'default' setting is aperture priority with F11 and Iso 400 then let the shutter speed find its own level. Although if there is obviously fast action in the scene I will switch to shutter priority but with the same 400 Iso. My default shutter setting is 1/640.

Those starting points mean I can usually get away with something acceptable if I need a quick response shot. 'Look at that' pick up camera switch on and click. However, when there is a little more time I can look around the scene then decide what are the potential problem areas and make a deliberate choice of starting point settings. Followed by a review of the first couple of test images and further refinement to the settings.

My problems usually arise when I make a conscious decision to change my adjustments, for example to a lower Iso, then move on to a different subject without reverting to my original default setting. So then, when that quick shot is required I can be caught out and end up with too low a shutter speed or something else not at the optimum adjustment.

Ideally, I soon realise my mistake after reviewing those first quick shots but, unfortunately, sometimes the opportunity for another more carefully thought out shot doesn't occur. Which was the case with these quick candid shots of the fly group members.

[skitterbug]

Thanks for the replies, Janis and Sandy.

The fly group is recording what species occur at this location. In this area of the world there has been very little previous recording work undertaken so we don't really have much in the way of a benchmark for measuring any changes which may occur in future years. With the great variety of insect life which can be discovered and the complexities of identification it is often a case of one day sampling followed by a week of identification. But some of these guys are the real experts, who write the identification books, so they have a bit of a headstart over those of us who are just learning.

Regarding camera settings; my 'default' setting is aperture priority with F11 and Iso 400 then let the shutter speed find its own level. Although if there is obviously fast action in the scene I will switch to shutter priority but with the same 400 Iso. My default shutter setting is 1/640.

Those starting points mean I can usually get away with something acceptable if I need a quick response shot. 'Look at that' pick up camera switch on and click. However, when there is a little more time I can look around the scene then decide what are the potential problem areas and make a deliberate choice of starting point settings. Followed by a review of the first couple of test images and further refinement to the settings.

My problems usually arise when I make a conscious decision to change my adjustments, for example to a lower Iso, then move on to a different subject without reverting to my original default setting. So then, when that quick shot is required I can be caught out and end up with too low a shutter speed or something else not at the optimum adjustment.

Ideally, I soon realise my mistake after reviewing those first quick shots but, unfortunately, sometimes the opportunity for another more carefully thought out shot doesn't occur. Which was the case with these quick candid shots of the fly group members.

I looked at my P52 before coming here so I didn't see your reply about settings until after I posted in my P52. I appreciate your explanation about your choices. I have to settle on what settings I want to work from and then make adjustments from there. But it is the "candid" shots that I don't want to foul up. Most of the time, these are photos of the grand-kids that only happen occasionally or even once depending on what they are doing. So I feel I have to get decent shots the first time out. Thank you for answering my questions! Your photo work is something that I appreciate seeing and understanding your choices adds to the value of the information! Thanks for sharing!

[Geoff F]

Week 19 - Footbridge across the marsh. Sometimes when going on an insect hunt in this area I pass beside this little bridge but always find it a difficult scene to photograph. So when the light seemed suitable I had a quick snap from a different angle and did a merge of two exposures. Hand held while shooting through a barbed wire fence and having to avoid some buildings in the foreground.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/320 F11 Iso 400

[Shadowman]

Nice pastel looking rendering.

[Wavelength]

Very interesting series.... enjoyed watching them all

[joebranko]

Beautifully done!

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[skitterbug]

Week 19 - Footbridge across the marsh. Sometimes when going on an insect hunt in this area I pass beside this little bridge but always find it a difficult scene to photograph. So when the light seemed suitable I had a quick snap from a different angle and did a merge of two exposures. Hand held while shooting through a barbed wire fence and having to avoid some buildings in the foreground.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/320 F11 Iso 400

I can't decide about this pic. It is sharp, clear and balanced. Maybe if the sky was a bit more dynamic?
I will say that it is definitely peaceful/restful so maybe framed and hanging where I could see it, I'd fall asleep easier? The other activity I find myself thinking I wish I could do, is walk "from here to there" to see what is on the other side!
What is the little bridge straddling? The tan color doesn't look like water but maybe sand of some sort?

[bnnrcn]

I was away for a while, so I have missed some of your posts Geoff I really like the image with soft colors.

I also like the bug shots and I agree with Janis about the second image of week 17, nice contrasty colors and good composition

Week 19 - Footbridge across the marsh. Sometimes when going on an insect hunt in this area I pass beside this little bridge but always find it a difficult scene to photograph. So when the light seemed suitable I had a quick snap from a different angle and did a merge of two exposures. Hand held while shooting through a barbed wire fence and having to avoid some buildings in the foreground.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/320 F11 Iso 400

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments.

This is beside the sea which is hidden behind those dunes on the right side, Sandy.

There is a small freshwater lake with reeds, which grow in marshy ground at the sides and a little bit of beach is just visible from this angle.

Originally I did darken the sky but though that appeared somewhat unnatural and overly heavy. One of the problems with English skies is that even when it is clear blue overhead there is usually a strip of plain grey at lower angles.

[skitterbug]

Thanks for the comments.

This is beside the sea which is hidden behind those dunes on the right side, Sandy.

There is a small freshwater lake with reeds, which grow in marshy ground at the sides and a little bit of beach is just visible from this angle.

Originally I did darken the sky but though that appeared somewhat unnatural and overly heavy. One of the problems with English skies is that even when it is clear blue overhead there is usually a strip of plain grey at lower angles.

So your sky would be unnatural to your area and not acceptable really if you try and change it? I know I like my pictures to stay fairly accurate to the scene that was 'there' when I snap my camera. Don't know if you feel the same?

I do believe this picture is a winner though because it draws me into it! I keep looking and imagining what it might be like if I were there walking the path.

Thanks for clearing up my question about the tan area! Makes more sense to me now.

[Cantab]

I do believe this picture is a winner though because it draws me into it!

I agree with Sandy! There's something about the colour and the lines in the image that draws me into the scene.

[Geoff F]

Week 20 - Wandering through the gap A typical late Spring English country scene.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/320 F14 Iso 400.

I had been photographing insects in the nearby bird reserve when I saw a potential landscape scene with a cow laying down in an open gateway and a good background with a nice sky in the distance. But by the time I did a frantic lens change, the cow had stood up and turned its rear end towards me! A sign of contempt I am informed! Even the nice fluffy clouds had passed.

Then a little bit further along and another open gateway with some cows walking towards the gap caused another frantic lens change, but this time I just managed to capture them in time.

A merge of 3 different Raw conversions from a single shot. The harsh light was producing too much hard contrast. I wanted a bit of obvious highlight to shadow variation but a little softer than the original shot.