Project 52 by Bryan (BJ Denning)

[BJ Denning]

Learned something. Seriously, horses skulls ... very different than caroling and Santa of today.

Mummer's play, had to "google" it. Very interesting. Around where I live street performances are a rarity. The performers in this Christmas event are really just a local town's way to attract traffic to the small locally owned stores, there's no real play, the actors just roam the streets and chat. None solicit or are paid by the public

[Nicola]

i'm really impressed by your work Bryan, I stayed away from CiC for some time, and I lost your last work
awesome shots, indeed.
I'm not the right person to give you the correct feedback, anyway let me point out what I noted in the last weeks shots. Hope you don't mind, it's only my humble opinion on a few and very minor aspects...
in the last girl portrait on week 42, the burned out reflection catch too much my eyes and distract them from the expressive eyes. in the cormorant portrait, I would like to see more beak in focus and less feathers, a deeper DoF will help too.
in the last two pics (week 44) I think a warmer WB could be an improvement.

cheers
hope this helps
Nicola

[BJ Denning]

i'm really impressed by your work Bryan, I stayed away from CiC for some time, and I lost your last work
awesome shots, indeed.
I'm not the right person to give you the correct feedback, anyway let me point out what I noted in the last weeks shots. Hope you don't mind, it's only my humble opinion on a few and very minor aspects...
in the last girl portrait on week 42, the burned out reflection catch too much my eyes and distract them from the expressive eyes. in the cormorant portrait, I would like to see more beak in focus and less feathers, a deeper DoF will help too.
in the last two pics (week 44) I think a warmer WB could be an improvement.

cheers
hope this helps
Nicola

Thanks Nicola, all feedback is welcome. I'm afraid that I don't follow on the week 42 comment, are you speaking of the orange, purple or blue girl pic? Totally agree on the cormorant, I was so fascinated by the eyes I lost track of the whole image. And I agree on the Christmas shots, I was outdoors and should have been using "daylight" WB. I rarely pay attention to WB, this is definitely something I could improve upon.

Thanks so much.

[BJ Denning]

Trying to get on at the local Zoo for photography, so this week I have more animal shots. This week there was some discord in the local pride, the female lion was giving the male "what-for" and not letting him anywhere near the cub. Made for some interesting shots.



He wasn't too worried. Looks fierce, but it's a big yawn


And then one of the Cheetahs, always laid back.

[Donald]

The dappled light on the rock provides the perfect complementary backdrop for the spotted coat of the cheetah. That's a really good one, I think.

[FrankMi]

The snow flake is a random shiny ornament hanging outside. The crop was pretty much out of the camera, I think I may have recropped a little to put it right on the third line. The biggest choice was backgrounds -- I have several shots, but the one with the window in the background seems to work the best. I originally took shots thinking that I may use it for composites, sometimes I take shots of textures/objects for stock, then just liked this one as was. I did remove the wire it was hanging from.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/4
Focal Length: 67 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Removing the wire really makes the image interesting as the snowflake seems to be falling in front of the camera at the point you took the shot. I have seen macro snowflake images that look very similar except for the background which is why I was so interested in how you got this shot Bryan. Nice vision to be able to see this composition!

[BJ Denning]

The dappled light on the rock provides the perfect complementary backdrop for the spotted coat of the cheetah. That's a really good one, I think.

Thanks Donald. I was conflicted about the shadows. I was a little afraid that they may have dimmed the subject -- with the thought that the subject should be a brighter point. However since he was cooperating and I could get his head near a third, I took it. I have to admit that this is one of my favourites.

[BJ Denning]

Removing the wire really makes the image interesting as the snowflake seems to be falling in front of the camera at the point you took the shot. I have seen macro snowflake images that look very similar except for the background which is why I was so interested in how you got this shot Bryan. Nice vision to be able to see this composition!

Ah, I see. Nope, I don't have the skillz to capture a macro snowflake. Macro, especially insect photos, are on the list to learn -- I just don't have the patiance right now. Focus stacking, like HDR, is also something I want to try.

[BJ Denning]

Here's another go at the Cormorant shot. I found a used 100-400 and was trying it out today.


We have all had one of those days ...


I still find black and whites to be difficult. But an elephant has such wonderful texture, I thought this might work.

[Donald]

That's wonderful. Gave me a big smile this Sunday morning here in the frozen fringes of Europe.

I still find black and whites to be difficult. But an elephant has such wonderful texture, I thought this might work.

I think elephants were made to be shot in B & W. Some of Clive's (botspur) stuff on here shows that off. The other photographer that I (and I suspect many thousands of others) thinks about in terms of elephants is Nick Brandt. His work is just stunningly powerful.

[Geoff F]

Good detail on the cormorant's head as well.

[BJ Denning]

I think elephants were made to be shot in B & W. Some of Clive's (botspur) stuff on here shows that off. The other photographer that I (and I suspect many thousands of others) thinks about in terms of elephants is Nick Brandt. His work is just stunningly powerful.

Wow, agreed. Nick Brandt's work has a amazing look. I'll definitely have to follow him.

[BJ Denning]

Still test driving a used 100-400. I wasn't impressed with the first round of shots. I went out today with a tripod, hoping that it was my poor technique shooting at a longer focal length (also switched to the 7d for better AF). The lens has a serial number of UNxxxx. From the decoder I think this means that it was manufactured in 1999, which means a 12 year old lens -- having second thoughts ...

Urial


Smile for the camera


Joe, deep in thought

[BJ Denning]

Ended up returning the used 100-400. The images just seemed soft and the more I considered the age and price, it just didn't make since. Instead, got a pretty good deal on a new 100-400 and now I'm sure the other was soft (e.g. it wasn't my technique, although there is lots of room for improvement).

Gazelle

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 105 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Snow Leopard

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 275 mm
ISO Speed: 400


Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 180 mm
ISO Speed: 400

[FrankMi]

I can't quite figure out why my zoo pictures look like, well, Zoo pictures while many of yours look like studio portraits! Well done Bryan. I particularly like the Gazelle, Urial, and Cormorant.

[ktuli]

Snow Leopard

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 275 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Excellent shot here!

- Bill

[BJ Denning]

I can't quite figure out why my zoo pictures look like, well, Zoo pictures while many of yours look like studio portraits! Well done Bryan. I particularly like the Gazelle, Urial, and Cormorant.

Thanks so much Frank. A appreciate your viewing an critque. I know that zoo photos are looked down on, but I try to work with what I have. I need to make some time to travel and check off some of my bucket list -- Australia, NZ, Europe, plus some US site in between.

[BJ Denning]

Excellent shot here!

- Bill

Thanks Bill. I'm trying to not fear the ISO and use it to get those higher shutter speeds for a crisp image. I have to admit that the Snow Leopard is one of my favorites also, although I may have over sharpened in post -- haven't quite learned Collin's technique.

[BJ Denning]

Urial -- I like the "head on" shot, but I wish it was a little more symetric

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 200

Red Panda -- This one is soft. It was a pretty sever crop, but this guy is shy. He's just too cute

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 400 mm
ISO Speed: 400

A special momment in the Gazelle household. These are Gazelle, just different type than the earlier shot.

Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 180 mm
ISO Speed: 200

[FrankMi]

Thanks so much Frank. A appreciate your viewing an critque. I know that zoo photos are looked down on, but I try to work with what I have. I need to make some time to travel and check off some of my bucket list -- Australia, NZ, Europe, plus some US site in between.

There are always those that look down on things like Zoo pictures, Point & Shoot cameras, HDR images, post processing, etc.

I don't understand why. Perhaps it is because they have not mastered the techniques involved but the bottom line is to look at the results.

If the images are really good then I want to learn how to accomplish that kind of result. Your images are very good and encourage me to try to learn how to improve my zoo pictures.

Thank you Bryan for the encouragement!