Project 52 by Mike (Myk)

[Myk]

Thanks for comments on last weeks effort.
The weather last week was by and large unsuitable for outdoor photography, I did get some shots from a wind storm of I believe immature bald eagles soaring on the wind above my house. The best of the series:
1/4000 f5.6 iso 800, by the time I got my settings sorted they had moved off down the road

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After the rain started I was able to catch a hummer with natural light through the window:
1/250 f8 iso 400

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[Goldcoastgolfer]

Is it me or does there seem to be a white haze in both photo? That hummingbird looks fantastic in terms of what you've captured. It's just that the haze that is interfering with the colours and detail.

[Myk]

Thanks Mal, I'm sure you're right. The first was a bit heavy on crop, and can't take much more processing; the second I adjusted the black point on and agree looks much better:



Onward and upward, a break in the weather allowed my to get out to a local park and shoot these guys who I'm sure need no introduction:

[Goldcoastgolfer]

That's a fantastically sharp capture very nicely framed. Brilliant work Mike.

[Ryogenetic]

Wow that is crystal clear, great shot Mike!

Ryo

[Myk]

Thanks for the compliments on last weeks effort. I felt with such a cliche subject it had better be really sharp

This week I found myself with a (briefly) dry atmosphere, and a brisk wind churning the waters off the beach.



1/500 f8 iso 200 135mm

Then I thought to alter perspective a little. This shot was set on the rocks, up the beach enough to avoid most of the salt spray:


1/640 f8 iso 200 200mm

Finally, before the skies threatened to open once more I thought of using a slower shutter speed, so balanced the camera on a rock a bit up the beach again to capture some motion. I didn't have a means to stabilize the camera on its own, so camera shake was an issue. I also tried shots at iso 100 and f32 but without a stable platform/ remote release they were much worse.


1/40s f22 iso 200

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Out of curiosity Mike, did you have any objectives when you took these photos and did you accomplish your goals?

[Myk]

My goal was to look at the waves differently, while I feel I did achieve that. 2 was perhaps the closest I got, although it could have benefited from more dof. Not entirely happy with the results, but such is life when dealing with weather, and nature in general.

[FrankMi]

Yes Mike, I agree that #2 has the best combination of elements. Now that you have some experience with this kind of a scene, what ideas do you feel will work for improving the next set of similar images?

[Myk]

Thanks for provoking more thought Frank;
I have plenty of experience with these sorts of scenes, but find that the images are nearly always lacking in some way. It is something I take for granted so can't "see" if that makes sense. I think with my previous images in similar scenes I try to take in too much at one time, in one image; and it usually just ends up cluttered, and unappealing. Perhaps something more interesting than a rock in the foreground, and possibly an even lower perspective. Better light, but thats a matter of the weather cooperating, and being in the right place at the right time.

[Wendy Stanford]

Hi Mike, as a series I think #2 as the most visually pleasing as it does have a focus point, the other two, while providing different closeup of water do lack a focus point, the bright coloured molluscs on the rock look interesting, #3, nice slowing of the wave action

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Thanks for provoking more thought Frank;
I have plenty of experience with these sorts of scenes, but find that the images are nearly always lacking in some way. It is something I take for granted so can't "see" if that makes sense. I think with my previous images in similar scenes I try to take in too much at one time, in one image; and it usually just ends up cluttered, and unappealing. Perhaps something more interesting than a rock in the foreground, and possibly an even lower perspective. Better light, but thats a matter of the weather cooperating, and being in the right place at the right time.

Landscapes are always a challenge for me I think with the shots of the waves the one thing I'm struggling to get a feel for is perspective - the actual size of the waves and rocks you've captured in your shots. I think for me it needs another element in the photos to provide that sense of size to your photo - a bit of sky or some other reference point that really allows you to put the scene in perspective.

[Myk]

Hi Mike, as a series I think #2 as the most visually pleasing as it does have a focus point, the other two, while providing different closeup of water do lack a focus point, the bright coloured molluscs on the rock look interesting, #3, nice slowing of the wave action

Thank you Wendy.

Landscapes are always a challenge for me I think with the shots of the waves the one thing I'm struggling to get a feel for is perspective - the actual size of the waves and rocks you've captured in your shots. I think for me it needs another element in the photos to provide that sense of size to your photo - a bit of sky or some other reference point that really allows you to put the scene in perspective.

Thanks Mal; very well stated, and more clearly echoes my own thoughts.

[FrankMi]

Thanks for provoking more thought Frank;
I have plenty of experience with these sorts of scenes, but find that the images are nearly always lacking in some way. It is something I take for granted so can't "see" if that makes sense. I think with my previous images in similar scenes I try to take in too much at one time, in one image; and it usually just ends up cluttered, and unappealing. Perhaps something more interesting than a rock in the foreground, and possibly an even lower perspective. Better light, but thats a matter of the weather cooperating, and being in the right place at the right time.

Excellent insight!

I like to feel that my failed attempts are necessary steps in learning ever sharpening techniques that will eventually produce much better results so I am constantly looking for new ways to 'see' common objects. I may be off in a world of my own, but I feel that finding ways to make the ordinary appear extraordinary, to pull the transcending beauty out of common objects, is one of the things that makes photography so exciting.

Taking the time to evaluate your results and explore a multitude of options can be one of the magical keys to that success. I am looking forward to seeing your ongoing progress!

[Myk]

First off, thanks again for the questions and comments on last weeks images.
Frank; I couldn't agree more that we do indeed learn more from our failures than successes. I think having comments/questions from others helps me greatly in the thought process along the path to improvement.

This week nearly passed me entirely by without pictures, until after mowing the lawn and inspecting the progress of the buds on some fruit trees when I saw this shiny little fellow, and a nice opportunity to try out the reversing ring outside. As difficult as it was to get settings right with a static subject, indoors shooting off a tripod, I was fairly impressed with the handheld results of the moving (albeit slowly) subject. Processed in LR3 and CS6 beta which I'm still figuring out.


1/80 f16 iso 400 on camera manual fill flash at 1/16


1/160s iso 200 1/8 on camera fill, aperture tab held just in from fully stopped down f9 to 11


exif same as previous if I recall correctly.

[johnbharle]

First off, thanks again for the questions and comments on last weeks images.
Frank; I couldn't agree more that we do indeed learn more from our failures than successes. I think having comments/questions from others helps me greatly in the thought process along the path to improvement.

This week nearly passed me entirely by without pictures, until after mowing the lawn and inspecting the progress of the buds on some fruit trees when I saw this shiny little fellow, and a nice opportunity to try out the reversing ring outside. As difficult as it was to get settings right with a static subject, indoors shooting off a tripod, I was fairly impressed with the handheld results of the moving (albeit slowly) subject. Processed in LR3 and CS6 beta which I'm still figuring out.

He's a real beauty!

[Myk]

Thanks for the comment John.

This last week I tried my hand at shooting people, children specifically. An Easter egg hunt proved quite the challenge with all my nieces sprinting about the yard, fast unpredictable motion. The lighting was less than optimal, with almost all of these having the contrast reduced as much as practical in LR, and some dodging and burning in LR and PS.

Bri was doing her own thing, enjoying the slide:


Monique almost ran me over getting this shot:



Shelby's intent focus on the egg, with the (unintentional starburst).


Aleyah, the oldest and easiest to catch (mostly in the shade):

[Goldcoastgolfer]

First off, thanks again for the questions and comments on last weeks images.
Frank; I couldn't agree more that we do indeed learn more from our failures than successes. I think having comments/questions from others helps me greatly in the thought process along the path to improvement.

This week nearly passed me entirely by without pictures, until after mowing the lawn and inspecting the progress of the buds on some fruit trees when I saw this shiny little fellow, and a nice opportunity to try out the reversing ring outside. As difficult as it was to get settings right with a static subject, indoors shooting off a tripod, I was fairly impressed with the handheld results of the moving (albeit slowly) subject. Processed in LR3 and CS6 beta which I'm still figuring out.


1/80 f16 iso 400 on camera manual fill flash at 1/16


1/160s iso 200 1/8 on camera fill, aperture tab held just in from fully stopped down f9 to 11


exif same as previous if I recall correctly.

Great captures there Mike. He certainly looks like an interesting critter!

[Goldcoastgolfer]

Thanks for the comment John.

This last week I tried my hand at shooting people, children specifically. An Easter egg hunt proved quite the challenge with all my nieces sprinting about the yard, fast unpredictable motion. The lighting was less than optimal, with almost all of these having the contrast reduced as much as practical in LR, and some dodging and burning in LR and PS.

Bri was doing her own thing, enjoying the slide:


Monique almost ran me over getting this shot:



Shelby's intent focus on the egg, with the (unintentional starburst).


Aleyah, the oldest and easiest to catch (mostly in the shade):

Lighting always poses a challenge in natural surroundings with kids doing their thing but I think you've got some great shots there. One thing that I do find when you don't have diffused light but instead you're working with the high contrast light of the middle of the day is that it's a great opportunity to take some interesting B&W photos - the change in tones can create a different style of photo to the standard portrait.

[Myk]

Thanks for the comments Mal, I hadn't even considered B&W on those.

This week I noticed a new bridge being opened (partly), and with the imminent destruction of the much more picturesque old bridge, thought I would try my hand at it.

HDR from 3 exposures (blended in CS6); sometimes I can't leave well enough alone; I need to get back and go more to the left, and overprocess a little less:



1/80 f11 iso 200 18mm single exposure treated in LR and CS6 (highlight/shadow). With this one I need to time better light with the highest tide to "lower" those pilings.