2015 Project 52, first quarter - by Kay

[wilgk]

I will aim for 1 image per week, 2 if I have time & am keen on anything I take.
These 2 were taken not far from my house on the high wind, extreme fire danger day this week. The dust cloud advances ahead of the storm clouds. The wind was so strong I literally could barely stand up. I took shelter against the car for these. I didn't want to set up a tripod & be a lightning rod.

Thanks for viewing, I will aim with my project to include different subjects & landscapes for me are different.

[Mark von Kanel]

Tripods in lightning storms are ok Kay, live on the edge! and if your a real chicken you could use a wireless release

[Shadowman]

Now I feel lazy for not joining.

Nicely captured.

[Mark von Kanel]

Now I feel lazy for not joining.

Nicely captured.

And so you should

[Marie Hass]

Good morning, Kay!!!!

I love the DoF in both landscapes.

Especially #1, I love the lines and the clear definition of the rain line of advancing storm. The horses on the third are perfect, as are the trees in #2 as a point of interest.

Very nice.

'Rie

[Marie Hass]

Hi, Mark!!!

I have had the same problem as Kay....With the onset of an advancing storm comes a lot of wind. It shakes the tripod horribly. it is almost useless to set up.

What to do?

'Rie

[wilgk]

Now I feel lazy for not joining.

Nicely captured.

Thanks John, there's still time!, your hurling image can be week 1

[Shadowman]

Thanks John, there's still time!, your hurling image can be week 1

Thanks Kay.

[Mark von Kanel]

Hi, Mark!!!

I have had the same problem as Kay....With the onset of an advancing storm comes a lot of wind. It shakes the tripod horribly. it is almost useless to set up.

What to do?



'Rie

Bag of rocks hung under it? go inside for a coffee

[Marie Hass]

Coffee is probably safer. I am there. The wind buffets Kay was experiencing were bad. I have been there.

'Rie

[bnnrcn]

Hi Kay, both very nice images I especially like #2. The clouds look as if they are in B&W and they confuse me

[wilgk]

Thankyou Mark, John & Rie for viewing & commenting.
Binnur, thankyou, I hope the sky colour is quite true to life. The day was a 'code red' 'catastrophic conditions' for bush and grass fires, with 40degree temps with high both winds, blowing down to the bottom of Australia from the desert middle....then at the end of the day a Southerly 'change' of wind brings cooler air from the Southern Ocean & pushes the heat away bringing with it storms. The storm clouds were black, the wind was gusting at over 50knots.
So we didn't stay out long, particularly when trees were down across roads...keen photographer I might be, but storm chaser I am not.
I hope that makes some sense.

[mknittle]

Both are nice Kay, But I am a big fan of ominous clouds.

[wilgk]

Thankyou Mark.

[wilgk]

Week 2

Some friends & I went on a stroll around the Botanic Gardens, we could only use a 50mm lens & had a shoot to the topic of Pattern, Man-Made or Colour, then we came back together to see what we all thought & how we had interpreted the theme, it was a lot of fun. Here is my contribution for 'Colour' with a touch of radial blur added in post processing.

[purplehaze]

Love the colour and pattern in your week 2 shot, Kay, but am wishing there were more detail in the foreground plant.

And I've meaning to tell you I really like your week 1 shots, as well, for their colour, composition, processing... It's inspiring to see you step outside of your usual realm! I particularly like the geometry of the second shot, but wish there were a bit more foreground to make the line of that fence stronger. But maybe the topography is such that it wasn't an option.

[IzzieK]

#1 is my pick between the two of the Week 1. Love the cloud formation, the foreground, the background and the fence. I can look at this distant land and feel so secure and calm...moody shot really.

Week 2 is just OK...if that is the only flower and the background is just a gradient or a blank space, it can qualify on the minimalist page shot. It has potentials though. It is a beautiful flower on its own...even without a background is really what I mean...

[Geoff F]

I'm in agreement with Izzie here.

But I just wonder if a very slight crop from #1 at the bottom and left side might give even more emphasis to those dark clouds? I do mean very slight though.

And would it be possible to selectively tone down the brighter background colours behind the flower?

[wilgk]

Love the colour and pattern in your week 2 shot, Kay, but am wishing there were more detail in the foreground plant.

And I've meaning to tell you I really like your week 1 shots, as well, for their colour, composition, processing... It's inspiring to see you step outside of your usual realm! I particularly like the geometry of the second shot, but wish there were a bit more foreground to make the line of that fence stronger. But maybe the topography is such that it wasn't an option.

Thankyou Janis for your reply & yes I see what you mean about more foreground in pic2 from week 1.
I think I could include more & this is where I think I am learning some landscape techniques, as I want to compose an image that the viewer feels like they were standing in the scene, looking at it for themselves, rather than just a picture of what I saw.
Thanks again, learning, learning

[wilgk]

#1 is my pick between the two of the Week 1. Love the cloud formation, the foreground, the background and the fence. I can look at this distant land and feel so secure and calm...moody shot really.

Week 2 is just OK...if that is the only flower and the background is just a gradient or a blank space, it can qualify on the minimalist page shot. It has potentials though. It is a beautiful flower on its own...even without a background is really what I mean...

Thankyou Izzie, got off to a good start then fumbled a bit, I think didn't I
Week 2 was part of a fun outing/challenge, but not a lot of potential to keep it in the keepers
Thankyou for your kind suggestions...onwards & upwards!