Trip to Warm Springs Ranch at Boonsville, Missouri : for C&C of course...

[IzzieK]

Yesterday we went to Boonsville, Missouri with the St.Louis University Community College tour. This is our first tour with them. We had a wonderful time there even though we were charged a bundle with the tour which is worth $10. But we had lunch at a beautiful old style restaurant with everything taken cared of including gratuity and a pass by at Stover's to buy some goodies. I ended up with a Ty frog for my little grandchild.

Anyway to cut my story short here, these first batch are the ones I had been struggling to make right...

1 The entrance to the building...I cannot, for the life of me, correct the building itself so I gave up on that and concentrated on the stone marking instead.



2 This second one is a choice : which one is better? The Black and White version or the coloured version?

a...Black and White


b...Coloured



3 Last one is the paddock outside of the foaling station. I think this is my favourite for now...



In order to join the World Famous Budweiser hitch, a Clydesdale must meet certain requirements. They must stand at least 18 hands high (or 6 feet tall). They must be geldings and at least 4 years old. They must have a bay coat, four white stockings, a blaze of white on the face, a black mane and a black tail. And they must weigh between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds.

Clydesdale horseshoes measure more than 20 inches from end to end and weigh about five pounds – more than twice as long and five times as heavy as the shoe worn by a light horse.

More interesting shots coming...in another post as fast as I can process them...Thank you all for looking and commenting if you will comment and critique, especially critiques as I am learning as I go along here. One day I will get it right...in the meantime, have a little bit more patience with my postings...

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Ziggy]

You seem to get around Izzie.

Very nice series of shots. Just a couple things I might suggest.

In the first I would wait until no people and maybe tried a lower POV looking up to get more of the building.

I prefer the B&W image to the color. I like the effect and it hides some of the distractions inside the building. You might try bringing up the shadows just a little.

Love the subject and color in the last one. Might try moving the horse off center a little.

[Dave A]

Nice series. I like the B&W image and the last image the most. Well done.

Dave

[Chrisclick]

Hi Izzie, you sure do get around!

A very colourful first shot. I agree with Jim on waiting for the people to go inside. Perspective correction can be a real chore, and is often not completely achievable even with tools like PS to help. I had a try at it with your image, and although there was some improvement, still not good enough to post back for comparison.

For some unknown reason, I prefer the colour version of the second shot.

The last shot has me intrigued. I wonder if he fits the selection criteria set out by Budweiser; "must be geldings"? Everything appears to be intact! Unless they do it chemically these days?

I am not sure if it's focus, or camera shake, the last shot looks a little soft. At 1/320th without IS/VR, and at 240mm FL, you would need to ensure a firm stance for a sharp shot. If your lens has IS/VR that should not be a problem, though just to be on the safe side, a higher SS will always help in that regard. If it turns out to be a focus issue (I'm assuming that you used AF), maybe check the AF accuracy of that lens.

Great work, cheers.

[FootLoose]

I like the 2nd shot, Izzie. Good conversion.

[NorthernFocus]

Another interesting set, Izzie. I like the b/w version.

[IzzieK]

Nice series.

Thanks, John...

[IzzieK]

You seem to get around Izzie.

Just lucky I guess...We booked this tour months ahead and I completely forgotten about it until a notice from my google calendar reminded me...and of course Bill who is up-to-date with this appointment calendar...

Very nice series of shots. Just a couple things I might suggest.

In the first I would wait until no people and maybe tried a lower POV looking up to get more of the building.

Unfortunately, I did not wait for me for the last one to get inside the door as the lady who was assigned to us will not close that door until we all came in so she can start the first talkies. And I like the love of my life there...

I prefer the B&W image to the color. I like the effect and it hides some of the distractions inside the building. You might try bringing up the shadows just a little.

I tried a lighter one but I didn't like it so I put the slider back...maybe as an afterthought, I should have just crop a little bit off the top.

Love the subject and color in the last one. Might try moving the horse off center a little.

I was trying some different crops from Photoshop about this and I decided on the diagonal as opposed to the rule of thirds...so I centered its head right inside that diagonal and I like it.

Thank you for all your suggestions and comment. I am glad you shared your thoughts with me.

[IzzieK]

Nice series. I like the B&W image and the last image the most. Well done.

Dave

Thank you Dave...this is my first horse shots and I enjoyed it a lot...'Appreciate your dropping in and commenting.

[Donald]

2 This second one is a choice : which one is better? The Black and White version or the coloured version?

The B & W ... by a mile! Lovely rich tones. Only thing I'd maybe think about is brightening the sky.

I look forward to seeing more of this set.

[IzzieK]

Hi Izzie, you sure do get around!

A very colourful first shot. I agree with Jim on waiting for the people to go inside. Perspective correction can be a real chore, and is often not completely achievable even with tools like PS to help. I had a try at it with your image, and although there was some improvement, still not good enough to post back for comparison.

Thank you for letting me know...I gave up on all of my buildings this time around. One day I will get the feel of it and get on. At the moment, I still have a lot of process and choose the best to upload without overloading my audience...See my response to Ziggy about waiting for no people around. (Message #9)

For some unknown reason, I prefer the colour version of the second shot.

Me too...

The last shot has me intrigued. I wonder if he fits the selection criteria set out by Budweiser; "must be geldings"? Everything appears to be intact! Unless they do it chemically these days?

Yes...I think this is Hope...I wasn't really listening to the shrill voice of the guide in this area...each area has a guide and I was waiting for some unusual action of the feeding horse before I took a shot...and I was rewarded this one...

I am not sure if it's focus, or camera shake, the last shot looks a little soft. At 1/320th without IS/VR, and at 240mm FL, you would need to ensure a firm stance for a sharp shot. If your lens has IS/VR that should not be a problem, though just to be on the safe side, a higher SS will always help in that regard. If it turns out to be a focus issue (I'm assuming that you used AF), maybe check the AF accuracy of that lens.

Great work, cheers.[/QUOTE]
My lens is a 70-300mm macro and I had it on manual because I was testing the lens after shelving it for quite a while, while I am testing the UWA. The softness is due to NIK's Color Viveza 2. I went back to reduce the structure. I think I went overboard...then did my final sharpening after cropping. I have to go back to the original shot to look again...

Thank you Chris for looking and commenting and the suggestions. I will look at my shots again and take care to look for more errors...'Appreciate it.

[IzzieK]

I like the 2nd shot, Izzie. Good conversion.

Thanks Greg...'appreciate your comment and preference. I have another one similar and further from the door but I don't think I got the horse outside. I forgot to meter because the tour was moving towards Andrew...I will upload some Andrew shots later.

[IzzieK]

Another interesting set, Izzie. I like the b/w version.

Thanks Dan..my first time to photograph any horse and I enjoyed this trip so much that I barely listen to the commentaries. 'Appreciate your preference and your dropping by.

[IzzieK]

The B & W ... by a mile! Lovely rich tones. Only thing I'd maybe think about is brightening the sky.

I look forward to seeing more of this set.

I cannot find the "like" in your post. I will get back to it later. Thank you for passing by Donald. I was hoping you'd comment because of the black and white version choice. I did his via NIK Silver EFex and slide some buttons until I came to this version...and then fiddled with the colour filters. I had fun using Silver EFex. I also thought the sky need a bit of effect too as it was really a bland area along that side...I will experiment some more...

'Appreciate your comments and suggestions and preference...

[Dave Humphries]

Hmmm, you do pose awkward questions Izzie,

I prefer the colour (a) version of #2 because the B&W 'loses' the horse into the background

I think an alternate processing of the colour version, one that 'simplifies' the stable block interior much as the B&W one does, could be better than either. It would need localised processing to achieve it though.


Looking in to Chris's comments on the lack of sharpness in #3, I tend to agree, it isn't as sharp as it ought to be. Looking at the straw, none of it is very sharp, at any depth in to the image, suggesting to me the problem might be camera shake.


On #1 and the building, getting it right at capture is best * - when looking through the viewfinder, paying attention to the things that are going to 'bite' us in PP is wise.

Here we have lots of vertical planking (near the edges) to guide us to keep the camera level. You shot this with the 12-24mm lens at 24mm on the D810, so you could easily have zoomed out a bit, levelled up (instead of looking down to capture the flowers) and then cropped any excess roof/sky in PP to achieve a similar view to this, without the distortion of the building.

Dave's 'nasty' time

Naughty Izzie! - you didn't absorb all I said in your thread a couple of days ago, did you?

Bet you didn't fit a hot shoe level either, did you?
I find having one is a good 'reminder device' when shooting with an UWA and they're only a few dollars, I'm sure Bill wouldn't mind buying you one to keep you out of trouble.

Anyways; joking aside, I hope that's helpful, Dave

* and of course, I learnt the hard way!

[bnnrcn]

Hi Isabel I prefer #2-a, the BnW image.

[IzzieK]

Hmmm, you do pose awkward questions Izzie,

I prefer the colour (a) version of #2 because the B&W 'loses' the horse into the background

OK...I like both and I think the b/w is a good testing ground to understand how it works and so rely on Photoshop for the adjustment of layers and things like that though towards the end, I ended up making another file using the sliders of Silver Efex 2. I think with careful editing, I can bring back that lost horse somehow...

I think an alternate processing of the colour version, one that 'simplifies' the stable block interior much as the B&W one does, could be better than either. It would need localised processing to achieve it though.

I will see what I can do...

Looking in to Chris's comments on the lack of sharpness in #3, I tend to agree, it isn't as sharp as it ought to be. Looking at the straw, none of it is very sharp, at any depth in to the image, suggesting to me the problem might be camera shake.

You two will be right about that...it was a hassle bringing a tripod with me and I keep forgetting to adjust the focus...I guess I will have to find a lens that can do autofocusing from the backbutton...

On #1 and the building, getting it right at capture is best * - when looking through the viewfinder, paying attention to the things that are going to 'bite' us in PP is wise.

Here we have lots of vertical planking (near the edges) to guide us to keep the camera level. You shot this with the 12-24mm lens at 24mm on the D810, so you could easily have zoomed out a bit, levelled up (instead of looking down to capture the flowers) and then cropped any excess roof/sky in PP to achieve a similar view to this, without the distortion of the building.

Dave's 'nasty' time

Naughty Izzie! - you didn't absorb all I said in your thread a couple of days ago, did you?

I did...but I can't do it straight off. The trip was an opportunity and I was pressed for time to do any further research and tips on how to use an ultra wide angle lens, what to photograph, how to photograph it...etc. I did took some buildings but I wished, I didn't have to edit it a lot...here is one of them:


not much editing here, just straightening...what do you think...? I saw a video of how to correct distortion using the warp tool if the automatic lens correction inside Photoshop does not work exactly as one wanted.

Bet you didn't fit a hot shoe level either, did you?
I find having one is a good 'reminder device' when shooting with an UWA and they're only a few dollars, I'm sure Bill wouldn't mind buying you one to keep you out of trouble.

Unfortunately, I didn't put my hot shoe level because I did not use my tripod. Next time I will try using a tripod with a hot shoe level. I have a hot shoe level. I bought it myself. Bill will rather buy me jewelry, (which I hate btw) but I twisted his arms on my 70-300mm lens once and I don't think it will happen again...

Anyways; joking aside, I hope that's helpful, Dave

* and of course, I learnt the hard way!

I am struggling right now...but I am researching on the technique of shooting with UWA some more...

Thanks again for the extra help...'appreciate it.

[IzzieK]

Hi Isabel I prefer #2-a, the BnW image.

Thanks Binnur for passing by and indicating your preference...'appreciate it...

[Dave Humphries]

Unfortunately, I didn't put my hot shoe level because I did not use my tripod. Next time I will try using a tripod with a hot shoe level.

Why only use it when using tripod?

Why not also use it when shooting handheld too?

OK, you have to take your eye from the viewfinder, at least to start with, but after a while, you'll see it and it reminds you to level it before putting the camera to your eye - and also to observe the edges of frame for anything there that ought to be vertical.



The knack is not to jab your forehead on one of the sharp corners when raising camera to eye
I learnt that the hard way too!

not much editing here, just straightening...what do you think...? I saw a video of how to correct distortion using the warp tool if the automatic lens correction inside Photoshop does not work exactly as one wanted.

I think you accidentally introduced some significant pincushion distortion with that warp method.

Yup, I have 'been here and done this' too!