2017 Project 52 - 1st QTR - Sandy(Skitterbug)

[Shadowman]

Hi John ~ The rail line is used! Daily and several times a day even. I'm always fascinated that nothing has ever happened and I'm also thankful that it hasn't. I saw a 'railroad crew' out later this afternoon checking out the tracks so maybe they are considering a repair. Let's hope so.

Our school building is 92 years old! Once it comes down, I hope to get a decent pic of the area. It is a bit confusing because not only is there an elementary building that was attached several years ago, to the old building, there is also another part of the school that was build about 12 years ago, that is also behind what you see. I'll sort through my shots of today and see if I can find one that at least shows the current old building as well as the elementary building that is attached. Probably more information than what you asked for.

Yep, found one. Not as good as I was hoping but it will do for explanations. I have a feeling that a panorama shot would be better but I’m not there yet in ability. <chuckle> If you look over the center of the complex roof, you can see the tippy top of the tower of the one that was build approximately 12 years ago. The part to the right of the pic is the elementary. All that stays. It is only the oldest one that will be demolished.

Sandy,

Information fulfilled my curiosity, your later comment about the asbestos concern seems plausible and I'm sure some committee decided on the plans to rebuild based on population change or some other criteria. I like the second image showing both new and old structures.

[skitterbug]

Sandy,

Information fulfilled my curiosity, your later comment about the asbestos concern seems plausible and I'm sure some committee decided on the plans to rebuild based on population change or some other criteria. I like the second image showing both new and old structures.

Hi John ~ I am definitely wondering how the school campus (as they are called now days) will look once the old building is removed.
The problem for me with the combined photo is the light pole, yellow support wires, etc. that are in front of the building. I tried removing them in PP but it only "slopped up" the picture so I quit trying.
I also think that maybe I was fortunate that the sun wasn't out from behind the cloud cover.
Thanks for your comments!

[skitterbug]

I wanted to share the following pics and decided this would be the way to finish off my 2017 P52 1st Quarter.

To set up the two pics…… Hubby was watching out his favorite window where he can see his bird feeders. There is a row of evergreens that provide windbreak for our home. The koi pond is located on the other side of these trees. He caught sight of something brown winging its way toward our koi pond and realized it was a female mallard. I grabbed my camera and dashed out the door to peek around the corner of the garage. Sure enough she had landed on that tiny pond and so had her mate! I didn’t have much time because they were nervous about the situation and didn’t stay more than a few minutes. But I did get a few shots. I want to add that before I started this P52 project, I knew that ‘I didn’t know’ nearly enough about my camera. I still have a long way to go but I have to add that I am much more comfortable choosing settings now than I have ever been! I probably wouldn’t have gotten the chance to get these two pics if I hadn’t been practicing. These are not perfect yet but I am happier with my results now!

Settings for both: 1/200ss – f/16 – ISO800 – 240mm

Comments always appreciated!

#1 – Female Mallard



#2 – Mr. & Mrs. Mallard peeking around the rock

[Geoff F]

I prefer the second one simply because although the ducks aren't fully visible they are nicely positioned together. Difficult exposure but this works OK.

That image size shows the overall pond appearance but there is another option to crop the foliage from the right side and go more for a duck portrait scene. Not really any better, just an alternative.

[Shadowman]

Nice duck shots.

[skitterbug]

Nice duck shots.

Thanks John

[skitterbug]

I prefer the second one simply because although the ducks aren't fully visible they are nicely positioned together. Difficult exposure but this works OK.

That image size shows the overall pond appearance but there is another option to crop the foliage from the right side and go more for a duck portrait scene. Not really any better, just an alternative.

Hi Geoff ~ Those two ducks weren't being very cooperative and I'm still just slow enough that I miss opportunities. Those two never did come completely out into the open together. I'm not sure they saw me but they felt very uncomfortable being there.

Anyway, I give the pic a different crop per your suggestion. I think it turned out decently! Thank you for the suggestions.
I welcome any comments!

[Geoff F]

That is a nice portrait of the ducks. Maybe just a fraction more brightness but be careful of over exposure on the male's back.

[skitterbug]

That is a nice portrait of the ducks. Maybe just a fraction more brightness but be careful of over exposure on the male's back.

So I gave it a smidgen bit more processing. See what you think. It did seem to bring out the features of the female more so than the male? I erred on the side of caution! <smile>

[Cantab]

So I gave it a smidgen bit more processing. See what you think. It did seem to bring out the features of the female more so than the male? I erred on the side of caution! <smile>

Sandy, this looks good.

I'm curious about the nervous mallards. But that's probably because I grew up in a town which has a park with resident mallards which are very used to human company. In contrast, your mallards are presumably "wild" and arrive only after the worst of the winter has passed?

[skitterbug]

Sandy, this looks good.

I'm curious about the nervous mallards. But that's probably because I grew up in a town which has a park with resident mallards which are very used to human company. In contrast, your mallards are presumably "wild" and arrive only after the worst of the winter has passed?

Hi Bruce ~ Yes, these are wild ones not used to humans. To have them land on our very tiny koi pond is a treat that probably won't be repeated. There are some wild ones at our local Indian Lake that people feed encouraging them to be more tame. Sometimes we can spot little ones there depending on the time of day, time of year!

I am hesitant to add the following story but until it happened, I didn't realize there is a difference in domesticated mallards vs. wild mallards. Late last spring, while I was working in my flowerbed, I heard a tiny peeping and looked toward our driveway. Amazingly there was one tiny little duckling running toward me. He was seeking sanctuary in the flowerbed. I watched for a few hours but momma never came for him. Don't know how he even came to be in our yard because we are surrounded by soybean or corn fields depending on what the farmer decides to plant for the summer crops. Ducks usually aren't in those in the spring.

Anyway, after checking up and down the field line, the drainage ditch, etc. I finally decided this one had been abandoned and thought to catch him. Succeeded by intimidating his peeping which encouraged him to come to me! He must have thought I was a very large duckling! LOL. Anyone rescuing wild animals will probably know that trying to feed and house one doesn't usually work out well. I called a rescue organization located about an hours drive south and west of us. They informed me that it is against the law for me to keep the duckling. Learn something new everyday..... So we took the duckling to them. They said other then him being a bit dehydrated, he was in good shape and would probably do just fine. Ready to be released later in the summer. And they told me that wild and domesticated mallards are 'different'. Second item I learned that day! It was an interesting experience and a long day!

And here's hoping winter is done and spring is here to stay!

Thanks for looking at my pics and offering comment! I really do appreciate all the help or approval I can get.

[bnnrcn]

The last version looks better Sandy BTW if your software allows , you can bring the highlights down a bit selectively in the water as they compete with the ducks a bit. Selective adjustments are very helpful to make better images

[skitterbug]

The last version looks better Sandy BTW if your software allows , you can bring the highlights down a bit selectively in the water as they compete with the ducks a bit. Selective adjustments are very helpful to make better images

Hi Binnur ~ Thank you for your encouragement. I gave your suggestion a try and have it posted below. It changes the dynamics of the pic a bit. See what you think?

[Cantab]

Hi Binnur ~ Thank you for your encouragement. I gave your suggestion a try and have it posted below. It changes the dynamics of the pic a bit. See what you think?

Sandy, I spent some time going back and forth in Lytebox between the two images. If I hadn't known what you'd done, my preference would definitely be for the second/most recent version. However, when comparing the two versions, I wondered whether the darkening of the middle of the three reflections was too much--I was left with the impression that I could see where you'd painted over to reduce (too much?) that reflection. It will be interesting to see what others think. This may be part of your getting used to the Viveza software you used or it may be my being excessively and wrong headedly picky.

[skitterbug]

Sandy, I spent some time going back and forth in Lytebox between the two images. If I hadn't known what you'd done, my preference would definitely be for the second/most recent version. However, when comparing the two versions, I wondered whether the darkening of the middle of the three reflections was too much--I was left with the impression that I could see where you'd painted over to reduce (too much?) that reflection. It will be interesting to see what others think. This may be part of your getting used to the Viveza software you used or it may be my being excessively and wrong headedly picky.

I agree Bruce. I don't think that I did a very good job touching up the photo's light reflection on the water. In fact, after I posted the adjusted photo, I found myself not really happy with it. I like the adjustment I did for lightening the ducks, but I don't like the darkening of the reflection in the next process. If I do anything, I'd go back and not be as heavy handed with the darkening process. But in the end I prefer this one with the light bouncing off the water.

Thanks for your thoughts! It is exactly what I need to challenge my attempts for processing - what works and what doesn't!

[bnnrcn]

Hi Sandy I actually didn't mean to reduce the highlights so much and you are right that the edited image looks different. Also , it is your image and the last decision is always yours

[skitterbug]

Hi Sandy I actually didn't mean to reduce the highlights so much and you are right that the edited image looks different. Also , it is your image and the last decision is always yours

I liked your idea Binnur but I overdid the darkening effect! It is a technique I'm going to have to practice!

I appreciate knowing what you and others think about my pictures. So be sure to make suggestions whenever possible!

[joebranko]

I like the shot of the ducks. If it were mine I would consider cropping some from the top and from the left side. This would affect the context( eliminating the edge of the pond), but it would make the ducks more prominent and the focus of the pic.
just my take on this.
just ignore if you want to keep the context

[skitterbug]

I like the shot of the ducks. If it were mine I would consider cropping some from the top and from the left side. This would affect the context( eliminating the edge of the pond), but it would make the ducks more prominent and the focus of the pic.
just my take on this.
just ignore if you want to keep the context

Hi Joe ~ I understand your suggestion about the crop. I'll play with it here to see what it may look like. My problem though may be that I was pretty distant from the ducks when I captured the scene and if I crop it too close, I may end up losing crispness of the pic? Good suggestion though and I appreciate your prospective! Thank you!

[Cantab]

Hi Joe ~ I understand your suggestion about the crop. I'll play with it here to see what it may look like. My problem though may be that I was pretty distant from the ducks when I captured the scene and if I crop it too close, I may end up losing crispness of the pic? Good suggestion though and I appreciate your prospective! Thank you!

Sandy, whether or not to crop depends partly on what effect you want the image to convey. I like it much as it is. The ducks are clear but are part of a larger environment -- and one also gets the sense that they're "peeking" around the rock. If you cut out a significant part of the environment, you'll have an image where the ducks are physically a larger part of the scene but you may lose some of the effect that you have in the present image. The result of cropping might still be a good image but it could well have a different feel than the existing version.