My Top Ten Photos of 2016 (Long Post...C&C Welcome)

[TheBigE]

Paying a bit of homage to Martin Bailey, I decided to review my work from 2016 and put together my Top Ten Photos from 2016. I was not sure how this exercise would play out, but really wanted to make a solid effort to review those photos that seem to be the best in my mind. I wanted to try and quantify why I like the photo and what could be further improved.

My LR catalog shows that i pushed the shutter button over 7000 times in 2016, seems to be a good year.

Below are my top ten with a little background on each. They are in no particular order, numbers only provided for reference should anyone like to provide C&C, which is most welcome and appreciated.

1.

Background: Rolling fields of Lavendar on the Valensole Plain in Provence. I tried many angles and viewpoints, ultimately settling on lying on the ground in the rows of lavendar.
Why I like: The colors really stand out to me and the rolling hills just add a level of depth and excitment to the photography. The morning light also give a nice compliment to the colors and overall photo.
Improvements: Again, looking around the frame the tree on right adds a bit of tension by being so close to the edge. I tried taking it out but I think it adds balance. Sure a bit of photoshop would clean this up more (already done) but need to keep a focus on the edges. I think I needed to review my settings closer and probably could have gone a stop down in aperture to reduce the iSO a bit.
EXIF: 110 mm at ISO 1000 f/22 at 1/60 Hand Held
Lens: Nikon 70-300mm f/3.5-5.6


2.

Background: Garlic cloves ready to be sold in the street market. Street markets are a great place to shoot - they offer colors, activity and some great street photography opportunities. I found this composition and collection with one of the produce vendors. Going in close and tight to fill the frame with the colors and texture of the garlic.
Why I like: I have always like this photo - the single simple subject yet the compliation of textures, angles and color purple make it work for me.
Improvement: Perhaps a touch higher on ISO and try f/11 where the lens is a bit sharper. Also this photo was under the shade of the vendors tent, a little natural light would have taken this up a notch.
EXIF: 32mm at ISO800 f/8.0 and 1/50s Handheld
Lens: Tamron 18-50mm f/2.8


3.

Background: Milky way over the Valensole Plain. My second night of attempting astrophotography with Mike Shaw. This was a great experience and we played around with many ways of light painting. We had flashes on the left as well as some light painting on the tree directly.
Why I like: Technically I am just amazed how this photo turned out overall. That was a big step to realize how this is done and gain the experience. From a photographic standpoint, I really like how the light from the Milky Way appears to “illuminate” the tree.
Improvements: For me, it is hard to find fault in this photo. I look at it and maybe think - too purple but the colors work and the purple nature of the sky compliment the fields of lavendar.
EXIF: 14mm at ISO 6400 f/4.0 at 30sec on Tripod
Lens: Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5


4.

Background: The lone tree in a field of purple. Standing up on a hill and looking down into the valley we found this lone tree. This was one of the shots that really started me to think about using a long reach lens and to think in terms of "telephoto".
Why I like: I have liked the simplicity of this photo from the beginning, the compliment of the colors and shadow just work for me. Reminds me that times color and shape are all that are needed sometimes to make a great photo.
Improvements: I am not sure there is much to improve in my mind….
EXIF: 300mm at ISO 200 f/11 at 1/200 s
Lens: Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6


5.

Background: Lady in Red. Hanging out in Cassis France (nice seaside village) doing a little street photography was when I saw this lady walking down the street after visiting the local Backery. The red jacket and shoes caught my eye immediately. Following her until she stopped in front of a wall of Art on the Fence.
Why I like: Lets say this is a great example to me of how important the image is vice the image quality. By that I mean the story here in the photo carries me past the fact that I clearly did not nail the focus. As much as I wanted to discard this photo because it was not "Technically" perfect, I just keeep coming back to it and really like it overall. The lady with her red vest and shoes looking at the images on the wall...which is looking back at her. To me it is a great story and image. I cannot just cast it aside because it is not perfectly focused.
Improvements: Compositionally it is great to me, technically needs some improvement. I think mainly nailing the focus and perhaps a different lens. I know some have suggested a 35mm prime for street photography - I have one, but think I would want just a little less FOV even with a crop sensor camera. Maybe the Nifty 50 is the answer.
EXIF: 105mm at ISO 400 f/11 at 1/125s -1 EV Handheld
Lens: Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6


6.

Background: Lennon says Carpe Diem. This was taken at the Lennon Wall in Prague. The wall itself is full of color and quotes but this one really stuck out to me. Simple and says so much about life.
Why I like: I have always like this statement and sentiment on life. I saw this white words on the Lennon wall and knew it needed to be caputred. I have envisioned a DOF wide enough to capture the words and then slowly blend out afterwards. Shotting from the side to give it depth overall was also done
Improvements: Again, need to nail the focus across the range. It is not sharp enough across the main subject.
EXIF: 40mm at ISO 400 f/4 at 1/160s Handheld
Lens: Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8


7.

Description: Library of Celsius at Ephesus. I captured the standard photo of this grand library, but I wanted to find something closer and showing more detail. Walking around I found this angle and thinkg it shows some of the great detail and work from this era.
Why I like: First this photo just shows the capabilities of the Roman Empire, the details and the intricate design of the building are amazing. I pushed in in PP just a little harder than I woull normally and I think it helps bring out some of the detail and strength of this composition.
Improvements: I ended up cropping this a bit from my original photo, basically removing some of the blue sky that did not add much to the composition. For me that means I could have stayed tighter on the structure and included more at the original capture.
EXIF: 34mm at ISO200 f/16 1/250s -1 EV Handheld
Lens: Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6


8.

Description: Sun sets over the sea at Old Town in Dubronik Croatia. Late fall in 2016 we visited Dubronik and as we were walking out of the old town the sun was setting and I saw this opportunity for a great silouette.
Why I like: I really like the individual sillouette of the person in the window, it gives a great perspective on the entire scene.
Improvements: Perhaps a bit more color and recoginition in the flag that is flying atop the building, but overall this is one of my favorites and hangs on my wall.
EXIF: 38mm f/16 1/250s ISO200
Lens: Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6


9.

Description: Walking down the stairs in old town Dubronik I saw this great compositio of The Church of St Ignatius. The church belfry houses the oldest bell in Dubrovnik, cast in 1355 by Viventius and his son Viator.
Why I like: For me it is the geometry of the image that works - the curved railing acts as a leading line up the stairs and the church itself forms a “loose” triangle.
Improvements: Light, Light LIght - this would be a great spot with a bit of early morning light. As it was here, it was in the evening during the golden hours and the building was in shade. It works, but a little natural sunlight in the morning vice shade would change the mood.
EXIF: 16mm at ISO 1600 f/11 1/400s -1 EV Handheld
Lens: Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6


10.

Description: The Heidelberg Thingstätte is an open-air theater that was built as a multi-disciplinary outdoor theatre which enjoyed brief popularity in pre-war Nazi Germany. Today it makes for a nice hike and place to visit when in Heidelberg.
Why I like: I played around with many different composition, but in the end went up a bit high and in tight to focus on the stairs and colors. This alone for me works in terms of lines, patterns and color. I am sure for others without context of entire scene it is hard to see how this fits in overall.
Improvements: Maybe a touch less PP and bring down the greens a bit and some patience to wait for some activity on the stairs. (Full Disclosure it was beginning to rain as I took this photo)
EXIF: 85mm ISO800 F/8 1/100s
Lens: Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6



Well if you have made it this far - thanks for following along and all C&C is very much appreciated. For me this was a valuable exercise and really helped me understand some areas that require focus in 2017.

And finally Thanks to everyone here on Cambridge in Colour for their insight, feedback and help over 2016. It is truly a great community and I look forward to continuing this journey in 2017.

Erik

[Kaye Leggett]

A lovely set and a very interesting exercise.......

[LePetomane]

Erik, Thank you for these beautiful photographs and narratives.

[madcrow]

Awesome series, ones to be proud of and I can see why you picked them. Great composition, Execution, imagination, creativity.

[leprechaun]

Great photos Erik. I just winder what the other 6990 photos are like.
Really appreciate it when one gives the shooting data and lens used, I find this really helpful.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Wavelength]

Very nice images... i like the diverse subjects

[TheBigE]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I will say this was a very valuable, yet tiring, exercise to conduct.

I am looking forward to the results of 2017 Top Ten Photos and hoping to see some growth over the year.

[johnlarsen]

~

10.

Description: The Heidelberg Thingstätte is an open-air theater that was built as a multi-disciplinary outdoor theatre which enjoyed brief popularity in pre-war Nazi Germany. Today it makes for a nice hike and place to visit when in Heidelberg.
Why I like: I played around with many different composition, but in the end went up a bit high and in tight to focus on the stairs and colors. This alone for me works in terms of lines, patterns and color. I am sure for others without context of entire scene it is hard to see how this fits in overall.
Improvements: Maybe a touch less PP and bring down the greens a bit and some patience to wait for some activity on the stairs. (Full Disclosure it was beginning to rain as I took this photo)
EXIF: 85mm ISO800 F/8 1/100s
Lens: Nikon 16-85mm f3.5-5.6
~

Looks fine to me, totally 'naked'.
Could be interesting though, to see a landscape version with the stairway slightly off center and plenty of seating compared to steps. If possible?


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[johnlarsen]

Also like your #1 with lavendar field. If possible I personally would raise the top to get more blue sky and to avoid top cutting the right hand tree.


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[Dave Humphries]

Hi Erik,

I must confess that I held this tab open for several days until I knew I had enough time to read it properly (i.e. not rushed), I'm glad I didn't just skip it (due to length).

You have taken many steps to really build your photography in 2016 - well done.

I enjoyed the retrospective analysis of the images, one point I'd add would be to deal with the dust bunny(ies) in the fort shot = #8.

Looking forward to seeing your 2017 posts.

Happy New Year (if not too late), Dave

[TheBigE]

Hi Erik,

I must confess that I held this tab open for several days until I knew I had enough time to read it properly (i.e. not rushed), I'm glad I didn't just skip it (due to length).

You have taken many steps to really build your photography in 2016 - well done.

I enjoyed the retrospective analysis of the images, one point I'd add would be to deal with the dust bunny(ies) in the fort shot = #8.

Looking forward to seeing your 2017 posts.

Happy New Year (if not too late), Dave

Thanks Dave for the feedback and taking time to read through the post. It took me some time to put together, but it was a very good exercise for me and hope to share the results. I am glad you enujoyed the analysis and retrospective.

Thanks for all your help in 2016 and I wish you and your family a Happy and Prosperous 2017.

[TheBigE]

Thanks Dave for the feedback and taking time to read through the post. It took me some time to put together, but it was a very good exercise for me and hope to share the results. I am glad you enujoyed the analysis and retrospective.

Thanks for all your help in 2016 and I wish you and your family a Happy and Prosperous 2017.

PS...I will try and clean my sensor again.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set Erik, congrats

[Dave Humphries]

PS...I will try and clean my sensor again.

Yeah, me too, I know there's one spot that didn't budge when I blew it out, so I really ought to deal with it properly, but I'm suffering "first time nerves" for the next step up the sensor cleaning ladder - sure you know the feeling

thing is, I don't often shoot at an aperture and subject combination where it bothers me or is even visible.