2019 Project 52, First Quarter - by Merle (MerleP)

[MerleP]

I have taken and posted a daily photo for now the last 10 years, so will be using this project to hone some skills in post production as well as seeing new things. We don't travel much anymore, so it sometimes is a big challenge to get a new photo every day. I'm looking forward to all the comments and seeing everyone's new work this coming year. Have a great New Year everyone.

[Rufus]

A daily image for 10 years is an impressive foundation to build on, Merle. A weekly image will be a significant challenge for me, but I shall be giving it a shot!

Good luck with your 2019 project!

[skitterbug]

I'm glad you are delving into the 2019 project 52. It will be good to see your images! Enjoy!

[MerleP]

Thanks for the welcome David and Sandy. What a great project and a change for me in posting. Don't expect anything great--I've been under the weather since Christmas and my images are all close to home or at home. I look forward to anything to learn this year and hopefully the weather will cooperate. We've had and unusually mild winter so far--almost all precipitation has been the liquid variety. One thing I must do soon is change that stupid looking Avatar I've been using.

[MerleP]

Finally a nice sunny day to get out. This nearby creek was flowing pretty fast, especially considering how little rain/snow we've had in the past weeks.

[skitterbug]

Hi Merle - looks like you made good use of your sunny day. Ohio still was under gloomy conditions and snow flurries today! <yikes>

I was going to say that your picture looked a little dark but then I clicked Lightbox preview and see that it looks good! I'd also brightened my screen a bit and that helped viewing too. <grin> Well done!

[Rufus]

There are some warm colours in the vegetation; but it still looks like a cold, albeit sunny, day!

[MerleP]

Hi Merle - looks like you made good use of your sunny day. Ohio still was under gloomy conditions and snow flurries today! <yikes>

I was going to say that your picture looked a little dark but then I clicked Lightbox preview and see that it looks good! I'd also brightened my screen a bit and that helped viewing too. <grin> Well done!

Thanks Sandy. Appreciate your views. Yes, some people say my images look a little dark, and I suspect it is my monitor because when I print something that looks good on the monitor it is about a full stop darker looking on the print. I'm going to leave it for the time being.

[MerleP]

There are some warm colours in the vegetation; but it still looks like a cold, albeit sunny, day!

Thanks Rufus for your comment. Actually the temp wasn't too cold--about 12 C. Yes, there are some reds in what we call Red Osier Dogwood showing in the distance. They always have red stems, but later toward spring the red becomes brighter and more intense.

[MerleP]

Week 2
This is simply a piece of decorative paper with some black circular lines and accordion folded in a radial fashion. The weather has been cold and yucky these last few days, so I thought it was a good time to play on the computer. I swirled the piece about the center of the paper decoration, and then applied several different layers of color change--basically to add some bright color to it, since the original image was just black and white.

[Shadowman]

Post #5, sunny day, nicely captured with very rich colors.

[Shadowman]

Post #10, a bit of found art makes for a nice composition.

[Rufus]

Post #10 demonstrates some interesting creative and divergent thinking.

[skitterbug]

I like the colors and swirls. Reminds me of the pinwheels we used to play with when I was a kid. Good idea for a image!

[MerleP]

Thanks for your comment.

[MerleP]

Post #10 demonstrates some interesting creative and divergent thinking.

Thanks David for your comment. We've suddenly started having the worst winter in several years.

[MerleP]

I like the colors and swirls. Reminds me of the pinwheels we used to play with when I was a kid. Good idea for a image!

Thanks Sandy. It does look like an old fashioned pinwheel. Didn't think of that as I was doing it. Just kept changing colors and shapes till I got something pleasing.

[MerleP]

P52 - Week 3
Did some table top shots this week--this one using a small conch shell that I lit with a small LED flashlight. Taken with Samsung NX500. ISO 200, 77 mm. 5sec.

[Cantab]

Yes, some people say my images look a little dark, and I suspect it is my monitor because when I print something that looks good on the monitor it is about a full stop darker looking on the print. I'm going to leave it for the time being.

Merle, I’ve belatedly come across your comment about prints turning out darker than the image occurs on the monitor.

This is a frequent issue. Manfred, one of the moderators, has provided helpful advice about this issue a good number of times on CiC. He does a lot of printing and is very good. One of his recent posts on this issue is post #2 in this thread: Dark Images .

[MerleP]

Merle, I’ve belatedly come across your comment about prints turning out darker than the image occurs on the monitor.

This is a frequent issue. Manfred, one of the moderators, has provided helpful advice about this issue a good number of times on CiC. He does a lot of printing and is very good. One of his recent posts on this issue is post #2 in this thread: Dark Images .

Thanks Bruce. I've found that it also depends on the printer I use. One, an HP9130 is darker than the other. For the 9130 I just lighten my image by a stop and it comes out perfect. For the other on--an all in one photo printer it's about 3/4 of a stop. Thanks for the heads up on Manfred's postl.