Stick yer tongue out

[carregwen]

Both shot with Canon 50D, Sigma 105mm macro, 31mm extension tube, and single studio flash light. Six manually focussed exposures each - stacked in Helicon Focus.

C&C welcome

[Donald]

I can only admire the knowledge and skill that makes such images.

I find the stalk of the plant creeping in bottom right on the first one a bit of distraction. But, hey, let's not get nit-picky here!

In terms of personal preference (because distinctions can't, I suggest, be made on the basis of technical or artistic ability and application) the second appeals to me greatly. I think it's the simplicity of colour. The first is more 'complicated' and makes me work harder, whereas, I can just sit back and stare at the second ... and enjoy.

[Clactonian]

I find the stalk of the plant creeping in bottom right on the first one a bit of distraction.

The cloning tutorial is next month Donald.
It does 'T' you off when Rob keeps posting these great shots though doesn't it?

[carregwen]

I can only admire the knowledge and skill that makes such images.

I admit that you need a bit of kit to do these - macro lens, tubes, tripod etc, and some lighting, but the actual shots are pretty easy to do. You just need to take care doing the shots as they are manually focussed. I shoot them in RAW, then select them all in RAW edit and after making the changes on one, I synchronize them all and save them. They are then loaded into Helicon, which does everything else in terms of blending them. Final sharpen and selective levels in PS and they are cooked!

[Katy Noelle]

I can only admire the knowledge and skill that makes such images.

I find the stalk of the plant creeping in bottom right on the first one a bit of distraction. But, hey, let's not get nit-picky here!

In terms of personal preference (because distinctions can't, I suggest, be made on the basis of technical or artistic ability and application) the second appeals to me greatly. I think it's the simplicity of colour. The first is more 'complicated' and makes me work harder, whereas, I can just sit back and stare at the second ... and enjoy.

I agree (and it's not just because I'm a member of the Scotsman's fan club ) and I wanted to ask about that. It seems like the petals in the first one are blurry but, then, it seems like they're not. What am I seeing? Is the pattern on the petal just soft? Also, maybe, is the light softer in the second. (For clarity's sake, these are straight forward questions.) Oh, and one more, are these from your wife's indoor garden?

I did some orchids in October and I was just thinking that I would post them up and see what you all thought of them. Rob, you beat me to it!

[carregwen]

I agree (and it's not just because I'm a member of the Scotsman's fan club )

This forum is going to the dogs! Have you seen what Captain Clacton has on his signature? https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/fo...bers/m5575.htm I blame Thatcher, I blame drugs, I blame cheap booze in supermarkets, I blame the war (which war?), I blame everyone... mutter, mutter...

I did some orchids in October and I was just thinking that I would post them up and see what you all thought of them. Rob, you beat me to it!

Why not post them here, Katy? I'm feeling better now after that rant....

[wilgk]

This forum is going to the dogs! Have you seen what Captain Clacton has on his signature? https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/fo...bers/m5575.htm I blame Thatcher, I blame drugs, I blame cheap booze in supermarkets, I blame the war (which war?), I blame everyone... mutter, mutter...

You're just grumpy cos Captain Clacton is set to rival the Scotsman in attracting a bevy of beauties as fans.... We've just accepted Elise's membership fee to join us

[Donald]

Have you seen what Captain Clacton has on his signature?

Poor new members are just going to get confused and start asking where the wine appreciation society section is on the site.

...cos Captain Clacton is set to rival the Scotsman in attracting a bevy of beauties as fans

As if there could be any serious competition! "Harem, gather round!"

[wilgk]

As if there could be any serious competition! "Harem, gather round!"

We never left.....
although Wendy got lost in the fog for a bit, and Raylee was momentarily distracted by the lures of Steve's music appreciation department , but I think you're safe....

[carregwen]

We never left.....

Quite true, but you are 13,000 miles away! Perhaps this will help...Harem Homes

[carregwen]

Quite true, but you are 13,000 miles away! Perhaps this will help...Harem Homes

No, this one is much more specific... http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...46005&t=h&z=15

[Donald]

Now, that's fascinating. I didn't know the one flagged 'A' was up for sale. If you look at the image I put into the 'Any Snow' Thread, that's it first on the right.

You'd be able to look out of your window, lovingly, across the road to me!

ps - Rob - Are you sure that's not old info? The prices seem low.

[carregwen]

Now, that's fascinating. I didn't know the one flagged 'A' was up for sale.

Donald

If you look on the left of the map it lists the properties for sale, including this one. You can get all the details from there. You can also do it by clicking on 'A' on the map then clicking on the house image in the pop-up window.

You'd be able to look out of your window, lovingly, across the road to me!

Ach mein gott! I couldn't live there!! I'd be kept awake all night by the sound of wild partying across the street. I can see it now... me sitting mournfully by a freezing window, a dram or two of Talisker in hand, ruminating on what have been if I too had a harem.

Life can be so cruel.

[Katy Noelle]

This forum is going to the dogs! Have you seen what Captain Clacton has on his signature? https://www.cambridgeincolour.com/fo...bers/m5575.htm I blame Thatcher, I blame drugs, I blame cheap booze in supermarkets, I blame the war (which war?), I blame everyone... mutter, mutter...

Donald

Ach mein gott! I couldn't live there!! I'd be kept awake all night by the sound of wild partying across the street. I can see it now... me sitting mournfully by a freezing window, a dram or two of Talisker in hand, ruminating on what have been if I too had a harem.

Life can be so cruel.

That's right, Rob! Let it all out! Just think, if you had a harem, you could be carried on a litter as well as all your lenses, etc. You'd never have to walk to a location again. You'd have miles of garden flowers to photograph, too. But, you'd have to be smooth and drink wine - no beer!

Why not post them here, Katy? I'm feeling better now after that rant....

Why, thanks! (Never mind all that stuff I said before.) I'll just go get one or two...

[Clactonian]

Didn't I warn you all that a rant was coming!!
At least I won my personal bet as to who would spot the signature.

[carregwen]

Didn't I warn you all that a rant was coming!!

Well you didn't warn me! Or was this a PM thing? The cabal of the haremees?

[Donald]

Ach mein gott! I couldn't live there!! I'd be kept awake all night by the sound of wild partying across the street.

Warlocks and witches in a dance:
Nae cotillon, brent new frae France,
But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels,
Put life and mettle in their heels.
A winnock-bunker in the east,
There sat auld Nick, in shape o' beast;
A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large,
To gie them music was his charge:
He screw'd the pipes and gart them skirl,
Till roof and rafters a' did dirl. -
Coffins stood round, like open presses,
That shaw'd the Dead in their last dresses;
And (by some devilish cantraip sleight)
Each in its cauld hand held a light.
By which heroic Tam was able
To note upon the haly table,
A murderer's banes, in gibbet-airns;
Twa span-lang, wee, unchristened bairns;
A thief, new-cutted frae a rape,
Wi' his last gasp his gabudid gape;
Five tomahawks, wi' blude red-rusted:
Five scimitars, wi' murder crusted;
A garter which a babe had strangled:
A knife, a father's throat had mangled.
Whom his ain son of life bereft,
The grey-hairs yet stack to the heft;
Wi' mair of horrible and awfu',
Which even to name wad be unlawfu'.
Three lawyers tongues, turned inside oot,
Wi' lies, seamed like a beggars clout,
Three priests hearts, rotten, black as muck,
Lay stinkin, vile in every neuk.

As Tammie glowr'd, amaz'd, and curious,
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious;
The Piper loud and louder blew,
The dancers quick and quicker flew,
The reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit,
Till ilka carlin swat and reekit,
And coost her duddies to the wark,
And linkit at it in her sark!

[Katy Noelle]

May I share one or two or three or.... I've got a hundred of these pics "back at home".

#1

AV priority 55mm shutter 1/2 f16 ISO100 spot metering

Should I have, somehow, lit the center a bit? I wanted to focus on the glowing bits. The bottom is cut off so that there's no background. Is that just wrong?

#2

AV 1/2 f16 55mm ISO100 spot metering

#3

AV 1/5 Ev.33 f7.1 55mm ISO100 spot metering


I am thinking that #2 above would be "better" but I really like #3 best. Why, I wonder? The negative space on the left or is it just the aperture? (I tried it with the other crop and didn't like it as well.)

#4

AV 55mm 0.4 f9 ISO100 spot

Is the one above too simple?

And, then, finally, I really had a lot to work with. They're subtle flowers but look at all of the color that is in them. I never touched the saturation or tints. I only tweaked the low, mid and high tones to bring these colors out.

#5

AV 39mm 0.4 f11 ISO100 spot metering

Are they all boring? Are they pretty or interesting? I really struggled between striking a balance between how soft and subtle they are in real life and making them "ping" in the photo more. There was so much in this flower to "work" with - I kind of didn't know what to do.

In conclusion, I've fiddled with these for over a month and can't decide what to think of or do with them.

[Katy Noelle]

Warlocks and witches in a dance:
Nae cotillon, brent new frae France,
But hornpipes, jigs, strathspeys, and reels,
Put life and mettle in their heels.
A winnock-bunker in the east,
There sat auld Nick, in shape o' beast;
A towzie tyke, black, grim, and large,
To gie them music was his charge:
He screw'd the pipes and gart them skirl,
Till roof and rafters a' did dirl. -
Coffins stood round, like open presses,
That shaw'd the Dead in their last dresses;
And (by some devilish cantraip sleight)
Each in its cauld hand held a light.
By which heroic Tam was able
To note upon the haly table,
A murderer's banes, in gibbet-airns;
Twa span-lang, wee, unchristened bairns;
A thief, new-cutted frae a rape,
Wi' his last gasp his gabudid gape;
Five tomahawks, wi' blude red-rusted:
Five scimitars, wi' murder crusted;
A garter which a babe had strangled:
A knife, a father's throat had mangled.
Whom his ain son of life bereft,
The grey-hairs yet stack to the heft;
Wi' mair of horrible and awfu',
Which even to name wad be unlawfu'.
Three lawyers tongues, turned inside oot,
Wi' lies, seamed like a beggars clout,
Three priests hearts, rotten, black as muck,
Lay stinkin, vile in every neuk.

As Tammie glowr'd, amaz'd, and curious,
The mirth and fun grew fast and furious;
The Piper loud and louder blew,
The dancers quick and quicker flew,
The reel'd, they set, they cross'd, they cleekit,
Till ilka carlin swat and reekit,
And coost her duddies to the wark,
And linkit at it in her sark!

Well, that's intense!

[Donald]

Robert Burns - 'Tam O' Shanter'

For more info go here and here (the Tom Fleming reading is my favourite)