Hit and Miss 2020 Project Thread - Skitterbug aka Sandy

[Wavelength]

Lovely bird; liked the image

[skitterbug]

Lovely bird; liked the image

Hi Nandakumar - Thanks for looking and commenting!

[skitterbug]

Great!

Hi Bruce - Thanks for the positive encouragement!

[Geoff F]

Yes, it is only a very minor item but it makes so much difference to the overall scene.

[skitterbug]

Yes, it is only a very minor item but it makes so much difference to the overall scene.

Hi Geoff - I agree! While I was at it, I also removed one or two other little items. Now the focus is on the female flicker! Thanks for your help!

[skitterbug]

I haven't quite decided if I've captured this image as well as I would have liked but in my estimation, I think it turned out decently. It depicts how I was feeling that day (and still am for that matter). Hubby and I have been running to a cancer institute for radiation for skin cancer that developed on hubby's face. Not life threatening necessarily but still a concern. Along with all activities, this light reminded me that all of us have stopped in our tracks because of the pandemic and maybe other problems in our lives as well. Yet behind the stoplight was a tree showing that life will go on even if it is out of focus for now. Fortunately, we've come to the end of the radiation treatment. This was taken through the windscreen because hubby very seldom deviates from his schedule! LOL

Anyway, thoughts are appreciated. Keeper? Scrapper? Fix-er-up-er?

STOP - f/9 - 1/320ss - ISO320

[Geoff F]

I'm not sure about this one. My first thought is that the tree background is actually a distraction. Would this be one of those cases where a 2 x 3 ratio crop might work?

Add some highlight brightness to the lights, except for the red one but keep the background dull?

[Cantab]

Hi Sandy, I think this image works well. It conveys a stark and uncomfortable message. For me that is the dominant message. But, as you note, the out of focus hawthorn (cherry?) tree does perhaps provide a glimmer of hope.

However, with appropriate social conduct, most of us will eventually get past the present threat -- even those of us of a certain age and with underlying health issues.

[Antonio Correia]

I agree partly with Geoff regarding the background.
Perhaps it should be darker than it is making the traffic signal to take a stronger visual effect !

[Wavelength]

You have given a wonderful connection of the situation and the image; i really appreciate that. In that context, it is definitely a keeper!!!

[skitterbug]

I'm not sure about this one. My first thought is that the tree background is actually a distraction. Would this be one of those cases where a 2 x 3 ratio crop might work?

Add some highlight brightness to the lights, except for the red one but keep the background dull?

Hi Geoff - I might blur the tree a bit more - maybe - but my initial thought when I took this image was that even though we are "stopped" we can still see hope beyond the stoplight (in the form of the flowers on the tree). I may play a bit with the 2x3 crop and see what I think.
Thanks for your thoughts! I always appreciate hearing them!

[skitterbug]

Hi Sandy, I think this image works well. It conveys a stark and uncomfortable message. For me that is the dominant message. But, as you note, the out of focus hawthorn (cherry?) tree does perhaps provide a glimmer of hope.

However, with appropriate social conduct, most of us will eventually get past the present threat -- even those of us of a certain age and with underlying health issues.

Hi Bruce - I appreciate that you understand what I was trying to do. I don't generally get so pensive with images, but for some reason this particular image just struck a note with me. And yes, I totally understand about age and health issues. I'm no spring chicken and I do have some issues..... So both hubby and I are being very careful even when we had to go out. He used his mask, had to have his temperature taken, etc. before he was even allowed into the clinic. I stayed put in the vehicle keeping myself occupied with books, knitting and sometimes trying out a photo shot of some poor hapless bird. Those efforts were tossed. <chuckle>

Got to add that we are celebrating our 50 year anniversary tomorrow.... I asked hubby what he'd like to do. He replied, "oh, let's stay home and take it easy for a change." LOL At least we can still laugh!

Thanks for commenting on my photo work!

[skitterbug]

I agree partly with Geoff regarding the background.
Perhaps it should be darker than it is making the traffic signal to take a stronger visual effect !

Thanks Antonio! I will have another go in post processing just to see if darkening, cropping, etc. make a stronger image. I don't want to lose what I was trying to convey though. If I come up with something better, I'll be sure to post it.

[skitterbug]

You have given a wonderful connection of the situation and the image; i really appreciate that. In that context, it is definitely a keeper!!!

Hi Nandakumar - Thank you for your kind words! I don't often become so thoughtful about what a photo I've captured, may portray but as I mentioned earlier, for some reason this one just seemed to suit my mood. And the hope for good times to come, keeps me going!

Everyone - take good care of yourselves!

[Cantab]

Got to add that we are celebrating our 50 year anniversary tomorrow.... I asked hubby what he'd like to do. He replied, "oh, let's stay home and take it easy for a change." LOL At least we can still laugh!

Congratulations to both of you!!

[Wavelength]

Oh, sorry; i missed to say that....Very very Happy wedding anniversary to you two

[skitterbug]

Hi Bruce and Nandakumar - Thank you for the good wishes! It's been an interesting 50 years! <grin> I'll just add this year to the crazy years we've been through and chalk it all up to what life is all about - always changing and always bringing new experiences!

[Geoff F]

One possible option which I did consider was a conversion to monochrome but with the red light still red. However I wasn't sure about whether the yellow of the light would be lost against the similar grey background? Maybe with a bit of colour brightness variation on the yellow channel?

[skitterbug]

One possible option which I did consider was a conversion to monochrome but with the red light still red. However I wasn't sure about whether the yellow of the light would be lost against the similar grey background? Maybe with a bit of colour brightness variation on the yellow channel?

Hi Geoff - I've not done very much in conversions to monochrome. Definitely could be an interesting post process exercise! Thanks for the idea. I still need to play with the crocus image ideas you suggested as well so I have things to do!

[skitterbug]

Took some time today to see if I could put into play the suggestion that Geoff made about reducing the background noise in the crocus pic in post #64.

Pic from #64

Hopefully this one looks a bit better? I have to say that I've been out using the camera but I haven't been motivated to do any post processing. So this is a first effort that I've done in several weeks. I'll appreciate comments of course!

Edited for noise