I got a "First Place" grading in the CCC photo comp!

Chaps

Well chuffed. One of my images "Flower Meadow in Italian Dolomites" won a "First Place" grading by an East Anglian Panel Judge (not from our Club)! There were 95 images and 5 got such a grading. My other image "Cambridge Punt" was not selected for grading, but very pleased nonetheless! Has whetted my appetite for future competitions and intra club competitions too.

Got a certificate to prove it too...

I'll post the full image later (when I have a copy to hand). I have a new laptop from work (and excellent 8Mb wireless broadband, btw) and not all my images are on there yet.

Cheers

Ivan

First Competition Entry

Chaps

Below, I have posted two images. These are the ones I have selected for the first internal photo competition next week (18th) at the camera club. I have submitted them via email (as tonight is the deadline) since I can't make the camera club - tonight, we're out celebrating our anniversary.

There's no category for the entry; just two images I want to be discussed on club night. Your thoughts - if anyone is out there - are always welcome.

Cheers

Ivan

One Image, Two Interpretations (re-posted Blog entry)

Note: I have reposted this, as we had a spam comment on the last entry, so I deleted it.

OK Chaps. Here’s the next Blog Assignment. Basically, we each post an image, unadulterated by any form of digital manipulation, straight from the camera. This should be the full uncompressed file.Then, we each take said file away, and do something to it. Interpretation is anything you want, literally. We each have to then present the manipulated image, and just describe what and why you did what you did. I don’t propose to stipulate any precise categories that we need to stick to: just make sure to describe your vision for the image, why you decided to do this, and then tell us how you did it. You can try as many different things are you want, but you must only submit one manipulated image back to the blog.

The person submitting the image can’t manipulate his own during the competition, but scores the other two’s interpretations via the following categories.

Creative Intent: how much did you like the vision that was created for your image?I

mpact: Like our normal category, how did the manipulated image work for you, compared to how the image started?

Delivery: How well was the Creative Intent put into practice? If the Creative Intent and Impact are high, this should be a good score too. However, the intent could be good, but the delivery poor, and so this will reflect that.

Technical skill: How well was the delivery actually done in terms of digital manipulation. For example, delivery could be good, but some specific aspect could have been better, so this can be the place to describe.

Overall: Average of the above, with your closing comments.All scores out of 10, as usual.After the two interpretations are back in, the submitter can then post his interpretation of his own image, which can be scored by the other two if desired, but it is not necessary.The other two entrants (Grant and Damian) each submit one photo as above for scoring by the other two as above.At the end, we compare all our score averages.Let me know what you think, and if you have any additional comments on the proposed format.

My initial image is from a 2003 trip to the USA. It’s of Mono Lake, California. The image has potential, I feel, so over to you chaps.

Sable Island at sunset

What is the photo of; Where was the photo taken

Sunset on South Beach, Sable Island

When was the photo taken

8 Jan 2006 16:45

Why was the photo taken

Another incredible sunset on Sable Island. The clouds and the light reflecting in the water caught my eye

Why was this composition chosen

I wanted to get the most from the light reflecting in the water on the beach. I used that stretch of water as the focal point and to guide the eye into the photo. The clouds were stunning so I included more sky than I normally would. The clouds also appear to lead the eye further into the photo.

How was the photo taken

1/40 sec at f5; ISO 100; Focal length 22mm; used IS on the lens to reduce camera blur; shot in RAW

How was the photo processed

Simple processing. Much of it was done in Camera RAW (levles, curves, saturation) and the same were tweaked in PS. Some cropping to remove a little of the sky and some of the beach to the right. I included twice as much sky as beach to get a nice balance. Finally sharpened.













Sable Island at sunset


Damian

Portrait Assignment: the scores so far

Here are the average scores for the three portrait entries for Ivan and myself, scored by only Ivan and myself. I have not included Grant because he has not completed the assignment yet and hasn't scored all of the entries. So Grant, it is all up to you....

Ivan

Impact - 7.7
Composition - 7.5
Light/Colour - 8.0
Technical skill - 7.8
Originality - 7.7

Overall Score - 7.7

Damian

Impact - 7.0
Composition - 6.8
Light/Colour - 7.3
Technical skill - 7.0
Originality - 7.0

Overall score - 6.7

So, Dr Lidgard is behind the Critical Eye by one whole point and scores consistently lower in all of the rankings. Ivan' scores are fairly consistent among the rankings with light and colour holding the highest score. Mr Lidgard shows more variation amongst his scores suggesting room for improvement.

Dr Lidgard

Final Portait Entry

Final one from me.

What is the photo of - Kate and I

When was the photo taken - Christmas 2004

Where was the photo taken - Our (then) living room

Why was the photo taken - wanted to try to produce an intimate shot, with a studio feel

Why was this composition chosen - wanted something close-in and with a warm personal feel

How was the photo taken - taken at arms-length, settings not sure

How was the photo processed - original image was converted to black and white. Selected a black from my hair (eyedropper tool) and painted in a black background that we could merge into. Dodged the highlights (eyes, shirt) and Burned the mid and shadow tones, to get a more dynamic black and white image. Both original and final are shown to allow assessment.

Original Image

Manipulated Image

What you should NEVER do with Photoshop...

Chaps

I came across this montage image while doing some other clean-up work of my overly-full C:drive. I took the picture of the (famous) painting in Chicago, and I put myself in it, watery reflections on the cobbled stones and all. I tried to make myself look a bit oil-painterly, using a filter in Photoshop, and resized and toned to fit in. Clearly, it needs to be more oil-painterly, but I am quite pleased with the reflection work. This was done by copying and pasting another version of me (cut out from another image), rotating it to lie in the right orientation, darkening down with levels, then using the blur and smudge brushes, bending the reflection to follow the contours of the cobbles. Finally, I lowered the opacity and, using a mask, subtly made the reflection fade out naturally. Interesting to get your comments...
Ivan

Panoramic photography gone Mental! In"Seine", one may say...

A panoramic shot from Kate and I's recent trip to Paris. It's about 8 images stiched together. The lack of a tripod, and my poor technique, has meant that the effect isn't perfect, but I am quite pleased with it's overall look. I can't really get it any better, due to the technical limitations of the source files, but with more care, it could have been great. I put it up here just for interest.

April (!) Portrait Competition Entry

What is the photo of - Maddy (3), daughter of our friends Pauline and Guy.

When was the photo taken - A couple of months ago.

Where was the photo taken - Cafe, Cambridge Botanical Gardens.

Why was the photo taken - I wanted to capture her enjoying the chocolate ice-cream.

Why was this composition chosen - I wanted to get close-in, to avoid distractions. I wanted her face, covered in chocolate, to be the main interest, but to be sure to get the cone in the picture, so the context was clear.

How was the photo taken - Canon 350D, EF-S 17-85 lens, ISO 100, 1/50sec. Focal length unknown (likely 17mm).

How was the photo processed - Basic levels, curves, colour saturation, cropping and unsharp masking.

My lovely new lens...

...has arrived, and the first decent pic I have taken (last evening, between massive thunderstorms) is here. It may not be apparent, but other shots I have taken here, with the 28-135mm lens does not allow for such a good amount of foreground while also including a good amount of background and sky in the same image. Also, nice sharp detail from very close to the distance. Will need to get used to it, but I'm sure it's a winner. The low res picture below does not show the great image quality with the lens.

The shot is from down in the local nature reserve, at the end of our street, by the River Cam.

Ivan

Guidelines for colour management

Hello there,

Just came across this site which aims to "...clarify issues affecting accurate reproduction and management of digital image files". Thought it would be worth checking out. http://www.updig.org/guidelines/index.html.

Damian

Grant, this is the DSLR for you...

Grant
If ever you were thinking of taking the DSLR plunge, this is the time, and price, to do it. You can get the 350D and lens for under £500 delivered. There's also the Nikon D50 for under £500, or the Nikon D70 for under £600, but both of these are only 6MP, compared to the 8MP of the 350D.
Now's the time...
Cheers
Ivan

Camera Club thoughts

Hi both

With baby coming, my photography will "go dark", as Keifer would say in "24", for a while. However, it's important that it doesn't die. So, I've decided to join the Cambridge Camera Club, who meet every Monday evening, just up the road from me. This will put me amongst, and up against, top quality amateurs (like yourselves), and the regular slot will mean I get out and do some non-baby stuff, as well as develop (if you'll pardon the pun) my photography further. They have photo competitions, guest speakers etc, so hopefully it'll be good fun.

I'll update you after I start, which hopefully will be in September sometime.

Ivan

My new lens is coming...

Chaps
Very excited - my new Canon EF-S 10-22mm lens is coming! I've long wanted a proper wide-angle lens, and this EF-S lens is the ideal balance of Canon quality and affordability. Got it for £399.99 (compared to the £550-600 from high street retailers and UK websites) from OneStop-Digital, from Hong Kong. It's en route now.

The "S" means it's been developed for reduced AP-S size sensors in DSLRs, hence the 10-22, which, when multiplied by the 1.6x (due to the smaller AP-S sensor) comes in at 16-35 in 35mm format. It's not Image Stabilised (like the 17-85 Damo and I both have), but, as a proper wide angle for landscapes, one should really be using a tripod anyway...
Will update and post when it arrives.

Ivan

One for Damian

Damian

This is another interesting article about being an artist in business. It may provide some useful tips for your photography business.

Ivan

Portrait Assignment 3 - Portrait of Joseph

This is my third and final posting for the Portrait assigmnent.

What is the photo of -My nephew Joseph.

When was the photo taken - 25 May 2006 at noon

Where was the photo taken - In the house; Brighton

Why was the photo taken - I had my camera out shooting stuff and he looked right at me, quite close to the camera, in a different sort of way.

Why was this composition chosen - Joseph sort of created the composition since he tilted his head and stared at the camera and was quite close to it. I just waited for the right moment when everything looked good. I liked the way he looked at me, since it was different; the tilt of the head, the stare at the camera. I moved in closer to him and really focused my attention on those melting eyes. He looks quite puppy'ish.

How was the photo taken - 1/60 at f5.6; RAW; focal length 85mm; ISO 100; flash

How was the photo processed - I will get few points here since the very basics were done. Exposure, white balance, curves, saturation were done in Camera RAW. Slight adjustments to these settings were made in PS. And that is it. There is an odd shadow in the lower right of the image. I tried to crop the image to remove it but it really changed the overall composition of the photo; the focus moves away from the eyes when cropped. So I decided to leave it in and hope it is not too distracting.

Morning light

What is the photo of - The bathroom tap and sink in morning sunlight

When was the photo taken - Just the other day, in the morning at around 9'ish I suppose

Where was the photo taken - In my bathroom

Why was the photo taken - I was sat on the toilet (!) and I saw this amazing light come into the bathroom and create this wonderful sight

Why was this composition chosen - I sat there thinking hard about what it was that really struck me. I realised that it wasn't the whole tap but only part of it, and that the real focus was the silhouette of the tap on the white basin. So I moved in real close.

How was the photo taken - f320 at f11. ISO 200. JPEG. 85mm focal length

How was the photo processed - Pretty basic adjustments. Just adjusted the levels and I think I added some sharpening but that is about it.

So I just wanted to share this with you. I really like the photo.


Morning light

Miksang photography

Hi there,

I have recently taken a photographic course called 'Miksang'. Miksang is Tibetan for 'good eye' and the art was introduced by a Buddhist teacher that learnt several art forms including poetry and photography.

The idea is that one enters the world and awaits 'flashes of perception' that reveal the true nature of things. These perceptions are then caught on camera for others to experience. So, normally, when one walks down a road and sees a car or bus or person, your mind immediately labels them as a car, a bus, a person, and then goes on to judge them: I like the car, I don't care about the bus, I don't like the person. In Miksang, one stops the mind from labelling and judging images and simply allows one to see them as they are: for their colour, texture and for the light falling.

So, as one walks down a road, the sight of bright yellow with hues of blue catches your eye: it is the reflection on the side of a yellow car but you train your mind to only see the colours. One then stops and connects with this image that stopped you. You ask yourself what is it that actually stopped me? Was it only the yellow and the reflected blue or was it also the top part of the wheel, the side of the door. Once you have discerned the image, worked out what actually stopped you, you can see the composition in your mind. You then, at the last stage of the process, raise the camera and take the photo. In Miksang, photography is only 10% of the 'art'.

I have four images below that sort of gives you an idea as to what I mean. Comments on this style of photography are welcome but the photos are just examples and are not there to be rated. If you are interested, the website is www.miksang.net

Damian


The yellow and green contrast 'stopped me ' as I walked past this restaurant in Halifax.











The red colour of this discarded sweet against the grey stone caught my attention.

















I walked past a small car park and at the end was an old mattress with these blankets thrown on them. The image immediately held me there for a while. As I walked up I worked out what actually stopped me, framed the image in my mind and then took the photo. It was the combination of the colour, the texture of the blankets and the light falling on the mattress that stopped me.




I walked into a cafe and at the very end was this woman looking at the monitor. Again, this 'perception' stopped me completely. The blue dress, the drab wall colour, the monitors staring out, and the light. Oh, and her hand making the connection with the computer.

GRANT - WHERE ARE YOU????

Snapshot or Art?

An interesting article regarding snapshots versus art from the Luminous Landscape. I put these things on here, but no one ever comments.....sigh.

Ivan