Saturday 29 October 2016

CCC: Season 3 - Colour Competition 2

Take Off: Wildlife is not really something I have photographed during my first two seasons at the club, so I have started going to the WWT in Arundal. This, I think, is my very best (!) moving shot to date. I find it hard to track - one image in about 200 (lol) is coming in shape-ish. The duck is most definitely sharp - need to work on my background! So..... image overexposed and in need of a good crop.


Take Off: Final. Shadows and highlights adjusted, clarity just increased slightly. Cropped square. Printed on Permajet Titanium Paper.  Like the metallic look to this paper but it does look like I've stuck the duck on!!  


Judges Comments: Suspicious that the duck wasn’t added to the scene (but noted that this was probably quite unfounded). Reasons for suspicions - absolutely pin sharp and no reflection of the bird. The sharpness gave a great 3-D effect, beautifully separated. Enjoyed droplets falling from feet. Score: 9.


Flowers in the Wind: Taken on a very windy day, using my ND filters.  It's not actually the look I was going for but happy with the accidental outcome. Need to increase colours in the image, not in need of a crop this time!


Flowers in the Wind: Final. Shadows, Highlight's, Contrast and clarity all nudged up. Printed on Permajet Oyster Paper


Judges Comment: Noted the long exposure and camera movement, giving a lovely effect but the scene would be best behind something (i.e. something concrete to look at). then he hesitated, decided to hold it. On review he noted soft and gentle effect and the technique was well done. Score:9.

I was away for the showing of these images so the comments were taken by a friend - I'm just a little disappointed not to have been in attendance (haha) for the two 9's in the advance sections - whoop whoop!!!

Monday 17 October 2016

Royal Photographic Society: Membership Card

A very last minute decision to send five images to a RPS competition has resulted in a nice surprise.

Out of 1050 images - I was short listed into the top 20 with this little image ..... you may have seen it before!!





People then voted for their favourite -  the top three getting through to the final. With the president of the RPS choosing the winner.

The outcome - I came joint 4th - just missing out by a few votes - you just never know whats going to happen!! Feeling chuffed!

Saturday 15 October 2016

Birthday Gift

So back in 2009, I made these for the girls. Christmas gifts for the sewing room. I made myself one - which is most unusual, and use it a lot.  With a birthday coming up, I considered it a nice gift to make for our newest member of the QQ.  I always forget that E joined us part way through the journey....I always feel like she has been with us from the start.  I wonder if I could 'recycle' any more patterns from  the early days.... 


So with the hardest choice being what fabrics to choose, the making began.  I must confess there were several 'pattern changes' during the course of the day which had to be corrected - all part of the fun!!  


Pattern taken from Sew, Mama, Sew.....mmmm wonder if that's a franchise of Plate Spinning Mama.....


Wednesday 12 October 2016

CCC: Season 3 - PDI Competition 1

PDI: This season the club has introduced, for the first time an intermediate group.  This is were I start the season. Objective - one ten!

Frozen Flower: A set of nine images - taken using my macro lens - with the idea of focus stacking.  I'm not sure if I really have the hang of this technique yet but willing to experiment some more.  Flower from the garden - frozen.  Taken on top of a light box so bleached a little. A suitable crop will be needed.

  

  

  

Frozen Flower: First draft - stacked in PS (CC), cropped - and then imported into LR for colour adjustment.  I enjoy this image. I liked 'creating' the image.  Freezing the flower will give you a different result each time.  On this, my first time of freezing - I froze three different types of flowers - being careful to label in case D mistook them for his tea!!  This was by far the most successful.  I particularly like the 'crack' just off centre - however I suspect the judge will consider that distracting.  


Frozen Flower: Final - just experimenting one step further - I have added a warm sunset filter to the image using Nik Colour Effect.  I very much like the warmth it has added to the image.  I truly think this is a marmite image. You either like it or don't.


Ps. A tip - when using water in photography - generally tap water does not give great results. Carbonated water is better for bubbles and this - ionised water, gives great 'extra long' bubbles. 

Judges Comments: Interesting and very different, but actually very little to the image. Love the colour palette. Very pleasing image. Bit more clarity required in the centre. Score: 9.5


Emerged: Taken at the NHM Butterfly House, through glass.  I very much like the whole image but the moth/butterfly on the far right just isn't sharp enough to include. So a good crop.


Emerged: Final Draft. Cropped (with a small amount of cloning on left) and clarity turned up a bit. Shadows and highlights slightly adjusted. In looking at this image closely - once again my DoF is way off - it's not sharp all over.  Really need to sort this issue now - have 'invested' in an off camera flash - but on this occasion this wouldn't have helped as taken through glass.


Judges Comments: Beautiful to see. Focus is where is should be  - on the insect and the cocoons. Detail in the image is interesting. Crop works well - although too close on the left and right hand side.  More space would have improved the image. Score: 9.5