POTW 7/18/2010

<p>You'd love the climate here Justin. It's been really hot lately which means upper 80's. I've seen it hit 90 maybe two or three times in 20 years. Today is "hot and humid"; currently 82 F and 24% relative. Of course it hits -30 more frequently than 90 so there are trade-offs but as someone who hates being too hot I can live with them! Liking snow sports also helps.</p>

<p>I definitely would Matt. Everything is a tradeoff though. The closest ocean in Colorado is more than a days drive, and there is very limited flatwater tripping options. I do like Colorado though. Durango, or one of the Front Range cities like Fort Collins, Monument, etc would be a nice place to spend a year or two.</p>

<p>The flip side is here I can paddle for days or weeks without getting overly creative, and I can be at the beach surfing in a few hours. Those two things make summers here almost too short.</p>

<p>If I ever find the perfect place, I'll send word after I am settled in ;-) !</p>

<p>Wow...This week has been a blessing with all the wonderful images...My favs as follows.</p>

<p>Markus. Love the first and the PP is spot on for that type of portrait.</p>

<p>Craig...Simply a beautiful image. I love the pleasantness of it all.</p>

<p>Haig...I wish I new why I liked your first image a whole bunch. My guess is because I do not have an eye for this..Well done!</p>

<p>David Nunn...Love the first. I am sure that fellow has come out in far too many pics that he has that annoyed look permanently implanted...Well captured!</p>

<p>Robert C...Your first, may very well be my fav of the week. Simply well done and errie.</p>

<p>Hin...lOVE number 4 and I have to agree..That DA15 is amazing. I need to start using mine more.</p>

<p>Dave...That broken windshield is a fantastic abstract...One of the best of the thread.</p>

<p>Bruce M...That is one of the best air show images I have seen a very long while..Well done!</p>

<p>Peter Z...Love the second one...and that hat really adds to the photo.</p>

<p><strong>Well done folks!</strong></p>

<p>Javier, coming from you (our resident people shooter), that's high praise. I've added a Photo booth to my wedding package and had a box of oddball hats in the van to spice up the photos. They were a fun couple to work with.<br /> Justin in all honesty, there's very little PP in that shot. The light was perfect. Even though the sky above them is clear, behind me the sun was slightly diffused with some thin cloud. The only thing I did was soften the image (clarity in LR3), a touch of fill in the sky (+0.25 Ev) and add some vignette. No colour corrections or other adjustments. As you can see from the original, the DA*16-50mm does vignette when shot near wide open (DR on ISO200, K20D, 1/4000, f3.5) in very bright light.</p>

<p>Some favourite images this week, there's just too much good stuff from each person to comment on all the images:<br /> Justin, don't ask me why but the send shot is great. There's something very "ET" about it. The background is perfect.</p>

<p>Markus, the first is well shot and edited. Love the poses of the kids and their very different expressions. Dad suits the image perfectly. Well done.</p>

<p>Howard, fun series and a good ending shot.</p>

<p>Javier, a flower shot from you? Wow, I guess there's a first for everything. Nicely done though. I like the outside the store shot the best. It's got a 'grunge' look I like.</p>

<p>Craig, well done. One of the few cases where power transmission towers actually add to an image.</p>

<p>Micheal, the lagoon shot is one of my favourites this week. As a sailor, I never liked Herreshoff design boats to sail but loved the "old world" look of them. It suits this scene so nicely and makes the image work so well.</p>

<p>Haig, #1 is a well executed classic.</p>

<p>David N, I'm with Javier on this one. It's great that he's alone with his stuff to sell.</p>

<p>Robert, the first 2 are great but I love the leaf. Well seen and shot.</p>

<p>Jordan, Not too bad. My only comment is that her hair blends into the background and lack definition as a result. Also (hope do I say this politely??) has she had some "work" done? I see 2 defined creases (scars?) that are a real distraction. Those need to be blended. Shoot me, I'm male and would look there. :)</p>

<p>Hin, I like the series and for some reason, I'm drawn to the last one (4th). It has a washed out look I quite like, maybe a bit od shadow recovery in PP? I like it though.</p>

<p>Bruce M. I love the look of the first shot. Nice job isolating the subject and making us think, what is this?</p>

<p>Dave, I agree with Javier as well on the windshield. Nicely done.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Here are a few from the Bar U Ranch National Historical Site near Longview, Alberta. I thought I was going to a World Photowalk event but got the dates mixed up.... oops. The silver lining is that there weren't 49 other photogs tripping all over each other and I could take my time. Still learning to look more carefully before snapping the shutter. This weekend I'll go back with a 645 loaded with Velvia and slow down even more.</p><div></div>

<p>A second one from the Bar U</p><div></div>

<p>Last pic....</p><div></div>

<p>Lots of great photos this week; I just can't pick a few.<br>

Justin: a nice view and example of the 21mm from the Presidential Range; District 30 -- haven't a clue, a clever shot though.<br>

Howard: clever montage, how were you sure they would line up and not waste your time? Duck wrangler?<br>

Markus: nice historical shots, including vignetting, although the participants are not taking this all too seriously; I can see why you like your Takumar 85mm .<br>

Javier: whats not to like about that flower shot -- not something I would see around here.<br>

Michael: the starfish and reflection are striking.<br>

Haig: #2 is surreal, I know it is on a street …. but; #3 simply lovely.<br>

David N: the Great Wall and Forbidden City are very nice, how lucky you were to get these shots without hordes of tourists.<br>

Robert: the B&W leaf is great; the colors and background make the butterfly stand out, really nice<br>

Yuri: "Downtown" is a great setting but too yellow for my taste; city park is tranquil.<br>

Hin: I like the Fantail, this shows off its claim to fame.<br>

Ryan: your patience was rewarded.<br>

Dave H: "Chop Shop" is a very interesting idea and well cone.<br>

Matt: all three are very nice, especially the candy apples.<br>

Peter: ah, young love, I like the second one -- despite the hat.<br>

Andrew: the mower is nicely framed and B&W is perfect for this.</p>

<p>Late to the game, not sure what happened Sunday. Was exercising my A50/1.2, which in the past has given me mostly out of focus shots. This time I was able to do a bit more of what I had in mind, and figured out some of the learning I need, to do.</p><div></div>

<p>And another, both wide open on a K100ds.</p><div></div>

<p>Not so random thoughts this week:</p>

<p>Justin, I like the second one especially. Love the forms. I'm a sucker for photographs featuring shiny metals like stainless steel and chrome.</p>

<p>Howard, that's funny. Photo merge in Elements would allow you to batch the three in one frame.</p>

<p>Markus, the kids on those old-style shots are captured perfectly. Their range of expressions in the first one is both hilarious and touching at the same time. The lighting on the boy with the sword makes him look like he was airbrushed into the shot later. Which I kinda like.</p>

<p>Javier, it is heartening to know that ultra-large CD shops still exist. One of my teenage passions was to find the largest record stores or the ones with the most obscure titles in every new city I visited. I still have a few very hard to find Jimi Hendrix LPs I scored in Montreal.</p>

<p>Craig D, nice sunrise, bet it enlarges mighty well.</p>

<p>Ian F, love that second shot. I can relate to the redwing blackbird's expression. Bet that lens is sweet.</p>

<p>Haig, great perspective on the first B&W. Nice depth to the BC shot.</p>

<p>Chune-Hoong P, the first shot is triggering stomach rumbles--coconut ice cream is one of my favorite treats.</p>

<p>Robert C, nice leaf, though it looks a tad blue on my monitor. Intentional?</p>

<p>Hin, Love the NZ fantail; New Zealand is on the short list for a long, deserved vacation for my wife and I next year.</p>

<p>Bruce M, those B-52 nacelles are instantly recognizable. It's amazing that there are 8 engines on that plane, and that a lot of these are still in active service since 1955.</p>

<p>Darryl D, that looks other worldly.</p>

<p>Matt, gotta love the lamb.</p>

<p>Andrew D, something about the B&W hay mower sings to me. Probably the vertical teeth at that awesome angle.</p>

<p>Peter Z, that second shot is outrageous. The man's hat, the decision to wear white, the cloud placement behind their embrace, their intimacy, and the colorful foreground all contribute to a pro shot. But what clinches my admiration is how discreetly the perspective of the shot is executed. It's like the photographer happened upon this couple, decided to step back respectfully, but was compelled to take the shot. Very cool.</p>

<p>Also Peter, I appreciate your tactfully calling out the issue with Jordan's model. I couldn't quite find the words, and it does take a bit of the magic away. Pretty easy to fix.</p>

<p>Thank you Bruce, Peter, Matt for your appreciation.</p>

<p>ME</p>

<p>Ok, Here's my input for the week. Great shots all around but I just don't have time to comment on every one this week.<br />Thanks for the remarks on my stuff. Boy, am I glad it's not last week anymore (even though I'm busier at work this week). Having peace back in the neighborhood is such a relief. <br /><br />Justin, I commented on this on Flickr, but your first shot is great and Colvin by the carin is a nice touch. The District 30 shot is also really nice. The reflections on the binocular surfaces are just perfect. <br />Markus - the crane is a really nice composition and the colors really pop. Nice! The historical costumes are fun too.<br />Javier - A flower? Whoa, you're freaking me out!<br />Howard - Ha ha on the ducks!<br />ME - the reflection shot is my favorite or yours this week. Like an impressionist painting!<br />Haig - the B&W is fantastic. I really like it! The BC dock also stand out. <br />Ivo - wow, quite a storm! I wouldn't want to be riding through that!<br />Robert - The leaf in B&W is my favorite. Such nice textures and tones. <br />Hin - beautiful sunset.<br />Darryl - The stadium is a neat shot. I like it.<br />Dave - What an interesting photo opportunity! I really like the glass but it's all a little eerie. <br />Peter - I agree those are some nicely done shots but I have trouble getting over the hat. <br />Andrew - I love old scenes like that. We have a lot of old ranches around here and it's great fun to poke around for interesting details. I like the mower.<br />Nick - the second one you nailed the focus - nice. I think the first is just a hair off. <br /><br /></p>

<p>To all those that enjoyed the ducks:<br>

I had just pulled into my driveway, when I saw, in my sideview mirror, a line of ducks walking in behind me. I grabbed my camera from my bag and tried to capture the line coming towards me, at which point, they scattered into the yard.<br>

So far, we've had ducks, a swan and deer use the driveway since we've put in a solid fence.<br>

My faves this week:<br>

Justin - From the sublime to the ridiculous - the mountains look wonderful - District 30 - the telescope looks like a character from WALL-E<br>

Javier - one weird plant; a grunge plant with inner beauty, like your street photos; nice shot of your daughter. How's she going to get all that music on her IPod?<br>

Craig - sunsets like that are my weakness - beautiful<br>

ME - Rabb's Lagoon- Impressionist's dream<br>

Haig - #2 although I might clone out the pharmacy sign or crop bottom - I like the gold against the background<br>

#3 Caught her expression and coloring<br>

#4 The quality of the light throughout<br>

Chune - curious cat - interesting perspective<br>

Robert C - #3<br>

Jordan - How could we object to Christy?<br>

Hin - # 1&3<br>

Ryan - the eagles looking at each other<br>

Matt - If that sheep wanted just a trim, he got clipped! :-)<br>

Peter - Really like the 2nd shot<br>

Nick - the flower shotsare gorgeous , especially #2. Focus is perfect on both, even though #1 is soft. Beautiful bokeh.</p>

<p>l</p>

 

<p>Thank you all for your POW contributions and your comments. We had way too much fun during the photo shooting to look grim or serious like it would have been neccessary for historical correct photos, it was firstly a birthday party. But if you have to look out for every false details like wrist watches and have to carry lots of shoes in all sizes as well :-) Rhe lighting was made with two theatrical spots on stands and the Osram hammerhead flash bounced and it was barely sufficient for ISO 200.</p>