madison01

Not as easy as I was hoping, the subject matter is difficult to

compose. I don't think that there is a better combination than blue

and gold, but that isn't enough.

I hope you like my efforts.

Let me know what you think.

 

kind regards,

Paul

I should add that it is Wickham Market Cemetry in Suffolk, England.

This avenue is the entrance to a cemetry. I have given it an ethereal

look as I thought it would suit it. Hope you like it.

kind regards,

Paul

Megan is one of three beautiful triplets - all of whom we are lucky

enough to know very well and this has helped to relax her for the shot.

Let me know what you think,

kind regards,

Paul

Beautiful little creature. You have asked me for advice, yet when i search on Top Photos/children category - there you are :0) I also prefer the second shot. It's a gem. Keep it up.

Sherry, I am more than pleased to help if I can.

For this shot, I removed the soap mark from her face which wasn't adding anything - It was a distraction if anything. i also moved the highlight from one eye to the other so that it was more even. Then i dodged the light in both eyes slightly and colour corrected using curves. I may have enhanced the blur where necessary and sharpened accordingly.

I used shadow/highlights in PS to take away any shadows, though I did use flash.

There was also a mark on the bath (ironically) and I removed that.

The shot is a candid, as are all my shots, with the enhancements which (hopefully) bring a studio quality to them. I was particularly pleased with this shot and I thank you for noticing. Thanks for your comments on my photos. If you have any more queries, let me know. If you want to see the originals, I will upload them. kind regards,

Paul

Here are the details of the shot and yes, I use AF-C. I tend to have the aperture wide open. This means that not all the shots I take are perfectly in focus and perhaps I should consider using f5 to f8 more... I take three shots at a time usually. This has the (sometimes wasteful) effect of "spreading my bets". I usually get one that's in focus - something with kids that seems rare, this tends to help.
I also shoot with a sync speed of 1/500th of a second (see Ken Rockwell pages). This mostly ensures a sharp shot with kids. Though I don't always like using flash as it can be to the detriment of the skin tones. No flash on this shot.

Nikon D70
2005/06/24 12:09:42.7
RAW (12-bit) Lossless
Image Size: Large (3008 x 2000)
Lens: 50mm F/1.8 D
Focal Length: 50mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/800 sec - F/3.2
Exposure Comp.: +0.7 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image: Custom
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-C
Flash Sync Mode: Not Attached
Color Mode: Mode II (Adobe RGB)
Tone Comp: Normal
Hue Adjustment: -3?
Saturation: Enhanced
Sharpening: Medium high
Image Comment: Deans Paul
Noise Reduction: OFF

Thanks for asking,kind regards,Paul

Incidentally, she will be 5 in August.

A blind fool with ten thumbs and a disc camera could take a decent shot of Madison - She's what's known as a 95 percent-er. With a model such as her, you are 95 percent on your way towards a great photograph.

 

Thanks for visiting.

Thanks for all of your comments. Lucky? I should say so.

She affords me such luxury in terms of photographic opportunity, not to mention the obvious joy of being her Dad, that it takes my breath away.

I'm glad you all seem to like the shot.

 

Here is how she came to being in the position (see the thumbnails, well half of them)- purely of her own design - wish I could take the credit :0)

kind regards,

Paul

My little girl, with her scruffy , yet beautiful hair.

This is the fifth in a series of shots that I couldn't wait to add to

my portfolio.

Please let me know what you think.

 

kind regards,

Paul

Agreed. I know this isn't perfect but it's a nic candid that's been worked on to bring out the best I can (this is how all my shots work).

Being a Dad is the bst.

Thanks Michael.

Let me know what you think.

View large as always,

 

kind regards,

Paul

Whilst i know this isn't the most original shot, I still like it.

Let me know if you like it too.

 

kind regards,

Paul

I used Neat Image to get that finished look, then added a tiny amount

of noise. Sounds strange, but then I'm using Neat image as more of an

effect than as noise reduction.

I find that Neat Image is no recognisable in images and whilst it does

the job well, is best in small doses.

 

 

Let me know what you think.

kind regards,

Paul

Taken on the same night as the last shot "In the Zone" but with a

different treatment.

Let me know what you think.View large as always.

 

kind regards,

Paul

I have purposely desaturated this shot so that Madison's face (which

has retained the right amount of colour (in my opinion). It gives the

impression of a more limited palette.

Mad's is concentrating on her baby sister and I can only imagine what

she was thinking.

This only looks good when viewed large so please do that.

Comments are welcome, as always.

kind regards,

Paul

... that shall not be drowned."

 

Another of my shots from the trip to Aldeburgh to shoot Maggie

Hambling's dedication to Benjamin Britten.

I have taken the shot from this angle so it looks more like the

scallop shell that it's supposed to.

I have observed the thirds rule and placed the shell in the bottom

third. I think it sits well and the photo is enhanced by the

interestingly moody sky.

To thoise who think the shell is too dark... I have dodged the shell a

little with PS but wanted the words to be visible (if not necessarilly

legible).

Hope you like it.

 

Comments please?

kind regards,

Paul

If the swing is not being used, then you wonder why. It is the universally accepted image of suicide by hanging. There are 1000's of movies which portray the dangling feet as the image that greets the discoverer of a suicide 'victim'.

I'm not sure what the words bring to the party really. I just like to see photos on their own, else we will start to show images like this, supplemented with mournful music in the background.

Images are enough on their own really.

Sorry, not my cup of tea.

I have ttempted to capture the rainbow in full (well as much as was

visible) and tried to keep to the thirds rule in horizontal (with the

coastline) and vertical with the shell.

I did pay more heed though to the general feel rather than just the

composition and the colours.

Also - It had to be done quickly as there was only a small window of

opportunity for this shot. Yes, I did get wet. :0)

 

Let me know what you think.

kind regards,

Paul

The second of my photos of Maggie Hambling's contraversial sculptural

dedication to Benjamin Britten.

I felt the magic of the light with this one. Lucky me.

 

View large as always.

Maggie Hambling's Scallop Sculpture dedicated to Benjamin Britten is

the source of much controversy in and around Aldeburgh. Some feel it's

ugly, some beautiful, some beautiful but in the wrong place, etc, etc.

Even as I was photographing this tonight, someone shouted out the

words "It's rubbish" from a car as they were driving by. They

weredriving a rusty old Rover so i guess they know what they are

talking about :0)

What do you think of the shot?

kind regards,

Paul

I'm happy to tell you what it is I do.

The two predominant effects on this image are made using Shadow/Highlights (in PS) and Neat Image.

That said, I spend an awful lot of time removing crumbs/chocolate/eyeshadow/etc.

 

I also dodge and burn/alpha sharpen and blur.

 

First though, using Channel Mixer to convert to B&W is the most important stage. Depending on the colours and shades in the shot and what I'm after, I select monochrome and then choose a higher percentage of blues and/or greens than reds.

This tends to give the images a more 'flushed cheek' look - Like early century photos.

I often bypass the channel mixing stage and choose a single channel from the channels window - maybe the blue channel and then use shadow/highlights on it.

The shot of Mads tilting her head (in my A Gallery) uses this technique and I have attached the original so you can see the before and after shots.

 

Hope this was helpful.

 

kind regards,

Paul

Nope! Not Texas - Butley Woods in good old sunny England!

 

Glad you like it.

Jeez. "In the right place at the right time".

What a capture - You'll remember this forever.

Great portfolio as well.

When using shadow/highlights, you can get a 'halo' around the trees. I believe this is what has happened when you were trying to darken the sky.

 

To avoid this, use a larger 'Highlight' radius and it will go away.

 

This is an absolute stunner and whilst I hope my critique helps you, it's still doing exceptionally well. I know - I found it when browsing Top Photos ;0)

 

kind regards

Paul