Photography Open Thread 04/29/2016
Friday Photography
The weather in this neck of the woods has been grey, dismal, and depressing for the last several days. As an antidote to that this weeks POT features color. Over saturated, sometimes over-processed, everything turned up to eleven color. I shoot mainly black and white but I reached the point where I really just needed to lok at something vibrant.
This weeks assignment is Macro and closeup.
Please post any photos, comment about anything or ask any questions about photography (If I don’t know the answer someone here probably will)- Please treat this as a photography open thread.
Some Color
Color and Light
Bob Holmes, a travel photographer, shoots in what he calls a "National Geographic Style". A big part of this is a strong use of color. Both of the following videos are around ten minutes long.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFH-8cfTetw]Another Bob Holmes video. This one is about light. It is not at all technical but rather provides an insight into how photographers think about light.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS5GxSR3jPI]
Assignments
Last Weeks Assignment - architecture
This week's assignment - closeup or macro
These photographs can be of anything at all but think small. There is a technical definition of macro here but I wouldn't worry about that. Here is something that works for me: If the end result is less than eight inches or so in real life it is closeup and that is good enough! The portion of the electric light bulb in frame in the image below is roughly two inches.
Just about all cameras made in the last decade can take good closeup photographs. If you are not sure if yours does, or what settings to use, not post the make and model number in the comments and I'll try to help. The standard symbol used on cameras for macro/closeup function is a stylized flower.
Where to post images
I'll put up a new thread tomorrow, around noon ET, specifically for the uploading of photos relating to the assignment. If you want to post them here and/or on tomorrow's thread that is fine.
Finally
“Which of my photographs is my favourite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”
- Imogen CunninghamThis is an open thread so have at it. Post photos, questions, thoughts etc. - anything whatsoever to do with photography.
Comments
Close Up
I love to do closeups of flowers. This is one of my favorites. I'll try and stop by tomorrow with some more pictures. I am so glad you are doing these diaries. I learn a lot about photography from them.
A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. Oscar Wilde
Thanks Michelewin
They are fun to put together - also gives me an excuse to spend a few hours looking at photos and seeing what other photographers are up to. nice way to spend some time on a Friday
Beautiful flower -perfect focus
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Now that I've charged my camera...
Which I hadn't done for 7 months...
(Considering I spent 200 bucks on the thing, you'd think I'd use it more often...)
Hope to have some great photos of Sunday for everybody.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Heh
First thing I do when buying a camera is to get a spare battery - because I am useless at remembering to charge them so I know exactly where you are coming from!
Whatever you are up to on Sunday I'm looking forward to seeing the pics
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I have a question for iPhone photographers
I am told that I can edit images on the phone with iOS, but does anyone use other graphics software? I have a now-ancient Sony Steady shot with 8X zoom, and would like to use the same software for both, phone images can be uploaded to my PC, Win10. I would like to spend $0.00, if that sounds cheap enough.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Riverlover - reply below
- I messed up yet again
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
ha! $0.00 is my favorite price
I like Snapseed for iPhone - and its free (was $5 when I bought it)
Re PC Windows 10 it depends on what you want to do and what level of complexity you're comfortable with. There are free editors out there though.
Photoshop Express is free and seems to cover the basic ground pretty well. (filters can be purchased in ap but I wouldn't bother tbh)
I use Lightroom and Photoshop $10 a month +Google Nik Collection (now free but won't work on its own on windows). Advantage with this set up is that it takes care of cataloging as well as editing.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I didn't know that there was a free stripped-down
PS. I used the real deal at work with photomicrographs where color adjustments danced on a thin edge of true or false. Thanks, steve.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Dealing with exact color
is really hard - I used to be in graphic design and we would always give Pantone references for any color used and those are incredibly finely tuned. There are other scales but that seems to be the industry standard.
Adobe are working really hard to get the mobile market so they have become a lot more competitive both product and price wise of late.
o/t I am a biology grad and worked a lot with various microscopes - fortunately nothing we did was fine color critical. That would have fried my brain even more than the other work!
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
evening steve
here's some saturated color for you:
Evening Joe
Saturated but not over-saturated. Love these.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Evening joe
Your close-ups are always so enchanting and beautiful. Every flower you photograph has its own unique personality.
thanks janis!
when i photograph them, i try to figure out what it was that drew my eye to a particular individual flower and make sure that i work with that element to highlight it. sometimes it is the tiniest things that draw my eye (i am a sucker for fiddly details) and sometimes it's how the light plays on or through something. anyway, that perspective allowed me to break the rules that i had learned with more confidence and made the process much more satisfying.
Yes,
it's also in the fine details that I find so satisfying. Like the colourless(?) translucent orchid petal standing there proudly and the shadow on the pistils on the petal of this yellow flower.
Thanks
What Janis said :) n/t
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I like that anther study!
And everyone loves orchid closeups. The color is yummy, but credible. Signs of expedient color-play.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Paua shell
I'm enjoying having a photographic assignment. The NZ Paua is related to the Abalone. I placed it on the scarf I was wearing which seemed to work well as a background.
I especially like the traffic lights, themselves lit up by the stormy light. I like the playful composition of it as well.
lovely shot, janis!
i really like the colors and textures.
Thank you, joe.
This shell may be the best natural gift I've been given. It is so lovely. I will take another photo of it later to show you another part of it that is also so interesting.
The shell is 4 inches long
Janis - Do you like
Edward Weston's work?
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
He was my original inspiration!
There was
just something about that particular photo that reminded me of his work. FWIW He is one of my heroes (along with many of the other early modernist, f64 group).
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Absolutely, the early modernists.
Of the many whose work I have always admired from that period, Minor White (who I'm sure you know and appreciate), would be my first choice. I'm going to look for a photo of his to post.
Minor White, photographer
Very evocative and dreamy, Janis! n/t
To thine own self be true.
Just what I love!
Hi Marilyn!
Big fan of Minor White
always questioning and very spiritual. Of all the photographwers of the time his biography and personal story is the most interesting (to me at least).
Apparently he was the first to coin the term previsualization though most credit Ansel Adams.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Olive Cotton, an Australian modernist photographer
Agree
the background complements the shell perfectly. This works great as an abstract composition imo.
The traffic lights shot was grabbed through a sunroof at about 30 mph with a point and shoot camera. Got the sunroof closed before the rain started - just
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
It's hard to not want to record that kind of bizarre light
when it happens, driving or not!
Most of my work, regardless of subject matter, is often abstract.
Thanks, steve.
Most of my work, regardless
figured as much (that is a compliment btw)
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I figured that ... :)
Thanks steve.
Thank you stevej, and others, for the interesting
and beautiful photography.
All of it, including some of the discussion, is so beyond my pay grade; but, it is such a treat to see the work you folks are capable of.
And I much appreciate the tips you give about various software applications. I make a note of them--just in case.
Mollie
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."--Japanese Proverb
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Your avatar photo is such a beautiful portrait.
It reminds me of portraits from the past that put backdrops of scenes behind the sitters.
I wouldn't mind seeing more of your dog portraits.
Hi, Janis--thanks for
the kind words. That photo was one of several which were made into a calendar, cards, etc., several years ago. It was taken at a local Olan Mills Studio.
There were a couple of decent photos that came out of that sitting. This Fall, I may post a Christmas photo of Mister B and our beloved (late) terrier mix. It was sorta neat, partly, because of the snowy and realistic looking Christmas backdrop, and, because both dogs were looking in the same direction (which is more difficult to achieve, than it may sound).
Another dog photo that I'd like to share, eventually, is a striking shot of the 2007 Westminster 'Best Of Show.' He was breathtakingly gorgeous--I mean, sheer perfection. So, I'll keep my eyes peeled for when you Guys post animal or pet photos, and share that one with you.
Hey, good to see you again.
Mollie
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."--Japanese Proverb
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
He's beautiful, Mister B is
I would love to meet him. I miss my revered dog Ernie, who made my heart shine with hers.
I'm looking forward to more breathtakingly gorgeous dog photos.
The image of your two dogs, looking at the same moment directly at the photographer, made me laugh.
Good to see you too Mollie
Thanks UL
I always try to keep the tech stuff to a bare minimum because, ultimately, it is about framing a shot, picking a moment, and clicking the button. The other stuff is useful but should never replace the joy of just taking a photo.
On a related note if ever I start talking about circles of confusion (bonus prize to anyone who knows what that refers to) or ever put anything in algebraic notation an intervention would be appreciated
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
The Black Clock, Cezanne
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
Miep
posted a reply below - I blame the wine.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Whoops sorry
Meant to put this in the fine art thread, not the photography thread. Oh well.
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
Heh it's all good
My favorite shows are ones where painting and photography are shown together
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
I guess it's kind of all right
That one can get confused here about just *which* art thread one is posting in
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
I see it as a positive addition :)
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Miep,
Is your avatar your work or another Cezzane, or something altogether different?
I am unduly flattered by your suggestion
It's a drawing I did of an especially powerful dream I had last Friday. Thanks for asking.
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
You should be
It's truly a fantastic drawing. It's so lively and expressive.
Thank you.
I like it a lot myself. I want to try to access the part of myself it's associated with more frequently. It came from a really good place.
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
Ditto! Nice, Miep. Looks like I'm the only
person in this thread with no artistic ability in photography or art.
That's okay--I can enjoy others' talent.
Mollie
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."--Japanese Proverb
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Thank you Mollie, for all your appreciation
Have a wonderful weekend!
I started teaching myself to draw a few years ago
I started out with a pad of paper and a box of chalk pastels, and I would just mess around like a kid. You have to get past the static to see what's there.
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
What a nice aspiration
I hope you are infinitely successful.
So glad to stumble on this
essay. Joe, Agathena and other talented photographers from dkos are a thrill to see once again publishing their art on the net. Thanks all of you. Photography is a whole other kettle of fish from painting and an art form I appreciate yet have no talent or skills for. Thanks all for the beautiful images. You all trill and awe my eyeballs.
Photography got interesting
when it stopped trying to be painting - when modernism took over from pictorialism imo. I have a foot in both camps so to speak and it is the relationship between the two that has always fascinated me.
Agree completely - have enjoyed Marilyn's work for a while now and am just becoming familiar with Joe's. Your essay on constructivism was wonderful.
As far as not having a talent for photography, if you have an art and/or design background you have a talent for it - honestly.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Very nice of you to say Sha, imagine how glad I was to
see your name here.
To thine own self be true.
seconded n/t
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
My favorite painter
and I am not familiar with that painting - thanks for posting it.
Imho there is no modern artist who understood both light and form as well as Cezanne.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
It's one of my favorites
I also like the house of the hanged man, or whatever it's called. I bought a book of Cezanne prints on very nice paper and broke it and hung them all over the house once, so they could sink in. Sacrilege, but it was only $25. Worth it.
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
He is in some ways the father of modern art
Hey Steve
I have not been doing much macro lately. It's an art form in itself. Here's a raggedy urban magnolia I spotted while walking my dog on my street. Taken with iPhone 5C. It might pass as macro.
I heard that the new iPad has an excellent camera and I'm tempted to upgrade to that. Have you heard anything about it?
To thine own self be true.
Beautifully soft, especially in contrast to the rough pavers
Is that a pussy willow trailing above it? I haven't seen that beloved plant in too long for real.
Not pussy willow, it's magnolia buds, the leaves
open after the flowers die off.
Thanks Janis!
To thine own self be true.
I've heard the new iphone has an incredible camera
That it organizes the foci on all the different parts of the image.
I don't know what's up with the new ipad.
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
Hi Marilyn
Great to see you here!
I too have heard good things about the new iPad camera and it doesn't surprise me. I heard that that Apple has around 800 people working on their camera's for iPhone's and iPad's. Here is a prediction - they will incorporate an optical zoom very soon, i.e. within the next couple of years. I know that someone has patented a design so it is possible.
Beautiful magnolia. We have several trees in the local park and I now know them all very well - one of my favorite subjects.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Love the geometry in your photos Steve!
I am so drawn to your doors and windows shots. !!!
To thine own self be true.
Cherries a la natural
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass
Gorgeous
makes me want to reach in and grab one! also makes me think of summer.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
Thanks, Steve for this peaceful place.
I am not a photographer. Most of my pics are just reminders of something that happened or was built.
But once in a blue moon something special happens. I like this one.
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I posted this one on some TOP thread
And one of the people there offered me $50 to buy the rights to it for an album cover. I was amazed.
Stay on track. Stay in lane. Don't throw rocks.
How fresh and bright!
Thanks AB
90% of my photography is for recording purposes - real estate, insurance records, even a lot of portraiture. etc. The artistic stuff is fun though. I love the noise and the stimulation of politics but its good to have a retreat and photography and art serve that purpose for me.
Cool preying mantis? btw. Its always nice when the good ones happen.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire
That pic was pure serendipity
taken while out in the garden. I'd already found the large mantis and was inspecting the sage. (The mantis in the pic above is 1/2" long. Tiny.)
For a long time we used a Sony DSC-717. Then that got semi-permanently set up to do jewelry macros for SWPUWM's business shots. I got a Canon Coolpix for Christmas. It died after a couple of years. We used a Canon PC-1500 for the business shots, but that got supplanted by (something), so I'm learning how to use the Canon. And I'm waiting for the replacement battery for the replacement Coolpix. It's my "pocket camera."
Back in the day, I was in Alaska. My friend and I were driving down the Alcan. We stopped on the side of the road because there was a mind-boggling vista. No special camera in those days. I took an entire roll of shots while turning ~10 degrees for each shot. Later, I taped all the shots together and had a pic that was about 18">20" long. A real panorama. I looked and fell into the scene all over again.
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About once
a year I do some jewelry product/macros for a client and it is one of my favorite jobs. There is no substitute for doing old school film panoramas as a learning experience. I tried to do six I think and approximately one worked - the others were a complete mess. Now I know why they didn't work which is something I guess.
I always carry a little Panasonic point-and-shoot around with me and some of my best images have come off that camera. The lightbulb and the traffic lights in the essay were shot with it.
“To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.” -Voltaire