Lawrence's 365 for 2014

[Lawrence]

31st October

Okay folks we are on the home straight with only 2 months to go. Whoooo hoooo!
I feel semi- :triumphant:

Tonight I got the picture but I didn't get the picture.

I got the picture that what I was trying to do is flipping difficult (if not impossible for me) with a speed light and that a static light source would be easier - but only just as the timing of the shutter would still be essential but ... at least I could shoot on continuous to improve the odds!

As a result I didn't get the picture ... of the lemon as it enters the water.
I either got a flying lemon or a drowned lemon.
I eventually gave up in the interests of preserving my shutter count.

So here is the drowning lemon.



And prior to all this fun and frustration I cut the rose that was billowing in the wind 2 or 3 days ago and hence slightly out of focus and stuck it in a vase. With tripod and manual focus I nailed the sucker dead!

 

[J-see]

31st October

Okay folks we are on the home straight with only 2 months to go. Whoooo hoooo!
I feel semi- :triumphant:

Tonight I got the picture but I didn't get the picture.

I got the picture that what I was trying to do is flipping difficult (if not impossible for me) with a speed light and that a static light source would be easier - but only just as the timing of the shutter would still be essential but ... at least I could shoot on continuous to improve the odds!

As a result I didn't get the picture ... of the lemon as it enters the water.
I either got a flying lemon or a drowned lemon.
I eventually gave in the interests of preserving my shutter count.

So here is the drowning lemon.

View attachment 121348

I solved the light issue by using a white background and putting the light directly above the scene. I'm not sure it works with a lemon since they are pretty big compared to coins. But you get a very clear shot since the glass is lit from the inside.

I also discovered using the shutter at continuous and triggering the moment you let it drop works best. If your buffer is large enough, you'll get everything you need... and more.

 

[SteveH]

I like the lemon drowning shot Lawrence, it may not be the shot you wanted, but it's still nice and sharp with some movement & action in it.

 

[Vixen]

I think you did better at the lemon drop than I did Lawrence
I am a bit like you. I couldn't see the sense in wearing the shutter out doing this sort of stuff. I just find it all too frustrating.

The rose is a great shot. I love the water drops, the lighting, the everything about it

 

[Lawrence]

Thanks @Vixen - do you like the fact that I turned the rose upside down too?
It looks better than with the leaves below it.

I'm going to get that lemon shot right. By coincidence I am meeting up with someone today who has got it down pat. I think having a permanent light source reduces the luck factor by way more than 50%

 

[Lawrence]

1st November

Had a great day today at the local A&P (agriculture and produce) show with 5 hours of photographing and well over 250 photos to little through. Should be fun tomorrow and if I come out with even 5 good ones I will be happy.

So as not to rush them here are the first few.
Blacksmith who makes all sorts of interesting goodies for around the house - this guy loved the camera!
And then one of the timber sawing competitions.

 

[nidding]

Great stuff here, Lawrence. I especially enjoyed the first of the two dog shots, the b/w guy with the grinder and the b/w old car show shot. But overall it's all good

 

[Lawrence]

2nd November

Flat mate hauled me out to the Farmer's Market and it was a tad disappointing for some reason. Not sure why but my expectations were a bit higher.
Anyway I took a few shots and this little girl was just too gorgeous.

 

[RON_RIP]

2nd November

Flat mate hauled me out to the Farmer's Market and it was a tad disappointing for some reason. Not sure why but my expectations were a bit higher.
Anyway I took a few shots and this little girl was just too gorgeous.

View attachment 121618

Excellent exposure, Lawrence. Has a bit of an old time feel to it.

 

[Lawrence]

3rd November

There are a couple of guys who produce fantastic red brick shots and I have always wanted to shoot some.
Today I got the opportunity ... and a bonus to boot.
I have never tried to straighten a distorted shot.

These shots were from across the road and about 5 meters below the level of the bottom floor of each shot. That is to say it is the first floor of a building on the other side of the road.
The result was one distorted image and one very distorted one.

Never having tried this before I am very pleased with the outcome.

 

[Vixen]

Very nicely done Lawrence

 

[dh photography]

Nicely done brick shots. Lightroom is pretty cool, isn't it?!?

 

[Lawrence]

Nicely done brick shots. Lightroom is pretty cool, isn't it?!?

Way better than I could ever have imagined and pretty easy - once you figure out the cataloging thing.

 

[J-see]

Don't forget to check out the brush tool. The real power of LR is in that specific tool.

 

[Lawrence]

Don't forget to check out the brush tool. The real power of LR is in that specific tool.

Yep been using it. Amazing tool.

 

[J-see]

Yeah, that's LR's equivalent of RAW. The other settings are somewhat like JPEG, they allow you to do some changes that affect the whole image but the brush gives you control over each pixel in the shot.

 

[Lawrence]

4th November

Continuing on the road of knowledge ...
I took a few long exposures tonight ending up at a point where I could no longer focus. Torch with fresh batteries now in camera bag.
So I took all these long exposures and came back to have some processing fun.
Not good photos but quite a bit of practice.
The first photo is a 30 second exposure of a rock in the river - nothing exciting but it was very dark by this stage and photo was out of focus so this has been sharpened in LR and PS - learning baby learning. Little steps
The second was inspired by a thread I was reading earlier on where this technique can either ruin or make a photo. With a not so great photo I had nothing to lose.

 

[Lawrence]

5th November

I have started on making my kids and their spouse their Christmas presents. Each is getting a unique 30 page Coffee Table Photo Book with photos i have taken this year.
Why am I telling you this?
Because I haven't had time to go take photos except a few minutes ago when I rushed out sans tripod, shutter release and all the stuff you need to take decent fireworks photos. The 365 project can do that to me!
So a couple of handheld and rather crappy shots of fireworks. Hoping to make a concerted effort on Saturday at the main public display.

 

[wud]

I went inside for a beer (as is expected of one) and while having it was playing with and testing settings. Took a random shot and it turns out I really like it cropped 2 ways.
For those interested this is one of the owners of one of these lovely vehicles.

View attachment 121168

This first image of the lady, are just spot on! Nice

 

[Lawrence]

6th November

An interesting experience.
I inadvertently landed up with 4 shots of the same subject with different settings. Used a tripod so effectively had the potential to create an HDR of an interesting old burnt out house.
Didn't look too bad while doing it but on opening it I think it is overdone. Plain horrible actually.
So you get to see something more soothing.
I have always enjoyed new growth in fields in the late afternoon sun.