Photo a Week 2015 - Image thread

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/10/2015 08:12:50 PM · #326

Weeks 26 and 27: outdoor patio & porch window/roof ...

Olympus OM-D E-M10 MARK II

07/11/2015 06:49:14 AM · #327

Week 28:
A hilltop town with marvellous views & sculptures

HornOUBet

Panasonic Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH

07/12/2015 02:35:38 PM · #328

Week 28 small sensor theme iPhone 4s

07/12/2015 07:51:53 PM · #329

07/14/2015 04:07:30 PM · #330

Week 28

It was an awesome day today

Rescued a baby falcon this morning.. was flopping around a business for 2 days and the workers got concerned and called.
Went to the vet, no broken wings or bones, this little one was just really tired and hungry.. Still can not fly yet, so it is on its way to a professional aviary.
which specializes in raptors like these. :-)) Just got misplaced from the major storm we had

It did allow me to pick it up and handle it without fighting too much, I think it knew we were trying to help

sooo awesome, first time ever being able to handle a beautiful creature like this in my wildlife rehab rescue :-))
I am not yet federally licensed so I was not able to keep this one until it could have been released.. :-))

4:30pm Update: From the aviary: It is confirmed its a girl and we have a mate for her about the same age and both will be released together when it is time,: She is receiving IV fluids for dehydration. Very healthy otherwise.. wooohoo!!!

Message edited by author 2015-07-18 18:29:36.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/18/2015 05:07:09 PM · #331

Week 28: Bank building pillars

07/19/2015 08:25:44 PM · #332

Impressed by Judi's yellow ribbon comp this week, I decided to try a backdrop for my jewelry. This backdrop is watercolor paint on a wet wrinkled brown paper bag. I placed semi-transparent shelf paper over it so the camera couldn't focus on it. I think it's my best shot so far.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/19/2015 09:05:43 PM · #333

Originally posted by pixelpig:

I'd like it better if it was a bit lighter/brighter and rotated CCW ... I do like the subtle background color/texture. :-)

... regarding the DOF issues (as mentioned on your previous photo), perhaps it's time to look into focus-stacking and bracketing your focal plane -- I'm pretty sure there are threads discussing it already if you're not familiar with it ...

Message edited by author 2015-07-19 21:06:40.

07/19/2015 11:05:07 PM · #334

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by pixelpig:

Impressed by Judi's yellow ribbon comp this week, I decided to try a backdrop for my jewelry. This backdrop is watercolor paint on a wet wrinkled brown paper bag. I placed semi-transparent shelf paper over it so the camera couldn't focus on it. I think it's my best shot so far.

I'd like it better if it was a bit lighter/brighter and rotated CCW ... I do like the subtle background color/texture. :-)

... regarding the DOF issues (as mentioned on your previous photo), perhaps it's time to look into focus-stacking and bracketing your focal plane -- I'm pretty sure there are threads discussing it already if you're not familiar with it ...

Here you go! Yes, I'm afraid you're right. I'll start reading up on it all, starting here. Thanks for the suggestion.

07/20/2015 12:14:33 PM · #335

Week 29:
Tuscan countryside

Week 30:
Natural thermal sulphur springs at Saturnia, Italy

07/28/2015 09:51:23 PM · #336

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/28/2015 10:03:29 PM · #337

Originally posted by pixelpig:

. . .

This batch is starting to look really good. :-)

Lighting, detail, DOF/focus seem to be working. Maybe it's my monitor (or my eyes) but I want this stuff to "glow" more without just changing the saturation.

One edit you might try is "high-radius unsharp mask (if you put these in your Workshop folder I can download and try it for you).

One technique you might add is to use the same backgrounds, but put it on a light table (sheet of glass with some lighting underneath) to try and light those transparent beads "from the inside" without silhouetting the opaque ones ...

07/28/2015 10:41:12 PM · #338

Original now in my workshop, I'm very curious to see how you edit this.

Your light table idea is interesting, I'd have to cut holes in the BG to let the light shine thru, but it would make an interesting effect, I think.

Message edited by author 2015-07-28 22:42:48.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/28/2015 10:51:50 PM · #339

I'll have to work on the edit tomorrow (have to get up at 4am).

I think your BG is translucent enough to let enough light through -- it will act like a soft-box with texture.

07/29/2015 06:24:31 AM · #340

Week 31:
Another shot from our visit to Cinque Terre, but this time a pano.

07/29/2015 06:42:31 AM · #341

Week 29

More hummingbird love which photos turned out.. I am content for this year on the birds now :-))

Week 30
This was just something that caught my eye when we were on the beach at Lake Superior, of course had to get into my macroland LOL

Week 31
At Grand Portage.. I did not take this picture, actually my hubby did..My lens broke so this backup was his.. I think he has some photography talent too! LOL
Trying to get him to join up and do but he said "only when we go to places" I have a photog buddy now for vacas, I need to take more weekend vacas .. hahaha

But one of my favorites .. we caught a rainbow at Grand Portage State Park in MN the rainbow was in Canada

Message edited by author 2015-07-29 07:18:29.

08/01/2015 10:18:08 AM · #342

For Week 32.. Have to love overtime! Won't be on at all this week :-)

On Lake Superior

A fun shot of a live Golden Eagle one of my dreams to see, I am really excited about these two shots, I decided I did not want a score to be associated with something that was so personal to me, this was a personal and photog bucket list kinda thing
Bucket List cleared :-))

Message edited by author 2015-08-01 10:31:43.

08/03/2015 04:38:21 AM · #343

Week 32:
My alternative title would be Ice Station Zebra, but it is the lookout atop the Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

08/03/2015 09:23:21 PM · #344

Originally posted by pixelpig:

Sorry this took so long, but you did give me a bit of a toughie ... :-)

First one just has the high-radius Unsharp Mask (USM) effect applied but is otherwise unadjusted.

The second and third use (very rough and sloppy) masks to apply Curves and (De-)Saturation effects separately to the necklace and background.

If you want to mess with this type of masking I highly suggest using a plain (non-textured) BG in a contrasting color to make the selection process easier and more accurate -- once you have a good selection/mask you can drop in a texture later. That would also let you use the same BG for all photos for consistency ...

Canon RF 24-105mm F/4L IS USM

08/04/2015 10:45:01 AM · #345

Thanks for taking the time!

My first edit, & my second edit where I tried out USM, which I haven't used in a long time. It does brighten/sharpen well, but its effect on unwanted detail, like in my BG, only makes more work. To deal with that, I used a layer of Topaz Buz Simplify in BW reversed, blended on....I forget. It doesn't really matter. The thing is, I think I am trying to create a more emotional expression of the little piece of performance art that is my bracelet. The light does interact with it, it does glow, sparkle, blaze, glitter & move all around on my wrist. The moment I place it on a surface to be photographed it changes into an accessory to the photographic process. The performance art vanishes. It dies.

I suspect that, to get the ice-sharp, perfectly controlled composition that a photographer delights in, I would have to photograph each element separately under immaculately controlled lighting conditions & assemble the finished bracelet in photoshop. Like Christophe does. Instead of trying to re-create the experience of the performance art bracelet, perhaps I would be more satisfied with a performance art photoshop composite. It's a thought. It would at least avoid being a poor imitation of the real thing & be it's own thing.

The BG should be some blah color, like ozone, the grey-white sky of summer air. If I use the same color only darker as a BG while shooting, I should be able to drop the sky in for BG without masking. It should be raining later this week--I'm gonna go shoot some clouds.

Message edited by author 2015-08-04 13:16:41.

hajeka

Canon EOS R5

08/05/2015 11:52:27 AM · #346

Sorry for being away for a while :(

Just filling my series, no need for comments, although always appreciated ;)

22 - Brain damage

23 - Cemetery

24 - Great grey owl

25 - The city

26 - Peacock

27 - Apple

28 - Pencil

29 - Sprout

30 - Pastry

31 - Dessert

08/10/2015 08:15:13 AM · #347

week 33

more lighthouses

split rock

Wanted to share my hubby's talent too, he took these at Split Rock, he said he would be my vaca photog buddy LOL!

Lake Superior Lighthouse

Message edited by author 2015-08-14 21:33:36.

08/14/2015 09:31:25 PM · #348

For Week 34 next week:
(what week are we on anyway LOL!)

been busy with our babies!!

9 baby squirrels, 2 possums, 6 ducks, 1 geese and a couple babies, the season is almost over a few more months and all will be released my favorite time to see them go out into the world!

These are our baby possums

Message edited by author 2015-08-14 21:34:34.