1) Bernd
A memory of the last summer holiday at North Sea coast.
I take it thats a no: Taken in Manchester city centre with a Panasonic FT4.
3) David F
Fountain Trafalgar Square, Leica M + Summilux 5cm f1.5
4) David K
Good Business on a Warm Day - taken in Milsom Street, Bath. It was taken last week with my Leica M9 with the 35mm Summilux f/1.4 asph Lens - exposed for 1/500 second at f/8 (ISO 160).
5) Dunk
IGUANA - Deeping St James Exotic Pet Refuge. Leica X Vario through vivarium glass; handheld; custom white balance from reptile lamp; 46mm (70mm FF equiv) 1/80 f6.4 ISO 1250 spot AF frame on creature’s eye. The refuge offers sanctuary to abandoned and unwanted ‘pets’ acquired/purchased by irresponsible humans.
6) Elaine
Station Repairs: Taken with a Lumix FZ100 with a Leica lens
7) Keith
Raising steam - early morning on the Severn Valley Railway
Leica M 240/Summilux 50
8) Malcolm
Bracken Unfurling”, Panasonic TZ20, Forest of Dean, July 2014.
9) Mike
At the press opening of the new, permanent Olympic Cauldron exhibit at the Museum of London, 24 July 2014. Elpidiki Psalti, from Thessaloniki, holds the specially burnished copper petal, engraved “Greece 2012”, which is on display in honour of Greece’s historical association with the Olympic Games. In the background you can just make out the arms of the cauldron radiating from the left centre of the picture with several of the lit petals forming sort of speech bubble effect. Taken in rather difficult conditions, in a darkened room with atmospheric lighting, using my Leica M and 50mm Summilux at f/2 and a highish 3200 ISO.
10) Phil
Feel the force: Yoda in Trafalgar Square - Panasonic TZ40
11) Robert H
Dog Watch : Leica D-Lux 6 : Iso 200 : Vario-Summilux. 05/08/14 Falmouth
12) Rob S
No photo this month
13) Theodore
Shinto temple corner in Tokyo, M4/35mm/Velvia, scanned and cropped.
14) Tony
Kerrigan spins it to 'em: Simon Kerrigan bowling from the Statham End during the Lancashire v
Northants county championship match June 2014. Taken with Leica 'C' 7 processed in Lightroom.
15) William
Waterside Flowers. Taken with Leica M and 50 Summilux wide open or almost in order to get the maximum 'bokeh effect' in the available light. The focus is on the plant in front and the rest is out of focus to varying degrees. What I got from my camera represents what I wanted to achieve.
1. Bernd. A simple composition with vast expanses of very little. The cloud formation arrowheads to a central point on the horizon and gives the wide open scene an even greater sense of infinite distance. The puddle with it’s reflection of the sky fills the foreground perfectly.
ReplyDelete2. Bill. Whilst there is undeniably a certain appeal in the beautifully captured expressions of these two people, I get the feeling that they are sharing a joke with someone outside of our field of view - and therefore we do not have the whole story. An “almost but not quite picture”.
3. David F. A wide aperture and fast shutter speed has lifted the statue from the background and frozen the water streaming from the fountain. Nicely lit, it works well in monochrome.
4. David K. The drinks seller on a hot day has great potential for a little story. The frame is nicely filled but the interaction between the seller and customer has been missed. The chap in the green tee shirt obscures the woman in the red dress who may be another customer in the queue.
5. Dunk. Another shot with the very limited depth of focus that really brings the subject forward, the palette of yellows and brows works well. A handsome fellow but not exactly cuddly is he.
6. Elaine. A good setting to watch for something to happen before pressing the button, whether these two old codgers with their inelegant pose is the right something is the question, I would have been inclined to wait until we could see just what they are doing.
7. Keith. Splendid contre- jour shot with so much atmosphere, the man enveloped in steam and smoke makes the picture for me. The ghostly shadow (of a signal arm?) in the centre of the frame is rather odd - a trick of the light presumably.
Mine.
9. Mike. A great portrait and I like the effect of the background lighting (except the half-moon on the extreme left). Although the “petal” is an important element of the occasion it is a distraction in its present from, perhaps if there were more of it within the frame it would be different.
10. Phil. I like the illusion of this figure floating in the air, I like the two symmetrically placed figures behind him apparently oblivious of his presence, I think cutting off the statue top right (complete with stick and echoing Yoda) is a missed opportunity!.
Robert H. Nice capture and a good title, I wonder what the tattooed sailor is thinking.
Rob S. No picture.
13. Theodore. What an incredible amount of work has gone into this, the intricacy of the design is astonishing and by compressing the 3D original into 2D you have ironically given the picture an added dimension because we have the puzzle of trying to work out the various planes that we are looking at.
14. Tony. The oblique angle to the wicket neatly solves the problem of whether to concentrate on the bowler’s or batsman’s end. The batsman is concentrating on the ball and the fielders are concentrating on the batsman - just as it should be.
15. William. A bokeh of ragged robins? The vibrancy of the greens and pinks is quite startling and if you have achieved the effect you were looking for it must be considered to be a successful image.
1. Bernd: North Sea Coast.
ReplyDeleteNice Coastal Picture with great colours and receding effect.
2. Bill: I Take It Thats A No.
Humorous scene well captured. What is the roll of paper for?
3. David F: Fountain Trafalgar Square.
Very nice photo. High contrast and structure effect works well. The water spout looks like ice.
4. David K; Good Business On A Warm Day.
Looks like he is giving away free samples. The guy in the green tee shirt rather hogs the scene.
5. Dunk: Iguana.
No sign of the glass or reflections and great use of reptile light.
6. Elaine: Station Repairs.
What is going on here? Pickering is a place. Could it also describe what these guys are doing?
7. Keith: Raising Steam.
Wonderful atmospheric shot. You can almost hear and smell the steam.
8. Malcolm: Bracken Unfurling.
Lovely delicate plant , well captured.
9. Mike: Olympic Cauldron.
Lovely low light shot, well captured.
10. Phil: Feel the Force.
How does he do this? One of the ‘on-lookers’ seems to feel the force; the other does not.
11. Robert H: Dog Watch.
Bet that dog could even pilot the boat!
12. Rob S: No Entry
13. Theodore:
Shinto Temple Corner In Tokyo.
Velvia! Nothing was ever better at capturing colur. Lovely Composition.
14. Tony: Kerrigan Spins It To Them.
Lovely cricket shot- just before the peak of the action.
15. William: Mine.
Keith W
ReplyDelete1} Bernd H
Very saturated colours gives the image great impact.
2) Bill S
If it was a “no” at least she is still smiling. Was the shot when she turned back?
3) David F
A very strong image out of a very crowded place. Great texture on the statue.
4) David K
Can’t help feeling there is a stronger image with a better arrangement of people. As isto dominated by the back of a green tee shirt for me.
5) Dunk
Terrific sharp image with very good colours. Conditions well managed to deliver a very natural looking image.
6) Elaine
Perhaps Phil started a trend last month.
7) Me
8) Malcolm
Beutifully sharp and nature has provided a studio llike image. Very well photographed.
9) Mike E
A lovely shot taken in what I guess were quite difficult conditions as you mention. Either the camera or you in pp have presented excellent white ballance. An image to be proud of.
10) Phil C
Very much like the relationship of the Yoda and the two seated figures. Would cropping off the stutue improve?
11) Robert H
Great shot. The dog looks very happy and alert and love the way its hanging its paws. Nicely seen and captured.
12) Rob S
No photo.
13) Theodore
Lovely colours and composition. Velvia ideal film to deliver the saturation that gives the photo such impact and seems to have lost little in scanning.
14) Tony M
Can’t help thinking I would prefer this taken from the stand in the backgroud and be looking at faces.
15) William
I think you have achieved what you set out to achieve, but for me the in- focus flowers are a bit small to really stand out.
1) Bernd.
ReplyDeleteYou have certainly captured the large open sky on the North Sea Coast. The lighting works to your advantage here along with the land and sky giving a slight tunnel effect. An interesting landscape.
2) Bill.
An amusing image but it is a pity we cannot see what the young lady is smiling about. Good crisp image.
3) David F.
The statue certainly fills the frame and I like the way you have blurred the background to give full emphasis to your main subject. This image lends itself to B&W to my mind.
4) David K.
Looks like a warm day and a good record of the Ice Cream seller. However I think you needed to get closer to the action and maybe focus on one or two customers. As it stands the picture is overall too busy and distracting. Worth further investigation.
5) Dunk.
This is sharp where it needs to be and a great result from the X-Vario. Lovely quality throughout.
6) Elaine.
A good clean crisp result with nice colours. However I would like to see a bit more of what the characters are doing as they have there backs to the camera.
7) Keith.
Plenty of atmosphere here. You have caught this at just the right moment a winner I think.
8) Malcolm.
The fern stands out well from the background. You have controlled this very well indeed. I like the lush green of the fern and I can even see a bit of a spiders web. A super shot.
9) Mike.
Interesting story behind this picture but unfortunately without the explanation it falls a bit flat. Lovely portrait of the young lady and good definition considering you were using a high ISO.
10) Phil.
How does he do that? Well spotted and an intriguing image.
13) Theodore.
Typical vibrant colours from Velvia. Nicely framed with plenty of detail throughout the picture.
14) Tony.
A very pleasing scene of a County Cricket Match. Vibrant colours. I think I would have included the fielder to the left of the picture and trimmed out the balcony to the advertising logos.
15) William.
The concept of this image is sound but to my eye I would like to see a few more flowers in the foreground sharp or crop the frame just to include the sharp flowers with the softness behind. Worth experimenting with.
Leica Circle D Comments August 2014
ReplyDelete1 Bernd: A memory of the last summer holiday at North Sea coast.
A very good composition with thought provoking tranquil elements but the RHS vignetting to the sky and horizon is distracting.
2 Bill: I take it that’s a No.
Well exposed and composed but the storyline suggested by the title is maybe not strong enough. Maybe if he was saying. “But I don’t always wear pointy shoes!” it might come over a bit stronger? A good grab shot.
3 David F: Fountain Trafalgar Square
A not very inspired or interesting title? The monochrome image suits the subject well. However, as it’s essentially a ‘record’ image of William McMillan’s ‘Triton’ sculpture, the ‘dynamics’ would be more complete and emotive if the point of impact of the stream of water flowing from the dolphin’s mouth into the fountain was visible.
4 David K: Good Business on a Warm Day
A fair record shot but not particularly exciting or thought provoking … people look rather glum. Possibly giving away Diet Coke samples (small cans?) rather than selling? Similar happened in Peterborough recently.
5 Mine
6 Elaine: Station Repairs.
Insufficient happening – no ‘decisive moment’ – too much rear view evident. Not enough visible to suggest ‘repairs’ in progress. The suitcases on the ancient sack-truck maybe have potential – but at another ‘moment’.
7 Keith: Raising steam – early morning on the Severn Railway
Difficult exposure. Interesting record but there is shadow detail in the rear of the locomotive which could be brought out with more post processing. Smoke happens with steam locos – but pictorially does not always create a photogenic scene when so thick and dominant.
8 Malcolm R: Bracken Unfurling
There’s beauty and form in uncurling fern/bracken fronds but it’s more evident from a closer viewpoint. This is a fair record but a closer view of the uncurling would reveal more detail. The dark background (result of flash use?) makes the stems look too isolated; the background has detail which could be revealed in post processing. The specimen had a lot of potential but this image does not quite reveal sufficient pictorial quality.
9 Mike: Elpidiki Psalti … etc.
Needs a short title? A fine portrait result in difficult conditions but as the petal is a major part of the ceremony surely it’s deserving of greater emphasis ... i.e. worthy of being shown in its entirety? The ‘speech bubbles’ effect is interesting but maybe the half bubble on the LHS needs erasing?
10 Phil: Feel the force: Yoda in Trafalgar Square.
The pictorial interest is in the juxtaposition of the nonchalant looking ladies in the background compared to the street entertainer – but the George Washington statue is ‘in the way’ and spoils the effect. Crop the RHS statue and part of the foreground and the picture would say a lot more … and it would also benefit form being slightly straightened.
11 Robert H: Dog Watch
Well seen amusing image; good exposure and pleasing composition.
12 Rob S: No entry
13 Theodore: Shinko temple corner in Tokyo
Image has a 3D quality – maybe due to the Velvia film. Interesting patterns but I’d like to see the apex of the roof corner.
14 Tony: Kerrigan spins it to ‘em:
Good colours but the image needs straightening and the fielder with the missing leg could easily be cropped out – in fact the whole image could be cropped to good effect to give more emphasis to the action whilst still retaining most of the empty seats. Background seems sharper than the cricketers.
15 William: Waterside Flowers
You seem too pleased with the resultant bokeh but to my eyes the background is too dominant and I have to look very hard to see the
in-focus flowers. Maybe a lower camera position would have given better emphasis to the foreground flowers.
Some interesting images this month and choosing the top picture is again difficult. Despite my negative comments the images all have good / interesting elements. And always interesting to see which cameras have been used.
Best wishes
dunk
1) Bernd
ReplyDeleteNicely composed landscape photograph, enhanced by the cloud patterns and their reflection in the foreground puddle
2) Bill
Well exposed street scene shot, which might perhaps have been helped by a better understanding of the interchange with the person (?) out of shot to the right
3) David F
Well focused picture of the fountain, which is well suited to monochrome
4) Mine
5) Dunk
Well lit and sharp photograph of the Iguana, enhanced by the colours
6) Elaine
Interesting shot of the two men at (what is clearly) Pickering Station, although it would have perhaps been even better if it was clearer as to just what they were doing
7) Keith
Nice image of the steam rising from the trains and the atmospheric scene enveloping the man
8) Malcolm
Nicely composed picture of the bracken, which is sharp and well lit
9) Mike
Well captured portrait of the lady at the event and well exposed considering the conditions mentioned
10) Phil
Well caught image of the ‘Yoda’ street performer, although it is a pity that the two females in the background do not seem to be much interested or ‘feeling the force’ of the clever illusion
11) Robert H
Well captured and exposed picture of the dog and (presumably) his master
12) Rob S
No photo
13) Theodore
Well focused and exposed photograph of the very detailed and richly coloured section of the temple
14) Tony
Good shot taken at the County cricket match, although the action on the field is unfortunately somwhat overwhelmed by the mass of empty seats in the background
15) William
As stated, you have achieved what you aimed for in the photograph, although it may perhaps have possibly been enhanced by a stronger image of the flowers in the foreground
1) Bernd
ReplyDeleteWide open skies, looks delightful, and the simple composition works well. Many of your landscapes have a similar feel, which is a good thing.
2) Bill S
Another great moment captured Bill. Apart from the interaction between them, why is she holding a large roll of tissue? A photo that makes you smile.
3) David F
The wide aperture does the job well here, and the black and white works with the lighting to show the sculpture to good effect.
4) David K
Reckon he’ll have sold out before long. The camera has handled the light and shade well.
5) Dunk
Another great example of the quality of the X model, put to good effect in your hands. I can’t help thinking I’d like to see a little more of him, perhaps the other front leg, but maybe that’s just me.
6) Elaine
Some precious cargo, let’s hope it makes it to the correct destination.
7) Keith
Steam engines seem to be a favourite, lots of power on show here.
8) Malcolm
I like the simplicity of this, good light and a nice specimen.
9) Mike
Looks like a tough one to get, and lighting at these things can be a challenge.
10) Me
11) Robert H
A fun shot, the poses work well together, just want to know what they are looking at.
12) Rob S – no photo
13) Theodore
Good old Velia, such a delight and the perfect subject for it.
14) Tony
I reckon you had a good day at this one, and a fine shot to remember it by.
15) William
The focus effect works well when this is viewed at full size, and you have ensured the background does not detract from that.
For Duncan. Hello thought you may be interested in Close Up Lenses from Hong Kong available on Amazon, "K&F Concept" 4 lenses 1X--10X . the quality is excellent both from a performance view and manufacture finish .All for £12,54. mine arrived this morning. Used them with the Pana LX7 With the Summilux 1.4 Impressive results,, Regards Jim Cook.
ReplyDelete