Here's the first batch of 2016. Would members please vote and comment as usual.
Saffron from Republica Kings Lynn Festival 2015, Leica C, f/5.9, 1/50th, 800 ISO, 43mm, No Flash
2) Bernd
The Little Barn: This is not the barn of Bethlehem but it is an unreal scene. Taken on boxing day in the Austrian alps on a height of 1100 m there is no snow. In the shadows where sunrays never touch the ground in wintertime there is only a little bit hoarfrost. Usually there is one meter snow at the end of December. It is the fourth year with a very warm Christmas. (M9 | Summilux 35 ASPH)
3) Bill
Media City with impact - Another ‘Why ?’ image for some. The answer is that I was trying alternative methods in Elements/Nik software and just happened to like this result.
Taken with a Panasonic G5 and Leica 15mm F1.7 Summilux
4) David FSunset over Brighton, Monument to Edward VII - The Peace Statue. Leica V Lux 1
5) David K
‘Cleaning out the Grate’ - taken in the town centre of Weston-super Mare. The Steam Bus - latest addition to Weston's Bus Fleet - requires the extra time-consuming task of cleaning the grate at the end of each journey! It was taken with my Leica D-Lux (Type 109) with its DC Vario-Summilux 10.9-34mm f1.7-2.8 asph Lens - exposed for 1/320 second at f/3.2 (ISO 200).
6) Elaine
Sail-boarders: Lumix FZ100 and a leica lens
7) Jim
Blea Tarn & Langdale Pikes. Summilux DG f1.4 25mm.
8) Keith
Autumn stroll: Leica M(240)/50mm Summilux
9) Malcolm
The Ghost of Christmas Past
10) Mike
Cossack contender at the Brooklands Military Day in November. Captured with the second-generation Leica Monochrom (Typ 246) and the superb 75mm Apo-Summicron, a lovely portrait lens
11) Phil
Looking out to sea: Panasonic LX100
12) Philip
Those Who Wish to Remain: I’m back to the streets again for this month - M (240) Summarit 35mm, 1/4 sec at f5.6
13) Rob
Ullswater before the flood: Leica M240, Noctilux f.95- unedited
Ullswater before the flood: Leica M240, Noctilux f.95- unedited
The Boat House in the morning mist, Leica Q
15) Theodore - will restart in February
16) Tom
Yellowstone National Park, taken with the M9 based Monochrom, using a 24mm f2.8 Elmarit lens.
16) Tom
Yellowstone National Park, taken with the M9 based Monochrom, using a 24mm f2.8 Elmarit lens.
17) Tony - No image this month
18) William
Plaza De San Francisco, Havana, Cuba: This was the first place we visited in Havana. Looking across the square, there seemed to be a lot of empty space but then a woman came along walking in just the right direction to 'counterbalance' the tower of the church on the opposite side. Fujifilm X-T1 with Leica 24 mm Elmar.
18) William
Plaza De San Francisco, Havana, Cuba: This was the first place we visited in Havana. Looking across the square, there seemed to be a lot of empty space but then a woman came along walking in just the right direction to 'counterbalance' the tower of the church on the opposite side. Fujifilm X-T1 with Leica 24 mm Elmar.
Keith
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to all in Circle D and may the light be with you in 2016!
What a super strong set of images this month.
1. Alan
The colour cast and general treatment really suit the subject. Could see this as a wall poster.
2.Bernd
Charming little barn in a spectacular location. If at all possible would prefer if it was separated from the tree by changing the view.
3.Bill
Agree the super saturated colours make this a stunning image.Fabulous reflections, but being picky maybe a bit right sided.
4.David F
Lovely well composed silhouette. Especially like chimney pot lower left balancing glare of sun.
5.David K
Well captured activity, but would like to see whole of guys face
6.Elaine
Nice parallels but I find the foreground a bit to dominant (and don’t understand what it is or how it fits with main subject)
7.Jim
Another stunning view taken on what looks like a stunning day. Was the lake really that blue?
8.Me
9. Malcolm
Poor deer. I expect you know the gate we have locally with a statue of a five legged stag on top - so it appears to have four legs when viewed from any angle from the ‘big house’
10.Mike
Your usual standard of sharpness and nice depth of field. Lovely composition. Looks a friendly Cossack.
11.Phil
Love the way you have captured the highlights in this shot. Square format suites it well.
12. Philip
Yet another fine street shot. Great composition and the blur of the background figures you have achieved with the exposure time makes a very powerful image.
13. Rob
Not your usual Noctilux subject /depth of field and an interesting colour sky. Lovely location.
14. Sky
Wow! When I first flicked through this months set this jumped out as the winner in a month of great images, and more thoughtful consideration has not changed that view. A truly lovely image.
15.Theodore
16. Tom
Super image with a great range of tones. Like the darkness of sky on top edge “holding” it all in. Lovely.
17.Tony
18. William
Demonstrating the “decisive moment”! Well worth the wait and another fabulous image that will stand proud in any exhibition.
Bet we see a few of this months in a future Magazine!
1) Alan
ReplyDeleteGreat shot taken in difficult conditions (low light, movement, some backlighting).
Well rendered but I would have liked to see more depth in the colour in editing and the whole image a bit darker.
Very good image though and atmosphere captured very well in not ideal circumstances.
2) Bernd
Perfectly rendered shot in every way
Beautiful balancing of light and shade and fine composition
3) Bill
I love the composition and rendition particularly the very effective over saturation of colour
Great atmosphere too
4) David F
Beautiful backlit shot of this iconic image. Technically excellent rendition and adds to the backdrop with its bright spot in the left hand corner - aesthetically very pleasing - I'd hang this on my wall
5) David K
Very well composed and rendered action shot of an iconic scene.
Excellent work
6) Elaine
I particularly like the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 horizontal composition which works particularly well with the way Elaine has composed the picture. The mix of front and middle ground action also adds to the visual appeal - there is a lot of colourful good stuff going on
Really good photograph
7) Jim
Another well composed and executed landscape - perhaps less saturation of colour might have created a more plausible work but a great picture all the same
8) Keith
A truly lovely shot full of mystery as to what story is unfolding. Truly excellent composition and overall rendering
9) Malcolm
I really like this and it works very well in black and white. Quite evocative and technically very good rendition.
10) Mike
Very well created portrait with perfectly blurred background- just enough to provide an excellent frame to the Cossack- works very well in black and white too. Perfect exposure
Nice job Mike
11) Phil
A great shot with just the right balance of light and shade - clouds and highlights add to the magic and very well rendered too.
12) Philip
A classic and truly excellent street shot and particular so with the slow shutter speed
I love the sadness it invokes too- really good job
13) Me
14) Sky
A truly evocative shot of an iconic location - superb composition and saturation - this makes a great contrast with the bland background - it comes together perfectly- I'd gladly hang this on my wall too
15) Theodore N/A
16) Tom
A wonderful landscape with a lot going on - love the use of monochrome too. Personally I would have liked to have seen more of the great clouds and sky so perhaps leave out some of the very front foreground to accommodate this. This all said it is a truly great picture which has been beautifully rendered.
17) Tony N/A
18) William
A truly magnificent shot beautifully rendered- great composition made virtually perfect by the woman walking across the frame
1. Alan (Saffron):
ReplyDeleteWell executed and atmospheric shot, great composition and nice treatment. It’s a great image for the genre and I could see it on a poster.
2. Bernd (The Little Barn):
Good colour and tone, interesting composition but a cropped a little too much on the left which loses part of the tree.
3. Bill (Media City):
I like this preset—but you don’t say which one. I need to delve into Color Efex to experiment. I seldom venture far with effects and your photo has given me courage.
4. David F (Sunset over Brighton):
Here’s me thinking the sun never sets on Brighton. But this is a a fine sunset shot with a difference. The silhouette is perfectly captured.
5. David K (Cleaning out the Grate):
That steam bus returns. It’s a good shot but perhaps a little too close cropped for my liking, lacking the context that is apparent only from the caption. Fine detail, though.
6. Elaine (Sail-boarders):
This is a very interesting shot that raises questions in the mind of the viewer. Is that the textured sand in the foreground or is it the frame of a picture? It certainly looks like the latter and that has a bearing on the assessment of the picture as a whole. I like the colours but I’m left wondering about all the stick insects on the horizon—more sailboarders or a wind farm? Or maybe refugees from a Lowry? Whatever, this is a striking image that sets the imagination working.
7. Jim (Blea Tarn):
A striking and well-formulated landscape that has a number of attractive elements, with the green in the foreground, the wonderful blue of the lake and the bleakness of the mountains in the distance. A nice shot.
8. Keith (Autumn stroll):
Involving autumn tints and thoughtful composition with the subjects positioned optimally.
9. Malcolm (Ghost of Christmas Past):
Nice whimsy, poor old reindeer with only three legs. You don’t say what camera or lens, but it makes for an interesting record. The black chairs are dominant and the abandoned deer is rather squashed, though.
10. Mine.
11. Phil (Looking out to sea):
A fine shot, lovely composition, excellent tones and great atmosphere. I’d have been tempted to up the brightness a little but I agree that it works as it stands.
12. Philip G (Those who wish to remain):
Great, well composed shot with a wonderful subject and the added attraction of the floating captions—presumably shot through a window. I like it.
13. Rob C (Ullswater):
This is a lovely landscape, very atmospheric and ideally composed with the foreground rocks adding a valuable perspective on the scene in general. Lovely sky. A brave man with a Noctilux and a remarkable result if shot at f/0.95. I could never focus the damned thing.
14. Sky (Boat House in the mist):
Interesting shot but the mist, to the left of the frame, is not obvious for what it is. It looks almost like a blown highlight, leaving the picture a little biased to the right. But an attractive image nevertheless.
15. Theodore (no entry)
16. Tom (Yellowstone):
A black and white shot to be proud of, bringing out the best of the original Monochrom. I love the tones, the reflections in the foreground pools and the general atmosphere of the picture.
17. Tony (no entry)
18. William (Plaza de San Francisco):
An old friend—I remember it from the article you wrote for Macfilos. I can only repeat my earlier comments. This is a wonderful composition and the foreground figure is perfectly positioned. Did I mention Cartier Bresson? Well done, William.
1. Alan: Saffron from Republica.
ReplyDeleteNice Colours here, presumably from the stage lighting. Well caught action at the microphone.
2. Bernd: The Little Barn.
Lovely Winter light well captured. You cannot beat such light when you can get it.
3. Bill: Media City.
This works well with this subject. I occasionally ‘break out’ and use different effects, particularly, when I feel they will enhance the particular subject.
4. David F: Sunset over Brighton.
This is a very nice image enhanced by the inclusion of the chimneys and roof tops. Letting the main subject go into shadow also works really well.
5. David K: Cleaning the Grate.
The bus is back with a totally different shot which illustrates the hard work required to keep this wonderful machine on the road.
6. Elaine: Sail Boarders.
The colours here are very nice. I probably would have cropped some of the beach in the foreground. The wind masts on the horizon are an effective addition to the overall image.
7. Jim: Blea Tarn &Langdale Pikes.
This is a lovely landscape. Even though it seems to have been taken in strong midday sun, the features on the mountains are very well defined.
8. Keith: Autumn Stroll.
Nice autumn colours and the two figures add a real sense of scale to the photo. They are also prefectly placed.
9. Malcolm: The Ghost of Christmas Past.
Great humorous title. Nothing looks so down and out as Christmas decorations after Christmas. Well captured.
10. Mike: Cossack Contender.
Love that hat! Great image quality as always. The out of focus figure fills out the scene nicely.
11. Phil: Looking out to see.
There is a lovely mood here. The black and white treatment works well on the coastal shapes.
12. Philip: Those who wish to remain.
Is the word ‘anonymous’ missing here? This scene is a common one nowadays but the writing on the glass and moving figures add a sense of mystery.
13. Rob: Ullswater before the flood.
This seems to have been taken in low light with the Noctilux coming into its own in that situation. I like the colours here.
14. Sky: The Boat House.
It looks like it was raining here with the ‘puddles ‘ on the water and the mist in the left distance. A lovely shot in the circumstances.
15. Theodore: Out until February.
16. Tom: Yellowstone National Park.
A lovely photo with great tones and proportions. Everything fits together wonderfully.
17. Tony. No image.
18. William : Mine.
1) Alan
ReplyDeleteVery colourful action shot portraying the atmosphere at the music festival. Good composition and exposure having regard to the lighting conditions
2) Bernd
Nicely composed landscape picture of the barn with lovely colours and tones. The barn is rather overwhelmed by the tree, leading one to wonder whether it would be less dominant taken from a slightly different angle
3) Bill
Well balanced photograph with strong colours and good reflections. The presentation is effective although the blue colour of the water looks slightly unnatural
4) David F
A lovely silhouette of the monument. Well composed and exposed, enhanced by the chimney pots
5) Mine
6) Elaine
Good shot of the windsurfers with strong colours. The dominance of the foreground and ‘clutter’ of wind turbines in the background are unfortunate distractions
7) Jim
Well composed landscape photograph with good colours and tones. The strong blue of the water is such that it looks almost unnatural
8) Keith
Nice landscape photograph with lovely autumnal colours and good exposure
9) Malcolm
An interesting shot of the poor old three-legged deer. It works well in monochrome. The chairs are perhaps somewhat too dominant
10) Mike
Good monochrome photograph of the Cossack with fine detail, contrast and depth of field
11) Phil
Nice composition of the subject looking out to sea, perhaps in a thoughtful mood. Works well in monochrome, with good contrasts and enhanced by the lovely light on the water
12) Philip
An interesting composition of the solitary figure, made all the more so by incorporating the letters on the glass foreground. Combined with the background effect of a slow speed, it has produced a fine street photograph
13) Rob
A well composed landscape photograph illustrating a tranquil setting at Ullswater. Very atmospheric and enhanced by the strong sky
14) Sky
A nice photograph of the boat house in a tranquil setting. The boat house and surrounding woodland to the right have good detail and fine colours. The seascape to the left though is rather bland: only the title indicates that there is a mist
15) Theodore
No photograph
16) Tom
A lovely landscape picture with lots of detail. Well suited to monochrome
17) Tony
No photograph
18) William
Well composed monochrome street photograph, enhanced by ‘capturing’ the woman in the foreground. Lovely shot
1. Alan. I like the way Saffron fills the frame, a good dynamic pose and her face is not obscured by the microphone. The orange/blue combination of tones does a good job of separating the figure from the background but some of the edges (especially the grey areas on her palm and jacket) make me wonder if processing adjustments have been carried too far. Although the 1/50th sec shutter speed has resulted in a considerable degree of blur the resultant image captures the moment and the event well.
ReplyDelete2. Bernd. A nicely composed landscape, the side lighting lifts the barn and hillside from the lower ground and the conifer fills the right hand side of the frame.
3. Bill. I can see why you like it, the colour saturation is very effective in this shot without being overly artificial. It certainly does not give the appearance of being an ultra wide angle shot - is it a crop?
4. David F. Carefully positioned to leave a gap between the back of the angel’s head and the front of the wing. The chimney pots and pigeons provide unexpected surroundings and the sunset a clear uncluttered backdrop to the silhouettes. Simple and effective.
5. David K. City life but not as we know it. We would be in trouble if we tried to set fire to the public highway! A moment or two later (or earlier) and the scraper may have come out from behind his bucket and shown his face.
6. Elaine. The bright sails and illuminated sands are in such marked contrast with the grey sea and sky that I am wondering quite where the light is coming from. If the wind-boarder on the water had been a touch closer inshore the sky and the wind farm could have been left out of the frame.
7. Jim. A colourful foreground leading on to the more restful tones in the middle distance and beyond.
8. Keith. More bright colours, the strollers nicely caught in the patch of light between the shadows give it that extra bit of interest. the lady looks to be feeling the cold.
9. Mine.
10. Mike. Limited depth of field certainly brings the “Cossack” to the fore and the “soldier” behind him is an appropriate background fill-in, less so the car which rather draws the attention. Splendid upper lip decoration.
11. Phil. Promising subject matter perhaps but a tricky exposure problem and the dark tones almost swallow up the figure on the bench making the image difficult to read.
12. Phillip. The plate glass with the lettering, the reflection of the photographer, the girl and the escalator with the shadowy figures all combine to give great depth to the picture. You’re never alone with an iPod !
13. Rob. It’s very blue and dull. Why unedited, processing should do wonders? I’m sorry but I see very little of merit in it in this form.
14. Sky. The vibrant colours on the right are in stark contest to the distant landscape on the left which is almost lost in the rain/mist. The three little posts in the water fill a void and make all the difference.
15. Theodore. No image.
16. Tom. It is a strange place and the firs plus the steam rising from the pool and the geyser epitomise the area well. I’m not quite so convinced about the cloud cover though!
17. Tony. No image.
18. William. A good use of the 24mm lens, perhaps just a tad more on the left to show the whole of the porch? The woman in the foreground makes the picture but the statue against the wall is also important.
1) Alan
ReplyDeleteI like the feel of this, the lighting is good and the blur adds to the moment, like the sound reverberating out of the frame.
2) Bernd
A lovely spot, hope the walk was good. It’s been warm here too, a few cold days but on the whole it feels like Autumn is moving straight to Spring.
3) Bill
I know that place! Was up there recently, and though it was raining (no surprise there) it seemed like a good place to work. Nice city. I rather like the alternative process, like the opening title to a 1980s cop show.
4) David
Clean and simple, shows the monument off very well.
5) David K
That looks like messy work. Shame the man’s head is partly obscured by the bucket.
6) Elaine
Good colours and I love the composition, simple but effective with the lines of sand in the foreground and the wind farm offshore. Makes you want to invent a story around it.
7) Jim
A lovely spot, on my way to that part of the world in a few weeks time. Not sure the weather will be that good though.
8) Keith
The figures add to the scene, and the tree not he left tells us the time of year, nice light too.
9) Malcolm
Well spotted, I like these sort of pictures, the weird juxtapositions you can find. Everyday mixed in with something unexpected.
10) Michael
Another great portrait, what a face, and well shot and framed. From the set of War and Peace perhaps?
11) Me
12) Philip
The text around the woman is effective, and the title picks out the relevant part - excellent.
13) Rob
Dramatic weather, looks like a storm coming, hope you got to a local pub in time. The breakwater in the foreground does a good job to add to the feeling of the image.
14) Sky
Tales of Swallows and Amazons - boathouse always make me think of that book - the adventures to be had.
15) Theodore - No image
16) Tom
Beautiful black and white - the Monochrome is a wonder to behold - as is Yellowstone, a good combination.
17) Tony - No image
18) William
The woman certainly adds to the frame and the timeless feel. A great shot as always.
ReplyDelete1) Alan
Although not the sharpest of images I think the colour saturation, particularly the blue background works very well.
2) Bernd
A lovely landscape with pleasing colours. Personally I would have liked to have seen a slightly wider angled shot so that the left hand side of the tree was clear of the frame; although I realise that this may not have been possible.
3) Bill
An interesting shot; however the processing technique doesn’t suit my taste. I do like the composition but I may have been tempted to reduce the foreground slightly and increase the sky space above the tall white building.
4) David F
A very nice silhouette contrasting superbly with a beautiful sky, great image.
5) David K
Very interesting image but such a pity that the bucket is partially covering the operators face.
6) Elaine
Nice image with the three windsurfers being in the right place to give the composition balance. When I first looked at the picture I mistook the formation of the sand in the foreground to be that of a picture frame; silly me.
7) Jim
Good composition and tonality makes this a striking landscape image. I don’t know the location, but wondered if it would have been possible to have included the entire Tarn by changing the viewing position.
8) Keith
Lovely autumn colours and the deep shadows make this shot. The walking couple are just in the right place to make the composition excellent.
9) Malcolm
A fine record shot well suited to monochrome. However I find the left side of the image a little confusing, maybe because of the strong contrast between the light coloured, three legged dear and the dark chairs.
10) Mike
Great portrait of what looks like an interesting character. I do like the way you have opened the lens up to give a narrow depth of field in order to concentrate on the Cossack. Very nice image.
11) Phil
Perfect in monochrome with the highlights not being burned out. The square crop really suits this image and makes for a strong composition.
12) Philip
Interesting composition and great that you’ve been able to place the model to avoid all the writing on presumably the window the shot was taken through. I also like the way that all the figures in the background are blurred.
13) Rob
A great shot with a dramatic looking sky. I just wondered if the image didn’t need a slight rotation clockwise to make the edge of the lake on the horizontal.
14) Sky
Nice shot, with good colours and composition.
15) Theodore
16) Tom
17) Tony
18) William
Lovely in all respects. As you say, the figure in the foreground, plus the wonderful sky, make this composition superb.
In reply to Malcolm R.
ReplyDeleteOnly a small crop Malcolm, for some reason I was using the Micro4/3 camera in 3-2 mode for the original image.The 15mm Summilux is equivalent to 31mm in old terms and is a very capable lens for the format in my opinion. Bill S.
The original photo can be seen in the 2016 Notes page.
First of all thanks to everyone commenting on my photo very nice gives a comparative Digital novice some hope for the future. Note to Malcolm R my Photos are straight from camera I do not Post process any so you get it as it was bumps and warts.
ReplyDeleteI will endeavour to comment for the first time this month as I am able with my limited experience.
1) Mine
2) Bernd Nice photo and colours love the tree
3) Bill Love the composition and strong colours Balance good
4) David F Nice sunset shot
5) David K Would just liked to have seen whole of the subjects face and separated from bucket
6) Elaine Foreground seems too prominent to me and the wind farm in background does not help subject
7) Jim I like this very much and the contrasting colours give it a nice picture quality
8) Keith Lovely Autumn colours and figures in foreground are to me just in the right place. Superb photo I think
9) Malcolm As I suffer from Post Christmas Blues I think I enjoyed this one. Nice in Black and White as well
10. Mike Good Portrait and enough blur in background to keep subject prominent
11. Phil. Nice Black and White photo one that one could appreciate framed on wall
12. Phillip. Wow this is brilliant a shot anyone would be proud of reminds me of some of the past masters of street photography
13. Rob Very atmospheric capably captured with a Noctilux no easy task. My compliments excellent
14. Sky Sorry Sky not for me this month as I love your photos normally but it seems unbalanced to me a move of camera to right it may have been an improved photo.
15.Theodore N/A
16. Tom Nice photo and love the Black and White rendition perhaps more sky?
17. Tony N/A
18. William A very good photo well thought out and composed. Sky is amazing
1) Alan- Saffron from Republica
ReplyDeleteI wonder what would all those predictable ‘but it isn’t sharp’ judges make of this - and who cares? It’s a shot with a great feel for the moment.
2) Bernd - The Little Barn
Fine composition and lighting give an excellent portrait format landscape shot.
3) Bill - Media City with impact
It certainly has bags of impact and fascinating colour, particularly in the reflection.
4) David F - Sunset over Brighton
A simple and extremely effective composition: I liked it very much.
5) David K - Cleaning out the Grate
Good observation skills and a fine colour balance - although I suppose the purists would want to see at least one of his eyes.
6) Elaine - Sail-boarders
A very interesting composition with plenty to ‘read’ in the picture. I am still wondering what has created the line effect in the sand
7) Jim - Blea Tarn & Langdale Pikes
An excellent composition and striking colour on what must have been a perfect day in the Lakes.
8) Keith - Autumn stroll
Composition and colour just perfect - not much more I can say!
9) Malcolm - The Ghost of Christmas Past
Well spotted - a good subject that works so well in black and white.
10) Mike - Cossack
I loved the composition with a perfect balance between the main subject and the background figure on the same eye-line.
11) Phil - Looking out to sea
Perfect rim light on the subject’s marks made for an evocative study - perfect in mono.
12) Philip
Mine
13) Rob - Ullswater before the flood
Wonderful colour throughout the shot: a well composed landscape on what may have been a very early start to a day in the Lakes.
14) Sky - The Boat House
Lovely muted colours along the shore. I liked seeing the two posts/stumps in the water by the boathouse. Was there a mist on the water?
16) Tom - Yellowstone National Park
Great monochrome tones throughout - and what a great location to visit.
18) William - Plaza De San Francisco, Havana, Cuba
I really enjoyed this shot. I think the portrait format works extremely well, particularly;y with the balance provided by the foreground figure - and bags to sky detail as well.