Please vote and comment as usual...
In The Pink, Group Carnaby Street: Leica C, f/3.9, 1/320 sec, ISO 500, 130mm
2) Bernd
Image to follow
3) Bill
A cold night out: Taken during a night photo group shoot at Salford Quays on the theme of the ’The Figure within the Landscape’ the background being the Imperial War Museum North. The model was very patient for us on a cold night and looks quite uncomfortable here but she never complained.
Shot at ISO 6400 with a 50mm Summicron R adapted to a Fuji XT-1. Processed in Elements and Nik Silver FX pro.
No entry this month
5) David K
Monstrous Addition to Town Skyline’ - taken in the town centre of Weston-super Mare last week, being the latest stage of the Dolphin Square development. 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 1/200 second at f/14 (ISO 200).
6) Duncan
Cityscape compressed perspective experiment: Photo taken with Leica SL 601 with a Leitz 800mm Telyt S with 2x extender (thus 1600mm) from Alexandra Palace looking SE towards and beyond Finsbury Park but have yet to identify this suburban street which estimate approx. 4 to 5 km distant. ISO 3200 f11 (effective f22) at 0.5 seconds, 20.47hrs 13 April 2016. Original Tungsten white balance but converted to B&W. Part of ongoing long distance townscape imaging experiments exploring compressed perspective using long focus lenses, extenders and telescopes … and very firm multi-tripod supports. Visibility on 13 April was particularly good after heavy rains.
Fence on the Bridge. Taken with Lumix ZF100 and Leica lens.
8) Jim
Avocet and Chicks, Leighton Moss
9) Keith
Sharing: M(240)/35mm Summilux
Sharing: M(240)/35mm Summilux
10) Malcolm
The Oily Rag: Panasonic TZ60
11) Michael
Pampered pooch in Portobello Road as Adam Lee fiddles with his M3 and DR Summicron. Leica M-P and 28mm Elmarit.
12) Phil
Lotus Elan, Silverstone, Panasonic LX100
Getting There: An action abstract this month - if there is such a thing! A test match crowd so intent on rushing into the ground that they didn’t notice me crouching on the pavement by them (or else they did, and they thought it best to ignore such an idiot). M(240), Summarit 35mm, 1/3rd second @ f11
14) Rob
Skywards: Leica SL with Vario-Elmarit 24-90mm
Progress: Leica D Lux 109
16) Theodore
A friend of mine is a watchmaker and he asked me to take a portrait for his blog to celebrate his 4th new watch design.
So this was the result, taken with the Leica Q.
17) Tom
Seaman’s Hall, London taken with a Monochrom 246 and 35mm Summicron lens.
18) Tony
No image this month
19) William
Lincoln Cathedral Interior. This was taken during the Leica AGM/Weekend in Lincoln last year. Leica M and WATE.
1) Alan: In The Pink
ReplyDeleteA good shot: I wonder how it might have worked if you had been able to get a little more to your right, with the singers looking towards you.
3) Bill: A cold night out
An unusual perspective, plus an interesting but not over-obtrusive background, have helped to give you a really moody shot.
5) David K: Monstrous Addition to Town Skyline
It certainly seems to dwarf its surroundings. Presumably it isn’t easy to get much closer (unless you can borrow Duncan’s kit!) or else some abstracts of the steelwork may also have been very interesting.
6) Duncan: Compressed Cityscape
Never mind the lens - superb though it must be - you have created a fascinating and very well balanced composition.
7) Elaine: Fence on the Bridge
Very effective low lighting plus an interesting vantage point. Just a little more detail in the dotted shadow area may have added even more interest.
8) Jim: Avocet and Chicks
I enjoyed looking at the detail (and colouring) in this shot from the enlarged website image. Presumably you have to work with a tripod most of the time.
8) Keith: Sharing
A well spotted street moment, and well exposed. Perhaps some may want less focus in the distance, but it works well as it is for me.
9) Malcolm: The Oily Rag
Nicely detailed and effective still life composition.
10) Michael
I loved it: packed with interest to hold my attention. I like to imagine the dog thinking: “What’s all the fuss about a couple of fancy cameras: I’ve seen plenty of those around here in my time. Back to my nap.”
11) Phil: Lotus Elan, Silverstone
I have no doubt there are plenty of ‘standard’ pictures of Lotus Elans, but by isolating just a few interesting details here you have made a fine abstract study.
12) Philip G: mine
13) Rob
Great viewpoint and a good composition.
14) Sky: Progress
A good, almost-abstract, idea, but I wanted to see a little more of the first crane against the blue sky area.
16) Tom: Seaman’s Hall, London
A good choice of subject for this type of shot, with so much detail to see. The two figures in the right foreground helped the composition.
18) William: Lincoln Cathedral Interior
Superb colour and detail. At first glance I thought you must have set up a long time exposure tripod shot, but there seem to be a few visitors walking in the background.
To Philip G. All the shots are hand held. OIS. Vario Elmar =600mm total number of shots 72. time, 2 hours in the hide. Jim C.
Delete1) Alan
ReplyDeleteA fine moment, but the arrangement of the figures and where each is looking is less than ideal, also the hand in front of the face of the girl with red hair removes the focal point of the group.
3) Bernd
Evocative shot that reminds me somehow of a scene from Metropolis. The angle and the shadow almost like a black cloud. Excellent. Well done.
5) David K
Monstrous construction indeed; your picture would make an excellent journalistic/documentary shot about the ruination of cities under the guise of progress!
6) Duncan
Very interesting idea and technically very demanding to execute. I do feel though that the graininess does not support your idea well because it breaks up the marvelous gradients and definition of all of the dark areas, of which there are many.
7) Elaine
Amusing contrast of the two elements! For me the bridge looks like a metal bar placed across the picture, which makes it hard to understand 'how' to view the whole. The blown highlights also distract.
8) Jim
Terribly cute; I don't believe I have ever seen such avocet chicks at the seaside before. Lovely nature capture.
9) Keith
Nice use of perspective for a street shot; I think it might have been more interesting if the girls had been taken from a bit nearer as their interaction is a bit unclear and they need to balance the perspective line of the street.
10) Malcolm
Nice engineering still life; do I detect a railroad green there? Only perhaps too closely cropped? Somehow it feels 'boxed in'.
11) Michael
A 'multilayered' moment, very enjoyable to look at closely. Everything comes alive beautifully. Well done.
12) Phil
Really excellent capture of the paint gloss with subtle rendition of the colors, I can almost feel the paint. Were you wearing a red jacket that day ;-0) ?
13) Philip G
Keep experimenting! I think this is a really enjoyable shot full of suggested motion and activity, especially because the shoes are clearly visible visible here and there. Without them, it would not have worked so well.
14) Rob
I always find city shots from below intriguing, because that is how we experience them normally. In this case the contrast of straight and curved edges gives a nice contrast. The Vario is one hell of a great lens, as we can see in this example.
15) Sky
Well, I like the diagonal of clouds and sky background forming two triangles, however the cranes don't do very much for me.
16) Me
17) Tom
I am definitely no expert in digital post-production, but with all respect, if I compare this shot with many others I have seen from the 246, it does not seem to be as sharp and impressive as it should be under those conditions and this lens. Visually, it feels like a conversion issue of some kind? Although having said that, it looks exactly like a higher ISO film shot might look, so maybe I am missing your plan?
18) William
This picture really captures the majesty of the space most excellently, with beautiful colors and exposure. Well done!
16) Theodore: The Watchmaker
ReplyDeleteA superbly lit and very timely portrait.
1 Alan ‘In the Pink Group Carnaby Street’
ReplyDeleteA pleasant group of cheerful young ladies but would prefer to see their feet. Wondering if there were better composition opportunities from another angle? The vertical glass panel on the LHS is intrusive - as is the date showing in bottom RHS.
2 Bernd
3 Bill ‘A Cold Night Out’
Difficult subject; interesting facial expression and the dynamic tilt and good use of light and shadow help create an air of mystery. A different and well executed nocturnal portrait.
4 David F No entry this month
5 David K ‘Monstrous Addition to Town Skyline’
My eye is immediately drawn to the steel superstructure’s missing top corner. Good record shot but rather static; would prefer to see more actual building work in progress.
6 dunk Mine
7 Elaine ‘Fence on the Bridge’
Reflection highlights rather too strong and pictorially might benefit from toning down. There is detail in the background wall and the foreground girder? which could be enhanced with post processing.
8 Jim ‘Avocet and Chicks’
A not so tidy composition because the two adult birds are in too close proximity to each other. A different camera position (if possible) might have produced a more pictorially pleasing group shot.
9 Keith ‘Sharing’
The main interest is the two ladies looking at the smartphone screen – but they are so small in the frame it’s difficult at first sight to make out what they are ‘sharing’. A cropped or ‘zoomed in’ image with two larger figures would convey more.
10 Malcolm ‘Oily Rag’
As depicted, the oily rag and grimy oil cans form a messy group and are of limited interest – thus not one for my wall. A rearrangement (if possible) of the elements might have created a more dynamically interesting scene.
11 Michael ‘Pampered Pooch in Portobello Road as Adam Lee Fiddles with his M3 and DR Summicron’
Looked at this at length and found it a somewhat frustrating / confusing composition to interpret. The various elements and reflections are too jumbled – and would prefer to see the dog’s head in more recognizable detail.
12 Phil ‘Lotus Elan’
Interesting minimalist elements create graphic dynamic image. But I’m having difficulty reconciling same to an actual Lotus Elan boot-line and filler cap?
13 Philip G ‘Getting There’
Looks rather messy but a good attempt at something ‘different’.
14 Rob ‘Skywards’
Might have worked better from a lower camera angle / position i.e. with the lower parts of the buildings / street included.
15 Sky ‘Progress’
The part of the third crane visible in the top RHS is intrusive and spoils the composition. Image appears rather small.
16 Theodore ‘A friend of mine is a watchmaker …’
ReplyDeleteInteresting to witness your watchmaker friend wearing/testing several watches – but a watchmaker’s tools are important and would convey more if all in focus.
17 Tom ‘Seaman’s Hall London’
This type of B&W treatment does not appeal to everyone because it can look too artificial e.g. the sky appears too dominant and unnatural. But it’s a well composed architectural record.
18 Tony No image this month
19 William ‘Lincoln Cathedral Interior’
A difficult composition due to the somewhat untidy foreground – which is what is. And the rear window appears rather too bright and could possibly be toned down. Pictorially very colourful and an excellent vaulted ceilings capture.
An interesting set of images for May and difficult to choose an overall winner. Please don’t take my sometimes negative but hopefully constructive remarks too seriously. Many months ago there was a short paragraph in either Circle D ‘Comments’ or Circle D Notes regarding recommended image sizes i.e. 1400 x 1050 pixels. Some submissions are much smaller e.g. 640 x 480 and 480 x 640 pixels - making fair comparisons more difficult.
Best wishes
dunk
Keith Walker
ReplyDelete1.Alan
Certainly a picture worth taking, but would like a different moment in time. The redhead catches
the eye and I think we need to be able to see her face. Like the square format and good colours.
2.Bernd
3.Bill
Not sure if the background fulfils the “...within the landscape” brief. Like the low viewpoint but I find her shadow distracting. Very well focused on her eyes.
4.David
5.David K
Be interesting to see a shot taken from same place when development open alongside this image. A good shot that will appreciate in interest over time.
6.Duncan
I appreciate you have fun in using the lens, but don’t know what to make of the resulting image. The bright buildings bottom left seem unconnected with street scene. I don’t get it, but please enjoy your project.
7. Elaine
Certainly needs title, but still don’t see the bridge. Testing highlights and shadows.
8. Jim
Lovely family group. Would like to see whole of reflection of adult bird and perhaps chicks all in there own space as two on left. A situation where multiple exposures are justified.
9. Me
10. Malcolm
This I like - can almost smell the oil. Good colours and presumably shot as found. Well spotted.
11. Michael
Another well spotted moment. Ideally I guess we would swop a little of the left for a bit more of Adam.
12. Phil
I think ‘part of car’ shots work very well, and that is certainly the case here. Very nicely composed with accurate looking colour. Shame about ?red reflection in filler cap
13. Philip G
Really good attempt at something different. Certainly abstract - well done.
14. Rob
Interesting perspective and a challenge to get the light ‘right’.
15. Sky
I can’t work out what is happening in top right hand corner. Very dramatic sky, perhaps over
processed.
16. Theodore
Very nice informal portrait.
17.Tom
Lovely mono image. Great detail and like that you have kept sides square. Perfect sky.
18. Tony
19. William
First thing that strikes is wonderful rich and warm colours. Super image, again with impressive perspective. Whats not to like about M sensor?
1. Alan: In The Pink.
ReplyDeleteAre all of these ladies left-handed? Or is this part of the act? Well seen and taken.
2. Bernd: No Image
3. Bill: The figure within the landscape.
Nice lighting in this. Almost old-fashioned. I like the angles of the model and the shadow.
4. David F: No Entry.
5. David K : Monstrous Addition to Town Skyline.
You captured very well the size of the new development compared to the scale of the town.
6. Duncan: Cityscape.
I often wondered what you might use that huge 800mm lens for. This is a perfect example of a good use for the lens. The compressed perspective here is almost surreal.
7. Elaine: Fence on the bridge.
I like the shape of the fence. The foreground dots are a bit mysterious but the effect works for me.
8. Jim: Avocet and chicks.
A nice little family group. The group arranged itself and the photographer has taken advantage of this.
9. Keith: Sharing.
I like the composition here. The long and orderly out-door cafe adds to the impression of a very private ‘share’ in a very public place.
10. Malcolm: The Oily Rag.
Each of the items here looks suitably oily and well used. A nicely composed workplace ‘still life’.
11. Michael: Pampered Pooch.
The reflections help to convey the sense of a dog sleeping without a care in a busy environment. Well captured.
12. Phil: Lotus Elan.
A lovely composition made from simple elements in a classic car design. The angles of the number and the racing stripe are just right.
13. Philip G: Getting There.
I would love to know how you kept the feet sharp. It looks like spirits are jumping out of the people in the image. Very well executed.
14. Rob: Skywards.
A nice urban landscape with sharp details and excellent colours.
15. Sky: Progress.
The cranes loook like giant workers patrolling the sky. Black and white works well here.
16. Theodore:
A happy worker displaying his wares. I would have focussed on the two watches on his right hand and, perhaps, have cropped some of the out of focus items in the foreground.
17. Tom: Seaman’s Hall.
You have brought out the bricks and fountains in the foreground very well. Excellent black and white work.
18. Tony: No image.
19. William: Mine.
1) Alan
ReplyDeleteWell spotted image. Positioning to the right more in line with the way the girls are looking and getting a clearer picture of the redhead might perhaps have enhanced the photograph
2) Bernd
No photograph
3) Bill
Interesting shot and well focused on the model’s head
4) David
No photograph
5) Mine
6) Duncan
Interesting and well exposed shot of the night-time street scene, although the building in the foreground does not seem connected to the main subject
7) Elaine
Well composed and exposed photograph, although the scale of the dark foreground area with the ‘dots’ is somewhat of a distraction
8) Jim
Good shot of the birds and chicks with nice colours and good exposure. The large rock/lump of sand to the left is rather a distraction
9) Keith
Good street photograph with the ‘ubiquitous’ mobile being the centre of attention of the two girls. Well composed and exposed
10) Malcolm
Nicely composed and exposed ‘still life’ of the work place objects
11) Michael
Interesting street photograph of the dog and photographer. Well exposed but all the reflections are a distraction
12) Phil
Fine shot of a section of the Lotus Elan. Well compsed and good colours. The red on the filler cap is a slight distraction
13) Philip G
An unusual abstract picture with the sharpness of the shoes being a key element
14) Rob
Fine architectural shot with good exposure and colours
15) Sky
Well composed picture of the cranes, enhanced by the background sky and clouds
16) Theodore
Nice photograph of the jovial friend and his watches. The image might perhaps have been enhanced if the tools in the foreground area had been in focus
17) Tom
Well composed photograph of the handsome building, enhanced by the figures to the right. However, the strong sky/clouds are almost overwhelming and a distraction
18) Tony
No photograph
19) William
Fine photograph of the interior of the cathedral. Good composition, colours and exposure with lots of detail
1 Alan. Doing their stuff in a shop window perhaps? A subject worth a few pictures but as others have said this has not captured the most opportune moment so far as expressions and poses are concerned. The vertical black line on the left could be avoided by a change in position and the date stamp does not add to the picture.
ReplyDelete2 Bernd. (no image).
3 Bill. A dramatically lit portrait reminiscent of an old black and white movie. The near horizontal shadow showing the model’s profile is particularly effective - and puzzling given that the light on her face suggests that the light source is on the right and it is not therefore her shadow.
4 David F (no image)
5 David K. The high viewpoint helps demonstrate this point in the construction of the building with not a crane in sight.
6 Dunk. Impressive. The buildings bottom right and shadowy detail top left the main street running through diagonally give the effect of a montage. Slight movement of the bus brings life to an otherwise still street scene. The “Supergas” logo may help in locating the image.
7 Elaine. I like the dramatic contrast between the black vertical posts and the bright metal rails and also the way the line of the rails compliments that of the treetops. I’m less happy with the two rows of dots at the base, there is not enough light to show detail there and even if there were I don’t think it would enhance the rest of the image.
8 Jim. Almost monochrome and none the worse for that. You had five moving objects to contend with here and have done well to capture them spaced out as you have. The tail of Mum (or is it Dad) has been lost against the rock but that is a small niggle. geat fmily group.
9 Keith. Showing off the latest picture of little Johnny on the latest iPhone maybe? A nice capture of the moment with the two ladies encumbered with their baggage enjoying a chat but not taken from a close enough viewpoint to do them full justice, there is enough information behind the girls to put them in context without the right hand side of the picture which is unrelated to them.
10 Me.
11 Michael. All is confusion - except for Phaedeaux who is not leaving much to the imagination.
12 Phil. A very simple composition if a little dull, my feeling is that it could be brightened up a little without detriment to the subject.
13 Phillip G. What a strange effect, the figures seem to blend seamlessly into the trees behind them, it would not work nearly as well in colour. A new form of camouflage?
14 Rob. “……that little tent of blue that prisoners call the sky”.
15 Sky. Another tower sprouting somewhere. Darkening the sky to dramatise the clouds has meant that the jib of the second crane has been lost and It may work better in colour.
16 Theodore. The pose certainly shows the watches and the designer to advantage. Depth of field (or lack of it) is a matter of personal preference and context, here I think the tools, if they are to be included, should be sharp. A half inch move ot the right would have hidden a ceiling light.
17 Tom. Not quite a symmetrical take on the building but very close, this has a pen and ink drawing quality to it.
18 Tony (no image).
19 William. A good architectural shot, maybe a little less on the bottom? The tungsten lighting jars with the natural daylight but there is little to be done about that other than converting to monochrome.
1) Alan
ReplyDeleteIn The Pink – Great shot which reminds me of the sixties. Just a shame that a vertical line runs through the singer at the left, although there was probably nothing you could have done about it.
2) Bernd – no image
3) Bill
A Cold Night Out – a nice shot with an interesting composition. For ISO 6400 the noise is very acceptable.
4) David F – no entry
5) David K
Monstrous Addition to Town Skyline – as you say, it represents exactly what the can says. Hopefully it will be worth it when it’s finished. Good record shot.
6) Duncan
Cityscape - incredible image taken with your set-up, it certainly does compress the composition.
7) Elaine
Fence on the Bridge – lovely simple composition which is most effective.
8) Jim
Avocet and Chicks – nice image although I would have preferred to have seen a little separation between the two adult birds.
9) Keith
Sharing – lovely image with good composition and well suited to the black & white treatment.
10) Malcolm
The Oily Rag – nice image with good clarity and colours.
11) Michael
Pampered Pooch – like the tones but for me all the reflections make the image too busy and complicated.
12) Phil
Lotus Elan – nice simple well executed image. Whenever I see the number 53 on a race car I always associate it with a VW Beetle ….. can’t remember the name of the film.
13) Philip G
Getting There – well exposed and the tones are great but unfortunately not my sort of image.
14) Rob
Skywards – great image. The 24-90 with the SL is certainly a wonderful tool and you seem to be making the most of it.
15) Sky
Progress – nice photo which is well suited to black & white. Good composition and I like the way the sky forms a diagonal.
16) Theodore
Lovely image and I’m sure your friend was well delighted with the outcome.
17) Tom
18) Tony – no image.
19) William
Lincoln Cathedral Interior – very, very nice, I’ve heard it’s a lovely location and seeing your image really makes me want to go.