"An Italian Icon" - Leica Q2, 28mm (cropped), f/4, 1/50 sec., ISO 125.
Andre H
Dennis Potter and his wile were residents in this small mining town when they died within a few months of each other in 1994. The building, now vacant, was his favourite pub. This was painted by members of Gloucester Art School.
Arthur H
Kyoto, Leica M10-P, Summilux M 35. F2.4 at 1/250
Brian O
From aircraft to watercraft. This is Heybridge Basin, where the Chelmer/Blackwater canal runs into the River Blackwater. Tide out so expanse of mud with boats sitting in it. The origins of the marks on the mud, and how the owners got to their boats puzzled me! I called it ‘Parking onMud!’. DLux 8 camera.
Dave C
“Jade” SL2-S, Leica 24 / 90 @78mm, SF60 Flash. ISO250, 1/200, F3.9
Just playing with model photography again. Something I’m going to do more of in 2026.
David R
"The best time to shop at Christmas - when they're closed!"
Dave S
“Walk By” taken at London Bridge Station on a Q3 43
Harry H
View from Hunstation beach- taken in October whilst walking my dog on the Norfolk coast.
SL2-S. 24-70 Vario Elmarit f4.8 1/750s iso 100.
SL2-S. 24-70 Vario Elmarit f4.8 1/750s iso 100.
Fungi-etched wooden bench in the Rosehaugh estate
21-35/f/3.5-4 R Zoom on M240 ISO 2000 f/6.8 1/125s
Ken G
Girl with Sunglasses. Leica M10 monochrom with 35mm summicron
Malcolm R
The heron lands on a neighbour’s roof every so often and I managed to get this shot from across the road using the telephoto end of the Vario Elmar ,even so it is a substantial crop.
Nigel T
Belfast ferry leaving Liverpool. Leica SL2 + 135mm f2.8 ROM
Phil C
The Pink Ladies, Leica M, 35mm Summicron
Richard B
'The Undercroft’
Leica M11/90mm macro-elmar-M. - ISO 800, f/8, 1/500
Leica M11/90mm macro-elmar-M. - ISO 800, f/8, 1/500
Alex B.
ReplyDeleteGood composition, nice tonal range.
Andre H.
A good record of the scene.
Arthur H.
Strong monochrome image.
Brian O.
Colourful strong image.
Dave C.
Mine.
David R.
Well timed capture with a Christmas feel.
Dave S.
Excellent monochrome image.
Harry H.
Well, seen Seascape.
Julian P.
A good nature scene.
Ken G.
Strong base, maybe crop a bit of the top?
Malcolm R.
Interesting urban capture.
Nigel T.
Good coastal capture, maybe take a bit off the left.
Phil C.
Colourful Christmas scene.
Richard B.
Well timed urban capture.
Alex B. " An Italian Icon" Vespa definitely an Icon , well spotted.
ReplyDeleteAndre H. " Denis Potter" I remember watching the singing detective drama in the late 70s , nice record shot of the Author /screenwriter and his wife.
Arthur H. "Kyoto" Interesting angle, nice tones.
Brian O. " Heybridge Basin" well Captured image, nice area to take images of birds and boats.
David C. "Jade" lovely image, nice catch lights in her eyes, just needed a little more space above her head.
Dave R. " Best time to shop at Christmas" lovely festive silhouette.
Dave S. "Walk By" well spotted, Maybe it wasn't possible when taking this image, but if you could have included more of the brick pier to the left, it would have given the person some space to walk into.
Mine.
Julian P. "Fungi" Nice Nature pattern Image.
Ken G. " Girl with sunglasses". this image gives the impression of someone Famous incognito, an interesting photograph.
Malcolm R. " Garden Pond Predator" well spotted, just wonder if this would work better in monochrome, just find the brownish/red of the roof tiles a little distracting.
Nigel T. "Belfast Ferry" nice seaside shot.
Phil C. " Pink Ladies". A very Colourful Image.
Richard B. " The Undercroft". Just captured right, nice lighting, works well in monochrome.
I made an error in my previous posting: this is the correct one
ReplyDeleteAlex B: Mine
Andre H: A good record shot.
Arthur H: Excellent. Sums up Kyoto - all Shrines and Temples. Works well in monochrome - it looks like the Tori gate is stone or concrete and therefore not painted the usual vermillion. Nice detail in the sky.
Brian O: A nice coastal scene. I like the preponderance of Blue.
Dace C: A very nice portrait against a dark background. Nice catch-light in the eyes (which are sharp). Good hair detail. I look forward to seeing more of this next year.
David R: A nice Christmas card image.
Dave S: A good contrast gradation over the image, and some nice textures in the stonework. Unfortunately, the person is walking out the picture, but you can’t always have everything.
Harry H: I guess the thing about the Hunstanton Cliffs is the striking colour difference in the rock layers. In monochrome, this will, inevitably, render as tonal differences, which has been done well. The inclusion of some people helps give the cliffs scale. I like the detail in the sky as well.
Julian P: An interesting pattern shot. Nice detail.
Ken G: A very good street scene. There’s a lot going on, but you see to have isolated the subject. She does stand out.
Malcolm R: Wonderful. The heron seems to be mimicking the lamp. Detail has held well given the “substantial crop”.
Nigel T: A nice coastal scene. The people in foreground and mid ground give a sense of scale and distance.
Phil C: Excellent Street work; Three Pinks, on a diagonal.
Richard B: An nice image - I like the texture detail on the columns. However, I find it a little bit “flat” - a bit more contrast would, I think, help.
Can I take this opportunity to wish all members of Circle D, and their families, a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
Alex
ReplyDeleteWell spotted, the shop name reflects the status of the scooter in the foreground. Works well in black and white.
Andre
I’d not seen this mural before, and a lovely reminder of the great Dennis Potter and a good reminder to re-watch some of his work, especially The Singing Detective.
Arthur
Nicely framed, the separation of elements works well from this angle. The M10P and 35mm lens a strong combination.
Brian
A lovely bright day, the boats patiently waiting for the tide, the fact all the boats are blue and white adds to the appeal of the scene.
Dave C
A strong portrait, the models expression and hands clasped together gives it a natural feel, as though caught off guard. Nice one.
David R
Well framed and good timing, the level of light on the decorations is just right.
David S
The wide view of the scene adds to the mood and I find my eyes moving in from the right past each of the doors to the figures. The outlines behind the figure on the floor suggesting others have sat and passed time here.
Harry
A lovely spot to walk the dog, strong cloud formations echo the cliffs and you can see the centuries that have passed in the rocks.
Julian
The sort of thing many don’t notice, but they make an interesting picture, seemingly swimming against a tide of leaves.
Ken
A shot from the hip? It works well and capture the feel of the highly packed street, some wanting to pause and browse while others just want out and to get to their destination.
Malcolm
I like this very much, very clever and well worth the time spent to capture it. The lamppost and heron reflect each other’s pose, nature and cold metal as one.
Nigel
You’ve caught the depth of the scene well, the figures enjoying time on the beach as others set off on a voyage across the sea, or at least a few hours at sea.
Mine
Richard
Another well timed shot, the brutalist architecture broken only by the woman. The muted light works well too.
1. Alex B. This image of the Italian Vespa conjures thoughts of ‘Roman Holiday’ with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, smartly dressed. Perhaps a lower viewpoint could have simplified the composition, drawing the scooter and sign together to strengthen the metaphor.
ReplyDelete2. Andre H. The mural is a bold statement - reassuring to note that it has not be defaced or over-written. As a photograph, I find it equally pleasing visually when cropped to eliminate the white facade of the pub, although it loses historical meaning. There is room for perspective correction.
3. Arthur H. This image, with its torii gate immediately speaks of Japan. It sits very well in monochrome, yet I find myself wanting more sharpness in the foreground sculpture.
4. Brian O. The high level of ownership and management of small boats interests me. Who are the people who brave the elements (and mud?) in the name of sailing. While a busy composition, the limited colour palette helps cohesion.
5. Dave C. It’s good to see some flash photography in this Circle. I hope we’ll see more. Regardless of the flash, the model’s face appears a little soft and ‘noisy’.
6. David R. A great silhouette, well rendered in colour. I’m open-minded as to the branding. Is it essential, or does it add little? I can see it’s essential when read with the title.
7. Dave S. Truly sincere in character to some of the quieter areas of the ever busy London Bridge station. For me, the architecture is the subject, yet it’s nothing without the incidental figures - standing and seated - the lady leaving the scene, symbolically referencing the Union flag in her wide stride. Very timely.
8. Harry H. Nicely seen; the shape of the cliff face and rolling clouds are so well matched. On a point of detail, the sloping sea horizon appears unnatural - easily corrected in post.
9. Julian P. Very well seen. Nature is beautiful, every detail can bring joy. The image appears a little soft (is it my screen?), leaving some of the textural detail to speculation.
10. Ken G. Sharp focus has been lost on the subject; always a challenge in ‘documentary/street’ photography. Nevertheless, the soft rendering of the lady in sunglasses has added energy, contrasting with the sharper focus on nearby figures The lady’s firm stare is a treat.
11. Malcom R. I wonder if the heron is attracted by the prospect of a meal in a nearby garden pond. Nicely colour-matched, this image is a reminder of the extra reach of a Leica zoom lens, coupled with a crop, on a compact digital camera.
12. Nigel T. I like the layering in this image, arguably 7 layers from foreground to distant horizon and sky. The highlights in the foreground water are an attractive element.
13. Phil C. A fast reaction has ensured the grouping of the 3 pink ladies in the street; a moment later and the scene would doubtless be lost. There is much to be said for dedicating a photo outing to pursuit of images majoring on a single pre-defined colour, although I guess this was pure chance.
14. My Photo.
ReplyDeleteAlex B - interesting combination of iconic and real life, the moped and ‘icon’ label in the context of a lived-in street, the mono revealing its grittiness
Andre H - the angle, framing and cloudy blue sky emphasise the hyper-reality of the giant faces perhaps conveying a sense of the Gloucester artists’ intentions
Arthur H - juxtaposing the lions head and background frame invites us to consider the symbolism inherent in the statue and structure
Brian O - the foreground stretch of mud conveys low tide while the tightly packed cluster of boats illustrate the parking analogy suggested in the title
Dave C - direct eye contact, clever exposure (contrasty while retaining skin tone) and interesting clasped hands give us insight into the personality of the subject
David R - visually appealing and interesting - what is the relationship between the prominent brand and the silhouette famed so festively?
My picture
Harry H - the lurching diagonal and strong texture of stones and sky suggest the powerful geological forces that have forged the shoreline over many years
Julian P - swirling abstract composition reveals a fluidity and life in this pleasingly tasteful still life, lifting it above the one dimensional objects it depicts
Ken G - the slight tilt adds impact and dynamism to this street capture, both direct and also slightly off kilter in face of the subject's challenging look
Malcolm R - the crop just so, the symmetrical shapes of heron and street lamp, whatever there is off-shot to the right it has captured the interest of both.,..
Nigel T - well composed, interesting how the prominent foreground beach scene somehow makes the ferry stand out more with its imposing scale on the skyline
Phil C - a strong diagonal dash of pink picks out a moment of vibrance and vivacity in what looks like an otherwise wintry Christmas street scene
Richard B - simultaneously imposing and delicate, dynamic and static - catching her mid step as she turns is the perfect counterpoint to the portentous concrete background.
Alex B: A good match. A better Icon to what the shop was selling. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteAndre H: Thank you for the story behind the image. I had not expected to see such a mural outside Glasgow or Northern Ireland.
Arthur H: Not an instantly recognisable Japanese image. I like the perspective
Brian O: A good reminder of trip to the Blackwater.
Dave C: Yes, do more. Jade is well presented in the lighting and whatever post-processing you have employed.
David R: An excellent picture. I am not sure that your title does it justice.
Dave S: A memorable image with a title that expresses your feelings.
Harry H: I know the place well. I like this B+W rendering, but I cannot excuse a sloping sea horizon that discredits the impact.
Julian P: Mine
Ken G: When is a girl, a girl? To me, this image is just too cluttered.
Malcolm R: With a final submission at 1600 pixels wide, you can crop ad finitum for this Digital Group . You have a simple picture well worth taking.
Nigel T: All well positioned but your horizon is unnecessarily tilted by 0.90 degrees.
Phil C: Unusual but it appeals to me. The title is a bit off though.
Richard B: Well controlled lighting and timing.
Alex B lovely composition and superb tonal range. A big hit for me
ReplyDeleteMy shot of the month by the way!
DeleteAndre H a bit prosaic for me. Lacks drama.
ReplyDeleteArthur H I really like the bold composition here perhaps would have cropped the sky a little
Brian O I really like the bold colour rendering here.
Dave C a winsome and enigmatic portrait.
David R well framed and good use of silhouette juxtaposed with colour
Dave S my runner up this month. Excellent composition and framing in the doorway with spot on exposure and lush tones
Harry H lovely tonal range but lacks a point of interest
Julian P interesting idea but looks a bit washed out to me
Malcolm R my third place this month as ironically Elliott Erwitt-esque
Phil C oddly with the shallow depth of field the out of focus lady in front throws off the composition with her dominance. Better if cropped so she is partially seen
Nigel T would this have worked better in b and w?
Richard B nice composition but the tones are a bit flat and lacking in dynamic range
ReplyDelete1. Alex B. The combination of scooter and shop name fits the title perfectly, I wonder of the owner is in the shop. Nicely framed and presented.
2. Andre H. This is much more striking than the usual “Blue Plaque” memorials that are attached to walls. Although the old pub is tightly framed it is infuriatingly difficult/impossible to decipher the inscriptions which, because they are there, are crying out to be read.
3. Arthur H. Taken from a strange angle that gives a good view of the lion’s teeth and leaves the torii slightly out of focus.
4. Brian O. A conglomeration of masts and rigging, blue and white seem to be the preferred colours in this boating fraternity. Patterns in the mud add foreground interest.
5. Dave C. Dark clothes and dark background mean the flash has done its job in highlighting Jade;s face and hair well but it has also it up that area of jumper below her arms and that draws my eye continuously.
6. David R. A striking image with its silhouetted figure and shop sign, the gold sparkle gives it that Christmas feel.
7. Dave S. An all too common sight made starker by the harsh monochrome. Do the two vertical lines on the right balance or detract from the whole?
8. Harry H. Fine definition in Hunstanton’s crumbling cliffs, the three figures are too far away be the point of interest that I feel this image lacks.
9. Julian P. Lovely soft greys and grain pattern in the wooden bench, the brown fungi tends to follow the flow of the grain and the overlying layer of leaves tops it all off. A simple natural pattern full of life.
10. Ken G. Five clearly defined faces in this crowded street scene but the sunglasses are centre stage and really draw the attention.
11. Me.
12. Nigel T. Four (or is it five?) Gormley statues watch as Stenna and strollers pass by.
13. Phil C. You had to be quick to see and capture this, the two ladies and the pink umbrella are all nicely separated, well done.
14. Richard B. Heavy overbearing architecture seems rather sinister as the woman steps out of the sunlight into the gloomy shadows. Well framed and the figure captured in exactly the right place.