blog poll

Studio 365: Day 238

Matting and framing in the studio today. It’s always exciting and reassuring to see how an image can be transformed with a simple mat and appropriate frame around it.

Today was definitely a good day and in keeping with this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge from Cheri I have also put the above images in a Mesh gallery for comparison. If you have time I would be interested in your input comparing the two galleries in the pole below, particularly as I am not yet sure whether the Mesh gallery is the way to go. I suspect the Mesh developers would be interested too.

Many thanks.

One Four Challenge: Jan Wk 4 – Poll

London
 
London ivb   London iiib

London i   London ii

Once again this has been an enjoyable challenge from Robyn with lots of great entries from everyone.  Here is the original negative and, like the one I used for the November One Four Challenge, it has remained pristine in its protective sleeve over all these years.

London neg

Spotmatic

Using Robyn’s challenge I have continued to explore the numerous possibilities that Photoshop Elements offers when creating an image, using layers, gradients, color combinations and various filters.  Unfortunately the results have clearly not always been appreciated or understood by one of our contributors who found my submissions to be pointless, and described them in his or her comments to me as “surreal”, “unrecognizable” and “garish.”  This individual feels that the essence of the challenge is to try “new post processing techniques and be brave enough to post them,” and not use “unrecogniseable post modern variations.”

Fortunately I am old enough not to be affected by such negative criticism.  However I am concerned that if someone who is just starting out with their blog, or is experimenting early on in their photography development, received such harsh criticism it might just make them want to give up.

The point of relating these thoughts is to remind all of us that the blogosphere should be a fun, enjoyable and safe place in which to express ourselves, and that any comments we choose to make to others should always be of a constructive rather than a destructive nature.

Now, having got that off my chest I thought you might enjoy some of the other images from the roll of film I shot that day at the Lord Mayor of London’s Parade. Here is the next shot of the carriage as it went by me showing a very young Prince Charles and Princess Anne on their way to Mansion House and I have also included some of the other images in a slide show after the poll.

Lord Mayor iv

Once again, thanks to Robyn for all that she does to make this so successful and congratulations everyone on all the great contributions this month.

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Nighttime is the Lighttime

Nighttime viii
 
Dear Diary…Early this morning, around 3:30 am, in response to Ben Huberman’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Nighttime, I decided to attempt my first Light Painting photography.
 
Subject: Sunflowers on the kitchen deck featured this week in From Seed To Sky.
 
Requirements:

  1. My Pentax Kr DSLR
  2. Infra red wireless shutter release (newly bought, and so worth it)
  3. Tripod
  4. Confused cat (not expected)
  5. Disturbed wife (also not expected)

Result…well, you can decide comparing the same sunflowers in this morning’s sunshine…
 
nighttime ix

Plan: Early night after the final season opener of Boardwalk Empire.

Color v Monochrome: The Poll of the Century

All right, I admit it is perhaps a slight exaggeration but hopefully it caught your attention. Let me explain… and there will be a poll at the end.

My recent post Monochrome Enchantment was inspired by a superb exhibition at the Andrew Smith Gallery in Santa Fe of the works of Ansel Adams.  Landscape photography never looked more breathtaking and I came away in awe of the drama and beauty of Ansel Adams’s black and white view of the world and a greater understanding as to why he is considered one of the greatest photographers of the twentieth century. Continue reading