GKPE - Fortnightly Photo Challenge #2 - Comments and Ramblings

[scotttnz]

OK....post your comments on GKPE fortnightly challange here.

Post photos only over here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1362913#post1362913

[weka2000]

Well didnt take you long to take back the drivers seat :)

[joeseph]

Cheers Scott!

[dgcorner]

Something to do with Transportation...

Subject: Doctors Confessions

A man comes into the ER and yells, "My wife's going to have her
baby in the cab!" I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted
the lady's dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I
noticed that there were several cabs - and I was in the wrong one.
Dr. Mark MacDonald, San Antonio, TX

[scotttnz]

Well didnt take you long to take back the drivers seat

Only doing as I'm told:)

Setup the threads (1 for the pics and the other for the chat) and lets discuss ideas. Your in charge

[weka2000]

Something to do with Transportation...

Subject: Doctors Confessions

A man comes into the ER and yells, "My wife's going to have her
baby in the cab!" I grabbed my stuff, rushed out to the cab, lifted
the lady's dress, and began to take off her underwear. Suddenly I
noticed that there were several cabs - and I was in the wrong one.
Dr. Mark MacDonald, San Antonio, TX

LOL now how could you get that wrong and he was a DR. Go figure

[dgcorner]

Simon - I like your take on transportation. Great contrasty colours.

[dgcorner]

My contribution here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1381884#post1381884)

[forsaken]

thought I would go for something slightly different this time around

[weka2000]

I see wazzas just put up...............dam now Im really going to have to find that rabbit to pull out of the hat.

[joeseph]

I see wazzas just put up...............dam now Im really going to have to find that rabbit to pull out of the hat.
I suppose you could use rabbits as transportation, off to see Alice etc...

[dgcorner]

Fran's railway joiner is really cool. Says heaps.

I also like Fred's ride!

[joeseph]

I'm going to tomorrow try something similar to Wazza's shot - but in a different environment completely. Expect to use iso1600 and slow shutter. Hope it works!

[Wazza]

But that will be past the Tuesday deadline. :lol:

It's all for fun, let's see what you have.

I'm also a fan of Fran's sleeper shot. I'm drawn to it for some reason. Nice sharpness, contrast and DOF.

[joeseph]

I'm also a fan of Fran's sleeper shot. I'm drawn to it for some reason. Nice sharpness, contrast and DOF.
Me too. I think it's also got something to do with simplicity

[NordieBoy]

I took a few different shots.
One motion blur sorta Wazza style.
One night lights sorta Tony style.
A couple of perspective along the tracks style.

But the sleeper joiner was the cleanest and simplest.

Phear the power of the mighty Nifty!

[weka2000]

Yes your late ........ but as there are no hard and fast rules. I have noticed a trend. Woman are driving and the men are hanging out all over the place with their cameras.

Ok scott whats the next challange.

I think that the rail joiner was the winner on the day :)

Most of us seemed intrested in motion

[scotttnz]

Some great shots this time around! I particularly like Wazza's leaning out the window one, and Duncan's tunnel shot (I'm glad you decided to make a late submission!). I love the colours in Simons roller blade shot too.

I do like these challenges, but have had a lack of opportunities to go shoot lately. How about someone else suggest a theme this time.

Is 2 weeks long enough? Anyone want to suggest any other changes to the rules, I mean loose guidelines?

[scotttnz]

How does everybody do their borders....they do look better!

[NordieBoy]

Borders?
------------------------------------------
alt-ctrl B
Click OK
Z
Click on frame
alt-crtl-shift B
Click OK
T
Type text and drag into position
------------------------------------------
Thanks for asking :D

[NordieBoy]

But I just thought "Hey that looks cool - click".
The ones I planned didn't turn out so well.

Next!

[weka2000]

Some great shots this time around! I particularly like Wazza's leaning out the window one, and Duncan's tunnel shot (I'm glad you decided to make a late submission!). I love the colours in Simons roller blade shot too.

I do like these challenges, but have had a lack of opportunities to go shoot lately. How about someone else suggest a theme this time.

Is 2 weeks long enough? Anyone want to suggest any other changes to the rules, I mean loose guidelines?

He forgot about me :(

How about 50mm Black and white landscape

2 weeks is ample

[joeseph]

Agree 2 weeks is fine - as is the next challenge (cheers Tony) :-)

[weka2000]

How does everybody do their borders....they do look better!

Mikes framer script, he has one now for "other apps"

[scotttnz]

How about 50mm Black and white landscape

50mm.....damn I'll have to go and get a 58mm cokin adapter ring then.....

I'll start the thread tonight.

[Moppie]

50mm.....damn I'll have to go and get a 58mm cokin adapter ring then.....

I'll start the thread tonight.



50mm?
Damn, Ill have to go and buy a 30D with a nifty. Ill head off to Auckland Camera tonight.

[NordieBoy]

Is that 50mm with or without the crop factor?
Do I need to buy a 38mm lens or not?

Say yes! :D

[weka2000]

Sorry I thought 50mm was 50mm on FF and Cropped cameras.

Moppie did they have them in stock :)

[Moppie]

They had plenty in stock, but apprently they don't accept kidneys as payment. :(

[weka2000]

They had plenty in stock, but apprently they don't accept kidneys as payment. :(

The old "cost me an arm and a leg"

One day when they need one you mightbe in a better position to trade

[scotttnz]

New challange thread is over here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1429349#post1429349

[Moppie]

Some good photos in it.

I had a quick think on the way home today, if I shot with a 50mm lens on my camera it would equivilant to useing a 200+mm on a full frame :D :D :D

My first entry is up :)


Duncan, your shot looks really good, I love the reflection.

Tony, how dark did you intend those to be? They seem very dark to me, it works on the first one, but the second has no foreground detail.

[weka2000]

Good to see some new entrents :)

[scotttnz]

OiPaz, love your shot. The IR filter effect is really interesting! I'm going to have to get an IR filter and try it.

Tony, I agree with Moppie. Both of your shots look too dark on my screen, and therefore lack any detail in the foreground. Try lightening them up a bit.

[weka2000]

oh lighten up ......:lol:

All my screens are LCD now are you guys viewing on crt? If one / both of you want to redo my image so it light for your viewing then repost it will give me an idea of what settings I should be using

[Moppie]

Ill have a play when I get home, my work CRT is so dark I can't see much of anyones photos, but you deffinitly need to darken your monitor at least 30% I would say.

[joeseph]

Tony, the second Karekare shot is much better on my work monitor - lots more bush detail. Cheers for the comments Moppie, managed to drive around the offroad track enough to get a shot off without powerlines in it (and without getting the car stuck!)
Good to see Oipaz getting in with a great shot - what sort of settings did that one need?

[dgcorner]

Tony - 2nd one is better -- more detail in the bush.

[dgcorner]

Mario/Oipaz, good IR shot. Was that someone curled on the beach in the foreground?

[dgcorner]

Moppie -- cool tree shot.

[Moppie]

managed to drive around the offroad track enough to get a shot off without powerlines in it (and without getting the car stuck!)


How did you avoid getting shot by the army?

[joeseph]

How did you avoid getting shot by the army?
Army? ammunition? think budget cuts.... besides, we were in the Vodafone red Telecom wagon - worst they could do is slap the bumpers with a wet sponge. :lol:

[NordieBoy]

Well I've got my first 2 entries up.

Question[s] for the GKPE B&W God[s].

How do you convert to B&W and get good contrast etc?
Do you set out to take a B&W shot and expose accordingly?

That's all, just a simple answer would be OK. :rolleyes: :D

[dgcorner]

Fran, I probably do it hte wrong way... but FWIW, I tweak my "coloured" version the way I want it to look, then desaturate, then play with individual channels in levels till I get the look I want...

[weka2000]

Fran, I probably do it hte wrong way... but FWIW, I tweak my "coloured" version the way I want it to look, then desaturate, then play with individual channels in levels till I get the look I want...

Thats what I do. Convert from colour to B&W in RAW

[NordieBoy]

Hmmm...
Serious suggestion for FC#4

Re-Creation of famous photo from your area?
Post up original and your interpretation.

It's something I've wanted to do for a while now but never found the time.

[Mark0159]

Hmmm...
Serious suggestion for FC#4

Re-Creation of famous photo from your area?
Post up original and your interpretation.

It's something I've wanted to do for a while now but never found the time.

that would be interesting, the main problem I have is I don't know a famous photo of hamilton. unless I just wont to shot cows. which aren't that exciting

[joeseph]

that would be interesting, the main problem I have is I don't know a famous photo of hamilton. unless I just wont to shot cows. which aren't that exciting
depends on the artillery calibre... ;)

Fran, it's quite a good idea - only problem I see is possible trouble posting famous photo's. Maybe we can get away with linking to a page elsewhere but could be just as interesting to make people guess what the challenge photo was re-creating!

[NordieBoy]

I've taken a couple of photos of famous local photos to try and get me going.
Or not even famous, just old.

No, not one of you when you were a kid :rolleyes:

This style is what I had in mind...

[Moppie]

Thats a very cool tripod come ladder....... a Ladderpod?
I want one anyway.

[weka2000]

I like the reflection of the new guy shooting the old guy :)

[NordieBoy]

Maybe I shouldn't have worn red that day but I like the effect :D

[weka2000]

Any others with ideas for a new topic

What about reflections?

[dgcorner]

Well, with all the rain we've been getting. . . REFLECTIONS should be a good one to work on...

[dgcorner]

Do we have a vote yet?

[weka2000]

Where is scott when you need him. I fact has anyone noticed how quite he has been, wonder if he got that new EF-S lens he has been after and dosnt want to share it yet :)

[scotttnz]

You don't need me to make a decision....heck, I didn't even enter the last one.

Tony, go ahead and start a thread!

No, unfortunately I haven't got an efs 17-55 f2.8 IS......I would like one, but I have already spent far too much on my hobby in the last 12 months. I can't justify $1800 to replace my kit lens.....but the guy in the lotto shop told me that my powerball ticket is the winning one, so next week will be a different story!

[joeseph]

methinks having to post Challenge #4 photos by Sun 7th May is a little harsh Tony, we're having trouble with the tardis as it is... (surfs while at a client waiting for a backup to restore :-) )

[weka2000]

Scott may I ask what you were trying to acheive?

[scotttnz]

Scott may I ask what you were trying to acheive?

What I was trying to achieve is exactly what you see (believe it or not!). I took about 10 shots, but this is the only one that came out how I wanted it.

I was on the ferry home and had the camera with me. I saw the lights reflecting off the water and instantly thought of the challange. The boat was moving about a lot, and I did not have a tripod with me, or IS, so was going to leave the camera in the bag. But I thought if I went for a log exposure, I could get some cool abstract light trails and the reflection off the water. I'm really pleased with the result, I love the texture of the water especially.

[weka2000]

How choppy was the water.

[NordieBoy]

OK, here is my first entry for this fortnights challange
Titled "Cooooofffffffeeeeeee!!!!!!"

[scotttnz]

How choppy was the water.

Reasonably so....the Ferry was going full steam ahead and it was pretty windy.
I'm happy with the shot because it came out how I envisioned it (That does not happen often for me!). It was a situation that I would not have normally bothered getting the camera out for, but it resulted in a shot that i am pleased with, and is not just another boring cityscape at night.

Titled "Cooooofffffffeeeeeee!!!!!!" I don't drink coffee, but "V" does not have the same ring to it!

[dgcorner]

Kinda figured that Scott shot the pic with that in mind, i.e., reflected abstract of the Auckland skyline. 10 points to Scott for achieving what he envisioned.

As for me, I'm still trying to figure out what to take a pic of...

EDIT: I think I just hit upon something. I will give it a go and see how it comes out...

[scotttnz]

Tag, I like your take on the reflections theme. But to my eye it is a little too soft. I Guess I have been conditioned by the cult of sharpness for too long! Maybe a touch less blur?

[weka2000]

I would like to see a septia of that shot to give it an aged look.

[scotttnz]

Ah, reflections AND a water theme...

That is awesome, where did you take that shot?

[NordieBoy]

Well the image name is "milford.jpg" :D

ISO800 on a 10D
Nice!

[weka2000]

Well the image name is "milford.jpg" :D

ISO800 on a 10D
Nice!

LOL. There is always a wise guy

[NordieBoy]

Nice pic Tony.
More people going home this time :D

[dgcorner]

Tony, nice pic. For a moment I was trying to figure out what bridge had the red lighting... then realised that those were light trails caused by the long exposure...:lol: :o

COFFEEEEE!!!! I need to wake up my brain:lol:

[weka2000]

Fran nice photo. Love the colour.

Gives us an idea for the next challange "Autum Colours"

[scotttnz]

Fran, #3 is your best!

I like how your framing does not include the trees, just their replections. Made me do a double take at first, because the upside down trees look 'wrong'

Great image!

[NordieBoy]

Just noticed it was still on ISO800 from the other shots I took :(
No wonder it was a bit grainy and I couldn't get the shutter speed down much :D

1/60th, f16, ISO800, 59mm - Sigma 28-80 f2.8 EX

I really need a tripod for this sort of stuff.
Would have liked to get down to 1/2s shutter but left the ND4 at home and even I can't hold a camera properly still for that long :rolleyes:

[dgcorner]

Fran, #3 rocks! If you flipped the picture 180deg you could create an illusion that the rocks were up there with water flowing over...

[NordieBoy]

Now that really messes with your mind! :D

[forsaken]

yes yes it does

[scotttnz]

Wooooooow...I feel dizzy!

[weka2000]

Well this comment may stand on a few feet but what the hell.

That is the most creative image I have seen from our group

[scotttnz]

John, that is a great photo! I like it!

Tony, which image are you refering to? I assume you are talking about John's, but your post does not say. And hell, dont worry about our toes! (We all wear steel caps!)

[weka2000]

John, that is a great photo! I like it!

Tony, which image are you refering to? I assume you are talking about John's, but your post does not say. And hell, dont worry about our toes! (We all wear steel caps!)

Yes John's but may I add the word is "creative"
John was that by design in other words did you have an idea in your head and set the scene or did it happen by chance?

I give it a WOW

[dgcorner]

Yes John's but may I add the word is "creative"
John was that by design in other words did you have an idea in your head and set the scene or did it happen by chance?

I give it a WOW

Thanks Tony & Scott. The idea popped into my head when I saw David playing his guitar... and I thought that I would try to capture his love of playing the guitar whilst having his image on it.

Mind you, the idea was simple but the execution took a number of shots till I was happy with the result.

David was very happy with it and he immediately changed his pic on Bebo (one of those websites for school kids) and his phone as well.

[weka2000]

Bebo (one of those websites for school kids).

Our kids get

"ACCESS Denied" thats blocked :lol:

[NordieBoy]

I like the way the elements of that shot come together John.
Nice :D

[dgcorner]

Thanks Fran.

It is good to know that the "hard work" came through this time... I never thought that translating an idea into reality takes a while ;-) I'm glad you liked it. Gladder still that my son thought that it was good enough to replace his pic on Bebo.

[OiPaz]

Mario/Oipaz, good IR shot. Was that someone curled on the beach in the foreground?
Silly me: I've noticed this thread only in this very moment! :-O
Yes, dgcorner, in the foreground there is my wife Laura (you met her in the GPKE3). When she stood up she found a bite of some insect in the arm you can see on the sand: her entire arm remained red and swollen (and aching) for a full week!!!

[dgcorner]

Silly me: I've noticed this thread only in this very moment! :-O
Yes, dgcorner, in the foreground there is my wife Laura (you met her in the GPKE3). When she stood up she found a bite of some insect in the arm you can see on the sand: her entire arm remained red and swollen (and aching) for a full week!!!

Sand flies or some other insect on the sand will do that... it's best to put on some bite ointment or some hydrocortisone cream -- this will stop the swelling and aide in the healing process.

[OiPaz]

Yep, she put a cortisone cream, but Kiwi insects seem to be stronger than Italian creams! ;)

[tag141]

Just like OiPaz I've only just realised this includes FPC4 as well !!

So...my car reflection may be a tad too soft for most. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. If anyone wants to play (http://tph1.orcon.net.nz/reflection.jpg) feel free to sepiarise or anything. It's the full extracted file so it's big. Milford is the other picture. found a new bit of walking track and a still bit of water before the boats spoilt it.

The guitar reflection I have to agree though, is excellent. Very well executed.

[dgcorner]

Just like OiPaz I've only just realised this includes FPC4 as well !!

So...my car reflection may be a tad too soft for most. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. If anyone wants to play (http://tph1.orcon.net.nz/reflection.jpg) feel free to sepiarise or anything. It's the full extracted file so it's big. Milford is the other picture. found a new bit of walking track and a still bit of water before the boats spoilt it.

The guitar reflection I have to agree though, is excellent. Very well executed.

Thanks Tag! With all this rain I will hopefully be able to find another one worth posting ;-)

[forsaken]

tag141

could that be the reflection of the person in the bottom right of the shot??

[NordieBoy]

So what's the new challange?
If it's going to be an autumny type one then it'd better be fast :D

[weka2000]

Where is everyone. We need to do a roll call, just to make sure we are still all alive.

[dgcorner]

Yes, where is everyone?

Tony, the leaves have mostly fallen off the trees and the colours are a dull "dead" brown... so I don't think that there is a decent tree left to take a pic of if we pursue the Autumn challenge #5...

[NordieBoy]

No!
I've got my "Cabbage trees in full Autumn Glory" idea all lined up!

[weka2000]

Well we will just have to think of something else.

Self portrait :lol:

Seems sandra made an impression they want more:o

[dgcorner]

I guess that it is very rare that POTN members do a portrait of themselves with nothing on but a towel... have you found the fig leaf yet?

[weka2000]

I guess that it is very rare that POTN members do a portrait of themselves with nothing on but a towel... have you found the fig leaf yet?

who need a leaf, my nature is all or nothing so what the hell im going for nothing but a smile :lol:

[dgcorner]

Alrighty, this post starts GKPE FC#5: EYES

Are prosthetics allowed? ;-)

[NordieBoy]

It's very open to interpretation :)

[Mark0159]

well since it was a wet day today I did some playing. I have updated the latest challanage.

it's the closest I will ever get for putting my photo on the web :)

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?p=1625949#post1625949

[dgcorner]

My my Mark -- what big eyes you have :lol:

I like the infra-reddy thingy post processing... I should try that one of these days.

[Mark0159]

it or is a case of trying to get a photograph of my eye lashes, which every one tells me that I have got long ones. the series of photographs didn't come out the best. but you are right, I think the modifyed one is the best.

[dgcorner]

it or is a case of trying to get a photograph of my eye lashes, which every one tells me that I have got long ones. the series of photographs didn't come out the best. but you are right, I think the modifyed one is the best.

At least you didn't have any mascara on:lol:

[NordieBoy]

And he dosn't have "IMAGE EDITING OK" on so he won't ever have mascara on :D

[dgcorner]

Mario -- that was one sharp bird! What lens were you using?

[OiPaz]

Mario -- that was one sharp bird! What lens were you using?
I was using my best lens (I think): the 100-400 @285mm, f/8, 1/640 sec, ISO 100.

[dgcorner]

Fran, I like it! Though it looks like "He" sure is pissed off at something ;-)

[Mark0159]

well I have been playing around with those eye photos I had taken a few weeks ago and came up with something which I think is cool :) at least for me it is.

[dgcorner]

Mark -- I like this latest one -- great job! What processing did you do, or how was it shot?

[Mark0159]

would you believe that I had only taken aboug 15-20 mins to get this done. I had tried a number of things in getting the photo this way, all of which I had deleted and started again. This time I figured that less was more.

It was done in photoshop using the magic wand tool. If you right click anywhere in your photograph with this tool you can select colour range. I adjusted the fuzziness untill I found the right amount selected. Once you select the right amount you just copy on to another layer and bingo.

Once I had got that I doubled the layer and merged them to one. adjusted the levels untill I got enought detail out of the eye and then change to b&w. the end.

very simple.

[Mark0159]

http://www.cuthbert.net.nz/potn/img0025.jpg

The above photo is the very first picture I did in Photoshop, which to my surprise I find out tonight that it was 6 years ago. :) I used Photoshop ver 4 to create what you see.

The photo itself was one that I had found on the web somewhere and I believe I don't even have the original file anymore.

so I have been playing around with PS for a number of years, but only in the past 3 or so I have been taking photos to spark that creative streak.

[NordieBoy]

6 years ago?
1996?

[Mark0159]

ooops, may have had the number 6 on my mind, ohh well I guess you can do the maths :)

[NordieBoy]

You're not Australian are you?

[joeseph]

6 years ago?
1996?
wondered how long it would take someone to spot that... ;)

[Mark0159]

Well many years ago while at the check out at the supermarket someone did ask me which country I am from. :confused: :rolleyes:

However I can asure you that I am 100% kiwi.

[dgcorner]

We all have our off days :-)

[dgcorner]

Well many years ago while at the check out at the supermarket someone did ask me which country I am from. :confused: :rolleyes:

Hmmm, I get that heaps... especially after I open my mouth:D Suddenly there's this "Asian" who everybody can understand...:rolleyes: I say, I'm not Asian... I'm a Kiwi... but am originally from the Philippines:p

[NordieBoy]

That beer ad that was running a long time ago with the guy with the Irish accent ordering a beer was good.
"Where're you from mate?"
"Tihape"