My 50 and me

In another thread I mentioned that I had committed this month to nothing but my 5D and my 50mm to get back to the fun of photography as it was when first started 50 years ago with a Canon 35mm and a 50mm lens. Nothing else and every thing on manual. (ok, so I do cheat and use the built in meter and I chimp...hehehe). Today, I went down to the Wall and shot some images. Here are the results. Your comments and crits are encouraged.

I also encourage anyone else to try it. Use nothing but your camera and the lens that is the closest to 'normal' for your sensor size. Shoot all on manual. Shoot for the balance of the month and as you shoot, post your results here.

Hinson

very neat conceptual shot and I really like the blend of the inset. you put them together in a way that isnt awkward for either image.

I would like to see a version with a bit more wall bordering the top and bottom of the inset. Maybe just make the inset a TINY bit smaller overall. I guess i just want to see a bit of the wall layer at the top and bottom of the frame instead of the blend going all the way to the edge.

I am not being overly critical, and i only say it because i know you can handle it. A newbie would get alot more praise and exclamation marks, and fewer critiques. it is a stunner.

I really like your sabbatical idea from the pressures of all the gear. i think that it lets the artist inside shine alot more.

Later.

Fantastic image, just brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for sharing.
Pat

Mike, thanks for the comments. If I understand you correctly, you would like to see the inset a bit smaller so that more of the wall shows top and bottom. Let me play around a bit more and see what I can do. I've got to reprint this anyway. My original print had a bit of sky reflection showing in the upper right corner and the brightness drew the eye away from the subject. I'll rework and repost.

Pat, thanks for the remarks. I go to the wall 4-5 times a year. My dad is buried in Arlington which is just over the bridge so I make the loop. I usually read the letters that have been left, shed some tears and remember my friends who lost their life in Nam. I was one of the fortunate ones. My discharge came just as the war was heating up. I wasn't about to re-up at that point so it ended my military career. I'm still 'old navy' though <G>.

Hinson

I think that the draw of the Holga is the return to simplicity and concentrated effort.

If you also dropped a dollar in a donation jar for every shot you take (good or bad), you would get close to the same effect as shooting a Holga with medium format film.

With the speed and low cost of digital photos, I sometimes find myself sifting through a couple hundred mediocre shots I've taken. When I focus on taking decent shots I have a much better ratio.

I quite like the your composite image, by the way.

cres wrote in post #4147445
With the speed and low cost of digital photos, I sometimes find myself sifting through a couple hundred mediocre shots I've taken. When I focus on taking decent shots I have a much better ratio.

I quite like the your composite image, by the way.

Thanks Cres; I agree that too many of us use the 'shotgun' approach when shooting (shoot enough images and one or two are bound to turn out). Being from the old school, I still compose in my mind first, then in my camera. I normally take no more than 2-3 shots of a subject. If I don't have it by then, I ain't gonna get it <G>

Mike;
Here is the rework. What do you think about this version. I cropped the wall tighter, straightened the lines, reduced the size of the inset and adjusted levels. Looking at it though, I'm not sure I like the smaller inset. What say you? (or anyone else)

Hinson

Interesting concept!

Now that i see it in the flesh, i think you had it right the first time. I think i was habitually just looking for a frame, when it really doesn't improve the impact of the image overall. I still like it as the new version, but the first one is more powerful when compared.

Thanks for humoring me.

TTYL!

A 5D and a 50mm is a great combo and as someone else mentioned if you shoot less, take your time and consider all aspects of the shot then inevitably you get a better ratio of keepers. I have had times when I have got close to 100% keepers from a day out shooting with some of my old Zeiss and Pentax lenses and an adaptor.The full manual focus and exposure thing really brings the fun and craft back to shooting for me.

MikeMcL wrote in post #4152652
Now that i see it in the flesh, i think you had it right the first time. I think i was habitually just looking for a frame, when it really doesn't improve the impact of the image overall. I still like it as the new version, but the first one is more powerful when compared.

Thanks for humoring me.

TTYL!

Mike, I agree. I wanted the emphasis on the statues, using the Wall as the background. Making the statues smaller reverses this and it just doesn't work as well. I do appreciate your comments though.

Again, I do agree. I still use the auto-focus though. My eyesight ain't what it used to be and I need the help <G>

Hinson

Hinson that's a wonderful piece of art, thanks for sharing.

Very emotive

Ok, here is the final rendering. I'm printing it at 14x11 as we speak <G>. I made a number of changes on the background (Wall) including straightening the lines, perspective, streatching to make sure I could crop to size without the reflection of the sky, etc. I think it works.

Hinson

I really like the concept here and the picture looks great

Hinson, i know it's personal choice but i'm not sure about the new central position of the signature. I'm finding it's drawing my eye somewhat, it was less obtrusive in the original position.

As I say it's a personal choice but just thought i'd say

Thanks, Flexi. The siggy is just for the online version. The print doesn't have it.

Hinson