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Excercise in Style for August 2005: BLUE blauw bleu blau μπλε blu 青い 파란 azul голубо azul

submission date 01 to 31 August 2005

A fitting start as we are in the 2nd day of August, and a simple theme with infinite range.

rules:
IMPORTANT: There are no prizes. This is not a challenge.
1. all members are urged to participate with photos taken in the current month
1B. all make and model of camera accepted, FSLR, DSLR, P&S, pin hole, MF, LF
1C. All method of Post Processing (PP) allowed- unless 'theme' state otherwise
2. one (1) image per member
3. assignment to run the length of month.
4. all images for this assignment in this thread
5. you may do more PP after posting your image
6. first person who post gets to choose theme for next month
7. thats about it!

is this the offical theme for this months Genji?

redline wrote:is this the offical theme for this months Genji?

yep.

Nice choice Genji... Should produce a very wide range of photos...

Can one of the moderators please make this a sticky thread for the duration of August... Pretty Please

This seems a bit contradictory to me ...

genji wrote:2. one (1) image per member

and

5. you may alter your image after posting

Isn't that effectively permitting an unlimited number of submissions?

And I think we need to emphasise that this is not a competition, but simply a photographic exercise.

Go out and take some pictures, and have fun!

So from now, we have monthly challenge and monthly ES and 4 x POTW.
So this should make more busy for all members.
Do you have time???????????????????????

Birddog114 wrote:So from now, we have monthly challenge and monthly ES and 4 x POTW.
So this should make more busy for all members.
Do you have time???????????????????????

all these activities are not compulsory, we all chose which activity to participate in. i see ES as leading to the official D70 Competition

ps i have edited the rules (5) to make them clear.

Birddog114 wrote:Do you have time???????????????????????

Provided my time travel experiment works... yes.

Okay... damn. Still here.

Or am I?...

genji wrote:

Birddog114 wrote:So from now, we have monthly challenge and monthly ES and 4 x POTW.
So this should make more busy for all members.
Do you have time???????????????????????

all these activities are not compulsory, we all chose which activity to participate in. i see ES as leading to the official D70 Competition

But it is not in any to be a competitive activity.

genji wrote:i see ES as leading to the official D70 Competition

How?????

Birddog114 wrote:So from now, we have monthly challenge and monthly ES and 4 x POTW.

Well, the challenge isn't really monthly; we've just finished the 5th of them, over a 12 month period.

On the whole, that doesn't really sound too bad, really: a PotW taken from whatever is posted, a monthly style exercise, and a bi-monthly challenge.

Birddog114 wrote:

genji wrote:i see ES as leading to the official D70 Competition

How?????

I think he means that he sees it as a stepping stone towards greater things.

You can use the style exercises as a means to improving your techniques and photographic vision in order that you can then make better images in the challenge.

gstark wrote:Well, the challenge isn't really monthly; we've just finished the 5th of them, over a 12 month period.

The first challenge started in October 04.

gstark wrote:

Birddog114 wrote:

genji wrote:i see ES as leading to the official D70 Competition

How?????

I think he means that he sees it as a stepping stone towards greater things.

You can use the style exercises as a means to improving your techniques and photographic vision in order that you can then make better images in the challenge.

exactly

You can go and see how this will last
We had one done by GregB and leek had another one with cropping, none survived after few weeks.

Birddog114 wrote:

gstark wrote:Well, the challenge isn't really monthly; we've just finished the 5th of them, over a 12 month period.

The first challenge started in October 04.

Yep.

Pretty much bi-monthly, as I think I said.

Birddog114 wrote:You can go and see how this will last
We had one done by GregB and leek had another one with cropping, none survived after few weeks.

I know ....

But I'm not prepared to stand in the way if this is something that some members want to do. We can only support it and see where it leads.

Bear in mind that this is not going to be a competiton of any sort, and also consider what harm it might do. I see the answer to the second point as being none, and as long as the first point is adhered to, I don't see a problem with doing this.

Not that I can really stop it ....

gstark wrote:....and also consider what harm it might do....

In my best Pauline Hanson voice "Please explain"

embi wrote:

gstark wrote:....and also consider what harm it might do....

In my best Pauline Hanson voice "Please explain"

I hope not. The Pauline bit - you'll lose all respect if that's serious.

Pretty simple concept, really.

In conssidering anything that we want to do here, I need to consider the effects of that activity on the forum, be they good or bad. So I try to envisage all possible outcomes and try to take them into consideration.

Please note that I didn't say that there was any harm, but merely pointed out that a potentially harmful outcome might need to be thought about as a posibility.

IS that better?

ah....i understand much better now.

Embi, Gary has explained this well and also stated this should not affect anything. I did note you put in a very good entry for challenge 5. My question is, What if this mini challenge took away from the main challenge to the point where it disappeared? Would you be disappointed or just call it evolution?

Glen wrote:Embi, Gary has explained this well and also stated this should not affect anything. I did note you put in a very good entry for challenge 5. My question is, What if this mini challenge took away from the main challenge to the point where it disappeared? Would you be disappointed or just call it evolution?

Precisely.

Glen wrote:Embi, Gary has explained this well and also stated this should not affect anything. I did note you put in a very good entry for challenge 5. My question is, What if this mini challenge took away from the main challenge to the point where it disappeared? Would you be disappointed or just call it evolution?

I dont think we need to see this "mini challenge" as anything more than a bit of a focus for us to test/hone our skills.

Maybe it will challenge people to "see" what is in the world we live in.

On another note:- I also may come from a different perspective as I worked a full time job when I studied photojournalism at PSC in Melb.

I learned to focus on the topic at hand and just take my pics. I had a topic/week to capture many related images and also submit folio work over each semester that didnt include any of my weekly images.

It was a real challenge but I had to do it....it was costing way too much money to not get it done.

I can see your point that it may be hard for people to focus on many "challenges" and that it might take away from the main challenge.

This is why we have a forum to discuss this sort of thing.

For myself though....I will be happy to enter images for these mini challenges.

Now topic 1. "Blue" Hmmm if this was the Oct topic I may be able to get some relevant shots as I will be on my honeymoon.

embi wrote:Now topic 1. "Blue" Hmmm if this was the Oct topic I may be able to get some relevant shots as I will be on my honeymoon.

You shouldn't be feeling blue on your honeymoon?

embi wrote:

Glen wrote:Embi, Gary has explained this well and also stated this should not affect anything. I did note you put in a very good entry for challenge 5. My question is, What if this mini challenge took away from the main challenge to the point where it disappeared? Would you be disappointed or just call it evolution?

I dont think we need to see this "mini challenge" as anything more than a bit of a focus for us to test/hone our skills.

Which is exactly the sort of outcome I need to ensure, hence my earlier comment.

Glen wrote:Embi, Gary has explained this well and also stated this should not affect anything. I did note you put in a very good entry for challenge 5. My question is, What if this mini challenge took away from the main challenge to the point where it disappeared? Would you be disappointed or just call it evolution?

Personally - I don't see what all the fuss is about...

What is proposed is not a competition, it is merely a non-competitive themed set of entries into the Image Critique section...
I don't think that it will interfere with or detract from the main challenges in the slightest... They are totally different in nature.

If people don't want it, then I'm sure it will fade out...
If it gets too critical or competitive, then I'm sure we can moderate that...

I look forward to the first entry...

Blue



I know the horizon isn't straight people, but that is just not all that important for me.

EDIT - to be honest, it was taken on Saturday...

Heath Bennett wrote:I know the horizon isn't straight people, but that is just not all that important for me.

EDIT - to be honest, it was taken on Saturday...

Technically, there is no horizon in your image but there is stright vertical line from the top of the post to the bottom of post reflection, so, image is sort of stright

Very blue shoes

Heath Bennett wrote:
EDIT - to be honest, it was taken on Saturday...

i'lll accept your post, heath, amazing image!! to me the photo looks like a 'decisive moment'. like the way the reflection misses the shoe and bag.
pls explain how you came to taking this photo.

ps being the first to post you get to select the next theme

Sorry taken out of the month of August but PSed in August

Does that mean I'm a ninny

Hope you enjoy my Morning Blue.

Mic. :wink

I'll have my image up before the end of the month or maybe b4 the end of the week, but in the meantime can I request that each entrant provides some background on how /when / why the picture was taken and the technical camera details (if not available from the photo)...

I think that this will help us all learn from each other...

I would say "..... request that each entrant provides some background on how /when / why the picture was taken and the technical camera details (even if available from the photo)... "

Assuming people can access embedded EXIF info assumes they are accessing the site from their home computer, over which they have control of what programs are loaded... I often access this site from other computers which cannot retrieve EXIF info so, seflishly, I would appreciate EXIF info *always* being put in the post with the photo....

i think im cheating here, but here's mine:
"blue" as in sad-lonley-desperate
[img]<a%20href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/deesignphotography/28592172/"%20title="Photo%20Sharing"><img%20src="http://photos21.flickr.com/28592172_e466d7f634_b.jpg"%20width="1024"%20height="707"%20alt="spare%20a%20euro?"%20/></a>[/img]

Fantastic. Like the standard so far.

Great works but is it blue?

I think given that this is an exercise in learning/refining skills I would love to see more info on each shot as well.

Not only exif data, but equipment used, photoshop steps (doesn't have to be in depth, just anything special you did), aim behind taking the photo.

The images so far are really excellent........although are we supposed to be using new images, or ones already taken?

Cheers
Deb

Hi Mic

great image, just one thing. You said the below. Is this in relation to when the image was taken? Cause if I read the exif correctly it was taken at night at 19:49......this is 7:49pm right?

mic wrote:Hope you enjoy my Morning Blue.

Not meaning to be picky, just wanting to understand the full circumstances the image was shot under....cause I want one as good as that.

cheers
Deb

- Robber Crab -

Taken at Christmas island last week or two. Exif lost to memory (image already archived.)
Taken with D70 and 50mm 1.4F, onboard flash. Looks about F7-8. PSCS - Normal stuff, USM, saturation or colour adj, border etc. Nothing fancy.

HappyFotographer wrote:....although are we supposed to be using new images, or ones already taken?

Cheers
Deb

Deb, for ES in future only photos taken within the month, but for this month, photos taken over the weekend b4 august is acceptable.

flipfrog wrote:i think im cheating here, but here's mine:

how many euro did you give the subject?

killakoala,
Now I now what did you mean about "crap" or "crab"
Will you fly back to rhe AW? we missed you

Some info for my Blue Morning :

Deb, yes you are right, but I couldn't call it nightly blue
I PSed in the morning, does that get me out of trouble

I basically just played around with the Curves & Colour temp & cropped to the desired effect.
It's amazing what you can do in the Raw Adjustments, It's great to bring an image to life & give it a different feel & look.

Glad you liked.

Mic.

I really like Mic......so the colour temp play a big part in the blue look, or did the original have a lot of blue to start with?

Off to play now.

cheers
Deb

Deb,

Yes it was pretty blue, but when I played around a bit it really brought it out big time.

Thanks,

Mic.

Here is my image for this exercise. Couple notes.

First regarding to subject, I treat that as a Blue/Style. The simplest way to achive the first part is obviously include blue colour. That is easy.

Second part is more difficult. 'Style', in what meaning? Sophisticated item? Personal style (of photography)? Anything else? I choose to play wih pattern. Patterns are usually abstract and well executed give possibility to wide interpratation. To make shot more interesting I also decided to go to macro. It makes thing even more abstract - and that is the point, allow viewer to use his brain

From technical point of view - simple, couple cents cleaning cloth from Woolie. 24mm on reversal mount. D70. Camera freely placed on a table (I should buy a bellows

Here it comes:

...... London sky.......

[/quote]

krpolak wrote:From technical point of view - simple, couple cents cleaning cloth from Woolie. 24mm on reversal mount. D70. Camera freely placed on a table (I should buy a bellows

thats a simple and effective photo using unorthodox technique!
IMHO i prefer a shallow DOF, reminds me of apples OS X wallpaper image.

Here is my attempt. Used the Sigma 105mm macro. Shot in a cocoon using a blue fish and 2 blue bottles. Shot with a single blue filtered light hand held.

iso 200, f/22 at 3 secs.

The only PP is to use some smart sharpening in PSCS2. FYI the white spots on the fish is dust - note: must clean my apartment!

Well done Chris,

nice colours. What is the cocoon you refer to? Is that similar to a light box?

Also, well done to krpolack. Simple but very original.

Heath's photo is a classic for me, being also from Newcastle, the Merewether baths are perfectly caught.

Learning heaps already, cocoons, reversal mount, etc.

thanks,

André

Radar -yes a cocoon is a form of light box that enables me to photograph products in an enclosed environment. I generally use it for liquor bottle shots