Day at the park.

[dr4gon]

Oh my..... lots to show today!


flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/) for bigger pictures for my contacts!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2834574185_6d5b10515b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3100/2835411088_506dc7dc11.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2835411162_ff90289ae3.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2834574429_c072b9dccb.jpg?v=0

First tries at HDR
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2834574571_7f9af4930f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2835411474_0a6f09c0e7_b.jpg

[dr4gon]

Not HDR obviously from here to the end :D
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3217/2835411512_f5c5d39b56.jpg?v=0

Yes.... these are surprisingly not HDR. Reminds me of crysis!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2834580897_e3446dae3d.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/2835418020_89f803b74a.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2834581175_a1e50b260a.jpg?v=0

[dr4gon]

I know the HDRs came out weird.... but no comments? :(

[DonSchap]

The #3 in the first post ... the DOF seems a little too shallow, with the petal edges being out of focus ... what are your thoughts?

The #5 of the first post ... the sky just ... well, what are your thoughts? I am also a little unclear as to the subject. The tree in the distance?

#6 also tends to leave one asking ... what are we looking at? What is the subject here? It needs a little help in pointing it out. Just some compositional aspects to consider, that's all.

In the second series ... it would appear to me that the light source is the subject, by virtue of the "Brightest point in the photgraph"-rule. They work. The last one, is the clear exception, as you've gotten the reflection to highlight the subject area. Good use of light.

[dr4gon]

Thanks!

Yeah, I'm kind of wondering what the subject was myself! Other than an excuse to take a picture... Actually, I was just going for a landscape, guess it wasn't landscapish enough? I like your take on the tree in the middle though.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2835411162_ff90289ae3_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dr4gon/2835411162/)

As for the flower, I couldn't quite get the focus right on the middle part, I know it has a name..... just can't think of it now lol. And this was the best of the set and it was just too cool to show what the lens could do not to post it.

For a flower a few inches wide and me able to get this close, what aperture would you suggest? Closer to 5.6 and beyond? I was already shooting ISO400 so I could probably increase it a bit.


Camera Make: SONY
Camera Model: DSLR-A300
Image Date: 2008:09:06 19:12:58
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 90.0mm (35mm equivalent: 135mm)
Exposure Time: 0.0025 s (1/400)
Aperture: f/3.5
ISO equiv: 400
White Balance: Auto
Metering Mode: Center Weight
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)


39575
crop?

blehh.... I don't like it anymore!

How do I establish a subject for wider shots like this? Is it even possible?

I really appreciate the comments!

[seanhoxx]

I wouldn't say the trees at HDR are weird, but they are different, minimalist approach to art maybe? in # 5 the tree is a bit distracting, I kind of like the "layers" of light in the sky. And the last one is just cool, er um should I say warm. Maybe soften the sun in the sky a bit more would draw the eye more to the stone?? Hope I don't sound stupid, just trying to figure this out myself, and trying to understand if I see something I like WHY do I like it.

[dr4gon]

I wouldn't say the trees at HDR are weird, but they are different, minimalist approach to art maybe? in # 5 the tree is a bit distracting, I kind of like the "layers" of light in the sky. And the last one is just cool, er um should I say warm. Maybe soften the sun in the sky a bit more would draw the eye more to the stone?? Hope I don't sound stupid, just trying to figure this out myself, and trying to understand if I see something I like WHY do I like it.

Thank you! How's this?



39576


or is it really the sun setting? could be the moon..... kidding! :p


39577


39578
Makes the W stand out more with the added blacks.

[seanhoxx]

O.k. lets see, in #1 can you "dull" or diffuse or make "smaller the orb in the sky? #2 very cool, that from another world look to it, I find #3 to dark. A perfect example of what can be done with the eye the camera the mind and the software, cool stuff

[dr4gon]

What do you think? Sun smaller and a few other adjustments with dodge/burn


39579

oops, I made west crooked, LOL! Must've forgot to undo that liquify on the W.

[seanhoxx]

LOL ok well get your west straightened out and I think that will be just fine, So how much time and effort does it take to get comfortable with PS ? I am still not sure what to buy.

[dr4gon]

mmm. I've been using it here and there since version 7.0. That's like 4-5 years ago. Can't believe it's been that long. I'm only now getting into photo editing and post processing. The basics are easy to get the hang of. It's good to read up on some tutorials and just play with it. I visit good-tutorials.com every so often and just follow the ones I like. I usually look under the "Top Tutorials of the month" and see what's popular and what I am in the mood of making. Another good way to learn is to pick up a book like Scott Kelby's 7-point system (for photos?) where he walks you through step by step adjusting levels, curves, colors, white balance, etc..... It's a great book. He gives you the RAW files (downloaded from his site) and when you see the before and after of what YOU have made, you will be blown away! You can take an under/over exposed picture and make it decent. It gives you a lot more potential with your photos. You can take bleh photos and make them ok, and turn good photos into even better pictures.