Choosing Final Images Theme 2 - Nature

 Again from the hundreds of photos I have taken over the recent months I need to focus down to the final cut of 10. Again I will start with a good selection and attempt to reduce the set by natural means to achieve photos that sit comfortably together

Straight away there are several which can be removed. The Sea gull, several close ups of isolated flowers and buds. 

The images seem to already be falling into 2/3 categories. Some pics sit with snow, some landscapes and some berries.

Having now sorted roughly the groups it is clear that some of the pictures are not sitting comfortably with others. The Warwick landscape winter scenes have a good composition, perspective and colour range and sit well but there are only 3 of them. Likewise the winter leaves have a good colour range, perspective. But I particularly like the leaves on the snow. So I am ending with 3 groups as below

Choosing Final Images Theme 1 - Architecture

From the numerous photos taken over recent weeks I now need to get down to the final 10 for post production. the choice is difficult as there are many photos with varied themes and compositions.

But as a start point lets remove the pics that do not sit together in any logical way and try to leave pics which do seem to sit roughly together.

The BT tower, the hands, the bull ring sign all are good but sit alone too much.

The night scenes in Lichfield do not work. I was trying to replicate the work of Ezra Stoller in the black and white pics but the AWB was not correct so they must go. 

What we are getting left with seem to fall into two distinct categories. Old and New !! The stonework of the historical buildings and the shapes they create with very ridgid lines and fairly dull colours, contrast greatly with the shapes and fairly vivid colours of the more modern buildings. 

So lets try to put into two groups. Particularly I was trying with the modern  buildings to replicate the work of Anthony Weller where he creates pictures from details rather than the whole building. He also uses vivid colours to enhance the interest in the picture

 

Birmingham City Council Offices Spire

Not sure if this is the format Steve is looking for - could use advice - but in any case here goes.

 Original copy of the photo

Early one fine November morning, headed into Birmingham looking for photo opportunities to add to my “ancient” group within the first set of the Assignment 208 - Theme 1a, the built environment photographs.

Liked the way the sun provided interesting shapes and textures on the spire and attempted to make an interesting viewpoint to add a difference to the shot.

Needed very little adjustment to the end shot other than some minor cropping and colour adjustment.

Taken with 75-300mm lens with an ISO of 100. Needed the zoom to capture the shot from street level. Aperture set at f/11 to give a reasonable focal length and a shutter speed of 1/60

Final Copy.

Winter in Warwick - 7th Dec 2010

On a very cold day, I happened to be in Warwick and took the opportunity to take som eramdom pictures of the cold scene. Took a range of pics from landscapes to close ups to try and convey the temperature (about -7 deg C)

Pleased with the results which are presented here unadjusted

The first couple are views up and down the River at Warwick. Both taken with my 10-24mm wide angle lens with /8 setting and ISO 100. The shutter speed was set to suit.

 

Sunday 27th Nov.

Out again today looking for opportuties to create interesting pics. Really liked the photo from the Chris Herring research. The picture shows attention to shape and colour. The theme is somewhat secondary to the creation of the mass of colour, texture and shapes and shaddows.

Herring Pictures

ISO 100, 18-55mm lens with +10 close up added. f?5.6 at 1/200 speed.

Although being somewhat closer the end result is similar. The picture creates the "abstract" array of colour and shape evident in the reference pics that I was looking for. Really like the variety of shaddows, tones shapes and colour.

Shoot Results

Sat 26th Nov 2010 Dave and I headed off to the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham armed with all our gear, tripods and new macro lenses. +1, +2, +4 and +10 close up lenses to add to our 58mm dia lens.
The day was not as bright as had been forecast but then by 9.00 when we arrived it was OK. Set off in search of suitable opportunities. Snow was on the ground so we were looking for good contrasts in the colour against the white snow background. Also wanted to make sure the sun was creating good shapes and shaddows.

Didnt spot as many as we had hoped and we were further scuppered when the sun disappeared at 10.00. Nevertheless some pleasing results but also good experience in using the macro lenses.

All the pictures were taken with my Canon 400D camera and the 18-55mm lens with in the main the +10 close up macro lens added. Mostly f/5.6 with varying shutter speed. 

Theme 2 Nature Assignment Planning.

On the advice of Steve last week, I am planning a trip to the Botanical gardens on Saturday am to try the nature pics.
Spoken to them this morning and they are happy for me to do the photos providing they are for my own use and not to be used commercially. The place opens at 9.00 which is a little disappointing as I had hoped to get there earlier and use the early light and (anticipated) frosty conditions. Oh well will have to work with what we have.
I am aiming to emulate the photos of Guy Edwards on my blog with close up, macro type (without the macro lens). Will be particularly looking at light, colour and compostion as these I believe are the secrets of taking good nature pics.
Will also be mindful of the work of Chris Herring as I will try to create pics with abstract composition, shapes rather than specific objects.
Will take all my gear mentioned in the "theme" plan including the high vis jacket to alert the public to my presence, and my mate Dave to share the experience.