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Post by The Wirefox on Oct 10, 2011 19:47:13 GMT
It was almost impossible for me to select 5 of the best because I dont really have an opinion on my own shots on what is best in terms of photographic merit. So, I have selected images that represent illumination of my development as far as I am concerned. They are not technically brilliant because that is one of the last things on my list of things to consider in my own photography...oh and I threw one in because I am a sentiment old cus really. 1. "Authority" very simple images can provide powerful messages to represent the times in which we live 2. Abstraction is probably the only way in which we can attempt to express 'pure' thought...striving to produce images that are untainted by learning or other peoples truths. This image gets no where near where I want to be with this concept but it gave me hope 3. Aussies are sometimes right. Raylee introduced me to the work of some contemporary Australian artists. I was immediately taken with their unrestrained use of bold colour. The colour actually becomes a conduit for untainted thought (see above) rather than a purely aesthetic component of the image. The recognisable component of the image is almost incidental. Again early days but I am working on it 4. Vernacular memory - some of the most powerful images for me are those that invoke vernacular memory. Like smells or sounds from the past they fill our nostrils with nostalgia and regional sentiment. This image attempts to capture that very Mancunian moment when the lad realises he is a rock star of his own making. It is a pubescent theme of our recent times and in Britain at least is gorgeously regional 5. Cos I am a bloke with Daughters. My youngest daughter before her first wedding shoot. I was incredibly scared for her but also immensely proud. She did a fine job and has been invited to do a wedding dress fashion shoot for a local website. However, her passion is for moving pictures and she is working toward her A levels in production arts and related subjects so that she can enroll in an MA degree course in Digital Film Production next year so her main objective at the moment is to produce short films of a quality that can be screened at film festivals.
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Post by katynoelle on Oct 10, 2011 20:06:57 GMT
There's all sorts of genius simmering here! and not just in your pics - look at that lovely daughter and your cool son! (I just love his freckles in the fourth!) I've already commented on these photos, before, but, the nice thing is, I love seeing them all over again!
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Post by jiro on Oct 10, 2011 20:25:23 GMT
Finally, It's about time you participated on this thread, Mr. Magnificent Wirefox. ;D What makes your shot so unique is that you can immediately know that it was you who made these shots. Now, that's a hard feat to achieve as a photographer. Meaning, you have already found your vision and is continually refining it. Good on you to let your kids pursue what they want. I'm pretty sure she'll end up as artistic and uninhibited just like her gifted Dad. Kudos to you, bruddah.
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Post by nickjohnson on Oct 10, 2011 21:02:28 GMT
Steve, Thanks for showing those. It's a real privilege to see the work of an artist.
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Post by jeeperman on Oct 10, 2011 21:49:33 GMT
I'll second Willie's thoughts. Nice work Steve.
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Post by georgem on Oct 10, 2011 22:33:44 GMT
It was almost impossible for me to select 5 of the best because I dont really have an opinion on my own shots on what is best in terms of photographic merit. So, I have selected images that represent illumination of my development as far as I am concerned. They are not technically brilliant because that is one of the last things on my list of things to consider in my own photography...oh and I threw one in because I am a sentiment old cus really. I'll echo the sentiments of others. The work of an artist. Really like No. 1!!
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Post by clactonian on Oct 11, 2011 17:18:25 GMT
Cool stuff indeed Steve.
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Post by Kay on Oct 11, 2011 19:58:40 GMT
I real he joy seeing everyone's choices, particularly these Steve as there were a lot of creative ones to choose from. Great to hear Beck wanting to follow her dreams, it is so hard for the young ones to know 'what to do' these days. Having a goal seems half the battle..maybe that's just me getting old.. er
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Post by maryloveslucydog on Oct 11, 2011 20:50:30 GMT
It's really fun to see what everyone thinks their best is...excellent choices! So many different viewpoints, interests artists... thanks!
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Frostbyte
Senior Member
Still learnin' cuz I don't know, what it is, that I don't know!
Posts: 146
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Post by Frostbyte on Oct 16, 2011 2:00:54 GMT
OK. I now have a SmugMug account and have loaded some pictures to the account so now I need to try to load my five best shots and right away I see a problem. Picking five shots to post! I think I'm going to have to use five of my favorites (as best and favorite may not be anywhere close to each other). Even at that it's hard to choose. Well, for the first one I know what I want to show. This one is called 'After the Rain' because of the violence of the thunder and lightning that almost prevented me from getting to a point where I could set-up. In the end, I found a parking garage that I could get to the next to the top level on so I had some protection from the elements. By the time I had set up, the storm had pretty much moved aside and the sky was starting to clear. This is a multiple exposure tone-mapped image and the first attempt at night photography I have made since the 60's when I used to shoot a fair bit with B&W and 2 1/4" color slides. Ok, Got that one to work. Now on to number two. Number two is a shot of my grandaughter Ivy playing in the fountain at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. I have not shot portraits and haven't even started to learn how to use the built in flash yet so this is one of those favorites but without any skill in this area, likely not one of the best. Hopefully, because she's cute (aren't all grandkids?), nobody will notice the lack of skill and just smile. Looking at the expression on Ivy's face I can just imagine that she's thinking - "What?" Here comes the image. Don't forget to go 'Awwwwww' and smile. Wow, this isn't as hard as I thought it was going to be, yet. The next shot was based on encouragement I got when I saw some of the shots the Jiro got at his local zoo. Even after I posted them, he (and several others) were kind enough to help me get the post processing reasonable (I'm a slow learner) to the point where the detail is reasonably sharp and the colors are bright, but hopefully, realistically so. As I like technically accurate images that are sharp and cheerful, I was pleased with the final result of this effort. By the way, I know that some of you have seen these images before so I apologize for not having new material to present just yet. This one is called '...and Don't Call Me 'Polly'! Whew! Past the half-way point! The choices are getting harder and harder! For the next image I turned to a shot I took back in 2005 with my Point 'n Shoot. Why choose this one? Because as I have been learning to use Photoshop Layers I've been practicing on some of my archived images and this one was particularly difficult and time consuming but also rewarding. I was amazed at how much beauty there was in what I had considered to be just snapshots. In the process, I learned a good lesson about the value of being able to not only take a good composition, but to also process it effectively to get the most out of what was captured. This was taken in the early morning in the Northern California coastal Redwood forest. These giant trees get to be 22 feet in diameter and well over 350 feet tall. They are the tallest trees in the world and they thrive on the airborne moisture from the persistent coastal fog. The Giant Sequoia, by comparison is shorter at just over 300 feet tall but the trunk can be 35 feet in diameter, live about 3,200 years (1,000 years longer than their coastal brethren) and only live above 4,000 feet up in the mountains. I was fortunate to be able to shoot as the morning fog was clearing and the sun was starting to pierce the forest canopy. I hope you enjoy 'Coastal Redwoods in the Early Morning Fog'. Only room for one more, but which one? I think I'll go back to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC and choose one of my favorites from that day's shoot. Although I was at a safe distance and was using the telephoto lens, I couldn't help noticing a large tiger that kept walking toward me. He had a icy stare that went right through me. I felt that I could almost read his mind through the look in his eyes as he was contemplating his next meal, ME! This one is titled 'I'd Like to Invite you Over - For LUNCH!' I hope you have enjoyed these image as much as I have enjoyed taking and processing them and I want to extend thanks to the other photographers I've come to know over the past 6 months that have given freely of their time and effort to help make the quality of these pictures a reality. I could not have done it without their invaluable help!
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Post by jiro on Oct 16, 2011 2:11:37 GMT
Hello, Frank. I edited your post. Your smugmug link is good, you only need to insert it in between the " ... [/img]" to make it work. You can do it by pressing the "insert image" button on top of the smilies. That is one good night photography, Frank!
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Post by jiro on Oct 16, 2011 2:12:50 GMT
I think you got it perfectly, Frank.
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Frostbyte
Senior Member
Still learnin' cuz I don't know, what it is, that I don't know!
Posts: 146
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Post by Frostbyte on Oct 16, 2011 3:17:17 GMT
Hi Jiro, thanks for the help and the encouragement!
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Post by katynoelle on Oct 16, 2011 3:49:11 GMT
Wonderful, Frank! They really are and, oh my goodness! Those adorable cheeks....awwwwwww!
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Post by jiro on Oct 16, 2011 12:04:56 GMT
Amazing shots, Frank. You've come a long way my friend. The pace by which you improved your photographic skills both in camera capture and post-processing is really so encouraging. You wouldn't believe it but I particularly like your grand daughter' shot and also of the giant trees because of the "emotion" that they convey to me. Awesome!!! Thank you very much for sharing.
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