Thanks John, just did it. Is this how you meant?
Thanks

Amin

Thanks John

I will try that crop. This is what I need now, portraits and people are just one aspect of photograph that I am extremely crude .

So you mean cropping more and removing the earlobe, correct?

Thanks

Amin

Thought I should share the fun moments I had with the little ones today . It wasn't exactly a nice and sunny day but they have been watching dad playing so much with bubbles that they wanted to have a go , and obviously dad was there with the camera to capture those nice and some not so nice shots of them and the bubbles.

I am getting to grips with snapping smoke and bubbles, but when it comes to people, specially my little ones I always get in trouble. So I would like to improve this and hopefully start taking better shots of the little ones.

Also, this is a chance to introduce my little ones to my cherished and kind community here, that has put up with all my bugging constantly with questions and curiosity. Truth is I feel I have come in leaps and bounds and within the last few months since I have had my first DSLR for the first time now I handle it with much more confidence. Still a long way to go, and I know that its a life long learning process and that is one aspect of photography also that I love and have been enjoying thoroughly. You all have been extremely kind and helpful, from the very first day I stepped into this forum all I can say is that I have been made to feel welcome and encouraged to ask any questions and get help.

I have received immense help and encouragement, tips and tremendous motivation from each and every one of you who participate in this forum and I have had some brilliant moments of fun and cracking jokes with quite a few of you with whom I have ended up developing ties of friendship and acquaintances.

I have had a good few contacts with forums around the net but I must say that this one has been an absolute joy and a great place to always leave a browser open and feel part of the community, and reach out whenever the need arises, be it to get some kind of help or clatification with regard to photography or for that matter anything in general, heck I even come here sometimes when I am gloomy just to participate and boost my spirits up with what goes on in the forum, there have been jokes, light moments, debates and discussions, some heated and others simply due to difference of opinion but all have ended up well, and unfortunately some sad moments also just like one recently regarding one of our respected forum members in the past couple of days.

Now someone show me where else can I find an accumulation of all these aspects, including learning resources, social aspects and friends meeting in one place please and I will lay my hat there. You will be hard to dig any other place easily such as this.

So, may I say, I have come to stay

Now, after apologising for the long comment, which I swear I didn't intend to start it this way, but I have been known from time to time to unleash my tongue, well, words in this case, so I just couldn't help

The images, so here they are:

The little cheeky one has already been introduced, he is my little 2 year old, and the older six.

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The image turned out to be a beauty. Even the versions were so nice but now looking at the end result you did a terrific job. Its absolutely stunning. Inspires me wanting to go out and learn to take pictures of landscapes .

Regards

Amin

Stefan
The B&W for me works best. The colour ones, the second is good, I would have prefered that if the background wasn't that green. In fact on this one, IMHO I would rathrer not see a bokeh like that, all smooth, but that must be just how I perceive things and am biased. Would love to see a natural background but I see you were already working on your maximum settings, including that drastic ISO.

But the image is pretty good, I like it and the expression and emotion is very visible and well conveyed.

Nice capture

Nothing wrong with this shot Jackie , its spot on. I would be happy with one like this, you seem to have mastered it

That is fantastic, its quite an accomplishment. It just goes to prove the quality star it has

Martin,
In the short period of time that I have been participating in this forum I have come to realise what a close knit family structure this is within its members. I for one have my browser always open on this forum.

Knowing that a personal tragedy and loss of a closed one has befallen on you saddens me tremendously. Hope you build the strength to deal with the situation and know that our thoughts are all with you.

I have learnt from experience that when we lose someone close we getting over the loss is not something that we can nor we should try to, but we learn to live with the loss, time and caring people, physically close or distant, are some of the ingredients that help achieve it.

You are an intrinsic part of this community and our thoughts and prayer are with you.

Amin

Mike

try spraying the rose with water first and then smoke it up the way you have been doing. The smoke patterns alter and they shape up slightly differently due to the extra moist. If you manage to get the background and the lighting spot on you are going to have a cracker of a shot

Keep us posted on how you get along, and show us some images, looking forward to some cracking ones, you are on route to it.

Also remember difference of air temperature has effects on the way the smoke rises. And also other things influence a lot the patterns. If you want to have a look at how it affects try these couple of things:

1- Find a way to heat the room (your bathroom as you mentioned where you are taking the shots), proportionally, nothing too tricky, just find a way to raise the heating a bit and wait to get that feeling of being a little bit overheated for comfort. Remember to keep window and door closed, so as insulated as best. Light the incense stick. Then open the window or the door, just for a fraction of a second, like as if you are opening the door to come in or out. That will allow a sudden flux of different air temperaure to move into the room. Shut the door immediately and stay put and observe the smoke. After the first few seconds of the flutter of the smoke due to the air inlet once it settles you will see a few patters for the next couple of minutes.

2-Another example, this is a simple one. Keep the room with windows and door closed again. Light the incense. Stay put without moving at all standing next to the incense. Do not face it as even your breathing will affect it even though you might think you are far away, so turn your back to the incense stick. After a few seconds move away from it by walking normally away just a few steps and then stop and look at the smoke. You will immediately notice that there are patters forming, usually the rolling ones like waves.

Be careful not to get the room full of smoke as it will not only ruin your shots as the environment becomes hazed but it won't be good for you to inhale anyway

Try it and let me know how you get along

Shim, I am very happy for you , absolutely chuffed and happy mate. This was really making my head knowing you had forked the £400 and they had swindled you.

Am glad it turned out ok in the end

Amin