All Forum Comments
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on OK, I'll ask. at 29/12/2010 - 22:12
Hi Peekie, welcome to the forum! It's nice to see a member who's not too far from Aylesbury!
Fiona
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Hi from Milton Keynes at 29/12/2010 - 21:49
2010: no friends or family lost, although a couple are quite ill. 1 friend had a baby on 1st December. A little bit of travel; Dubai in May where many photos were taken, Portsmouth and Southampton in August ( a few photos taken with my Ricoh P&S), and Chewton Glen in the New Forest just before Christmas.
2011: Would like to do more travelling, with a "mystery" conference abroad for work in Feb or May this shouldn't be a problem! Because of difficulties at work (for one it's boring, and two, newer, less experienced people are getting promoted over me), I think 2011 will be the year I branch out as a Freelance Photographer. I already have local contacts with Tourist Info and the like, so would like to start off with postcards and prints of the local area. This leads on to my next goal of improving my photography technique and developing a style that people will recognise. I also want to improve and do more plant portraits and garden landscapes with a view to entering that market too.
I also need to start exercising self discipline and planning - which I have been good at in the past, but have become lazy at after working for a large company for 2 and a half years. I will need to do lots of research into my chosen areas of expertise and plan my next steps carefully, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I can't wait to break out of the box my office job has put me in!
Oh and if Unlocker and I get a spare 5 minutes we'd like to have a baby too!
Well, to my notebook...
Fiona
2011: Would like to do more travelling, with a "mystery" conference abroad for work in Feb or May this shouldn't be a problem! Because of difficulties at work (for one it's boring, and two, newer, less experienced people are getting promoted over me), I think 2011 will be the year I branch out as a Freelance Photographer. I already have local contacts with Tourist Info and the like, so would like to start off with postcards and prints of the local area. This leads on to my next goal of improving my photography technique and developing a style that people will recognise. I also want to improve and do more plant portraits and garden landscapes with a view to entering that market too.
I also need to start exercising self discipline and planning - which I have been good at in the past, but have become lazy at after working for a large company for 2 and a half years. I will need to do lots of research into my chosen areas of expertise and plan my next steps carefully, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I can't wait to break out of the box my office job has put me in!
Oh and if Unlocker and I get a spare 5 minutes we'd like to have a baby too!
Well, to my notebook...
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on OK, I'll ask. at 29/12/2010 - 21:45
I like all the shots for various reasons: colour and composition mainly. But the first of the shop windows intrigues me... mainly because your head shows up in a very inappropriate place!
Fiona
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Melbourne at 29/11/2010 - 13:06
Give it time Dave!!
Lidy, thanks for posting your versions! I kind of like the first one, but would probably make it more of a shadow, than a faint repeat (note to self: try that later). The second one is cut a bit close on the right, but I like the idea of the frame, and I really like the third, I'll try putting 2 flower heads together on the same image, and I really like the black background with the flowers in colour.
Thanks again.
Fiona
Lidy, thanks for posting your versions! I kind of like the first one, but would probably make it more of a shadow, than a faint repeat (note to self: try that later). The second one is cut a bit close on the right, but I like the idea of the frame, and I really like the third, I'll try putting 2 flower heads together on the same image, and I really like the black background with the flowers in colour.
Thanks again.
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Gerberas - A different take (9 images) at 23/09/2010 - 19:54
pnjmcc wrote:
Hi Fiona,
From the set you first put on page 1 it goes 1st (by a long way) 1a the orange on blue is great and really works for me, but as has already been mentioned the offset flower and vignetting detracts from it. For me the flower shold be on the L/H side of the image (cause it looks like its leaning that way) the the offset would work
2nd is 3a, I really like the fact that it looks like a painting / sketch but there is way too much stalk. It just takes too long to go over to the R/H side.
Finally 3rd is 3c the fact there is more detail visible in the petals works well (for me) in this effect.
Unfortunately sepia is not an effect I am fond of with out additional PP work Like the example below (I hope you dont mind)
I do not know what software you have for PP work but you could try simply chopping up the image and seperating it like Below (I hope you dont mind)
Or playing with layer blend modes and textures like below (again I hope you dont mind)
Let me know if you like any of the above and I can write you some quick tutorials on what I did.
Regards
PaulM
Hi Paul,Hi Fiona,
From the set you first put on page 1 it goes 1st (by a long way) 1a the orange on blue is great and really works for me, but as has already been mentioned the offset flower and vignetting detracts from it. For me the flower shold be on the L/H side of the image (cause it looks like its leaning that way) the the offset would work
2nd is 3a, I really like the fact that it looks like a painting / sketch but there is way too much stalk. It just takes too long to go over to the R/H side.
Finally 3rd is 3c the fact there is more detail visible in the petals works well (for me) in this effect.
Unfortunately sepia is not an effect I am fond of with out additional PP work Like the example below (I hope you dont mind)
I do not know what software you have for PP work but you could try simply chopping up the image and seperating it like Below (I hope you dont mind)
Or playing with layer blend modes and textures like below (again I hope you dont mind)
Let me know if you like any of the above and I can write you some quick tutorials on what I did.
Regards
PaulM
I've removed the images from your quote to save on space.
Whilst I appreciate the efforts that you've gone to to demonstrate different PP, I'm not a big fan of the texturised sepia ones you've done. The flower loses it's sharpness in those, which everyone has been telling me is very important, and I don't like the idea of the images looking old. I like the idea of splitting the image up into panels, but will probably look into this when I finally reproduce them onto canvas. But thanks for the ideas!
For PP I use Aperture and Photoshop, so there are loads of options available to me, and I've only just started looking into it.
cardiff_gareth wrote:
When I said the C versions looked puke, maybe it was a little harsh
A version, great colours, really constrasty, especially the opener. The B versions have great tones, really emphasises the details and they have a lovely contemporary antique look about them. The C version are to dark, to distracting, to harsh on the eye, detial for me is lost, the softness of the flower has been lost and I don't really see any commercial value to them.
I don't want to be brutal to the C versions and there probably are others who disagree with me but I think they are a step in the wrong direction. In contrast these images (A & B versions!) are so much better than the first flower thread you had going so its still positive
On the plus side I never knew that the carrot look in puke was stomach lining
Gareth, thanks for explaining the whole "puke" thing! And thanks for saying this series is an improvement on the last.When I said the C versions looked puke, maybe it was a little harsh
A version, great colours, really constrasty, especially the opener. The B versions have great tones, really emphasises the details and they have a lovely contemporary antique look about them. The C version are to dark, to distracting, to harsh on the eye, detial for me is lost, the softness of the flower has been lost and I don't really see any commercial value to them.
I don't want to be brutal to the C versions and there probably are others who disagree with me but I think they are a step in the wrong direction. In contrast these images (A & B versions!) are so much better than the first flower thread you had going so its still positive
On the plus side I never knew that the carrot look in puke was stomach lining
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Gerberas - A different take (9 images) at 23/09/2010 - 12:55
fatspider wrote:
Seriously though, despite all the ctiticisms (which I tend to agree with) these are a vast improvement on your first set, keep at it Fiona and if you do find a dodgy bloom try to take it from an angle where the damage doesn't show.
Looking forward to the next set.
Wow Fatspider, so, the lining of my stomach is made of carrots?! Ohh I'm really confused now!Quote:
bits of carrot floating in them
Actually its not carrot, its from your stomach lining thats why you get it even when you've not had carrotsbits of carrot floating in them
Seriously though, despite all the ctiticisms (which I tend to agree with) these are a vast improvement on your first set, keep at it Fiona and if you do find a dodgy bloom try to take it from an angle where the damage doesn't show.
Looking forward to the next set.
But Gareth, How does the "puke" relate to the 3rd PP style? What about it don't you like? Please explain as I am a sponge wanting to soak up knowledge (and puke, it appears)
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Gerberas - A different take (9 images) at 22/09/2010 - 22:48
Also Davex,
I did take on board the fact that I need perfect flowers from my last topic, but seeing as I work full time and cannot get out to buy new flowers until Saturday, I thought I would experiment with PP techniques with the shots I have already taken, which is why my original question above is what your opinion is of the PP.
So what do you think of the PP I've applied? (And please try to ignore the less than visually pleasing flowers)
I will be shooting with the new perfect flowers on Saturday, and may post the results here if I feel brave enough at the weekend.
I did take on board the fact that I need perfect flowers from my last topic, but seeing as I work full time and cannot get out to buy new flowers until Saturday, I thought I would experiment with PP techniques with the shots I have already taken, which is why my original question above is what your opinion is of the PP.
So what do you think of the PP I've applied? (And please try to ignore the less than visually pleasing flowers)
I will be shooting with the new perfect flowers on Saturday, and may post the results here if I feel brave enough at the weekend.
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Gerberas - A different take (9 images) at 22/09/2010 - 22:46
Fair point Davex.
I will have to be more careful when selecting my blooms this Saturday, and with getting them home again.
I wouldn't say I'm brave, after all, we're all here to learn something. So it takes me being told twice before it sinks in?! Not only that, sometimes you can be working on something so much, for so long you actually miss the screaming obvious - hence why I post here, for help and advice, and people spotting what I may have missed.
Perfect Flowers, message received and understood. I'm not thinking of selling any images at the moment as it was made clear to me in my last topic, I have a lot to learn first, and that's what I intend to do before even contemplating selling.
Fiona
I will have to be more careful when selecting my blooms this Saturday, and with getting them home again.
I wouldn't say I'm brave, after all, we're all here to learn something. So it takes me being told twice before it sinks in?! Not only that, sometimes you can be working on something so much, for so long you actually miss the screaming obvious - hence why I post here, for help and advice, and people spotting what I may have missed.
Perfect Flowers, message received and understood. I'm not thinking of selling any images at the moment as it was made clear to me in my last topic, I have a lot to learn first, and that's what I intend to do before even contemplating selling.
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Gerberas - A different take (9 images) at 22/09/2010 - 22:36
JonSchick wrote:
In terms of composition, I think the second series would appeal to people most, but there is a lot of potential in the first - I'd prefer there to be a little more space above the gerbera in that series though, and am not convinced by the off-centre vignetting effect. The stalk is quite prominent in the third series.
Of the whole lot, I like 2a then 2b the most. But I think with tweaks, the composition in 1 could be a more original take.
Hope these comments are helpful - it's great that you're trying new things and prepared to share them. There's a lot more originality here than in anything I've done recently so I feel a bit mean to comment at all!
Jon
Don't feel mean Jon, all comments welcome! The first set are out of camera composition-wise so I'll have to get my technical hat on to add space above the flower, and now that I look at it, I agree, it does need more room up there! I will play around with the vignetting - it may be a little strong in the first set.In terms of composition, I think the second series would appeal to people most, but there is a lot of potential in the first - I'd prefer there to be a little more space above the gerbera in that series though, and am not convinced by the off-centre vignetting effect. The stalk is quite prominent in the third series.
Of the whole lot, I like 2a then 2b the most. But I think with tweaks, the composition in 1 could be a more original take.
Hope these comments are helpful - it's great that you're trying new things and prepared to share them. There's a lot more originality here than in anything I've done recently so I feel a bit mean to comment at all!
Jon
I don't mind the stalk in the second set as it fades to OOF, but I feel it is too strong in the third set, so will revisit and see what I can do.
Thanks again, and never feel bad about commenting - I wouldn't post them if I didn't want people's opinions and advice
Fiona
Comment by Utopia Poppy posted on Gerberas - A different take (9 images) at 22/09/2010 - 22:13
Oh and if Unlocker and I get a spare 5 minutes we'd like to have a baby too!
Well, to my notebook...
Fiona
and Chewton Glen in the New Forest just before Christmas.
Fiona