DFW'ers photographic challenge - use those £££ cameras!

patman99

Cherisong, most of CPS's members are pure amateurs. Most of us have been taking photos for less than 2 years. As I have found, what one judge hates, another judge loves.
It is all down to personal taste. I have seen one judge give a good score to a shot that the rest of us barely rated.

We had a female judge who told us 'shoot because YOU like the image, not for competition', she then picked a few holes in a couple of shots that had quite clearly been 'shot for competition'.

Contemplates

Cheri, I too am bricking it, especially with this weeks challenge, as I haven't got any idea as to what to do this week, or even where to start! I found last week challenging, and I was really in two minds whether to post them or not, but once I had, I really enjoyed reading the comments. This is first time I've let anyone else see my photos, and I'm hoping this challenge will give me enough confidence to go join my local camera club! Go on give it a go!

MrsMoo2U

Thanks everyone.Sorry I sounded negative just nerves really. I have every intention of giving it a go Contemplates even though I also have no idea of what I am going to do. But I guess having the challenge there will make us open our eyes and think about things a bit more instead of just snapping away. Nerves are good for me. I like the feeling of being nervous and I like to challenge myself. I havent been this interested in a challenge for some time so thanks EH. I just thought that you were all so professional that I couldnt match you YET! I am hoping too that this will encourage me to do a course that I have had my eye on for some time now. I still have a manual slr that I used to use a lot and loved the photos from it so the course is specifically for manual cameras and is run in the local uni on a weekend. Will give this a go for a while and the who knows.

Contemplates

Snap! I only started photography about a yr and half ago, and absolutely love it! I too was looking for a course to expand my knowledge a bit, but they are hard to find and also v expensive! Hopefully I'll b able to save a bit and afford one someday soon!

Pippilongstocking

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Cheri, so far as I'm concerned this thread is very much a bit of fun - whilst I'm sure everyone will welcome constructive criticism and suggestions as to how they might improve a shot, I wouldn't like to see it turning into a competition and people feeling uncomfortable about posting their pics here as a result of that.

I'm glad to hear you're nervous about the challenge - that's a good thing, as in everything it is nerves that will push you to achieve something a step up from what you might expect of yourself. This one is a real challenge for me too I have to say, I have an idea, but it's going to rely firmly on me finding a window of opportunity with the right light, and the right level of patience to work until I get the shot I want. Hmmm. I rather fear that the light is more likely to appear than the patience!

Thank you for that the minute I head 'judge' I thought - OK I can't continue with this - I don't mind folk talking about photos but I'm at no level at all to be 'judged' by anyone - I appreciate the thought for developing skill etc but I'm really glad its not a competition and thank you for the new challenge - EEK but in a good way :Dx

patman99 wrote: »

Cherisong, most of CPS's members are pure amateurs. Most of us have been taking photos for less than 2 years. As I have found, what one judge hates, another judge loves.
It is all down to personal taste. I have seen one judge give a good score to a shot that the rest of us barely rated.

We had a female judge who told us 'shoot because YOU like the image, not for competition', she then picked a few holes in a couple of shots that had quite clearly been 'shot for competition'.

I had a friend who once had a young man come and say - 'I dont think your music collection will impress me......' - the answer he gave was brilliant 'I didn't buy it to impress you, I bought them because I liked them'

- bit like your photographic judge..................

Good quote there - thank you - what alot of effort you've put in - nice that you're thinking of joing the new club at town. Go for it!!!

Cheri - I had the same reaction as you - and I'm glad we're always thinking along the same lines I don't think you were being negative - just open.

We'll all be brave eh? Oh and I've asked for a tripod for xmas from OH

Oh I mean santa............................................


Thanks again for the challenge!:j

EssexHebridean

Pippi - when looking at tripods, you need something heavy enough to be sturdy, but light enough that you will actually be bothered to carry it. I have a Manfrotto one that I love, but some of theirs are a wee bit pricey, to say the least. As you will no doubt want to be doing flower shots with it, look for one where the "centre column" can be removed and fitted again horizontally as that sometimes helps you get into a better position for what you want to do. Also give some thought to the length of the legs - a lot of cheaper tripods have short-ish legs and an extendable centre column that you winch up and down to alter the height of the camera on the top - problem with these is that everything ends up waving around in the breeze. Ideally you need to get as much of your height as possible from the legs, then just use the middle bit for the last little bit if you need too.

For those that haven't got a clue what to do for this one, think first of what the title suggests to you - "Up close" invitably leads most folk to think "macro" or extreme close-up, but it could also be two people snuggled up together on a bench, a basket with cats or dogs curled up together, an animal peering towards the camera as you take the shot a little closer in than you normally would. Likewise "personal" - a macro shot of something very close to your heart perhaps, a favourite item of jewellery or the pattern on a much loved jumper or hat, it's about that lateral thinking thing again - if you don't feel you can do a macro shot for whatever reason then you don't have to, just put your own "spin" on the idea. I've got two ideas but I'm not sure which to use yet, or even if either will work for me!

Cheri - there is something about getting a really crisp, clear shot from a film SLR that is difficult to beat. I have an aged Canon beastie that I drag out from time to time, but have to struggle to stop myself shooting just to hear that fantastic shutter noise! :rotfl: It's also a bit fab with my 12-24mm super-wide lens on board - great for really nice skies....it does things like the shot below, although it's so wide you have to watch that you don;t end up including your own feet in the shot!

MrsMoo2U

Oh Wow, look at that sky, amazing.

Yes I had already thought of the shot that I want to take and it is not necessarily a macro. You have actually suggested the very thing that I have planned. I have been playing about in the house last night. We will see if I use it or not.

EssexHebridean

OK - looks like it's me first up this week then. I had a really, REALLY clear idea in my head of what I wanted to do for this one. Then, a little earlier, I glanced out of the window and plan a was dismissed in an instant as I spotted something I have always wanted to get a pic of - I mean this goes back years! For some reason in the past I've never had a camera handy at the relevant moment, or it's been too windy, or the light has been wrong, or any of the other varied excuses we use for not taking shots.

Anyway - three from me:





And finally, something else I spotted while I was out there:

Lemon_Tree

EH they are beautiful photo's. I've also always wanted to take a photo of a spiders web, especially when it's a frosty morning and they are all glistening. But usually i'm rushing to my car to get to work when they're are like that. Going to have to get my thinking cap on.

Pippilongstocking

WOW EH - you're spot on with those - lovely!!!!

I'm going to wait until I've been away over the weekend and see what I come up with - 3 girls off on a trip to a rock concert - I'm sure we'll have something 'up close and personal'

Thank you for the tripod advice - you've got it exactly right!