Creative Vision Category
Original, creative and innovative photographs that defy definition.

This thread is for discussion of your entries (there's nothing wrong with giving yourself a little exposure - post a link!), the techniques you used to create your shot, and to point out your favourite entries from other entrants so far.

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James De Vile
digitalcameramagazine.co.uk
Future Publishing

JD:

(there's nothing wrong with giving yourself a little exposure - post a link!)

Ok, why not

http://poty2008.dcmag.co.uk/3913562626295262669/peony-rose.html

I was out in the garden exploring different takes on plants that are starting to come through.  We have recently moved in and so I have no idea what is going to pop-up.  This plant (I now know it as a Peony Rose!) was looking a little neglected behind the bin, so I moved the bin and added some support canes, watered daily and now it's looking lush! 

It's a sexy plant with a feminine beauty and I wanted to show this when taking the photo. 

I set my tripod up and took the image in a horizontal format to be rotated later. The water droplets were as a result of the morning dew.  I also positioned the camera so that with the slightly open petal in focus the rest of the red petal would be on as near as possible the same plane.  f/9.5 gave enough depth for the "vein" detail to show, but keep the background soft. 

Thanks for looking, now go and vote

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Looked and voted. Am always slightly jealous when I see photos like this. I tend to 'do' it the simple way and cannot handle proper macro (or any other) lenses. (See my rant at the 'Should I enter the poty2008 comp' thread.)

I post a link to my latest creative vision entry, a self portrait, which I quite like, especially the vertical distortion of my face. Reminds me of the tortured faces in some of the great cubist paintings.

I haven't got a clue wether it is technically sound and I did not use anything more than my handheld Pentax Optio X in autobracket setting.

http://poty2008.dcmag.co.uk/3913562626757783820/self-portrait-with-fruit.html

Have a look and help me along with any useful advice on how to improve my techniques and ultimately my photographs.

 

Thanks for the vote Reinardia.

As for your picture, well please remember that this is just one opinion, and one set of ideas - mine - so please do not take them as gospel

Ok...

I like the idea and it is great that you had it, it would have been easy not to take the opportunity.  I like the painting effect. 

How could it be improved?  Well I think that the lighting and the clutter needs sorting out. 

So for starters I don't think that it is good to have the camera in the shot.  Perhaps you could put the camera further away, and at a more extreme angle, then zoom in to get the crop that you want (that should keep it out of shot). 

Also you have light coming from behind you.  I think it would be better if the subject (you an the fruit) was better lit so try having the light directed at you from the front.  Not directly, but at an angle.  This would darken the background, but even better would be to have a blank wall behind you or hang a sheet or something. 

Photography is a lot about what you take out, more so than what is included sometimes.

I think with some more experimenting, different subjects (fruit, flowers, etc) this is an interesting style that could work.

Hope this gives you some ideas.  For now don't worry too much about the camera settings, leave it on auto (perhaps switch the flash off though).  You can make the most of natural light.  Diffuse it through some nets if needed, use foil wrapped over a tray as a cheap reflector.   See how you go

 

I am currently working on a project (well drafting ideas) called "reflections" with a theme running through the series.  I don't want to give too much away at the moment   The key things I'm learning at the moment though is that the subject needs to be well lit, and also it's difficult to keep things out of the frame.  For this reason I have started to sketch out  my ideas, make notes about angles and lighting etc.  So before I pick up the camera I know what I am after and what pitfalls I may encounter.  I don't normally work like this, I usually have an idea my head, or sometimes just look through the viewfinder and try different compositions like this.

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Well I decided to enter, I have to say none of my pictures are really up to it yet, but it don’t cost anything to try….

 

Anyone who participates in the weekly comp will know that this was my entry for the “Yellow” theme. I like the picture because I was able to reproduce something I had previously seen. Hose pipes are great! I like the way the yellow is reflected in the water droplets with the odd rainbow effect. It also makes my tatty old washing line look great.

 

I have to say it did not attract many votes in the comp so I will not hold my breath. What it does represent, good or bad, is my best to date!

 

http://poty2008.dcmag.co.uk/3913562625670689776/yellow.html

 

ps. I am still trying to work out when I moved to Canada!!!!!!!!!

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My DCM Gallery
BPITW
14th/15th June and 5th/6th July

Thanks for your comments! Exactly what I hoped to get; advice on how to improve. New ideas.

I was actually sitting in a large bay window with the sun streaming in from, mainly, the right hand side. I couldn't get it to work 'against' the light (backlight) as the camera wouldn't take it. (too dark) and I did not want to use the flash. I'll have another go and experiment a bit more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phew   I am glad that you found it helpful as you could have taken it badly, some do! I look forward to seeing how you get on.  Have fun, after all that's what it's all about.

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bodsao:

 

ps. I am still trying to work out when I moved to Canada!!!!!!!!!

 

I did think that was odd

I don't know why it didn't get many votes in the weekend comp, I guess that it wasn't yellow enough! 

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lol, I have tried to remove Canada but it just will not go! My profile has never said Canada...

The standards here are very high, that is why I like it. I am trying to improve and this site and the weekend comp has really helped.

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My DCM Gallery
BPITW
14th/15th June and 5th/6th July

Martin!

I've only just started as a 'photographer' and am trying to develop 'an eye' for 'photogenetic' opportunities, but have not developed a critical eye yet. Not for my own efforts anyway, and technically I'm a non starter.

You worded your comments in a very positive and encouraging way, how could I be upset? Even if you'd said "It's rubbish, why don't you try such and such?" It would have helped. If you ask for comments you have to be able to take them!

Thanks again and have a nice weekend.

Reinardina:

Martin!

I've only just started as a 'photographer' and am trying to develop 'an eye' for 'photogenetic' opportunities, but have not developed a critical eye yet. Not for my own efforts anyway, and technically I'm a non starter.

You worded your comments in a very positive and encouraging way, how could I be upset? Even if you'd said "It's rubbish, why don't you try such and such?" It would have helped. If you ask for comments you have to be able to take them!

Thanks again and have a nice weekend.

I removed my original "Reflection Portrait" and replaced it with two others, in 'cubist' and 'impressionist' style. All comments, ideas, or votes (that'll be the day!) welcome.

http://poty2008.dcmag.co.uk/3913562626934716466/creative-vision.html 

 

 

Forget the link in my previous post. For some reason the pasted version is not the one I thought I'd copied.

I'll try again, but now one link at the time. here's the 'cubist' portrait.

http://poty2008.dcmag.co.uk/3913562627501187712/woman-in-a-cluttered-room.html

This is my 'Impressionist' portrait.

http://poty2008.dcmag.co.uk/3913562628107537333/woman-with-apple.html 

As I said before, all comments, ideas and possible votes welcome.

I like your 'Yellow' entry bodsao! It's colourful, and I like the effect of the out of focus droplets.

What do people think of my entry? I used two diffent landscape exposures and combined them in photoshop to create a seasonal image.

http://poty2008.dcmag.co.uk/3913562628531724092/seasons.html

Comments and criticism are very welcome!