Assignment #01 - Spring entry here...

[M38A1]

Please read and adhere to the following.

Post your single entry for Photo Assignment #01 - Spring, in this thread. The picture has to have been taken between the period March 11 and March 22nd. Also, please refrain from comment on pictures (yours and others) until after the winner has been selected. Any comments posted prior to the announcement of a winner will be deleted. Pictures should stand on their own for your interpretation of "Spring". If you wish a critique/comment, than please state so above or below your entry.

This assignment will close midnight, March 22, 2009 so have your entry in by then.

Let's see what everyone has done for our first assignment!

.

[Voni]

http://i320.photobucket.com/albums/nn335/Glaves/2009%20Spring%20Break%20preview/DSCF2752.jpg

I would appreciate comments.

[ed29]

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd52/edhegarty/DSC01012.jpg

[Janet]

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff32/jbee101/Florida/April30Dresden21.jpg

[Tracker]

New Hope
http://photos.leavelles.net/photos/491339833_GeGeQ-L.jpg

[Jerry]

http://papawheelie.smugmug.com/photos/494879693_yzJXV-L.jpg

[StarWatcher]

http://ns4.axsi.com/TWT/Spring/dandelion4Sm.jpg
________________________
--Mike
http://www.futzin.com/curverider.gif

[ctoons]

http://i558.photobucket.com/albums/ss23/ctoons/Spring/Lizard.jpg

I would appreciate comments.

[poser]

http://thebohacpage.smugmug.com/photos/495415705_qcw8F-XL.jpg

[M38A1]

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg237/M38A1_bucket/TxBowHunter/PA01_a.jpg

[dixonduke]

Garden Path
http://r1200gsa.smugmug.com/photos/496880849_Y6PJQ-XL-1.jpg

[Tourmeister]

http://www.twtex.com/linkfiles/PhotoContest001/DSC_0030.jpg

[M38A1]

Congratulations everyone on completion of our first assignment! There were a lot of good shots that took some thought in how best to set them up. I'm no expert, so it's hard for me to critically judge others work. Yet in the spirit of learning, these were my observations;

Voni - great pond/reflection, rock formation and sky capturing what I presume to be spring break. Maybe a crop to pull out the extra people on the right and focus attention on the main subject?

ed29 - Nice water droplet capture and bokkeh ring or two. What were the two streaks on the left though? Maybe have pulled out the one brown leaf?

Janet - Great vibrant colors and balance with the walking surfaces, but the trash bags in the back corner kept my eye busy there.

Tracker - Ah.... as single bluebonnet with dewdrop. Very nice.

Jerry - Interesting subject matter, good focus point.

Starwatcher - First impression was how'd you shoot a jellyfish? A complicated great picture, lots in there, all in focus, great color differences.

ctoons - Great catch with the geicko in there, but the cigarette butt just detracted from the flower and 'greenie' on the wall.

Poser - Great shot you've floated around beforehand. Nice framing, good color and shadows, really like the detail.

DixonDuke - we'll get back on this one

Tourmeister - nice framing Mr. Bee in Flight. Great colors, but a bit too much grain pulling from the shot.



So, DixonDuke - What a variety of items that all work in unison. From the flowers to the trees to the shrubs, and all in bloom or beginning says "spring" to me. The walkway coming in and winding around to exit was excellent showing a transitional aspect of the season. I've got to go with DixonDuke for the first one.

Congratulations everyone for playing. DixonDuke - you've got a day or so to think of a topic and post up the assignment. (look for a PM)

The thread is open for discussion now!

[ed29]

Good choice! The streaks in mine were falling rain drops.... unintended in the composition, but I left them there.

[Tourmeister]

Tourmeister - nice framing Mr. Bee in Flight. Great colors, but a bit too much grain pulling from the shot.

Do you mean grain in the background or on the bee? To me, it just looks the result of those areas being out of focus. How would I change that if I wanted to?

[M38A1]

Do you mean grain in the background or on the bee? To me, it just looks the result of those areas being out of focus. How would I change that if I wanted to?

It's throughout the picture, but most obvious in the flower petals and the blue/yellow behind/around the flower. If you look, the colors have little 'dots' for lack of a better word, or what was referred to in the film world as 'grain'. With a lower ISO setting, that grain would be reduced accordingly, ie: it would be a solid blue or yellow, not a pitted blue/yellow.

[Tourmeister]

Okay, I see that. So the question is, do I force the aperture AND the ISO, and still let the camera pick shutter speed?

[M38A1]

Okay, I see that. So the question is, do I force the aperture AND the ISO, and still let the camera pick shutter speed?

In "A" mode, you force the aperture. Prior to that, you'll have to specify the ISO setting you want, such as 200, 400 or something else. By default I think it floats to what is required. When you set the aperature and ISO, the camera gives you the shutter speed to make it all work out.

Re: the grain question, you probably shot your bee with the D40 and I'm guessing your 18-200VR. I shot my bee with the same combination. Here's my EXIF information and you'll note the ISO at 160, not 1600 as yours is. Now, look at the difference in 'grain' of the picture. That is what ISO is about in then end product.

Nikon D40X
2009/03/21 13:37:46.1
JPEG (8-bit) Fine
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
Color
Lens: VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6 G
Focal Length: 150mm
Digital Vari-Program: Close Up
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
1/125 sec - F/8
Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
Sensitivity: ISO 160
Optimize Image:
White Balance: Auto
AF Mode: AF-A
Flash Sync Mode:
Flash Mode:
Auto Flash Comp:
Color Mode: Mode IIIa (sRGB)
Tone Comp.: Auto
Hue Adjustment: 0°
Saturation: Auto
Sharpening: Auto
Image Comment:
Long Exposure NR: Off
VR Control: On
High ISO NR: Off

[ed29]

Complete newb question here.....

Where do I find that EXIF information, and what does EXIF stand for?

My camera is a Sony A300 and I don't find the term EXIF in my manual.

[M38A1]

Complete newb question here.....

Where do I find that EXIF information, and what does EXIF stand for?

My camera is a Sony A300 and I don't find the term EXIF in my manual.


Exchangeble Image File Format

If you're running a Windows machine, right click for "Properties", then go to the "Summary" tab and down at the bottom "Advanced". You should have the info displayed.

[Tourmeister]

I will play around with that and see what I can do. Did you use the flash in your image?

[M38A1]

I will play around with that and see what I can do. Did you use the flash in your image?

Nope. The sun was out in full force at that moment in time. :sun:

[dixonduke]

Thank you very much. I shot that at the Mize Park on SFA yesterday. Check back this evening for round two. Thanks again.

[ctoons]

Great choice! I didn't even notice the cigarette butt til just now! LOL

[StarWatcher]

I shot that at the Mize Park on SFA yesterday.

Spectacular shot! I was wondering if that might have been at the Dallas Arboretum. Where is Mize Park?

--Mike

[dixonduke]

Spectacular shot! I was wondering if that might have been at the Dallas Arboretum. Where is Mize Park?

--Mike

Thanks. The Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden is located on the SFA campus in Nacogdoches, :link (http://ag.sfasu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=19&Itemid=99): At the corner of University Drive & Starr Ave.

I had to run to town (Lowes) for a project and was driving back out to Woden, when I thought..... "I bet there will be some photo ops here?", so i stopped and took over 100 pictures. The Azalea garden is probably just past peak blooms, but it is still blooming nicely.

[anaconda]

Congrats Duke, great shot!