Assignment 3 - Nature in Unexpected Places

[Applespider]

The assignment for March is 'Nature in Unexpected Places'.

You must have taken the picture yourself between 8 and 31 March. If you took a picture that fits the assignment but was taken earlier, then post it in this thread instead. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=2231464)


Anyone can enter from those with (D)SLRs from P&S to cameraphones although they should be pictures that you think are good rather than just snapshots. The goal is not to 'win' but to share the enjoyment of taking pictures and learn from others.

Some basic rules on commenting (basically be nice!) are here. (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=163036) If you've got any suggestions on how the assignment rules/topics caved in future then post here (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=186951)

Post your pictures in this thread by the end of March with a title and we'll start commenting (make sure you title your comment referencing the pic you are commenting on)

[Clix Pix]

Don't know if this would really qualify or not as "Nature in unexpected places," but I was out having a walk and enjoying the delightfully warm weather that has blessed us over the past few days and came upon this:

http://smugmug.com/photos/59485375-L.jpg

[baby duck monge]

Here's one I took that struck me as rather odd. Wish I would have had a nice camera with me at the time instead of my 3MP snap-and-shoot, but it is what it is.

And yes, that is what appears to be a tree or a bush growing out of the top of that building.

[macattack5]

if only i had a picture of the grass ontop of the michigan avenue apple store...

[Abstract]

I have an idea for a photo, but it's rather ridiculous. :p


What does "nature" include? Is it only animals, plants, and water, or do "natural" things count? Nature and "Natural" are different. Do wood houses? They're "natural", but not nature. Where does "unexpected places" include? Certainly a tree in a forest is expected, but what about a plant in a bedroom? Is it unexpected because plants don't naturally grow in bedrooms, or is it expected because it's a house plant and......well......it's not THAT weird to have a plant indoors? What if the plant was sitting on top of your head? Yeah, ridiculous, but what is "unexpected"?? ;)

If the topic was "Natural things in unexpected places", or even "Natural things in unnatural places", I think that would be clearer.




Ok ok, stroke of genius. I have it. I don't know why, but when I was typing, it struck me. Brilliant, baby! Well, I haven't taken the photo yet, so wait. I'll be back within the week! :cool:

[Abstract]

While typing out my last reply, I thought of beauty products, particularly natural ones. Then I thought "Body Shop!!" since I'm a guy and don't know any of the other beauty product stores. :p Over the past 90 minutes, I walked down to the nearest Body Shop, talked to 2-3 employees and convinced them to let me photograph something in their store (their policy is that nobody is allowed to photograph their stuff), wandered around, and found a small display on the women's side that seemed unbelievably fitting, while not being overly logo-laden or anything.

Anyway....

[whocares]

Anyway....

<pic>

Cleaver and aesthetic. :D

I'm:
a) Still stumped; and more importantly
b) Getting back from work when it's dark. :(

Easy excuses I know... :o :p

[Abstract]

I'm:
a) Still stumped; and more importantly
b) Getting back from work when it's dark. :(


Actually, I have thought of 2 more ideas. You have to accept the fact that someone's going to listen at your idea and say to himself, "I'm not sure if this qualifies," because all 3 of my ideas were like that. I just got lucky and found something that actually said "beleaf"", "minteva" --- things found in nature, because my original idea was to walk into the store and take a photo of any one of their fruity-looking products.


Anyway, I just thought of a 4th idea.......(hint in white text below)














....involving something cold, edible, and goes with what I just said about "fruity." Yeah, "frozen yoghurt" inside a freezer would be a good idea. I even have a "Hawaiian" shirt that's very flowery, and I have a pair of board shorts with lots of flowers on it as well, and was gonna take a photo of myself wearing it in a weird place.

[amateurmacfreak]

Anyway, I just thought of a 4th idea.......(hint in white text below)

Gosh! You don't tell somebody when you post white text! :p

[kwajo.com]

you can look forward to one of my photos for this assignment, but only after Wednesday, my Thesis is due that day and I'm working day and night on that. I'm just making this post because I'm sad I can't take photos right now :(

[Clix Pix]

Was walking around our little lake and saw this sad sight....

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/59804006-L.jpg

[Clix Pix]

While typing out my last reply, I thought of beauty products, particularly natural ones. Then I thought "Body Shop!!" since I'm a guy and don't know any of the other beauty product stores. :p Over the past 90 minutes, I walked down to the nearest Body Shop, talked to 2-3 employees and convinced them to let me photograph something in their store (their policy is that nobody is allowed to photograph their stuff), wandered around, and found a small display on the women's side that seemed unbelievably fitting, while not being overly logo-laden or anything.

Anyway....

It's a nice shot, very colorful and well-done, but I'm not sure it really meets the criteria of this assignment. ?? Not exactly "nature" as in the real world, nor is it in an unexpected place.... Maybe I'm being too literal but I interpreted this assignment as meaning that we should find some instance of nature (living or dead flora, fauna, etc.) in an unusual or unexpected situation or location....

[Clix Pix]

you can look forward to one of my photos for this assignment, but only after Wednesday, my Thesis is due that day and I'm working day and night on that. I'm just making this post because I'm sad I can't take photos right now :(

I hear you -- I would be VERY frustrated at that! Well, once you're done with your thesis, you'll be able to enjoy everything again. We'll be waiting for you!

[Abstract]

It's a nice shot, very colorful and well-done, but I'm not sure it really meets the criteria of this assignment. ?? Not exactly "nature" as in the real world, nor is it in an unexpected place.... Maybe I'm being too literal but I interpreted this assignment as meaning that we should find some instance of nature (living or dead flora, fauna, etc.) in an unusual or unexpected situation or location....

Me neither. :confused:

At first I was thinking the same thing you were, so I was looking for trees and flowers in places where I wouldn't normally see them, but then I loosened my interpretation of the assignment and thought, "Does nature in a bottle count?"

I mentioned that people would think "Does this qualify?" if you heard my ideas for this topic, and right now, I can see why it was a weird idea.

[Applespider]

At first I was thinking the same thing you were, so I was looking for trees and flowers in places where I wouldn't normally see them, but then I loosened my interpretation of the assignment and thought, "Does nature in a bottle count?"

Now you see, I think it might have worked but not in the Body Shop with lots of examples of nature. If you'd found a supermarket where the only thing on the shelf amongst lots of white, chemical-laden products was one of those shiny bottles, it would have fitted.

I've got a couple of ideas - just haven't had the chance to take the shot yet.

[Abstract]

And I still feel that way now in a way. Sometimes I don't agree with what you said, but right now, I agree. I'm sitting on the fence on what "nature in unexpected places" actually means. While I agree with you and Clix Pix right now, yesterday I really did think it was in interesting that you can bottle nature. I mean, they (think) they just bottled the essence of leaves, mint, and lemons in that clear glass bottle. Surely an unexpected place to find herbacious plant life.

Anyway, I had another idea right after I took that photo, but I won't reveal it yet because I may take the photo (or I may not.....it depends). This photo opportunity is at a friend's house who I'm not very close with, but am very social with when we're together. The other should be found at an upscale department store or decorative store, I think.

I think it might have worked but not in the Body Shop with lots of examples of nature.
Hindsight is 20/20. We have photos of pigs in snow right now, so maybe that very idea that nature was in the Body Shop wasn't so simple to come up with, but now that it has been posted, maybe you're right. :p

[dllavaneras]

Not exactly the first place I'd look to find nature...
http://images.fotopic.net/y9kmcs.jpg

Yep, that would be my head! (and yes, I'm going bald at 21! :p)

[Clix Pix]

Not exactly the first place I'd look to find nature...
http://images.fotopic.net/y9kmcs.jpg

Yep, that would be my head! (and yes, I'm going bald at 21! :p)

Oh, good grief! Did that tickle, or did you even feel him at all?

[Abstract]

My other "alternative" ideas may not fly with this crowd, it seems, so I'm not going to shoot them. I've thought about it, and if my last one isn't "nature in unexpected places", then neither are most of my ideas because they're a bit out there. You really need to stretch the idea a bit to accept them.

For example, I was going to take a photo of the ingredients list on a Coke can, and use photoshop and blur everything out except the word "water" in the ingredients list, since "water" and "nature" are extremely intertwined, and yet there it is in a Coke can...which is the last place you'd think of when looking for something "natural."

I have 2 new ideas, but I would have to drive 1.5-2 hours to get the shot, which I'm not willing to do unless I happen to be going there anyway.

If we loosen the idea of "nature" and "unexpected places", then we'd have more submissions. I mean, I can argue all day that the recent monkey photo and green bug photos qualify, since an insect crawling on a person isn't exactly "unexpected", and the monkey isn't really unexpected either in some strange sense.

It really depends on what you're looking for, and how stringent you make the definitions.

About voting: I say let anyone vote. Go ahead. I luuurve a challenge.

[yoak]

Lots of words and not too many pictures in this thread so far:rolleyes:
Nice head shot btw

[law guy]

All right - this is a shot of nature inserting itself unexpectedly. This was one of my first shots with a new D50 as I was sitting at my home office desk making my first adjustments to the defaults and getting to know the layout. I shot through the window - through the glass and the window screen - and what should appear when I copied my card to my PM, but a forgotten and unexpected scene out back of the trees in the fog.

[yellow]

Meh. Parking where I work is a trip. Literally. It's a 15 minute walk from where I park to where my office is. And actually park relatively close. In this sea of parking lots and tar/concrete/steel/rubber, I noticed this (attachment 2) as I got out of my Jeep. I thought it was relatively interesting, even if it's not really what I considered "nature in an unexpected place". But in looking at the picture on my Mac after upload, I was more interested in the reflection of the tree off my Jeep. If I had noticed it while I was there I might have tried hard to pick it up, but it's probably one of those things that looks better to me if it's not a contrived shot.

[FritzTheWonderM]

Talk about unexpected places!

[yellow]

Nice :)

[yoak]

lol, a classic.

[neut]

Talk about unexpected places!

You've got my vote ... so far. Nice shot.


peace | neut

[yellow]

Didn't know people were still wearing boatshoes! :)

[Abstract]

Haha, winner! :p

[FritzTheWonderM]

I keep expecting someone to say something about it being a "crappy" picture... :)

[elfin buddy]

Hey, this is my first post to the photography forum...just received my camera in the mail yesterday morning! (thanks budugu) I've really been wanting to get into photography for a long time, so I figured that I might as well start posting here to stir my interest and learn a thing or two.

So then, here's my submission! (assuming I properly attached the file...never done this before)


My friends and I walked past this several times each day for about four months before noticing the big, naked monster-of-a-tree growing in the middle of our parking lot. I'm still taken aback every time I see it. It's just not right... :p

Mind you, it does look much prettier in our Canadian summers.

[law guy]

Hey, this is my first post to the photography forum...just received my camera in the mail yesterday morning! (thanks budugu) I've really been wanting to get into photography for a long time, so I figured that I might as well start posting here to stir my interest and learn a thing or two.

So then, here's my submission! (assuming I properly attached the file...never done this before)


My friends and I walked past this several times each day for about four months before noticing the big, naked monster-of-a-tree growing in the middle of our parking lot. I'm still taken aback every time I see it. It's just not right... :p

Mind you, it does look much prettier in our Canadian summers.

I like the red building / tree / sky combination - it's interesting to look at. As for the tree itself - that's the sort of thing just waiting for a strong wind to cause some storm damage if that building isn't moved... :)

[Orlando Furioso]

elfin buddy, I love this. It would be stellar without the cars complicating the image (or maybe just a couple less cars). I like how the buildings frame the sky which is further broken up by the top of the tree. The directional cues from the windows, bricks, and foreground (curved path) are just lovely. Overall asymmetrical, but the tree brings everything solidly back to the center. Just a lot of things are working for me in this shot. My eye is definitely engaged all over the place. It pleases my borderline-ADD occipital lobe. Thank you for posting it. =)

Hopefully now that the weather is a little dryer, I can venture out later today and take some shots of my own to contribute. I think I have a couple days before the rain returns.

[andiwm2003]

please comment on composition and how to set up lighting if you want to take pics from stuff in a glass. i found it quite difficult to decide what's the best angle and where the light should come from.

[elfin buddy]

Orlando Furioso and law guy,

Thanks for your comments! It's encouraging to know that there are people out there who appreciate some of my pictures :)

I also think it would have been nicer to have fewer cars, though cars are still necessary to communicate the point that the tree is in a parking lot. I'm always looking to get better at shooting, so any other suggestions that anyone might have are entirely welcome!


andiwm2003,

I love that picture you posted! I was actually considering taking pictures of mouldy food, but I figured that it would take too long to get something to grow mould. What sort of drink was that, anyway?

I'm no expert, but I'm pleased with the lighting you chose for your picture. I would think it's more a matter of personal preference. But hey, what do I know? ;)

[Abstract]

I love that picture you posted! I was actually considering taking pictures of mouldy food, but I figured that it would take too long to get something to grow mould. What sort of drink was that, anyway?

Yeah, so was I, although unlike elfin buddy, I'd have no trouble getting food to mould. :p

[yoak]

please comment on composition and how to set up lighting if you want to take pics from stuff in a glass. i found it quite difficult to decide what's the best angle and where the light should come from.

Interesting picture.
One tip is to use some sort of backlighting to bring more "life" to the liquid

[neut]

please comment on composition and how to set up lighting if you want to take pics from stuff in a glass. i found it quite difficult to decide what's the best angle and where the light should come from.

I hope you don't mind ... i liked your image. :cool:

Since you asked about composition; i cropped your image slightly to abstract the glass a bit. I also messed with the levels/curves/color and added softening layer. Abstracting the image lent it to be interesting to my eye. :)


peace | neut

[andiwm2003]

I hope you don't mind ... i liked your image. :cool:

Since you asked about composition; i cropped your image slightly to abstract the glass a bit. I also messed with the levels/curves/color and added softening layer. Abstracting the image lent it to be interesting to my eye. :)


peace | neut

thanks, looks much better that way!

[neut]

Attached is the treated image, a sampled version of the RAW, and a screen of the camera settings for those who care. This is my daughters space-age ant farm; the blue/clear junk is their food and home. They took to it overnight.

Lighting provided by Maglite™.


peace | neut

*These look way too black and lose detail on my CRTs (Viewsonic) at work; best viewed on LCDs.

[Abstract]

Oooh, nice photos.


best viewed on LCDs.

Is that possible? CRTs are usually great when it comes to displaying photos accurately. Its not your CRTs that are too dark. Chances are that your LCDs are too bright and not showing things dark enough, making normal photos seem brighter than they should be. My Dell LCD at uni does this --- too bright and oversaturated. My 12" PB's LCD is generally too dark and all the colours are too dull, so if I ever edit my photos, I just make all my photos look dull and dark so that when viewed on a good monitor, the colour saturation and everything looks great! :p
If I edit things to look perfect on my PB, they look way too bright and oversaturated on my Dell at Uni. I'm sure there's a happy medium in there somewhere.

[yellow]

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/3817/thetree4ja.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thetree4ja.jpg)

This giant tree is in the median of 4 lanes of highway.

[neut]

CRTs are usually great when it comes to displaying photos accurately. Its not your CRTs that are too dark. Chances are that your LCDs are too bright and not showing things dark enough, making normal photos seem brighter than they should be. My Dell LCD at uni does this --- too bright and oversaturated. My 12" PB's LCD is generally too dark and all the colours are too dull, so if I ever edit my photos, I just make all my photos look dull and dark so that when viewed on a good monitor, the colour saturation and everything looks great! :p
If I edit things to look perfect on my PB, they look way too bright and oversaturated on my Dell at Uni. I'm sure there's a happy medium in there somewhere.

I worked with this image on my Apple LCD and Dell LCD. I fixed my ViewSonics so they display a bit better (i had the brightess turned down too far) and they look pretty good using gaphics or video mode. They're nowhere near calibrated correctly though. :mad: The Dell is far too bright and i lose subtle detail. The Apple looks good though; especially the color.

Yellow - That's a nice little area you've found ... too bad it's trapped between roads. :rolleyes: Fits the assignment though. :p


peace | neut

[yippy]

Well I know that this is all supposed to be taken this month and that it should be a picture but I have a 4 second movie clip that fits just two perfectly. This (https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/kamunds2/shared/MVI_0202.AVI) was taken inside the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport terminal.

I do actually have a still of it but I had zoomed in and don't have a steady hand so all you see is a blob.

And great photos everyone.

[Over Achiever]

These geese found a small patch of grass without snow on the 15th, two days after we had over 10 inches of snow.

Cropped the original, increased the exposure, and faded the color.
http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/8273/geeseinsnow9qx.th.jpg (http://img160.imageshack.us/my.php?image=geeseinsnow9qx.jpg)

[SpAtZ]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e367/ccspatz/IMG_8640.jpg
Penguin in the Galapagos

This shot was taken in the Galapagos which is on the equator. Therefore its kinda odd for penguins to live in such a climate.

[Rower_CPU]

This shot was taken in the Galapagos which is on the equator. Therefore its kinda odd for penguins to live in such a climate.

Was it taken during the assignment period?

[SpAtZ]

Was it taken during the assignment period?

Yes it was.

Proof:http://photobucket.com/albums/e367/ccspatz/?action=view&current=a921c2a5.jpg

[Rower_CPU]

Yes it was.

Proof:http://photobucket.com/albums/e367/ccspatz/?action=view&current=a921c2a5.jpg

Awesome. Thanks! :)

[yellow]

Shoot.. I keep seeing good shots and not being able to take them.

The other day.. wild turkey standing at the edge of an intersection along a 4 lane 45MPH motorway. She was standing at the corner near a gas station at the edge of town. If I had 1) had a camera and 2) been able to stop, I would have had a shot of a wild turkey with Exxon gas pumps behind her. :cool:

And then just on Friday, though I started carrying my camera because of the above, I saw a beautiful hawk sitting on a powerline. Just couldn't get a god shot with the P&S. And the hawk finally got tired of the paparazzi and took off. <snap fingers>

The turkey would have been cool.

[andiwm2003]

i have already a pic in here. but the other idea i had was to let a potato grow out some "off shoots" (or whatever you call them here) in the fridge and take the picture. this could be a very interesting and challenging task with lighting and composition. well there are a few days left.......

[neut]

i have already a pic in here. but the other idea i had was to let a potato grow out some "off shoots" (or whatever you call them here) in the fridge and take the picture. this could be a very interesting and challenging task with lighting and composition. well there are a few days left.......

Thanks for reminding me ... i'll need to have my camera handy when i clean out my fridge. :p

I need to re-edit my posted photo from RAW; what i posted was processed from JPEG. :mad:


peace | neut

[Linkjeniero]

Here's my pic: a plant growing in my neighbor's roof. Sadly, the hot summer killed it... but it's nature nonetheless, and in a strange place.

[Abstract]

Hey, the month is over......

[neut]

I officially vote for the mantis ... it seems to have the best mix of assign. req., aesthetic qualities and being in the right place at the right time.

Nice photo dllavaneras. :)


peace | neut