Assignment 5 - Water

[Applespider]

May's assignment is Water (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=197899). The idea is that members will go out and try to find their own way of interpreting the monthly theme thus improving their photographic eye. Posting is open to all MR members, and encouraged. (edited from ChipNoVoMac's summary on what assignments should be about)

You must have taken the picture yourself between 6 and 31 May. If you took a picture that fits the assignment but was taken earlier, then post it in the Gallery: Water (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=2381368) thread instead.

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 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=2381360) on commenting (basically be nice!) are listed. Changes to the rules should be discussed there just as remarks about the topic(s) chosen should be kept in the poll thread (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=197899). Let's keep this thread just pictures and comments if possible

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

[Benjamindaines]

Here we go.... (this time in the correct thread)
Mine (http://homepage.mac.com/daines88/My%20Water%20Picture/large-1.html)

[Linkjeniero]

Here we go.... (this time in the correct thread)
Mine (http://homepage.mac.com/daines88/My%20Water%20Picture/large-1.html)

Very nice! It looks so calm... makes me wanna be very far from here... Oh well, back to work now :o

[MacMosher]

Here we go.... (this time in the correct thread)
Mine (http://homepage.mac.com/daines88/My%20Water%20Picture/large-1.html)
Is it a natural stream or was it put together in some backyard landscaping? Beautiful either way, just a thought.

[Benjamindaines]

Is it a natural stream or was it put together in some backyard landscaping? Beautiful either way, just a thought.
It was at a nature park near me, so it's probably a natural stream with a little help ;)

[atticus1178]

here is mine, taken at the creek near my apartment

[snap58]

One from a rainy day

[Chip NoVaMac]

One from a rainy day

Not sure if this is allowed, so forgive me. I like the concept. And IMO if fits the theme. But the crop is too broad to make it work IMO. I took the liberty to do a very quick crops as to how I might have worked this image for the assignment.

Hope you don't mind. :)

[DAAANGIT]

Some leaves in my backyard!

[Chip NoVaMac]

Some leaves in my backyard!

A great shot. Would you care to share the details on this one?

[snap58]

Not sure if this is allowed, so forgive me. I like the concept. And IMO if fits the theme. But the crop is too broad to make it work IMO. I took the liberty to do a very quick crops as to how I might have worked this image for the assignment.

Hope you don't mind. :)

Not at all. I appreciate the feedback, especially from the more experienced photographers. The crop most certainly does a better job of exposing the water droplets better than the original. Overall though it tends to crowd it a bit, and to me not nearly as relaxed as the wide version. I try to limit cropping whenever possible, but don't mind in the least if you have any cropping or other suggestions on any photos I may post.

This is another droplet photo, (theme wise even more subtle than the last), so I went ahead and cropped out one of the water drops. : )

Thanks again for your input,

[Chip NoVaMac]

Not at all. I appreciate the feedback, especially from the more experienced photographers. The crop most certainly does a better job of exposing the water droplets better than the original. Overall though it tends to crowd it a bit, and to me not nearly as relaxed as the wide version. I try to limit cropping whenever possible, but don't mind in the least if you have any cropping or other suggestions on any photos I may post.

This is another droplet photo, (theme wise even more subtle than the last), so I went ahead and cropped out one of the water drops. : )

Thanks again for your input,

I really like these two new images. Some may see it as a stretch, but that is their problem. :)

I wish I had the desire to take the time that these type of images require. I am more of the shoot and run type of photographer. :)

[FritzTheWonderM]

really like the one on the right snap58.

[snap58]

really like the one on the right snap58.

Thanks, you did note it is cropped out of the one on the left

[Forced Perfect]

Although not strictly a water shot. I do really like the water in this picture.

Taken in High Park in Toronto, Canada.
http://static.flickr.com/53/142306032_03bbb5351c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/forcedperfect/142306032/in/set-72057594120555460/)

[yellow]

<place holder>

[SilentPanda]

Not a top notch picture but it was over before it began and well... I wasn't really prepared for it... took place on Sunday night.

[iHotu]

Today

[MattyMac]

Although not strictly a water shot. I do really like the water in this picture.

Taken in High Park in Toronto, Canada.
http://static.flickr.com/53/142306032_03bbb5351c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/forcedperfect/142306032/in/set-72057594120555460/)
My favorite thus far!

[D LUX 2]

http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/7463/pipedindroplets5zi.jpg

[andiwm2003]

Post #20


great colors! feel very fresh.

do you have a version with the little fly in focus?

[Applespider]

beautiful leaf picture

It's a beautiful picture but the idea is that it goes in either this thread if taken since 5 May - or the gallery one for images taken outside the time limit - but not both to avoid confusion.;)

[DAAANGIT]

A great shot. Would you care to share the details on this one?

I raised the contrast a little and cropped it.

Canon 20D
ISO: 400
Length: 75mm
Aperture: F/3.5
Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec

[MacMosher]

Lovely pictures all,
I especially enjoy the duck and the last leaf :)

Im having some troubles finding a subject. I really want to do somthing different, not just a stream or water droplets*(nothing wrong with them I just want somthing more me).

Hmm, I guess Ill have to keep looking.

[cookie1105]

I went on a short break to Sylt (an island off the north-west coast of Germany) Monday & Tuesday. Fantastic beaches and some beautiful sunsets. These are a couple of my water shots for this months assignment from that trip.
The first two I have cropped, saturated and adjust WB a bit.
The last one I unsharp masked the footprints to make them pop and cropped a bit.

Let me know what you think. Any constructive criticism is welcome as I am most definitely still learning.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I went on a short break to Sylt (an island off the north-west coast of Germany) Monday & Tuesday. Fantastic beaches and some beautiful sunsets. These are a couple of my water shots for this months assignment from that trip.
The first two I have cropped, saturated and adjust WB a bit.
The last one I unsharp masked the footprints to make them pop and cropped a bit.

Let me know what you think. Any constructive criticism is welcome as I am most definitely still learning.

Love what you shared. The last image of the sand dunes and the water struck me as best fitting the theme so far. The footprints seem to be PS'd in, but that does not distract from the quality of the image IMO.

I hope that this shot was done in a RAW format. For I can this as an image worthy of going to 20x20 inches or better! Maybe some work to bring the background more in line with the rest of the image in tonality. But I really see this image as being one that many a landscape photographer I know, to be jealous over with the right treatment.

I know that given the right printing, I would be willing to buy a print for my own wall. :)

[cookie1105]

Thanks for the very constructive comments Chip.:)

Luckily it was shot in RAW, so I might play with the tonality some more. You are quite right, the footprints were sharpened a bit too much but the picture is definitely not finished. I will keep in mind what you said about blowing it up.

Cheers.

[m-dogg]

I just returned from California, which included a couple of days in Big Sur. Here are a few pictures I liked from many, many that were taken. While water is included in each of these, it isn't necessarily the focal point.

click me (http://www.flickr.com/photos/m_dogg435/)

All were taken with a point & shoot (Sony DSC-P10).

[simie]

Here's one I took earlier (today that is)

[andiwm2003]

rain rain rain

[Chip NoVaMac]

rain rain rain

I like this image. Hope for dryer days for you all.

[Orlando Furioso]

of clouds.

http://studentsites.expression.edu/Miguel%20Barrera/seaclouds.jpg

[Rower_CPU]

Found a good opportunity while doing the dishes.

Love those clouds, Orlando. :)

[MacMosher]

of clouds.

I really like this one, it's a good play on the topic. I mean its not just a macro of droplets. Its a shot of clouds containing the water.

p.s. howed you get it?

[DinoAdventure]

I took this today, oddly before I even knew about these contests. I didn't even realize we had this kind of thing on the forum.

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/7205/water2sk.th.jpg (http://img467.imageshack.us/my.php?image=water2sk.jpg)

[OutThere]

I took a lot of really fancy and overly-long-to-set-up shots for this, and then I decided to take a picture of my foot under the brook near my dorm. And so you have it. :D

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/325/img64613gg.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[andiwm2003]

I took a lot of really fancy and overly-long-to-set-up shots for this, and then I decided to take a picture of my foot under the brook near my dorm. And so you have it. :D



somebody had to do it..........

[gauchogolfer]

When you add a little water to a very dry place....

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/5821/library7272uq.jpg

[Mr. Anderson]

Pic from a wedding last week that got a little wet (back ground is looking out over the south side of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands)

D

[FritzTheWonderM]

Pic from a wedding last week that got a little wet
Really nice composition. Half a stop lighter perhaps?

[Mr. Anderson]

Really nice composition. Half a stop lighter perhaps?

Thanks!

Yeah, it should be a little lighter, but that's actually how the place looked before it started to get a little lighter after the rain stopped.

I was going to go down and get another shot after relighting the candle to try some more views (which would have been quite cool), but the waiters came by and brushed all the water off - so all the water drops were gone :(

Here's one I *adjusted* :D

D

[andiwm2003]

When you add a little water to a very dry place....
post nr.38



i love the colors in your pic. but I can't see individual leaves of the blossom. it's all one orange. i encountered that problem also. is there a trick to increase the contrast (aside of heavy photoshopping)?

or maybe the problem only comes from converting the pic to jpeg?

[gauchogolfer]

i love the colors in your pic. but I can't see individual leaves of the blossom. it's all one orange. i encountered that problem also. is there a trick to increase the contrast (aside of heavy photoshopping)?

or maybe the problem only comes from converting the pic to jpeg?

First of all, thanks for the feedback. As to your question, I think it's probably a limitation of my Minolta Dimage A2 lens. I did reduce the exposure and bumped up the contrast a small amount: here is the result of a crop of just the flower region. As you see, it's still pretty indistinct. Results were basically the same before the jpeg conversion, in RAW. Time to invest in that 30D + macro lens :) :)

Or just choose better lighting...hmm, decisions decisions.

At any rate, it'll probably be the only submission to this assignment which was photographed in Monaco :cool:

http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9149/flowercrop9ow.th.jpg (http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9149/flowercrop9ow.jpg)

[jared_kipe]

Canon 30D, Sigma 150mm EX Macro, Sigma 500 DG Super flash
f13, 1/250, iso100

[Abstract]

Let me know what you think. Any constructive criticism is welcome as I am most definitely still learning.

Wow, that 3rd photo of yours of the sand ripples is very cool. It's probably my 2nd favourite so far, but Jared's photo above is my favourite. :)

I have this image in my head of what I want to photograph, but seeing as how I just came back from one of the driest areas on the driest continent on Earth, there wasn't much of a chance. :p Maybe I'll have time now.

Anyway, here's my first contributions to this thread, I think.

Photos #1 and #2 are both from a sunrise, although the boat and dock elements do relate to water. The sun sets on the west part of Australia, but where we were along the Indian ocean, we can get a clear view of the sun rising AND setting over water, which is a bit strange, but it did result in some nice photo opportunities.

You can see birds in Photo #2. They're these enormous black birds (don't know what they're called) and they travel in "groups" of 50-70, it appears. They move in unison very quickly, almost like a large school of some types of fish.

Photo#3 was taken at an incredibly beautiful uni campus. I haven't been on American university campuses, but I've heard some can be quite grand (although a bit like a shopping mall at times).

[Orlando Furioso]

p.s. howed you get it?

Thanks for the nice comment. I was trying to be a clever lil mouse.

Anyhow, I was high in the sky flying by... actually I do not know where I was, but it was somewhere over the North Carolina/Virginia border.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Canon 30D, Sigma 150mm EX Macro, Sigma 500 DG Super flash
f13, 1/250, iso100

I appreciate the effort for this type of photo. Tried unsuccessfully back in HS so many years ago to do this type of image. Digital has in many ways made it easier. Thanks for sharing this.

[NATO]

I'm still relatively new to photography, but I took this photo this evening while I tried out my new camera. I am very pleased with the result, especially as it fits into the topic of this Assignment. I'd be very grateful for some feedback.

Btw, I love the photo by D LUX 2. Simply Fantastic!

http://www.nathanboal.com/killylanefisherman.jpg

[harveypooka]

Let me know what you think. Any constructive criticism is welcome as I am most definitely still learning.

Wow, the one with the jet stream is lovely. It's like a barrier that breaks up the sky. I'm trying to think of a Jim Morrison quote that'll fit...well, it dosen't fit that well...but Jim's a legend...

"A vast radiant beach and a cool jeweled moon"

[Chip NoVaMac]

I'm still relatively new to photography, but I took this photo this evening while I tried out my new camera. I am very pleased with the result, especially as it fits into the topic of this Assignment. I'd be very grateful for some feedback.

Btw, I love the photo by D LUX 2. Simply Fantastic!


Yep, the D-Lux 2 is an amazing camera!

Like this image. The only thing I would prefer to see in it, is the man getting to release the fly, as opposed to after.

[NATO]

Yep, the D-Lux 2 is an amazing camera!

Like this image. The only thing I would prefer to see in it, is the man getting to release the fly, as opposed to after.

Thanks for the feedback Chip :) Yeah, that would look really well, although I think by having it the way it is at the moment, it conveys a sense of tranquility and peacefulness. However, having him release the fly would give the shot a bit of motion in what is otherwise a very still shot.

[annk]

It's been raining here the last few days. When it stopped for a bit, I went out back to check on the Asian poppies, and saw the drops on them.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/monsterandfuzzy/IMG_1551.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/monsterandfuzzy/IMG_1563.jpg

[Lau]

Annk - great pictures. The second one is amazing - you can really see the hairs pushing the surface tension of the water drop.

[simie]

It's been raining here the last few days. When it stopped for a bit, I went out back to check on the Asian poppies, and saw the drops on them.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/monsterandfuzzy/IMG_1551.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/monsterandfuzzy/IMG_1563.jpg

Great Macro shots, the detail is great.

[annk]

Thanks. :)

I especially like D Lux 2's water-on-leaves, snap58's droplets, Forcedperfect's duck-on-water and...this list is gonna be long, I'm afraid - I've got the thread open in another tab and I just keep wanting to add on here. :p I really like LOTS of these shots.

I like gauchogolfer's take on the theme.

[Nezza]

A couple taken with my new lens. Not pictured is me trying desperately to stay on my feet in the face of fiercely blowing wind. I came back from the beach feeling sand-blasted.

[andiwm2003]

#56

A couple taken with my new lens. Not pictured is me trying desperately to stay on my feet in the face of fiercely blowing wind. I came back from the beach feeling sand-blasted.

i like the second one. have you used a filter to make it look like sepia or did the colors really turn out like that?

[sjl]

I figured that I'd do something rather different for this assignment. Et Voila:
http://static.flickr.com/63/155337532_44e3217baf_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/58114576@N00/155337532/)

Yes, I took that from underwater: Blairgowrie Pier, in Port Philip Bay, Victoria, Australia (not really in Melbourne; it's about 90 minutes from where I live, give or take a bit.) Be gentle; I'm still figuring out the whole underwater photography thing. :o There's a few other underwater shots I've taken and posted on Flickr (take 150 shots, cull them down to 39, and even then, there's only a few that I'm really happy with ...)

I need a decent strobe, I think. :D (not for that shot, though; a strobe wouldn't have improved it, and may actually have diminished the shot quality.)

[D34th]

Took this out about a week ago right before a thunder stom. Critiquing greatly appreciated, I'm a beginner but very interested in photography...
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/7067/img09968ut.th.jpg (http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img09968ut.jpg)

[Nezza]

#56



i like the second one. have you used a filter to make it look like sepia or did the colors really turn out like that?

No filters, just as it was.

[Chip NoVaMac]

One of the first shots taken with the Pentax Optio WPi.

[Clix Pix]

Had to wait for Smugmug to come back up before I could hotlink my submission:

http://clixpix.smugmug.com/photos/72391458-L.jpg

[Applespider]

I was looking out for water while on holiday. I missed out on a shot showing out clear/turquoise the sea was though... just couldn't get it into a decent shot at all since was trying not to get my camera wet.

So... here's my 'Goldsworthy' moment on the beach, a tap on a Roman fountain and just to have a 'reflection' that wasn't on the Tiber, the flower market at Campo di Fiori after the cobbles had been soaked while watering the flowers from the fountain (which I've cropped down... I might post a wider crop though since I'm not sure it gets the scene truly over as is)

[yellow]

Cool fountain.

Unfortunately, I never got a chance to contrib to this 'assignment'. :(