Fortnightly Challenge - Oct 9 thru Oct 22 - Topic: foofaraw [Archive]

JohnMC

Oct 9, 2009, 06:33 PM

Fortnightly Challenge - Oct 9 thru Oct 22

Challenge topic :
1) Foofaraw which means "Excessive or flashy ornamentation or decoration" & "a fuss over a matter of little importance".
2) Nocturnal (only because we may have trouble with Foofaraw)

The challenge will run from right now until : 11:59PM Oct 22

Rules
1. Photos should be your own work.
2. Produced within the challenge period if possible.
3. All positive feedback and criticism is encouraged and welcome if you posted or not.
4. There is no real limit to the number of photos you may enter.

Challenge topics:
1. Suggestions for the bi-weekly's challenge are made in a single thread which will be set up the week before (I'm going to make a big effort to do this with this challenge).
2. The challenge topic will be voted on by all members in a separate thread.

Lets have fun!!!

chown33

Oct 9, 2009, 06:48 PM

Are there bonus points for a nocturnal foofaraw?

Chappers

Oct 9, 2009, 07:56 PM

Does this mean I get a bonus point?

BarryJ

Oct 9, 2009, 09:05 PM

There was lots of foofaraw... foofeeree... ahh, fun, after the bon fire started.

deep diver

Oct 9, 2009, 10:03 PM

This really is nocturnal. I shot this in the Uplands on Maui after sunset but just before losing all light. (I needed my flashlight in less than 5 minutes after I took this). It was a long exposure, and I had no idea what would come out. I was very surprised when it looked like daylight.

Designer Dale

Oct 10, 2009, 12:46 AM

Fortnightly Challenge - Oct 9 thru Oct 22

Challenge topic :
<snip>
2) Nocturnal (only because we may have trouble with Foofaraw)

<snip>

Lets have fun!!!

Sorry. I ment that Nocturnal may be hard to shoot. Holiday season Foofaraw should be a cinch.

Dale

Chappers

Oct 10, 2009, 01:23 AM

Lunar eclipse

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2448/3996770949_6355116211_b.jpg

Jupiter - both of these photos were difficult without a tripod.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2492/3996771025_e1ca79c366_o.jpg

Phrasikleia

Oct 10, 2009, 01:34 AM

Just want to say I think this thread is a terrific idea--the perfect complement to the contest thread. :)

Now I need to go find me some foofaraw!

Chappers

Oct 10, 2009, 03:17 AM

This beautiful Parisian building was spoilt by the foofaraw at street level.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3513/3997531018_376651956f_b.jpg

chown33

Oct 10, 2009, 02:54 PM

This beautiful Parisian building was spoilt by the foofaraw at street level.

But it makes the photo. The top of the building appears very much nocturnal: quiet, dark, and evocative of night. As I scrolled down, it revealed progressively more details, more light, and finally a "city that never sleeps" foofaraw at the bottom. Some of the impact is the scrolling for a progressive reveal, but it stands by itself, too. I'd definitely give this shot bonus points.

Chappers

Oct 11, 2009, 12:16 AM

Well I hope someone else is going to join in.

The French have decided the huge number of lights on the Eiffel Tower are foofaraw and are going to reduce the amount because of global warming.

deep diver

Oct 11, 2009, 09:45 AM

Well I hope someone else is going to join in.

The French have decided the huge number of lights on the Eiffel Tower are foofaraw and are going to reduce the amount because of global warming.

Perhaps if the French turn out some of those lights global warming will come to an end and we can go back to wasting our own power and overusing fossil fuels. :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I will submit as soon as I have something. I have dusk but not nocturnal (except for those pictures of my woods that I recently posted). I have lots of crap I haven't purged yet but nothing that qualifies as foofaraw. Be patient and I'll post something tacky.

deep diver

Oct 11, 2009, 09:52 AM

Does this mean I get a bonus point?

This is nothing. My aunt and uncle lived in suburban Philadelphia. There was some kind of thing that started that beginning the day after Thanksgiving many folks tried to "out-foofaraw" one another. The place you shot wouldn't even make it into the "bottom 10."

Chappers

Oct 11, 2009, 10:57 AM

This is nothing. My aunt and uncle lived in suburban Philadelphia. There was some kind of thing that started that beginning the day after Thanksgiving many folks tried to "out-foofaraw" one another. The place you shot wouldn't even make it into the "bottom 10."

Believe me this is not even bottom 10 back in the UK either but luckily we often have sensible laws that prevents too much foofaraw. It usually involves it being distracting and therefore unsafe for drivers. I'm so glad not to have to suffer this any more.

sziehr

Oct 12, 2009, 12:47 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/4003929088_d2bd7f72ba_b.jpg
Neons

Chappers

Oct 12, 2009, 03:08 AM

sziehr - That is foofaraw :D Great colours and detail. Bonus points scored for nocturnal foofaraw !!!!

mikshayne

Oct 12, 2009, 01:57 PM

Christmas in Tokyo. This tree was under the Tokyo Tower.

Chappers

Oct 12, 2009, 02:23 PM

Christmas in Tokyo. This tree was under the Tokyo Tower.

More bonus points given for both Foofaraw and nocturnal - good stuff. I would like to see a larger version but this is very interesting in an abstract way.

Designer Dale

Oct 12, 2009, 04:42 PM

Guess what this little guy said when they got him in this? Foofaraw?

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8162/littlewhitetux.jpg (http://img32.imageshack.us/i/littlewhitetux.jpg/)

Dale

platypus63

Oct 12, 2009, 08:07 PM

sziehr i love the vibrance of the neon sign.

Here's mine. A painted elephant taken a few years back in Jaipur.

pdxflint

Oct 12, 2009, 10:30 PM

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_zbn1AZDn-gg/SYjPUYrG3XI/AAAAAAAAMFw/gGth1HxxKDA/s800/P1010228.JPG

Camera: Panasonic
Model: DMC-LZ8
ISO: 100
Exposure: 1/800 sec
Aperture: 6.3
Focal Length: 26mm

deep diver

Oct 12, 2009, 10:31 PM

Guess what this little guy said when they got him in this? Foofaraw?

Dale
Did he say "foofaraw" or did he leave the foofaraw behind. No matter......

sziehr -- this is a great photo.

mikshayne -- I really like this. I would like to see the entire tree (as a curiosity) but you did appeal to my preference for very tight cropping. :rolleyes:

Here is mine. This is my kid's room but the hat was one of my 40th birthday presents. It still reflects my attitude, 13 years later. I took this at about 9:30 this evening. Does it count for both themes?

Chappers

Oct 13, 2009, 04:36 AM

To a lonely female somewhere maybe its highly attractive. Hopefully she was nearby because he could well be eaten along with all his competitors who were also showing off their foofaraw.

munkees

Oct 13, 2009, 10:51 AM

To a lonely female somewhere maybe its highly attractive. Hopefully she was nearby because he could well be eaten along with all his competitors who were also showing off their foofaraw.

love the colors, great shot, how did you capture that shot?

jrm27

Oct 13, 2009, 12:35 PM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3994954873_3c74f78436_b.jpg

Here's my addition! Took this last week, it's 120 exposures blended together out my back door.

Chappers

Oct 13, 2009, 01:31 PM

love the colors, great shot, how did you capture that shot?

300mm macro zoom lens. These crickets all change colour for their little mating party and hang around on this plant where they are quite exposed. I counted about thirty of them.

They were more difficult to photograph in a thicker bush a couple of weeks before.

mikshayne

Oct 13, 2009, 02:20 PM

More bonus points given for both Foofaraw and nocturnal - good stuff. I would like to see a larger version but this is very interesting in an abstract way.

Thank you! Would you like to see a larger version...as in format, or that frames more area/not cropped?

I can either post a link to a file with a larger size, or see if I have any other shots of the tree.

mikshayne

Oct 13, 2009, 02:22 PM

HOLY CRAP THIS IS COOL! I've seen plenty of time release photography....but this is very different! Thank you for sharing it with us!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3994954873_3c74f78436_b.jpg

Here's my addition! Took this last week, it's 120 exposures blended together out my back door.

Chappers

Oct 13, 2009, 03:28 PM

Thank you! Would you like to see a larger version...as in format, or that frames more area/not cropped?

I can either post a link to a file with a larger size, or see if I have any other shots of the tree.

Lets see both - I love abstract type of things.

I also agree with you over jrm27's stars photo - very cool and left me asking question - good work jrm27.

Designer Dale

Oct 13, 2009, 03:30 PM

Another "Dressed up with nowhere to go" pic.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6380/halloweendisplay.jpg (http://img169.imageshack.us/i/halloweendisplay.jpg/)

Dale

jrm27

Oct 13, 2009, 03:31 PM

HOLY CRAP THIS IS COOL! I've seen plenty of time release photography....but this is very different! Thank you for sharing it with us!

It's my pleasure! I'm glad you like it and appreciate the kind words.

Fantastic work as always to everyone here. Chappers: excellent progression!

deep diver

Oct 13, 2009, 06:36 PM

Strictly nocturnal (unless Chappers considers a tripod to be foofaraw :rolleyes:).

Designer Dale

Oct 13, 2009, 11:03 PM

Strictly nocturnal (unless Chappers considers a tripod to be foofaraw :rolleyes:).

Excellent shot. What was the light source? Did you paint with a flashlight?

Dale

mikshayne

Oct 14, 2009, 01:21 AM

Lets see both - I love abstract type of things.

I also agree with you over jrm27's stars photo - very cool and left me asking question - good work jrm27.

Here are some other shots from that trip....all which fit both themes to some extent. ;-)

mikshayne

Oct 14, 2009, 01:23 AM

Here's one more - with the tower from a distance. I was on the roof of another skyscraper for this one.

Chappers

Oct 14, 2009, 01:23 AM

Strictly nocturnal (unless Chappers considers a tripod to be foofaraw :rolleyes:).
:D:D:D

Interesting shot - I like the fact you've made flowers scary and haunted.

I think it would be good for you to post the woods shot again as an interesting comparison to the flowers.

mikshayne I think from a personal point of view I prefer the cropped tree decorations - you may prefer the memories version. Cool shots though. Love the city-scapes what camera do you use?
Love Tokyo tower from afar - looks like a Batman film.

Chappers

Oct 14, 2009, 03:14 AM

Living on a mountain means weather can be interesting - this is 10 minutes of snow on the apricot tree outside my sons window. The orange is pure light pollution.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3313042941_c91952707e_b.jpg

9 minutes before the shot above the sky was purple and then more snow arrived. I love it - the sky went from purple to orange in a space of minutes.

Chappers

Oct 14, 2009, 03:18 AM

This was a lucky shot - my father-in-law insisted it was birds flying around us (yeah right).

Manual focus (guess distance), flash, point at sky and try to photograph flying object. Took only one photo.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2795751379_5cb6629f6f_o.jpg

Chappers

Oct 14, 2009, 03:43 AM

Another "Dressed up with nowhere to go" pic.
Dale

Nice one - I just knew I'd see it over at the Weekly contest.

doubleohseven

Oct 14, 2009, 07:56 AM

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3164656443_36c7057d9f_b.jpg

sleepypanda

Oct 14, 2009, 07:58 AM

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/4010684195_e93a033e64_b.jpg

mikshayne

Oct 14, 2009, 08:45 AM

Chappers, I agree with you on the cropped version. In fact - I tend to prefer overly cropped images to create a little different look. I should have been more clear with the additional pics. The ones of the full tree were just so you could see what it was - along with it's location. Once I posted that I thought....why not post the ones of the tower itself. The street shot, the temple, and the entry to china town were the ones I considered posting for the challenge.

The mountain snow shot is great! The color makes this especially interesting.

I have a Nikon D300. I'd have to go back and check to see what lens I used. I bought a used 18-200 on that trip. I wish I could afford better glass. Everything I read tells me this would make such a difference...but since no one is paying me for me pics...havnt been able to justify the expense. Yet. ;-)
:D:D:D

Interesting shot - I like the fact you've made flowers scary and haunted.

I think it would be good for you to post the woods shot again as an interesting comparison to the flowers.

mikshayne I think from a personal point of view I prefer the cropped tree decorations - you may prefer the memories version. Cool shots though. Love the city-scapes what camera do you use?
Love Tokyo tower from afar - looks like a Batman film.

Chappers

Oct 14, 2009, 12:01 PM

I keep wanting t tr this type of photograph and every time i see a good one (like yours) I feel the urge again. I am quite keen on cropping photos so I would lose the top left hand corner area but that personal choice.

]
Cool, clear and reminds me of at least three different cultures.

I should have been more clear with the additional pics. The ones of the full tree were just so you could see what it was - along with it's location. Difficult choice though - crop the image to make art or keep the original memory - duplicate and keep both I say. Good stuff.
Once I posted that I thought....why not post the ones of the tower itself. The street shot, the temple, and the entry to china town were the ones I considered posting for the challenge. They are great - glad you posted them - have that comic book feel and I like it.

The mountain snow shot is great! The color makes this especially interesting. Light pollution is usually bad but that night it was very useful.

I have a Nikon D300. I'd have to go back and check to see what lens I used. I bought a used 18-200 on that trip. I wish I could afford better glass. Everything I read tells me this would make such a difference...but since no one is paying me for me pics...havnt been able to justify the expense. Yet. ;-) Believe me I hear you.

Designer Dale

Oct 14, 2009, 05:34 PM

Nice one - I just knew I'd see it over at the Weekly contest.

Thank you much! It is from the same shoot as the one I put in the Weekly Contest, but it isn't a crop of this one.

Dale

Designer Dale

Oct 14, 2009, 05:46 PM

Here are some other shots from that trip....all which fit both themes to some extent. ;-)

^^^Great shots. I like the one with the Rico tower the best. The only comment I have other than praise is to crop off that street light on the right. It is a bit distracting (if that is possible) ;) The Japanese really know how to do gaudy.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/3164656443_36c7057d9f_b.jpg

^^^One of the best "car light shots" I have ever seen. It really has a twisted dynamic to it. Love it.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/4010684195_e93a033e64_b.jpg

^^^Do I need to repeat myself? The Japanese really know how to do gaudy! This has loads of great colors and nice framing. The exposure is well handled and it is technically good.

Excellent work from all involved in this Challenge. Keep it coming.

Dale

Designer Dale

Oct 14, 2009, 06:41 PM

This machine is rain powered and really does nothing at all. No, it wasn't raining... Secondary definition of the topic word.

http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/224/machinething.jpg (http://img2.imageshack.us/i/machinething.jpg/)

Dale

deep diver

Oct 14, 2009, 08:19 PM

Excellent shot. What was the light source? Did you paint with a flashlight?

Dale

Thanks. I painted this with a single LED flashlight placed on the ground about 6 feet from the subject. It was about 11:00pm. There was no other intentional lighting and only a little light pollution (not enough to make a difference). I shot it with a Nikon D50 w/ the 18-200 lens. 31mm, f4.5, 3 second, ISO was either 800 or 1600 (can't remember).

mikshayne -- I really like the up-shot perspective on the temple and tower. I like the cropped verision of the tree more. Seeing the original, I think I'd like to see it cropped not quite so tightly but still including only the decorations. The city scape is very cool. Looks like something sci-fi (which could also be Japanese foofaraw).

Chappers -- I love the orange picture. It is very ominous looking. Very powerful.

doubleohseven -- you posted this for one of the weekly contests. I loved it then and I like it even more now. The bright sign on the left is a big distraction but it also adds to the mystery of this scene.

sleepypanda -- JUMBO, jumbo sign, jumbo foofaraw. This scene just might win the prize for being the most innately tacky.

Dale -- I really like this. I might have cropped out some of the stuff on the right to highlight the gearing. (Big surprise coming from me. Right? :D:D). Shooting through glass is always challenging. Was there another angle that would give you a good composition but show less reflection?

I have a Nikon D300. I'd have to go back and check to see what lens I used. I bought a used 18-200 on that trip. I wish I could afford better glass. Everything I read tells me this would make such a difference...but since no one is paying me for me pics...havnt been able to justify the expense. Yet. ;-)

I don't know........... A lot of people give this lens a bad rap. I use mine exclusively and I love it. It is not very expensive professional glass but it is a very good lens and it has a great range. I've got no complaints about the lens and I've gotten no complaints about the quality of the images. BTW: that was an opinion, not a tirade. :D:D

deep diver

Oct 14, 2009, 08:25 PM

Here are the 2 tree images. I do like the side lit image better. The front lit one might not be great but I still like the low budget movie feel to it.

Designer Dale

Oct 14, 2009, 08:35 PM

Dale -- I really like this. I might have cropped out some of the stuff on the right to highlight the gearing. (Big surprise coming from me. Right? :D:D). Shooting through glass is always challenging. Was there another angle that would give you a good composition but show less reflection?

Like so ?:;):?

It's been raining. I may go down and see what it looks like now.

Dale

Chappers

Oct 15, 2009, 09:11 AM

Here are the 2 tree images. I do like the side lit image better. The front lit one might not be great but I still like the low budget movie feel to it.

I agree on the side lit one - they are still both scary. I'm not keen on the woods in the day time - the night time is a no no.
So although this picture is very good - I don't want to go down to the woods. Clever stuff.

Designer Dale

Oct 15, 2009, 04:57 PM

Tacoma Dome Lighting

Difficult night shoot on a tripod with lots of vibration from traffic. Comments on how to do something like this better?

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/7264/nocutrnallight.jpg

Dale

Canon Xsi
Tamron 28-300 VC @ 46mm
1/5 sec @ f5.6
ISO 400
Some PS cheating to tone down one of the flood lights

grassland

Oct 15, 2009, 06:44 PM

Does this count?

Chappers

Oct 15, 2009, 07:31 PM

Does this count?

Oh yes this is foofaraw.

Dale - I think the picture is fine. Did you achieve what you want to achieve?

deep diver

Oct 15, 2009, 09:05 PM

Difficult night shoot on a tripod with lots of vibration from traffic. Comments on how to do something like this better?

Dale -- there is nothing wrong with this shot. It's pretty cool. The real question is whether you captured what you wanted. The only thing I would have done differently would be to expose it just a little more. That is, however, strictly personal preference. The image is very good.

grassland -- yes. It definitely fits. I think I'd like to see this place in person (I think.....).

Designer Dale

Oct 15, 2009, 10:54 PM

<snip>Dale - I think the picture is fine. Did you achieve what you want to achieve?

Dale -- there is nothing wrong with this shot. It's pretty cool. The real question is whether you captured what you wanted. The only thing I would have done differently would be to expose it just a little more. That is, however, strictly personal preference. The image is very good.<snip>.
Thanks for the feedback, folks. Yes, I achieved what I wanted with the shot. It was the first time I had tried shooting at night and wanted C&C. I have others with both more and less exposure, I will play with them tomorrow. In my first round of sorting this was the sharpest.

Dale

tnkrmdc

Oct 15, 2009, 11:40 PM

Guess the constellation?

tnkrmdc

Oct 15, 2009, 11:43 PM

This was taken at night with the tree silhouetted by distant city lights with the Big Dipper.

tnkrmdc

Oct 15, 2009, 11:46 PM

I entered this in a previous contest but I love this photo. So here it is.

Chappers

Oct 16, 2009, 02:31 AM

Guess the constellation? Would that be the big dipper/plough?

This was taken at night with the tree silhouetted by distant city lights with the Big Dipper.
Nice shot - like it - want to do it but lots of light pollution were I live - see previous photos on this thread.

I entered this in a previous contest but I love this photo. So here it is.
Seen this before - still like it. I have so far resisted reposting my lightning photo. Yours is a cool shot - plenty of scale.

This thread had some cool info on shooting stars for any one interested http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=386226

tnkrmdc

Oct 16, 2009, 07:24 AM

Chappers

Oct 16, 2009, 08:18 AM

Chappers,
You are right it is the big dipper. For really great star trails, I will have to purchase a portable gaming system to bring with me or bring a cute girl to snuggle with while waiting for the star trail. I just don't have the patience to sit there for 30 minutes, 1 hour or whatever for it to complete. :-)

Cute girl - far more fun. As long as you don't forget the camera for some reason.:D:D:D

I am still yet to get a tripod and sometimes suffer because of it

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2778920836_edd1516779.jpg

deep diver

Oct 16, 2009, 02:16 PM

I am still yet to get a tripod and sometimes suffer because of it

What about a good three legged stool and a few bean bags? :D:D:D

Okay, I've picked on you enough. Here are 2 serious suggestions. I've tried them both. They are not elegant but they work and they are cheap. 1) Get a bolt that screws into the nut on the bottom of the camera. Tie a good string (I use mason's line) to the bolt. It should be about 6 feet long. Tie a fender washer (those real big ones) to the other end. If you step on the washer and pull up on the camera so that the line is taut, it does a good job of steadying the camera for longer exposures. Adjust the length of the string as needed. I have used this successfully for exposures up to about one second. 2) You can find a fastener at the hardware store that is a bolt on one end and a screw on the other. (I'm sure it has a name but I don't know what it is). The bolt end should fit the nut on the camera bottom. Also get a 6' long 1" or 1.25" diameter dowel rod. Screw the fastener into one end of the dowel. You now have a very serviceable monopod. Cut the dowel to length.

Chappers

Oct 17, 2009, 12:22 AM

What about a good three legged stool and a few bean bags? :D:D:D

Okay, I've picked on you enough. Here are 2 serious suggestions. I've tried them both. They are not elegant but they work and they are cheap. 1) Get a bolt that screws into the nut on the bottom of the camera. Tie a good string (I use mason's line) to the bolt. It should be about 6 feet long. Tie a fender washer (those real big ones) to the other end. If you step on the washer and pull up on the camera so that the line is taut, it does a good job of steadying the camera for longer exposures. Adjust the length of the string as needed. I have used this successfully for exposures up to about one second. 2) You can find a fastener at the hardware store that is a bolt on one end and a screw on the other. (I'm sure it has a name but I don't know what it is). The bolt end should fit the nut on the camera bottom. Also get a 6' long 1" or 1.25" diameter dowel rod. Screw the fastener into one end of the dowel. You now have a very serviceable monopod. Cut the dowel to length.

Now because you've been kind enough to write this down I'm going to try this when I get get the chance. I will post some shots as and when I can. This counter balances my mothers desire to buy me something for Christmas but I'll still give it a go. You're a gentleman and a scholar.

tnkrmdc

Oct 17, 2009, 02:21 AM

Cute girl - far more fun. As long as you don't forget the camera for some reason.:D:D:D

I am still yet to get a tripod and sometimes suffer because of it

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2778920836_edd1516779.jpg

I wish that I steady enough hands to hold camera still enough on certain shots. I probably need treat the camera more like a firearm and control my breathing. :D

BTW, cute girls are definitely fun but I would be beating myself up if I left my camera somewhere.The girl better be worth it.:D

Chappers, I have seen a few of your pictures and I like them. How long have you been in photography?

tnkrmdc

Oct 17, 2009, 02:25 AM

someoldguy

Oct 17, 2009, 10:37 AM

Don't know about foofaraw , but this guy is certainly nocturnal. Found him on my last trip to Belize . Canon 5d , 100 macro w/ 2x Kenko extender , f14@200 ,430 ex flash . Focused by flashlight.

http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx317/61mg73/IMG_0658_1319.jpg

Chappers

Oct 17, 2009, 12:45 PM

The moon shot just beautiful. What more can be said.
With a tripod they could be better - there is only so far I can reduce my heart beat to take these. :D

Don't know about foofaraw , but this guy is certainly nocturnal. Found him on my last trip to Belize.
Nice shot - love frogs.

Sorry about the quality off this shot but its real foofaraw - just difficult to get a photo.

Designer Dale

Oct 17, 2009, 03:01 PM

<snip>Sorry about the quality off this shot but its real foofaraw - just difficult to get a photo.

This is a really interesting looking building. I would love to see a photo of it with better light on the front. If it's possible, shoot this again some time and post it here or in the POTD thread.

Dale

deep diver

Oct 18, 2009, 11:32 AM

I was looking for a good on-line photo calculator which I found athttp://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm (http://www.tawbaware.com/maxlyons/calc.htm)

While looking I found this site: http://www.howardedin.com/ (http://www.howardedin.com/). The calculator is not very good and is mostly appropriate for telescopes. His nocturnal images are amazing. Definitely worth a look.

Chappers

Oct 18, 2009, 01:24 PM

deep diver

Oct 18, 2009, 07:56 PM

I posted this on FOTW but that contest ends after this challenge and I wanted to share it. The FOTW theme is "panorama". I think it might count as foofaraw because of the use of 8 component images and my compulsive attention to getting it done. Mostly I am interested in feedback from this group.

====================

I wanted to do something other than the usual panorama.

This is a concept image that has, admittedly, no artistic merit. Given my time constraints, I had no place other than the local ball field to try this. I had at least hoped for some sun, but this is Cleveland. On the other hand, the sun came out as soon as I got home. Go figure……

This is, for lack of a better term, a “double panorama”. In a normal panorama, the camera is the center of the circle. In this image, I put my son at the center of the circle and moved the camera around him creating a “reverse panorama”. The circle that I made then became the center of everything beyond that circle. This created a normal panoramic view of the park and school. The result is that the background and my son appear to be moving/turning in opposite directions. The 8 individual images cover a bit more than 360 degrees.

Chappers

Oct 19, 2009, 07:18 AM

I admire your creative flair and the fact you had a go at this shot.

I wonder if you could have been closer to the subject - I have no idea if it would help but he looks a bit lost in the shot. Could pose in some way - pointing at something for example

Damn fine concept though. Pity you had a time constraint. I'm amazed it lines up as well as it does.

deep diver

Oct 19, 2009, 09:14 PM

I wonder if you could have been closer to the subject - I have no idea if it would help but he looks a bit lost in the shot. Could pose in some way - pointing at something for example.

You are right on all points. Again, time constraints. When I did the test shoot in my back yard (which was done with a stake at the center but no subject/kid) I was looking at the "reverse panorama" concept only. I shot it at about 25' from the stake. When I looked at the images I thought I was too close to get the desired effect. I also felt that there needed to be some point of reference for the subject inside circle. That is why I went for so much of the soccer field in the image. While I could have posed him, I was only interested in testing the concept.

Given what I have learned, being in a good location, and with several more hours to shoot, I think I could come up with something that looks decent.

Interestingly, shooting this took no time at all. The set up and marking off the circle took a lot of time. Lining it up was not all that hard. I was on a flat field, used a tripod, and paid very careful attention to the distant reference points when I was stitching these together.

rubencito

Oct 19, 2009, 10:41 PM

one of the first shots taken with my new Cannon

Chappers

Oct 20, 2009, 03:15 AM

one of the first shots taken with my new Cannon

The Canon EOS 50D is a nice camera. I know it's one of your first shots with it but it is capable of more. This shot for example is slightly out of focus (maybe use manual focus).

In the light conditions it would have been better to get closer to the subject instead of using the zoom lens (200mm) and as my other suggestion is to crop this picture to remove all all the distraction around the neon sign getting closer would be better. There is a good clear example of this type of shot on page one of this thread.

I'm guessing you're just trying out things and getting used to it and to be honest - I can't talk too loudly as I don't even have a tripod. :o so I hope you won't be put off by my comments.

Keep posting and keep shooting.

deep diver

Oct 20, 2009, 07:40 AM

one of the first shots taken with my new Cannon

I agree with Chappers' comments. Also (and with respect that this is a test shoot),I think that the difference between a good snap shot and an artistically/photographically interesting photo is whether there is some concept or intention. (You might want to check out Designer Dale's comments about this in one of the last 2 challenges). I think a truly good image needs both good composition and technique as well as the intent. The same applies to an image that has a concept but poor composition and technique. That is what makes my panorama above a bad image. )In that case, however, my intent was only to test the concept).

Keep shooting and keep posting them here. Start adding your thoughts to what you see posted.