Week 22 challenge completed

Isolate and blur.

The challenge this week was to use the aperture setting to isolate the subject in the image so it stands out and blur the background so it is less distracting

This weeks image

This week I had the opportunity to photography foxes from a hide.

Mr. Fox

I tried to isolate the fox whilst blurring both the foreground and background. The image was processed in Lightroom using the Topaz sharpening and noise reduction tools.

Alternate images

Alternate images where I have isolate the subject by blurring the background

Week 21 Challenge completed

Decay

This challenge is almost two weeks late and I need to catch-up with the challenges The challenge was to make an image that shows something coming to the end of its life. 

This weeks image

Looked for examples of decay and on my daily walk during lockdown.

Past the best

An image of a bunch of flowers that are long past their best and we about to be thrown out.

Alternate images

A selection of images that I took as part of trying to meet the challenge, some are a selection of different edits to try and emphasis decay.

Week 20 Challenge Completed

Explosion of colour!

Another change to the order but challenge 20 of 52 completed. Getting closer to the halfway mark. The challenge this week was to take picture that should assail the senses with vibrant colour. Any saturation of the colours in editing software should be avoided.

This weeks image

For this I decided to take some image of the local graffiti. The image used was a close-up of a Lion's head.

Lion's head graffiti

This was taken to concentrate on the eyes and muzzle of the Lion, in real life it is a very vivid colour that stands out in the underpass.

Alternate images

Images of graffiti spotted in the underpasses in Stevenage

Week 19 Challenge Completed

Random Bird

Mixing up the order of the challenges to take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Knew there was challenge on photographing the first bird seen. I have tried a couple of time to get a pictue of a bird and not got a good one, however today on my weekend walk spotted a bird on some abandonded farm equipment that I have photographed previously. The bird was singing away and stayed perched for a good 5 minutes.

This weeks image

Found this Yelllowhammer singing perched on some abandonded farm equipment

Alternate images

In the garden

in the woods

The end

Week 18 Challange Completed

Intentional Camera Movement (ICM)

Over the last couple of weeks I have been walking through a local wood and the trees make good subjects for intentional Camera Movement.

This weeks picture

Woodland ICM

Intentional camera movement involves moving the camera as the shot is taken and not a blurred short caused by camera shake. This image it is possible to see what a static image would of been and gives a pleasing effect.

Alternate Images

Week 17 Challenge Completed

Abandoned

Over a week behind now due to work and other commitments but hoping to catch-up. This week the image was on the theme of abandoned and I found some images on a walk through local countryside.

This weeks image

Farm equipment

Abandoned farm equipment in an area near a local farm that is being slowly overgrown by weeds, found the image to be better in black and white.

Alternate images

Gate and tyre

Old gate

Challenge update 19th April

16th Challenge completed

The 16th challenge was to intepret the theme Sugar & Spice which was completed with simple household spices and sugar cubes on two sheets of acylic, one black and the other white. The composition was lit by natural lighting. 16th Challenge - Sugar & Spice

THIS COMING WEEK'S CHALLENGE

As I need to work within the requirement to stay at home and only go out once a day for exercise that limits the actual challenges I can undertake. Thinking of a couple of options, the actual one done depends on what presents itself.

Potential challenges are Abandoned or "One shot only", "Levitation effect" in addition to the "make a splash" theme. Unlikely to do the landscape or panning challenges just yet, although there are some fields within walking distance. For abandoned I will be looking for abandoned objects around the home, garden or on my one walk a day, for the "Make a Splash" I do have a Pluto trigger and tube.

NEXT CHALLENGES

Currently the next few challenges are as follows, but the order may need to change based on circumstances and the need to do everything from home.

Abandoned (Target date - Sun 26th Apr)

The theme is abandoned and the photo must depict something forgotten? If possible it needs to convey a message in your photo, ie a call to action.

One shot only (Target date - Sun 10 May)

Just take one shot only – no chances for a second shot! Think of this challenge when you next take a shot.

Levitation effect (Target date - Sun 31 May)

Very much a camera trick and editing illusion, but should make the viewer believe in levitation. Need to think about props, accessories and expressions that will make the viewer really believe that the subject is defying gravity!

Make a splash (Target date - Sun 21 Jun)

Take a close up of a droplet splashing into water. It’s an old favourite photography project but lots to learn every time it is done. For added interest use liquids other than water!

Panning (Target date - Sun 19th Apr) - Very unlikely to occur until lockdown finishes

Take a picture of a moving subject whilst moving the camera so that the background is blurred to show movement. Shutter speed and handling your camera is crucial here. The subject should be crystal clear and the background a spectacular blur!

Landscape (Target date - Sun 3 May) - Very unlikely to occur until lockdown finishes

Use a tripod (or another way to avoid camera shake) and correct aperture and settings to capture immaculate detail in a scene if possible look to capture some movement in the composition.