| Mark says: This months theme is Still life. I’m not 100% sure the exact definition (Net didn’t help me much when I did a search!) But I have taken it to mean photographs of inanimate objects that are still. So cut flowers are ok, ones growing are not. |
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| Wooden
Roses - THIRD |
| Mark says: Well exposed shot, nice and bright. Clean background so the flowers can be seen in their glory. There is one leaf that runs across the picture from the centre out, which goes behind some buds and in front of others. I would have liked it behind them all as it is distracting. |
| Dave says: A good colourful subject, the lighting is a little bit weak but otherwise a good shot. |
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| Going
Potty |
| Mark says: Good idea that I think fits the theme. A little more attention to the background would have taken this shot to the next level. Also the glove on the left has been cut off, I would like to see all of the glove in the shot, or a more definite crop, like the other one. |
| Dave says: Great textures and nicely set up, however a little bit too much light on the glove in the foreground. But otherwise very nice. |
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| Hooked |
| Mark says:
Good lighting on the web around the hook. Its perhaps a little too tightly
cropped as I find myself looking for the top of the web. Good effort. |
| Dave says: Mine, so no comment. |
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| Brushes |
| Mark says: Another good shot, though I would have liked a little more depth of field. The front and back brushes are just too blurry for me. |
| Dave says: Mine, so no comment. |
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| Pat
and Ted |
| Mark says:
An interesting shot! Obviously flash has been used, but has been well
done with little shadow spoiling it. The background is weird in that I’m not sure where the join is! |
| Dave says: I take it that Pat is in the front! he looks very surprised about something! Very sweet! |
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| Rock Balancing |
| Mark says: Great exposure, the tower of stones is nicely isolated from the sea in the background. Good composition. |
| Dave says: Unusual! Nice depth in the shot and the shadows I like as well. Did you find them like that or was it set up for this shot? |
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| Padlock |
| Mark says:
An interesting shot that is almost black and white, just the rust providing
the colour. I think I would have liked either the picture converted
to black and white, or the saturation increased to accentuate the rust.
The DOF is very shallow, which has helped isolate the lock from the
background. I personally don’t like the frame. |
| Dave says: Lovely shot, great textures on the old lock, you feel it has a story to tell? |
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| Chain
and Lock |
| Mark says:
Funny how two photographers have both picked locks as their entry! Very nicely done, with a dark background used to isolate the lock and chain. Again, I think a little more saturation would add some punch. Good effort. |
| Dave says: I like the colours and contrast in the shot very much, lovely balanced feel because of the chain disappearing out of the bottom of the picture. Should be up there with the winners. |
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| Gearstick
- SECOND |
| Mark says:
Another interesting take on the theme, and one that I do like. However,
The highlight on the top of the gear stick is a little too blown out
and the R is a little under exposed. May have been better to have used a reflector to provide more even light to the bottom of the stick. I like the dark background, but I think the left and right sides should have the same amount of black. |
| Dave says: |
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| Art
and Nature |
| Mark says:
Whilst this is an good shot in its own right, as the flowers are still
alive (I think!) it doesn’t actually fit the theme. I also think the statue should be in the space to the right of the buds and not hidden by them. |
| Dave says: I love the statues in the background and the overall depth of this one. A very nice idea and well executed. |
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| Rings
of Age |
| Mark says:
Nice shot of the log, but the background is cluttered and I do wonder
if it really fits the theme? Exposure looks good with plenty of detail in the tree. |
| Dave says: Another nice idea but you can't really make out the rings too well because of the saw marks. |
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| Sandstone
Knight |
| Mark says:
This shot would have benefited from a tighter crop – this would
have got rid of the brickwork and some of the trees, which I find detracting. Very harsh lighting with hard shadows,. A reflector on the right hand side to push back the light into the shadows would have helped I think. |
| Dave says: I can't decide whether I like the row of bricks under the knight, but the subject itself is good and well placed in the shot. |
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| Dead
wood |
| Mark says:
Composition is reasonable with the cut tree on the thirds, but I don’t
like the blown weeds on the left of the image. It’s a little flat, and may have benefited with more saturation particularly on the tree itself. |
| Dave says: Interesting subjects, nice feel to the background, the yellow plant in the left foreground is distracting. |
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| Pictures
on the Wall |
| Mark says: I like this shot, it’s a good idea and has generally worked. There seems to be a bit of viginetting, but it looks to have been the lighting. There seems to be a fair bit of distortion, due to the wide angle – that or its an optical illusion. |
| Dave says: Great idea with a nice background, I feel I need to get a better look at each individual picture though, I feel you can't quite see what it's all about. |
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| Cafe
Life - WINNER |
| Mark says: A good effort with this shot. My only real criticism is that the background is cluttered – I don’t mean the chairs, but the windows and the brown wall. |
| Dave says: Nice idea but for me the shot is just a bit too busy, and the wall or curtain draws the eye away from the subject |
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| Cheers |
| Mark says:
I like this shot too. Composition is good, and I like the three glasses
– threes seem to often work. The background could either of been
more out of focus or more creased or smooth – its non-of them
at the moment. The white balance is possibly out- looks a bit too yellow – but the label might be that colour. Good effort. |
| Dave says: Ah..... A great hobby of mine! Cheers. |
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| Wilting
Rose |
| Mark says:
The flash used to illuminate this shot is a little harsh, leaving some
hard shadows on the bottom petals. Either natural light or a diffused
flash would have been preferable. It’s a little central in the frame, and the pink flower top right keeps pulling my eye from the main subject. Cropping it out with my hand improves the shot for me. Good effort though. |
| Dave says: Nice subject, interesting because it is on the way out, but a bit lacking in impact because of it. |