St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

The winners of Circles with 69 entries and (300) votes are...

1st place = Zulu inc with 8.17 points and (19) votes (1st) taken 2016:01:19
2nd place = 2bmolar with 5.84 points and (10) votes (1st) taken 2016:01:14
3rd place = Cwilson341 with 5.17 points and (11) votes (1st) taken 2016:01:18
4th place = Jan_dalton with 4.97 points and (14) votes (1st) taken 2016:01:13

Congratulations everyone - especially those who added a little more by telling us about their photos!!!

> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=205 <
- Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once

Running Totals - Underlined equals multiple time winners
1st = Golden Rule, NVRose, Zulu inc
2nd = DavidT, CEAA, 2bmolar
3rd = chuckr, dzs1945, Cwilson341
4th = Photos by Paula, jazz7, Jan_dalton
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The ends of my colouring pencils, circles within circles


I once went Round and Round and Round ...


Circles of nostalgia - The watches belonged to grandparents, many of the coins were gifts from parents and grandparents and the rings belonged to various family members.


Pocket Watch-iPhone 6

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

To help this week's Photo Critique Volunteer please visit http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-363670-1.html

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with Jan_dalton,

I would like to begin with a big Thank you for all the people that voted for me, it really means a lot. I have entered this contest a lot of things so getting in forth is good and I'm taking it as a positive.

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I started my photography journey to becoming a professional in 2012, but I have always had a camera in my hand since my children were young. They played sports so I wanted to record their activities, but along the way my passion begin.

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I have a few online classes but no formal training, so mostly I am self taught. I read anything I can get my hands on. I watch lots of YouTube videos and lots of practicing with the camera. I also attend monthly photo groups with models and natural walks. I like portraits and fashion. I like weddings and social event were I can get candid photos.

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
The composition or when the photo can tell a story and when it invoke emotions.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
I used my IPhone 6 camera. I don't take a lot of pictures with my phone camera, but I stumbled across a way to get images with depth of field while trying to capture pictures on the camera phone. I took a few pictures at my desk and you can see some of my things in the background. I actually had a solid black drop but it wasn't telling my story of being at work and the job that I do. So I choose that image and I'm glad I did.

5) Did you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
This picture is right out of the camera no editing was done.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
Every image that I look at, I study it, from the lighting, the composition, the crop, and if it is telling me a story or if it invokes a feeling. Ansel Adams has influence me. I recent found a art gallery online with lots of great artists if you get a chance look up Robert Klein Gallery it has lots of today's artist and artists that are no longer with us. I use it to study what people fine great. I might not get into his gallery but one day I hope to see my images in a gallery.

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
There is always room to learn from each photo you take, but for this pictures maybe.

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
To dedicate a space just for my photography, because it takes a lot of room for equipment, props, and a large hard drive for all your images.

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
I would say my reflectors.

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
I use the Nikon D610 and Nikon D3200 cameras. For the D610 the 85mm I don't have that lens but would like to have it one day because I love to do portraits. I use the 50mm on the 3200 that is a great lens for my DX camera.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
I have off camera speedlite- YN 560III that I use a garyfong dome and one 400 Menik strobe that I use a softbox or an umbrella. I use the 180 Neewer as a fill light or a hair light, and of course my 5 in 1 refectors for fill, and diffusing light. These by no means are expensive equipment but it's works for me. One thing I have learn is to buy what you can afford and practice with it and make it work and that's what I do.

12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I joke with people all the time with the saying, "I am a Jack off all trades, master of none." I think I will be a chef since I like to cook. But I hope I can always do photography.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
I'm not afraid of snakes but I'm not a fan of them either, so I would go to my locate park to work on long exposures to capture these small water fall. I have seen snack there many times, I scoped out the area for snakes made a little noise to scare them away. After a moment I didn't see any I proceeded to capture the water fall. Low and behold when I got home, I loaded the pictures and coiled up next to the water fall was a snake. The whole time I didn't see the water snake. The lesson or experience taught me the importance of looking around in your view founder and know your camera, I could have captured some great images with the snake next to the water.

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Yes, Janetdaltonphotography.com
Instagram jbutterfly23
Facebook Janet Dalton Photography

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
I'm still trying to fine my way in photography so that a difficult question, but what isn't hard is that I have a passion for photography and if it is something you enjoy don't let negativity get in your head, because if you do then you will never win.
Thank you

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with Cwilson341,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I had a box camera as a child and was always taking snapshots. As a teen, I saved my allowance to buy a better camera. I can't really say why but I have had a lifelong attraction to photography.

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training. Just a lot of reading, practice and analyzing. For the most part, I shoot nature - flowers, fungi, butterflies, birds, lizards, gators - anything that I can catch up with.

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
I feel a good picture has to grab your attention and make you want to explore the details. For the most part, I am drawn to well composed shots of interesting subjects with natural colors and clarity.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
For this shot I used a black velvet background and diffused built in flash. The camera was a D5300 with 35mm prime lens.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
I use Capture NX2 primarily but am learning Elements 13 for diversity. I do shoot in raw and then try to tweak the final image to be as close to reality as possible. Very much in the learning stages for post processing.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
On this shot I would lower the ISO. The camera was set on auto and maxed at 400. 100 would have reduced noise.

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
Nothing really. I do wish I had discovered the fun of digital sooner than I did. I resisted at first.

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
I have no specific favorite. It really depends on the subject matter and conditions. I do love the Tamron 150-600 for wildlife and I frequently use the 105 Micro for flowers.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
I have a diffuser for my built in flash and an old SB-600 that I use on occasion. I use the built in flash more than the other.

12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Probably art. I like to draw and am interest in all art and craft mediums.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Not in the line of photography. If someone saw some of the awkward positions I get in taking pictures they might find it funny!

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I don't have a web site and seldom post to Facebook so UHH is pretty much it.

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
Keep shooting! Learn and improve if you are so inclined but most of all enjoy photography.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with 2bmolar,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
A fellow employee got me interested in my mid 20's, 40 years ago.

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training, but love to study photographs. Like nature and architecture photography best.

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
The basics Light, Composition, Human interest, not to forget sharpness.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
I use a canon t3i with a Sigma 18-250 Zoom for all my shots at this time.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
Yes process almost all using iphoto, pixelmator, and or Picasa. Can't describe my process as i jump around a bit and never take notes.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
In this case I had been looking at that truck for quite awhile and it was luck that the assignment fit in with it.

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I had a 30 some year break from photography as my profession did not allow me time to pursue it, wish I had made different choices.

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
All the functions on my camera, still learning!

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
My polarizing filter, which I forget too often!

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
Like my Sigma 18-250 but I would like a longer zoom to be able to catch some wildlife easier.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
None.

12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Hike.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Had a bear run right at me and no time for a photo.

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Flickr (2bmolar)

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
Keep shooting, practice, study other people's work.