St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

From VOTING http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-241565-1.html

The winners of Labor of Love with 132 entries and (348) votes are...

1st place = melequus with 6.74 points and (14) votes (4th) taken (unknown)
2nd place = chantel with 5.59 points and (13) votes (1st) taken (unknown)
3rd place = BasqueLady with 5.07 points and (10) votes (1st) taken (unknown)
4th place = mffox with 4.51 points and (10) votes (1st) taken (unknown)

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

> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=133 <
- Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once

Running Totals - Underlined equals multiple time winners
1st = fad2000, u02bnpx, PW4GDF, edlcsre, mcdykes, lifenprism, zuke, Robeng, Shaughnessy, gwigley, Pixelpixie88, Shaughnessy, qhorse, louelke, melequus, ptipton, PhotosBySteve, gene McKinnon, aerials, Mr T, Paradox, freeseframe, charben, 111USMC, DavidT, Indy5, Nikocarol, alissaspieces, fes22, manofhg, gemartin, melequus, gjoseph302, maryln, melequus
2nd = Fuzzycoach, GreyGeek, abby, Beaubeau, KWKathy, howlynn, DavidT, PeterM, gpro111, DavidT, mcdykes, lensbaby007, phys406, dragonswing, JimGuy, Raz Theo, photojack, rps, cat2560, kirk s, wowbmw, Captain Tom, SQUIRL033, DrPhrogg, Jstreet, regionabove, Lorima, Tony R, greg vescuso, charben, Angishore, Captain Tom, blairt, cat2560, chantel
3rd = mcdykes, Moonsey, Ken Mahar, roger2012, plessner, mopinia, Gary K, Shaughnessy, Nikonian72, PW4GDF, bob44044, Tony R, jimmya, abby, wowbmw, Zulu inc, Songalolo, Scoutman, Captain Tom, cifuent, Indy5, Gryffon, firtree, Daleg, freeseframe, j_c42, melequus, take5, Lorima, Jbranum, kpassaur, Sefferdog, Shaughnessy, Nikocarol, BasqueLady
4th = tjoyce0528, pithydoug, catfish252, plessner, kirk s, xen, DrPhrogg, Captain Tom, cat2560, bhatch, plessner, KWKathy, JoeS, ColdSnap, Wild Life, bob44044, Fuzzycoach, ColdSnap, Hoops12751, susano, Zelle, Nikonian72, Captain Tom, Mr T, alissaspieces, taylorzacre, LPigott, Dan Copeland, Shaughnessy, greg vescuso, warogers, JoeS, ChunOn, fad2000, mffox

Bobby photographing nature, a labor of love


Man enjoying her labour of love


Love of music


103-year-old steam launch, 3 years into restoration at Wooden Boat Institute, Deer Isle, ME

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

To help this weeks Photo Critique Volunteer please visit http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-242119-1.html

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with BasqueLady,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
About 40 years

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training (Real Estate,wildlife and Landscapes.)

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Composition and exposure.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
I shot this image about with a Nikon DSLR D200. This was a street shot.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
I reworked the image through LR5 and PhotoshopCS6

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
I treat photography as Art form I have learned mostly trial and error.

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
Almost like ever Photographer wish I had started early and had some formal training

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
Composition

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
My tripods and cam ranger

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
My most used lens is my Sony 70/200MM but I also love my Canon 85MM 1.2 and Canon 800mm L lens.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
I use off camera flash with pocket wizards for my Real Estate work.

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

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Can't think of any

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
My website http://wendyd.zenfolio.com and flickr (BasqueLady)

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
Treat photography as a Art and love it.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with mffox,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
35 years ago on a trip to Yellowstone I took a chance shot of the Tetons which is still my favorite and hangs on my office wall. I was hooked. Started getting serious 5 years ago.

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
No formal training, just a few good books and websites, and UHH.

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Composition and simplicity, and "knowing" when your subject matter is really great.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
Olympus OMD EM10 with 14-44mm lens. Handheld, AP setting. I shhot in RAW+JPEG. I knew when I first saw this group of men painstakingly rebuilding that derelict old boat that I wanted an image of it.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
No post-processing on this photo, but I do use PSE, mostly for exposure correction, then blemish removal if needed, then straightening and cropping.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
I shoot what I think is interesting and beautiful, particularly when we travel. A lifelong passion for wooden boats (I've restored several) led me to row ashore from a schooner cruise to visit the Wooden Boat Institute in Brookline, ME. When I saw this work shed I KNEW this was THE SHOT.

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I tested cropping it, but decided against it.

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
The value of patience, of taking one's time.

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

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
I just switched to the Olympus OMD a month ago; so far I find the M. Zuiko 40-150mm the most versatile for a range of shooting circumstances..

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?
I'd probably drink a lot!! Seriously, at age 77 I'm still deeply engaged in charitable work, golf, kayaking and writing. Travel without photography would cease to be a priority.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Not really.

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
Right now I'm organizing my files in the hope of setting up a blog, but not there yet.

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
A photographer friend once told me" go out into your back yard, draw an imaginary circle with a 10-ft. radius, and shoot a roll of film without duplicating anything." Look for the not-so-obvious, be patient with us rank amateurs, go easy on the post-processing, even though it's a lot of fun..

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

An interview with chantel,

1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
I was exposed to photography at a very young age by following my father on photo trips. I have been taking snap shots for many years but only got serious about it after I retired 4 years ago.

2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I did not have any formal training in photograph. But I am members of several photo forums and have been reading up on techniques, etc..

3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
I think a good picture start with composition.

4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
Can you walk us through it? A Pentax K50 with a 18-55mm lens. Picture was taken during a recent trip to Peggy's Cove (Nova Scotia, Canada). No special setup, just a typical "tourist" shoot.

5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
I shoot in jpg but usually process my images with Lightroom 5. I usually start with cropping for composition followed by twitting the white balance, exposure and sharpness as required. For this pictures, the original came through quite well with respect to white balance and exposure. I only adjusted for more contrast and a bit of sharpness.

6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
I learned a lot from my brother who is a very good photographer. I took the picture during my recent trip to Nova Scotia. While most people was focusing on the iconic lighthouse, I notice this accordion player in front of the lighthouse and a man enjoying her playing. Not much inspiration other than an interesting shot for a tourist..

7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I would not change anything.

8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
To take good picture, one needs to be patience.

9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
use my tripod a lot.

10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
My K50 18-55mm f3.5-5.8 kit lens is a good traveling / walk around lens - good range for both scenic pictures as well as people shots.

11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
No lighting equipment

12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
I enjoy cooking.

13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Not on this one

14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
No, I seldom post my pictures.

15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us? practice makes perfect