WPC 1526 - 100 Steps* RESULTS
Jul 4, 2015 03:55:38 #
The winners of 100 Steps* with 62 entries and (257) votes are...
1st place = Beercat with 8.40 points and (19) votes (2nd) taken 2015-06-26
2nd place = Captain Tom with 5.47 points and (12) votes (2nd) taken 2015-06-27
3rd place = Edas with 4.87 points and (8) votes (1st) taken 2015-06-29
4th place = LPigott with 4.42 points and (9) votes (1st) taken 2015-06-26
Congratulations everyone - especially those who added a little more by telling us about their photos!!!
> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=176 <
- Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once
Running Totals - Underlined equals multiple time winners
1st = Mobad58, Nosaj, Kalina54, CaptainC, smd25, jcjr8, mcdykes, Nikocarol, O hi O, Photon, Cathy Russ, BigEasy, BasqueLady, wowbmw, jim hill, Schwabo, Richtiger, BasqueLady, photoshack, roadking11, Skip Murphy, BasqueLady, Robeng, BasqueLady, Beercat
2nd = FrodoBaggins, Shaughnessy, patcarls47, BigEasy, Bridgeman, Coolcameragirl, melequus, manofhg, charben, wowbmw, tavares, turtlepond, jcjr8, [/u]jvcookies[/u], Beercat, DavidT, Moosewoods, walbee, mopinia, BasqueLady, fnolte, Captain Tom, jcjr8, DavidT, Captain Tom
3rd = LovePhotography330, fjrwillie, KTJohnson, Bushpilot, garthurdavis, LovePhotography330, Skip Murphy, roxiemarty, jcjr8, jcjr8, (removed), qhorse, louelke, Jeep for Larry, DavidT, rgschini, John P Black, melequus, [/u]jvcookies[/u], Shaughnessy, BigEasy, Howard5252, BasqueLady, debbie wrazen, Edas
4th = blackbear, Preachdude, O hi O, Photos by Paula, sedwards3, North West Bob, manattee scrubber, jcjr8, bob44044, melequus, Clasina, cat2560, DavidT, plessner, Kalskag2, Just Ducky, Pixelpixie88, chantel, dragonswing560, DavidT, plessner, Kalskag2, Just Ducky, Pixelpixie88, chantel, mdcoram, jwaderker, Gypsy T, Beaubeau, BigEasy, LPigott
1st place = Beercat with 8.40 points and (19) votes (2nd) taken 2015-06-26
2nd place = Captain Tom with 5.47 points and (12) votes (2nd) taken 2015-06-27
3rd place = Edas with 4.87 points and (8) votes (1st) taken 2015-06-29
4th place = LPigott with 4.42 points and (9) votes (1st) taken 2015-06-26
Congratulations everyone - especially those who added a little more by telling us about their photos!!!
> http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest.jsp?pcnum=176 <
- Click (ratings) to see all the entries at once
Running Totals - Underlined equals multiple time winners
1st = Mobad58, Nosaj, Kalina54, CaptainC, smd25, jcjr8, mcdykes, Nikocarol, O hi O, Photon, Cathy Russ, BigEasy, BasqueLady, wowbmw, jim hill, Schwabo, Richtiger, BasqueLady, photoshack, roadking11, Skip Murphy, BasqueLady, Robeng, BasqueLady, Beercat
2nd = FrodoBaggins, Shaughnessy, patcarls47, BigEasy, Bridgeman, Coolcameragirl, melequus, manofhg, charben, wowbmw, tavares, turtlepond, jcjr8, [/u]jvcookies[/u], Beercat, DavidT, Moosewoods, walbee, mopinia, BasqueLady, fnolte, Captain Tom, jcjr8, DavidT, Captain Tom
3rd = LovePhotography330, fjrwillie, KTJohnson, Bushpilot, garthurdavis, LovePhotography330, Skip Murphy, roxiemarty, jcjr8, jcjr8, (removed), qhorse, louelke, Jeep for Larry, DavidT, rgschini, John P Black, melequus, [/u]jvcookies[/u], Shaughnessy, BigEasy, Howard5252, BasqueLady, debbie wrazen, Edas
4th = blackbear, Preachdude, O hi O, Photos by Paula, sedwards3, North West Bob, manattee scrubber, jcjr8, bob44044, melequus, Clasina, cat2560, DavidT, plessner, Kalskag2, Just Ducky, Pixelpixie88, chantel, dragonswing560, DavidT, plessner, Kalskag2, Just Ducky, Pixelpixie88, chantel, mdcoram, jwaderker, Gypsy T, Beaubeau, BigEasy, LPigott
Took my little 'walk' at dusk and after 50 steps out my front door along with 5 turns I snapped my 5th picture, a hummingbird on a feeder. Download to see the detail ;)
Fifty steps behind our home is a small pond and after a heavy rainfall one lily pad chose to look more like a bowl.
8x14=more than 100 steps down to get to street level from our apartment, and v.v. - unless you take the elevator...
Someone was watching a strange photographer counting ten steps, then turning, then repeating ...
Jul 4, 2015 04:03:19 #
To help this weeks Photo Critique Volunteer please visit http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-320602-1.html
Jul 4, 2015 14:14:36 #
An interview with Beercat,
1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
As a teenager I was into photography, had a decent Minolta and a darkroom for black and white stuff. Then I got married and the 'stuff' left. almost 40 years later I found myself picking up one of my video cameras than also shot stills and began snapping a few, that was 2 years ago and I've fallin' in love again.
2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I'm wedding videographer doing 25 or so events per year. Over the last 2 years as I've been wanting to include still photography in our wedding work I joined KelbyOne and devoured a bunch of there teaching videos, I'm a big fan of David Ziser who is so easy to understand when teaching.
3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Depends on the subject. A landscape is much different than snapping a bride and groom. I practice snapping hummingbirds because I pre-set the environment I want the bird to come to and then capture a candid photo in a split second, very much how I like to capture a bride and groom.
4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
Can you walk us through it? I use a Canon 70D but am drooling for a Canon 5DIII. Every lens I buy is for the eventual move up but I use it on my cropped sensor until such time. In this particular picture I used a Canon 18 - 135mm stm 'kit' lens, made for the Canon 70D which shoots video. The lens isn't bad and in fact really shines for hummers because of the fast focus that works well in low light. I shoot hummers in the 15 minutes just after sunset so a setup that shoots in low light is needed. OK, on to the setup ......... knowing the rules for this challenge I pre-determined the subject, and yes it was 50 steps from my front door I used 2 speed lights, one I placed on a mount and affixed to the hanger the hummingbird feeder is hanging on. I placed it 15 inches beneath the area I wanted the hummer to frame up at. I set the flash to manual and 1/128 power plus I pulled out the reflector on the 600 EX-RT unit to make sort of a flag so the background wouldn't be lite up. The key to to freezing wings is a fast exposure which is all done with flash, so setting the unit to 1/128 provides a fast burst of light, about 1/18,000 of a second but you must be very close to the subject with the flash to operate as such a low power. The setting on the shutter means nothing when shooting like this other than keeping ambient light to a minimal. The flash is so much quicker than the shutter speed, so don't get caught up on the 1/250 shutter. I use an on-camera flash, set to manual at 1/96 power s I'm about 30 inches away from the frame I'm going to capture. I set the Aperture to F/9 - F/11 because I'm so close, even then my DOF is to shallow sometimes but I don't like going above F/11 as the sweet spot on that 18-135 kits lens is F/8 - F/11, meaning the lens is at it's sharpest and when your working with average glass to want to make sure you use every advantage you can. I then place aluminum foil over the area I don't want the hummer to feed from, another words I'm setting up the frame, the place the hummer will be photographed from. I wait until sundown to eliminate much of the ambient light and snap away. I know the hummers want that last few drinking opportunities before they go find there perch for the night plus they can't see me near as well at dusk as during the day, they are focused on the prize, the sugar water. One last thing, I peek at what I captured and when I have a good one, I break down my setup , remove the foil and let the hummer have at the sugar water without me firing away, I want them to get what they need before perching for the night, you get the idea, it's being sensitive to their needs.
5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
I use LR5. I consider myself average on PP abilities. I'm not a pixel peeper, usually a bit of crop, enhance a bit and done within 15 minutes. That is not to say pixel peepers are a pain in the butt, though I no longer post a picture for critique because of the over zealousness of the peepers. I concluded long ago I was a snapper, not a pixel peeper. When you snap hundreds of pictures during a wedding you can't day a bunch of time on each picture on PP, thus you take a few passes to make obvious corrections/crop and move on to the next.
6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
Learning to snap stills was out of necessity. When a couple gets engaged they first secure the venue and they decide on a photographer, the videographer is way down the totem pole. Thus by introducing stills we are on their radar early, we might not get the still job but we have introduced ourselves and video abilities early on, thus they budget for such. As far as inspiration of the shot, as I said earlier, hummers are a great practice setup for weddings. You can the subject to come into the environment your wanting to shoot in and then it happens fast paced, just like a wedding.
7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I'm very happy with the outcome, it's as good as one can expect from an average camera and kit lens. I love sharing snaps of good pictures, taken in difficult situations on average equipment, it shows others you can take great stuff without spending a great deal of money. They say you can give someone a great camera and if they don't know what their doing it will produce garbage photos. But you can give someone with photo skills and average camera and they will produce incredible photos, it so true.
8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
Don't sell your equipment until you master it and then move up. I sold my equipment when I was 20 and I often wonder what would of happened if I didn't and continued to increase my knowledge of photography. Here I am now 60 and finally blossoming, no I'm hoping I can snap weddings for another 10 years, heck, I might have been a world renowned wedding photographer if I hadn't of lost 40 years.
9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
Speed lights. I'm mastering speed lights. Most wedding photographers use on-camera flash which isn't flattering, you've got to get the flash off-camera. My whole style of shooting is with flash, even during the day, I want to control the lighting as much as possible. This is why I love David Ziser so much, he is a master of easy off-camera speed light use.
10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
Of the ones I currently own I prefer my 18-135mm kits lens. It is a great walk around lens. When I get that 5DIII I'm sure it will be a 70-200mm 2.8 IS, a wedding photography staple.
11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
I own (3) Canon 600 EX-RT speed lights. I love the radio controlled setup and that I can program each speed light remotely from my camera.
12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Some of the things I now do. I love to travel, especially to the South Pacific. By trade I'm also a Real Estate Broker where once again my photography skills help out. I've also traveled the world as a front of house sound engineer.
13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
To many to mention, won't go there
14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
This is our wedding site primarily for video but there are some stills samples as well. http://www.zelleolsonstudios.com
15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
You can read tons of teaching stuff and that is useful but getting out there a snapping/practicing is most important. I read/watch some teaching stuff and then go apply it, practice it and become proficient in that application. Head knowledge means nothing without applying it.
1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
As a teenager I was into photography, had a decent Minolta and a darkroom for black and white stuff. Then I got married and the 'stuff' left. almost 40 years later I found myself picking up one of my video cameras than also shot stills and began snapping a few, that was 2 years ago and I've fallin' in love again.
2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
I'm wedding videographer doing 25 or so events per year. Over the last 2 years as I've been wanting to include still photography in our wedding work I joined KelbyOne and devoured a bunch of there teaching videos, I'm a big fan of David Ziser who is so easy to understand when teaching.
3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Depends on the subject. A landscape is much different than snapping a bride and groom. I practice snapping hummingbirds because I pre-set the environment I want the bird to come to and then capture a candid photo in a split second, very much how I like to capture a bride and groom.
4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup?
Can you walk us through it? I use a Canon 70D but am drooling for a Canon 5DIII. Every lens I buy is for the eventual move up but I use it on my cropped sensor until such time. In this particular picture I used a Canon 18 - 135mm stm 'kit' lens, made for the Canon 70D which shoots video. The lens isn't bad and in fact really shines for hummers because of the fast focus that works well in low light. I shoot hummers in the 15 minutes just after sunset so a setup that shoots in low light is needed. OK, on to the setup ......... knowing the rules for this challenge I pre-determined the subject, and yes it was 50 steps from my front door I used 2 speed lights, one I placed on a mount and affixed to the hanger the hummingbird feeder is hanging on. I placed it 15 inches beneath the area I wanted the hummer to frame up at. I set the flash to manual and 1/128 power plus I pulled out the reflector on the 600 EX-RT unit to make sort of a flag so the background wouldn't be lite up. The key to to freezing wings is a fast exposure which is all done with flash, so setting the unit to 1/128 provides a fast burst of light, about 1/18,000 of a second but you must be very close to the subject with the flash to operate as such a low power. The setting on the shutter means nothing when shooting like this other than keeping ambient light to a minimal. The flash is so much quicker than the shutter speed, so don't get caught up on the 1/250 shutter. I use an on-camera flash, set to manual at 1/96 power s I'm about 30 inches away from the frame I'm going to capture. I set the Aperture to F/9 - F/11 because I'm so close, even then my DOF is to shallow sometimes but I don't like going above F/11 as the sweet spot on that 18-135 kits lens is F/8 - F/11, meaning the lens is at it's sharpest and when your working with average glass to want to make sure you use every advantage you can. I then place aluminum foil over the area I don't want the hummer to feed from, another words I'm setting up the frame, the place the hummer will be photographed from. I wait until sundown to eliminate much of the ambient light and snap away. I know the hummers want that last few drinking opportunities before they go find there perch for the night plus they can't see me near as well at dusk as during the day, they are focused on the prize, the sugar water. One last thing, I peek at what I captured and when I have a good one, I break down my setup , remove the foil and let the hummer have at the sugar water without me firing away, I want them to get what they need before perching for the night, you get the idea, it's being sensitive to their needs.
5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
I use LR5. I consider myself average on PP abilities. I'm not a pixel peeper, usually a bit of crop, enhance a bit and done within 15 minutes. That is not to say pixel peepers are a pain in the butt, though I no longer post a picture for critique because of the over zealousness of the peepers. I concluded long ago I was a snapper, not a pixel peeper. When you snap hundreds of pictures during a wedding you can't day a bunch of time on each picture on PP, thus you take a few passes to make obvious corrections/crop and move on to the next.
6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
Learning to snap stills was out of necessity. When a couple gets engaged they first secure the venue and they decide on a photographer, the videographer is way down the totem pole. Thus by introducing stills we are on their radar early, we might not get the still job but we have introduced ourselves and video abilities early on, thus they budget for such. As far as inspiration of the shot, as I said earlier, hummers are a great practice setup for weddings. You can the subject to come into the environment your wanting to shoot in and then it happens fast paced, just like a wedding.
7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
I'm very happy with the outcome, it's as good as one can expect from an average camera and kit lens. I love sharing snaps of good pictures, taken in difficult situations on average equipment, it shows others you can take great stuff without spending a great deal of money. They say you can give someone a great camera and if they don't know what their doing it will produce garbage photos. But you can give someone with photo skills and average camera and they will produce incredible photos, it so true.
8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
Don't sell your equipment until you master it and then move up. I sold my equipment when I was 20 and I often wonder what would of happened if I didn't and continued to increase my knowledge of photography. Here I am now 60 and finally blossoming, no I'm hoping I can snap weddings for another 10 years, heck, I might have been a world renowned wedding photographer if I hadn't of lost 40 years.
9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
Speed lights. I'm mastering speed lights. Most wedding photographers use on-camera flash which isn't flattering, you've got to get the flash off-camera. My whole style of shooting is with flash, even during the day, I want to control the lighting as much as possible. This is why I love David Ziser so much, he is a master of easy off-camera speed light use.
10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
Of the ones I currently own I prefer my 18-135mm kits lens. It is a great walk around lens. When I get that 5DIII I'm sure it will be a 70-200mm 2.8 IS, a wedding photography staple.
11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
I own (3) Canon 600 EX-RT speed lights. I love the radio controlled setup and that I can program each speed light remotely from my camera.
12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Some of the things I now do. I love to travel, especially to the South Pacific. By trade I'm also a Real Estate Broker where once again my photography skills help out. I've also traveled the world as a front of house sound engineer.
13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
To many to mention, won't go there
14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
This is our wedding site primarily for video but there are some stills samples as well. http://www.zelleolsonstudios.com
15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
You can read tons of teaching stuff and that is useful but getting out there a snapping/practicing is most important. I read/watch some teaching stuff and then go apply it, practice it and become proficient in that application. Head knowledge means nothing without applying it.
Jul 5, 2015 02:21:28 #
An interview with LPigott,
1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
All my life, starting with a Kodak Brownie box camera as a small child.
2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
Only formal training would be workshops on specific techniques.
3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Composition and the courage to remove part of the content to make it pop.
4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
No special equipment: Canon 6D body and "holy trinity" of lenses.
5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
Photos are imported to Apple Photos where I sharpen, enhance and crop. Then I use Photoshop for special effects.
6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
A local master photographer is my inspiration.
7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
My sense of final image motivates the shoot and process.
10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
The 18 - 135 mm is versatile for a myriad of situations.
11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
Simple flash unit mounted in hot shoe atop the body.
12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Golf
13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Yes, but too elaborate to capture here.
14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I have a Flickr account.
15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
Enter competitions: That's how you stretch your abilities.
1) How long have you been into photography and what got you started?
All my life, starting with a Kodak Brownie box camera as a small child.
2) Do you have any formal training and what kind of photography do you do most?
Only formal training would be workshops on specific techniques.
3) In your opinion, what makes a good picture stand out from the rest?
Composition and the courage to remove part of the content to make it pop.
4) What equipment did you use and was there any special setup? Can you walk us through it?
No special equipment: Canon 6D body and "holy trinity" of lenses.
5) Do you post process your final images, and if so can you describe your workflow?
Photos are imported to Apple Photos where I sharpen, enhance and crop. Then I use Photoshop for special effects.
6) Who or what has influenced your photography and what inspired you to take your winning shot?
A local master photographer is my inspiration.
7) Would you change anything if you could do it again, and if so what?
8) What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos?
9) What is your favorite photography accessory, other than your camera?
My sense of final image motivates the shoot and process.
10) If you had to choose one lens which one would it be and why?
The 18 - 135 mm is versatile for a myriad of situations.
11) What lighting equipment, if any, do you take on a shoot?
Simple flash unit mounted in hot shoe atop the body.
12) If you couldn't do photography what else would you do?
Golf
13) Do you have any funny or interesting stories about your experiences?
Yes, but too elaborate to capture here.
14) Is there somewhere we can see more of your work?
I have a Flickr account.
15) Do you have any advice for the rest of us?
Enter competitions: That's how you stretch your abilities.
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