Photography, Art and Writing (a thinking thread)

[Guy Mancuso]

Just a touch more work to this burned down and vignetted the corners and also more dodging on cat as needed than applied a simple gaussion blur to the background , Helped even a little more

 

[Maggie O]

So, in this case, you think better to go with PS's gaussian blur, instead of PS's lens blur?

 

[Maggie O]

Funny, aside from the great technical and nuts-and-bolts composition stuff that I'm learning here, I've also learned that I don't much care for that particular photo of Scooter!

 

[Cindy Flood]

Funny, aside from the great technical and nuts-and-bolts composition stuff that I'm learning here, I've also learned that I don't much care for that particular photo of Scooter!

Well, your original intent was to say that Scooter was not happy with the criticism that you received from a member of another forum. I think Scooter's ears tell it all for me. He isn't happy.

I like Guy's last rendition with the burned and slightly blurred background.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Not a big difference between lens blur. Did it ion this one although there is more control.

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Really a tough background to fix without looking worse.

 

[Robert Campbell]

Makes our animals look pretty mangy

 

[Maggie O]

Well, your original intent was to say that Scooter was not happy with the criticism that you received from a member of another forum. I think Scooter's ears tell it all for me. He isn't happy.

True! (BTW, Scooter is a female.)

It did communicate what I wanted it to, so, as an illustration, I think it worked- the original crop, with Scooter centered, has more of a J'accuse! feel than the cropped version, which is a better portrait and stand-alone photograph. Heck, the unsettled background may even be more effective as an illustration, because it echoed my feelings of being peeved.

Sometimes, I know what I'm doing, even when I don't know what it is I'm doing!

I'm also glad I posted that particular photo, because it was a good launching pad for some excellent lessons and I am very grateful for that. As usual, it's our "mistakes" that provide the real fodder for learning and growth.

 

[Cindy Flood]

True! (BTW, Scooter is a female.)
......

I'm sorry, Scooter. Silly me!:ROTFL::ROTFL::ROTFL:

 

[Maggie O]

Well, unless you want to, shall we say, stick your nose right up to the drainpipe, it's pretty hard to sex a cat.

 

[Robert Campbell]

Not if you know how

 

[Guy Mancuso]

Not sure i want to know this:ROTFL::ROTFL::ROTFL:

 

[Guy Mancuso]

I'm also glad I posted that particular photo, because it was a good launching pad for some excellent lessons and I am very grateful for that. As usual, it's our "mistakes" that provide the real fodder for learning and growth.

You just said the magic words and made our day. Thanks

 

[Mitch Alland]

One other point the Nocti can be downright freaking ugly with bokeh, it is a lens that needs a lot of care and the user watching what there backgrounds are doing. i have seen great bokeh with the Nocti but like Mitch says it is most ugly a lot of the times too.

Exactly, and the trouble with the Nocti-Nazis is that they don't seem to use their eyes but just think that everything it produces is beautiful. It can be a spectaculer lens but it has to be used carefully.

—Mitch/Bangkok
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

 

[johnastovall]

I've found any of the Ultra fast 50's (Canon f/1.0 or f/0.95 or Nocti) can burn you very quickly if you don't watch it. At least I've not seen with the Nocti the spectacular flares the the Canon f/1.0 can inflect from unsuspected point sources of light.

 

[LJL]

Me either, John, but one does have to be more careful shooting toward light if you have a UV/IR filter on. I have had several nice shots "ruined" when the filter caused the flare problem for me. With a DSLR, one would have seen that in the composition, but with the rangefinder, you only see it later...unless you check the LCD a lot. THAT is another element to think about when shooting with filters on.

LJ

 

[Maggie O]

I'm not going to be posting or reading any of the forums here for a while. You know, maybe I do ask incredibly stupid questions and maybe in 39 years of shooting I haven't learned a damn thing and maybe my photos are hardly worth the time it takes to scroll past them, but I'm really feeling worn out and looked-down-upon here lately.

Message received- I'm a no-talent idiot. I just don't need to hear it anymore.

 

[Haya]

Maggie! I haven't read any message that says you have no talent!

I very much enjoy viewing your images and reading your posts I really hope you are not serious about not posting or reading the forums!

 

[Guy Mancuso]

I'm not going to be posting or reading any of the forums here for a while. You know, maybe I do ask incredibly stupid questions and maybe in 39 years of shooting I haven't learned a damn thing and maybe my photos are hardly worth the time it takes to scroll past them, but I'm really feeling worn out and looked-down-upon here lately.

Message received- I'm a no-talent idiot. I just don't need to hear it anymore.

Were did you get this . Not even remotely true. Sent a PM , please read. Trying to understand

 

[Jack]

Wow, where did that come from Maggie??? I don't see it anywhere either