weekly SimonB 52 for 2023 - Weeks 50, 51 and 52!

Went out for a cold and windy walk this morning with the intention of getting a picture from the local beach. I spotted a rather grumpy-looking Seagull watching the local dogs running along the shore. I would have liked a closer image of the bird's head but the zoom was not enough.


Grumpy Bird by Simon Brown

It was a busy morning as the picture shows that every man and his dog was out!


Busy Morning by Simon Brown
 
Both are good shots, I think I prefer the second though. It's the windfarm in the background that caught my eye.
 
No1 for me of the big beastie Great black-backed gull. Fascinating birds and more like a Raptor than a gull. They pair for life. We had a nesting pair here last summer that raised two chicks mainly on smaller gull and moorhen chicks!
 
A nice pair of shots. Personally I prefer #2, it has more life.
 
I like both and I agree the seagull would look better if it was bigger.
The second picture captures more interest with all the dogs and people and as mentioned the wind turbines in the background.
 
Good shots Simon. 1st one for me. Nicely composed
 
I’m with Wornish, the windfarms looming through add great character
 
I like the second, love a busy sandy beach in the winter - full of "every 'man' and their dog".
 
2nd one has more life and tells the cold and windy story better IMO.
 
I like the first shot, the seagull is nicely isolated with a good use of negative space, I might of gone even wider. Any image that makes a Seagull interesting has got to be good!
 
wornish said:
Both are good shots, I think I prefer the second though. It's the windfarm in the background that caught my eye.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I had that seagull shot in mind the quick snapped worked out nicely too!

-Oy- said:
No1 for me of the big beastie Great black-backed gull. Fascinating birds and more like a Raptor than a gull. They pair for life. We had a nesting pair here last summer that raised two chicks mainly on smaller gull and moorhen chicks!
Click to expand...

Thanks, I always think they look a bit evil! I didn't know that they paired for life (y)

Boots said:
A nice pair of shots. Personally I prefer #2, it has more life.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I agree there is a lot more going on in the second pic.

DB5 said:
I like both and I agree the seagull would look better if it was bigger.
The second picture captures more interest with all the dogs and people and as mentioned the wind turbines in the background.
Click to expand...

Thanks, it must be time for a bigger zoom lens!

Allan.H said:
Both good for the theme I don’t have a preference
Click to expand...

Thanks Allan (y)

SimonH said:
Good shots Simon. 1st one for me. Nicely composed
Click to expand...

Thanks very much! I just wish it was sightly closer!

AlanDorset said:
I’m with Wornish, the windfarms looming through add great character
Click to expand...

Number two does have more action about it, I'm pleased with both!

nog said:
Number 2 for me as well, much more interesting scene
Click to expand...

Cheers!

overbez said:
I like the second, love a busy sandy beach in the winter - full of "every 'man' and their dog".
Click to expand...

Cheers! They were everywhere!

Peter123 said:
2nd one has more life and tells the cold and windy story better IMO.
Click to expand...

The weather turned not long after that picture too, rain rain rain.

Baloo said:
I like the first shot, the seagull is nicely isolated with a good use of negative space, I might of gone even wider. Any image that makes a Seagull interesting has got to be good!
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for your feedback, I didn't think about going wider.
 
Both good images for the theme. I prefer #2 as well - it tells more of a "story" about your area.
 
Disagree with the 'bigger seagull' idea, I think it is fine as it is. Seagulls are so commonplace it's difficult to get a picture of one that is different but this is a good effort.

PS Seagulls always look grumpy, always. Nasty bloody things really, always chasing the buzzards in my garden area.
 
Two good shots, Simon, and I like both. The first one reminds me of our local beach on a windy day with the sandy-coloured sea, and I like the way the gull is paddling - you don't often see that. I like the receding scenery and people in the second one, and the wind farm catches my eye too. Good luck with your third 52!
 
Darkslinger said:
Great set Simon, I like both images.
Click to expand...

Thanks!

HelenC said:
Both good images for the theme. I prefer #2 as well - it tells more of a "story" about your area.
Click to expand...

Yep more action in picture number two. (y)

ShinySideUp said:
Disagree with the 'bigger seagull' idea, I think it is fine as it is. Seagulls are so commonplace it's difficult to get a picture of one that is different but this is a good effort.

PS Seagulls always look grumpy, always. Nasty bloody things really, always chasing the buzzards in my garden area.
Click to expand...

Ha glad you agree, grumpy buggers that always demand a chip from your lunch!

Manxmaid said:
Two good shots, Simon, and I like both. The first one reminds me of our local beach on a windy day with the sandy-coloured sea, and I like the way the gull is paddling - you don't often see that. I like the receding scenery and people in the second one, and the wind farm catches my eye too. Good luck with your third 52!
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comments!
 
This is a book that I'm currently reading which was given to me at Christmas. I haven't quite completed it yet but I'm nearly there! I used the macro lens which always creates a challenge for me to get the right settings for the shot, good to test the mind.


Incomplete Book by Simon Brown
 
Yep that works nicley :)
 
“That’s a big book you got there Al”…. And it fits the theme very well.
 
Great choice Simon, well exposed and composed. Trying to read what's on your "bookmark" but it's either your DOF or my eyes...probably my eyes... :D
 
So simple, and yet so good. Great interpretation of the theme, and lovely composition!
 
-Oy- said:
Yep that works nicley :)
Click to expand...

Cheers!

DB5 said:
“That’s a big book you got there Al”…. And it fits the theme very well.
Click to expand...

Finished it not long after!

Allan.H said:
Works well for the theme
Click to expand...

Thank you

Darkslinger said:
Great choice Simon, well exposed and composed. Trying to read what's on your "bookmark" but it's either your DOF or my eyes...probably my eyes... :D
Click to expand...

Not your eyes ha, it’s a parking ticket receipt. It was the closest thing to me to be promoted to bookmark.

Kell said:
Nice.

Lovely tight crop/comp and the colouring is good too.
Click to expand...

Thanks I had tried a few different angles.

rpn said:
Looks like a lot of reading there, Simon. Nice composition and is well-lit. The crop ratio works perfectly too.
Click to expand...

Thank you, on to the next book now.

vanishedbob said:
Yup. Very clever and well shot.
Click to expand...

Thank you!

SimonH said:
So simple, and yet so good. Great interpretation of the theme, and lovely composition!
Click to expand...

Thanks Simon!
 
Hello Simon. Works well for the theme, and interesting angle and composition.

May I ask about settings? f/22, 2 seconds and ISO 400? Presumably on a tripod... so why not base ISO and slightly smaller aperture? :)
 
A nice close up image there and a clever take on the theme. I like it
 
Nicely lit and composed. Well done on getting that far since Christmas too... I've got too many of those by my bedside!
 
Great idea for this weeks theme.
 
overbez said:
Hello Simon. Works well for the theme, and interesting angle and composition.

May I ask about settings? f/22, 2 seconds and ISO 400? Presumably on a tripod... so why not base ISO and slightly smaller aperture? :)
Click to expand...

Hey, I was just playing around with the settings until I had the picture how I wanted it.

I'm not familiar with the term base ISO, I presume that's the lowest ISO setting on my camera? The lighting in the room at the time wasn't the best therefore I bumped up the ISO to help out a bit. Yep, the camera was on a tripod, this gave me the chance to play around with the settings once the book was framed where I wanted it. :) (y)

Cloudforest said:
Lovely idea for the theme and well framed close up.
Click to expand...

Cheers!

FlyPhot said:
A nice close up image there and a clever take on the theme. I like it
Click to expand...

Thanks very much!

HelenC said:
Nicely lit and composed. Well done on getting that far since Christmas too... I've got too many of those by my bedside!
Click to expand...

It is easy to get carried away, isn't it?! The book is Matthew Perry's autobiography in which he talks about his addictions and acting career.

n1kcy said:
Great idea for this weeks theme.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
It was another trip to the beach this week to see a local sculpture called Another Place by Antony Gormley, known locally as the Crosby Men. There are 100 cast iron life-size figures along the length of the beach which I thought would fit nicely for the artificial theme. I had intended to use the picture of me looking at them to tick the technique for juxtaposition but I felt the picture looking towards Seaforth docks made for a more dramatic especially given how the light was shining through and reflecting off the sea.


Two men by Simon Brown


Crosby Man by Simon Brown
 
It certainly ticks the theme, and I think you chose the right image.
 
Yep good choice - I've toggeg them many times!

A pal of mine who isnlt a fan calles them "Legalised scrap litter" :LOL:
 
Lovely shot and although I've seen pictures of the sculptures quite a few times I wouldn't have realised it wasn't a real person it it wasn't for this weeks theme,
Great exposure, nice tones and your composition with the sculpture silhouette in the suns reflection really completes it.
 
Simonbrown16 said:
Hey, I was just playing around with the settings until I had the picture how I wanted it.

I'm not familiar with the term base ISO, I presume that's the lowest ISO setting on my camera? The lighting in the room at the time wasn't the best therefore I bumped up the ISO to help out a bit. Yep, the camera was on a tripod, this gave me the chance to play around with the settings once the book was framed where I wanted it. :) (y)
Click to expand...

Base ISO, Yes, I meant the lowest it would go. I think that if the scene si static, and you're on a tripod then shutter speed is irrelevant, so would lower ISO as far as possible.
TBH I've not kept up with camera tech and noise is probably a thing of the past with modern kit. :D

ARTIFICIAL - perfect shot, and it fits ther theme. I think your own critique of the two images is spot on. The position of the figure in the light is great. Nicely done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top