PentaxForums.com - Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/ en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:30:58 GMT vBulletin 30 http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/images/pentaxforums/misc/rss.jpg PentaxForums.com - Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/ PROJECT 52-2-20 Lighting: Reflections http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80652-project-52-2-20-lighting-reflections.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:24:13 GMT Week 20's emphasis is on including reflections as a key component of the composition. Instead of avoiding reflections, we will embrace the stray light. Here are a couple of links to get the creative juices flowing:

Using Reflections in Architectural Photography: How to Shoot Architectural Digital Photos | eHow.com

CO - The Inside Light :: Photography Served

(Pictures for the week 20 competition are to be taken and posted between 20091122 AND 20091129).

NOTE: We have two Seasonal competitions planned for the last two weeks of year two. You may take pictures for these anytime between 20090705 and the posting dates of 20100704 or 20100711. This way you can include your favorite holiday or season whenever it occurs during the year.

Rules:
1. Anyone and everyone who is interested in eligible. The goal continues to be
have fun and share comments, concepts, insights, and techniques with fellow
Pentaxians.
2. Each week will feature a Theme and Sub-concept for you to explore.
3. Post your single picture in Project 52-2 thread for the week. Explain what
motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly
theme.
4. Some post-processing is OK (adjusting white balance, exposure, color
saturation), but let's try to stay away from heavily PP'ed images here. Try to
keep the creativity to photographic techniques and the captures themselves.
5. There is one “Theme Concept” labeled “black and white,” but feel free to post
black and white, sepia, monotone, etc., for any of the other themes.
6. The picture you post should be taken during the week in which the theme is
active to be eligible for judging.
7. Any picture taken from 20090705 to listed closing date is acceptable for the
two “Seasonal” competitions – Projects 52-2-51 & 52.

Full information is available at Thread http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/m...ct-52-2-a.html ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories mithrandir http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80652-project-52-2-20-lighting-reflections.html WINNERS Project 52-2-18 Frontlighting http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80304-winners-project-52-2-18-frontlighting.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:07:53 GMT There were only 6 entries this P52, so that prevents me from sitting all evening, judging whole loads of pictures.
I think all photos meet the conditions of the challenge: they're all shot within the time boundaries, and as far as I
can judge all pics are really frontlit.

So here it goes. I hope I did not hurt anyone.....

Ash, with the train shot, which I like. However, the colours are somewhat dull and the frontlighting is not
very obvious, probably due to the tiny measure of the train (on the photo that is, in real life it must have been a monster :D).



John and the yellow maple leafs. This is a good try. Again I think that the real pop is missing, the yellow does not jump
off my screen. Besides, the photo is quite busy in the centre with those cluttered leafs.


Mark, with the shot from the market. This is the kind of shots I like, just a slice of life. It would have been a winner if it
wouldn't been overexposed on the head and forearm of the lady and the wage. Good try!


The third place is for Bruce, with the vase with roses. Obviously frontlit, nice composition in my opinion, and great colours.
Well done! One minus: the heavy shadows, due to use of the (on board?) flash. It distracts a little, and that's a pity...


Second place goes to Rob with the red maple leafs. Great shot, and you managed to keep the lighting under control.
I like the shot and the play of light and shadows on the red leaves. I would have cropped it tighter, and skipped the frame.
But the last was not part of my decision. I just liked one shot better...


And the winner: Jan, with the shot of the Hypericum. There is nothing not to be liked on this one IMO. There's a
good portion of detail and an interesting OOF area with the hexagon highlights. One could argue it could have been frontlit a bit
more, but what the heck, it's a beauty. Well done, and a well deserved first place. (The shadow side of this is being the judge next week :lol:).
]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories Rense http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80304-winners-project-52-2-18-frontlighting.html Picture of the week #88 Nov 8 - Nov 22 2009 http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80096-picture-week-88-nov-8-nov-22-2009-a.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:50:59 GMT Picture of the week #88 Nov 8 - Nov 22 2009
So it's time to see your stuff from last week and this upcoming week.

Welcome to POTW #87 and counting. Nice stuff last week posted here Picture of the week #87 Nov 1 - Nov 15 2009

Again same rules and really other than time frames there are no rules

1) No theme just your favorite stuff.
2) Let's keep it to about 4-6 images per post just so the thread doesn't get too big each week.
3) Any Pentax camera is fine, film, P&S, DSLR (or Samsung DSLR)
4) Date : Sunday 11/8//2009 to Sunday - Sunday 11/22/2009. Enter anything you shot last week or during this current week until the thread closes.


Previous hosts: (each one is a hotlink to that POTW thread to look past at the previous 86 weeks. Peter started the links, I know it had to be a lot of editing!!


1 Peter Zack, 2Eaglerapids 3 rmtagg, 4 Peter Zack, 5 daacon, 6 Bramela, 7 mtnbearhug, 8 dantuyhoa, 9 gawan,10 roentarre, 11 daacon, 12 Kris, 13 mtnbearhug, 14 SCGushue, 15 daacon, 16 maxwell1295, 17 dantuyhoa, 18 daacon, 19 maxwell1295 19(2) daacon, 20 Bramela, 21 Syb, 22 maxwell1295, 23 maxwell1295, 24 dantuyhoa, 25 Gawan, 26 Peter Zack, 27 borno, 28 daacon, 29 gawan, 30 Damn Brit, 31 maxwell1295 32 maxwell1295 , 33 dantuyhoa, 34 daacon, 35 Peter Zack, 36 Damn Brit, 37 Borno, 38 Kevint, 39 Peter Zack, 40 Timbo13, 41 daacon, 42 daacon, 43 gawan, 44 dantuyhoa, 45 daacon, 46 Rense, 47 daacon, 48 Rense, 49 borno, 50 Rense, 51 daacon, 52 Peter Zack, 53 Peter Zack, 54 dadipentax, 55 David Whiteley, 56 planedriver, 57 daacon,58 Bramela, 59 daacon, 60 gawan, 61 virgilr, 62 daacon, 63 RickL, 64 Peter Zack, 65 Peter Zack, 66 Causey 67 daacon, 68 Bramela, 69 georgeweb, 70 daacon, 71 seacapt, 72 daacon, 73 AOski, 74 Rense 75 eccs19, 76 daacon, 77 xs400, 78 daacon, 79 Bramela, 80 borno, 81 legacyb4, 82 daacon, 83 gawan, 84 Rense, 85 Peter Zack, 86 davef, 87 davef, 88 xjjohnno ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories xjjohnno http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80096-picture-week-88-nov-8-nov-22-2009-a.html PP Challenge #11 - Under the sea http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80009-pp-challenge-11-under-sea.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:52:56 GMT It's an honour to welcome you to PP Challenge #11.

The image for this week's challenge is titled "Under the sea", a scene taken from a concert play.
It's to be processed with the title of the image in mind ;).

The generic Mediafire Account details for the PP challenge are as follows:
Mediafire Account Log-In Name: pentaxchallenge@yahoo.com
Password: postprocessing

RAW (PEF) file link (13.5 MB): Under the sea - PEF

Full size JPEG (12 MB): Under the sea - jpg

The Challenge will close for entries in 1 week, at 0200 GMT (midday Queensland time ;)) on the 21st of November, 2009.


Enjoy PPing! :) ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories Ash http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80009-pp-challenge-11-under-sea.html **Winners ** PP Challenge #10 - Child playing http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80001-winners-pp-challenge-10-child-playing.html Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:50:43 GMT mithrandir - I actually like the pp work you did in color a little more than the b&w. The b&w seems to loose a lot of the background and looks blown out. Maybe if you added some grain I'd like the b&w more.

ozlizard - I like this very much. You've done a good job of changing the background and having the lighting and shadows looking quite realistic. It's a little too dark, I would have liked it more if it was brighter.

Damn Brit - Very good b&w conversion. I like the close crop and the retention of deatail in the background. I just wish you had a little more of the child's face in the picture.

Ash #1 - I like what you have done with the cropping and highlighting. The glow around the child in quite good, as it the vignetting. Nicely done.

SWEngineer - Very good b&w conversion, keeping the pic a low key shot. You gave the shot an old b&w film look.

atupdate - I really like how you cropped the pic to focus solely on the child. This is something I need to work on, focusing on the subject and not the background. The pic is still a little dark, but I like your work.

K McCall - Very nice pp work. I like how you have highlighted the child and darkened the background. I also like the colors you developed.

Ash # 2 - I like this very much. I like what the filter has done to the background. The colors are bright and draws your attention to the child.


Winner First place - Ash entry #1



Second place - ozlizard
]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories xs400 http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/80001-winners-pp-challenge-10-child-playing.html Weekly Challenge #117 - The Tree http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79956-weekly-challenge-117-tree.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:57:48 GMT Weekly Challenge #117 – The Tree - a unique view The challenge explained: I live in a heavily wooded area and am surrounded by trees. Finding new ways to shoot the same tree again and again can be... Weekly Challenge #117 – The Tree - a unique view

The challenge explained:
I live in a heavily wooded area and am surrounded by trees. Finding new ways to shoot the same tree again and again can be difficult. For this challenge lets see some new and interesting ways of photographing a tree. It can be more than one tree but I'm looking for individual trees, rather than and entire forest full of them. The uniqueness can be perspective, exposure, post-processing, composition, or anything else that makes it a unique view of a tree (or a few trees).

(And I can't promise as in-depth of judging as Keitha gave us)

Challenge Starts:
Now!

Challenge Ends:
Saturday, Nov. 21st @ 11:59pm EST

Results:
Sunday, Nov. 22nd (I hope)

The fine print....
1. Post ONE photo (max 1000x1000).
2. The photo must portray an interpretation of the theme.
3. Post your single picture in this thread, and explain what motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly theme
4. The challenge is interactive. Any response is welcome.
5. The judge will pick the WINNERS and chose 1 of them to be the judge for the next week.
6. This challenge runs for 7 days plus a day for the judge to choose the winners.
7. Any Pentax camera will do or a Samsung DSLR.
8. Pictures can be from any time frame, not just within the week of the current theme.

Previous Challenge Subjects:
1-Statues, 2-Wheels, 3-Speed, 4-Peace, 5-Survival, 6-Macro, 7-Mountains, 8-Children, 9-Post Processing, 10- Windows & Doors, 11-Sport, 12-Urban Landscape, 13-Wisdom, 14-Power, 15-Music, 16-Pathways, 17-Lines, 18-Storm, 19-Boats, 20-Water, 21 - Golden Hour, 22 - Natural Lighting, Portraits, 23-Motion Blur, 24-Simplicity, 25-Color, 26-Cars, 27-Repetition, 28-Wildlife, 29-Epiphany, 30-Contrast, 31-Pets, 32-Landscapes, 33-Coastal, 34-Churches, 35-Bridges, 36-Creation, 37-Still Life: Food, 38-At the Zoo, 39-Wide Aperture, 40-Merry Christmas, 41- Sunsets, 42-Action, 43-Fireworks, 44-Manipulated Light Portraits, 45- Advertising/Product Shot, 46- B&W Street Shooting, people/buildings, 47-Vanishing Point, 48-Reflection, 49-Tranquility, 50-Expressions, 51-S Curve, 52-Hands, 53-Shadows, 54-Your Favorite Beverage, 55-Barriers, 56-Perspective, 57-Night Scenes, 58-Zen-like...Water and Stone 59-Modern architecture, 60-Sunrises, 61-Red, 62-Action on water, 63-Bodies in Motion, 64-Ruins, 65-Blue and green, 66-Iridescence, 67-Anthropomorpha, 68–Sound, 69-Backlight, 70-Group Shot, 71-Railway Scenes, 72-Technology, 73-Color on Color, 74-History, 75-Autumn/Harvest 76-working men and women, 77-Silhouettes, 78 Stranger Portrait, 79-Transportation, 80 - Lonely, 81 - Holidays, 82 - Toys 'n Games, 83 - Machines, 84 - Ice, 85 - Cats, 86 - Stories, 87 - Cultures, 88 - Absence, 89 - Weather, 90 - Old roads, 91 - The River, 92 - The Seventies, 93 - Beautiful Bokeh, 94 - Balance, 95 - Crop a miniature landscape, 96 - Opposing gravity, 97- Feet, 98 - Sacred Grounds, 99 - Extraordinarily Ordinary, 100-added textures, 101-still life, 102-bicycles, 103 - Broken, 104- Flowers (B&W), 105 Backlighting, 106-Water. 107-Wind, 108-Parent/Child candids, 109-Passion, 110-Events, 111-Streets, 112-The Aged, 113-Fire and Heat, 114-Nature vs. Culture, 115 - Letters or Numbers, 116 - Self-Portrait, 117 - The Tree ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories mel http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79956-weekly-challenge-117-tree.html The Monochrome Landscape - post yours! http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79925-monochrome-landscape-post-yours.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:20:53 GMT I think, many photographers like B&W photos, although I know several of you out there like colour better. On the Dutch pentaxforum, in reaction on one of my B&W photos, one of the forum members said: "B&W is appropriate if you want to emphasize texture and forms. And some photographers think colour is nice when you want to accentuate colour." Saying this, I thought some subjects were suited better to convert to B&W than others. I like people shots in B&W, and especially street shots. Architecture can be great in B&W. But macro? And landscape?

So I started converting some of my landscapes into B&W. And I was very surprised, because most of them looked better - at least in my opinion - in B&W than in colour. I am anxious to know how your B&W landscapes turn out. So please, post them here. Let it be a thread where we can learn about B&W conversion and B&W shooting on the landscape level.

Oh, and sepia, and bluetone pics etc. are welcome too, I'd say. This thread is more about what you want to conceive than about strict rules :p!

To get things rolling, here are some from me, from a series called 'Sandscapes'.










The first two are made with the SMC Pentax-A 100/4 macro, the last one with the SMC Pentax-A 28/2.8.

EDIT: Although in my first post I only mentioned B&W conversion, you can post all B&W landscape photos here, so including the ones originally shot B&W, digital, or film. ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories Rense http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79925-monochrome-landscape-post-yours.html **WINNERS** Weekly Challenge #116: Self-Portraits http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79863-winners-weekly-challenge-116-self-portraits.html Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:13:14 GMT I took a leaf from Coffee and tried to go by a set of criteria for each shot. I also, as requested, gave feedback for each photo submitted. The interesting thing to me, at least, was that the final rating... I took a leaf from Coffee and tried to go by a set of criteria for each shot. I also, as requested, gave feedback for each photo submitted. The interesting thing to me, at least, was that the final rating didn't always reflect how much I liked a particular a shot. My apologies if my votes don't seem consistent; I've been interrupted several times by a sick puppy and a rambunctious three-year-old, and this did take a little while.

First, the winners!

In 1st place: Mel: 19.5/20

Originality: 4.5. Okay, so other people have taken strong portraits while wearing hoodies. That doesn’t make your intense expression any less intense. This photo becomes about your expression to me, and that expression is original.
Difficulty: 5. When I do my self-portraits, I often feel more like an actress than a subject. Since it’s always posed, you have to summon up the feelings you want to convey, and that isn’t easy.
Execution: 5. Perfectly done.
Processing: 5. The high-contrast, broad strokes really match the expression while still leaving detail. Fantastic work.

In 2nd place: Plankton: 18.5/20

Originality: 4. It’s a pretty classic pose you’ve got there, but it really looks authentic and timeless.
Difficulty: 4.5. You balanced a range of lights and shadows well. You also hit a perfect DOF to give separation between your subject and the background.
Execution: 5. You’re working at a disadvantage here, because I liked your photo so much that I went and checked out your flickr. The shot you took of your friend who was more toward the edge of the frame is a stronger composition, but I’m going to disregard that for now.
Processing: 5. The muted tones and low contrast work perfectly with your pose. Except for the camera in your hand, this photo seems like it could have been taken in any decade. Really excellent work.

Tied for 3rd: and: 18/20

Originality: 5. Not too many people like to portray themselves as possible murderers.
Difficulty: 4.5. To get just the right amount of light in all the places you wanted to – most noticeably on that cleaver – took real skill. It would have been awesome if you could do this on location somewhere.
Execution: Hopefully 0. Just kidding! Get it? Really, 4.5. It might be just a little too bright from the right side.
Processing: 4. I’m a sucker for dark-processed shots, and this one is just a tiny bit too bright for my tastes. I’ll admit it though: this is a shot that I couldn’t pull off.

PiratStian: 18/20

Originality: 4.5. I know that you’re not the first person to shoot along railroad tracks – even underground ones – but the pose with the lighting and the clothes takes this up a notch.
Difficulty: 5. I’m not even going to consider how difficult it was to get down there, much less set up all the flash units. Well-done.
Execution: 4. As Gary noted, the only thing that would have made this photo better is if you’d gotten your head’s shadow in the frame.
Processing: 4.5.You got pretty perfect contrast and exposure with your shot. But it’s a spooky place, and I think there’s a bit more you could do to bring that out.

And in the order they were posted, the others:
Georgweb: 13.5/20
Originality: 3. Interesting background and expression.
Difficulty: 4. Manual lens and timers make a tough mix, especially when you consider how difficult it is to make the appropriate expression at the right moment.
Execution: 3.5. It seems like you really did manage to overcome the hurdles and produce a portrait with interest.
Processing: 3. While I think that black-and-white conversions usually work with portraits, I think I would have liked to see more contrast in this one, although I realize that might have come at the expense of losing detail in the shadows. I’d also be interested to see what the original color version looked like.

Rense: 14/20
Originality: 4.5. Really cool take on drumming and from a pretty unusual angle.
Difficulty: 3. Great job making sure that the hand with the most motion was the one above the drum that was in focus!
Execution: 3.5. I really like the idea of this one; the only thing that I think could have improved it was having a smooth background. As it is, the texture of the wall keeps pulling my attention away from the hand motion and the drums. A deeper DOF might also have made sense if the background was smooth, so that both drums would be in focus.
Processing: 3. I’m quite a fan of adding split-tones to images, but I’m not sure the blue works with this one. This one just has so much energy that I think a red or orange tone might have matched better with the exuberance portrayed.

Daacon: 14/20
Originality: 3. What makes this more than just a run-of-the-mill, hold –the-camera-out-and-snap is that beautiful snow-covered tree behind you and the great side-lighting. You might want to try holding the camera out with only one hand and turning slightly.
Difficulty: 4. While the pose itself isn’t difficult, you get extra props for being out in such cold weather to get the shot!
Execution: 3. I think doing this one-handed would have made a sizeable improvement to the composition, but part of me likes the way the branches kind of wrap around your out-stretched arms.
Processing: 4. Cool tones match the weather perfectly!

Bramela: 11/20
Originality: 3. I’ve seen this type of pose before, but you did a good job of making it look natural and not staged.
Difficulty: 3. I know it wasn’t easy to get the newspaper to line up perfectly below your eyes like that, but you would have gotten extra points if the couch wasn’t visible (or you’d used a different sitting place that didn’t compete as much with the subject).
Execution: 3. While I’ve seen shots like this before, I can’t help but think that you’ve done a good job of showing a scene that really does happen in your everyday life. It looks like you used flash, but it’s not obvious. I think a small crop from the bottom (maybe making it more in the 16:9 format?) might help bring the focus more to you than to the newspaper.
Processing: 2. This is one where I think a white-black conversion could help bring the focus less from the newspaper more to the subject.

Ash: 13.5/20
Originality: 3.5. While the idea of framing with your hands isn’t new, I like the whole concept of how the photo is framed with the clock.
Difficulty: 2. Although maybe I’m not giving you enough credit for getting up at 7:15am just to take a self-portrait.
Execution: 4. This photo works. I think the elements – hands, face, clock – are all tight and there’s really a lot of interesting things within the frame.
Processing: 4. You went bold with the processing, and it paid off! It looks more like a movie still than a photo, which is a good thing in my book.

Xjjohnno: 9.5/20
Originality: 2. While this is slightly more creative than the bathroom-mirror type reflection, it’s still a reflection.
Difficulty: 2.5. Unlike the bathroom-mirror type reflection, though, this one has a lot more elements in it that make it difficult to get right: the distances are usually really different, and there’s a lot more chance to have distracting elements in it.
Execution: 3. My favorite part of this photo is the branch in the right corner than brings the trees we see reflected in the mirror into a different plane. Very cool!
Processing: 2. I think if you really brought out the green and blue you could really make this photo pop!

Damn Brit: 12/20
Originality: 2. It’s a store-front reflection, true, but the “NACHO LIBRE” takes this above and beyond the standard reflection.
Difficulty: 3. Good job focusing and hitting the right exposure.
Execution: 3. The window partition does make a very strong composure feature. I just wish the bike locked to the parking meter wasn’t as prominent as it was.
Processing: 4. You’ve got good contrasts, good detail, good composition. Any change you could make the reds brighter?

Reeftool: 12/20
Originality: 3.5. While it’s probably not that unusual to have a portrait taken in our workspace, you get extra points for having the “Pentax Forums” logo on the screen :)
Difficulty: 3.5. Once again, I know how hard it can be to get a well-balanced shot in tight spaces. You managed very well. It would have been nice if you could have darkened the screen a bit so that it wasn’t quite so bright.
Execution: 3. This photo came out quite well considering the varied light sources and the tight space. I like the expression too!
Processing: 2. While it’s never easy to get a good white balance with different temperature lights, this photo looks a bit too warm. This is another shot where a good white-and-black conversion might help.

Montoya: 17.5/20
Originality: 4.5. A self-portrait while taking a self-portrait? Excellent idea!
Difficulty: 4.5. You found a beautiful spot and nailed the focus and the exposure.
Execution: 4. This almost seems like a documentary shot. The colors are beautiful but they almost seem to be competing with your subject (you). Also, shouldn’t your finger be on the shutter? ;)
Processing: 4.5 You can’t argue with a perfect day perfectly captured. Glad to hear you’re feeling better!

KierraElizabeth: 17/20
Originality: 4. Portraits by a window have been done, but somehow, with your expression, you made a self-portrait seem like a candid.
Difficulty: 4. Lots of varying light and shadows, but handled great, and perfect focus on your furthest eye!
Execution: 4.5. You’ve really taken a beautiful photo here.
Processing: 4.5 The slight sepia works great with the photo, and you hit just the right notes on the lights/shadows.

Igilligan: 13.5/20
Originality: 4. While this is a reflection shot, you picked an interesting angle and an interesting angle.
Difficulty: 4. I know from experience how difficult it can be to get the focus right without getting the camera in the reflection.
Execution: 3. The biggest problem is that the light source seems to overpower your expression, which I really like. It just seemed to call for a more subtle light.
Processing: 2.5. Your expression seems to be one of complexity and depth. The processing, on the other hand, seems to be too bright to suit the expression. I think you could really do some amazing things with this photo.

Bbluesman: 16.5/20
Originality: 4. Yes, it’s a street reflection, but you found the perfect reflection to do it with!
Difficulty: 3. It’s not so easy to get the focus and exposure right with all of those competing elements.
Execution: 5. You have introduced humor to a self-portrait, which isn’t easy to do, and you nailed the angle so that even with that frantic background, the focus is still on you.
Processing: 4.5. It is a busy shot, but I think you’ve handled that well. Maybe cleaning up the dirty glass where your reflection is could make this just that much stronger.

Flacosaurio: 16.5/20
Originality: 3. The half-face has been done before, but it really does make for an interesting perspective.
Difficulty: 4.5. I don’t know if you cropped this or not, but either way it’s a strong composition.
Execution: 5. You nailed it.
Processing: 4. It might be processed just a tad too much in terms of the whites and blacks. Still, it’s a strong, evocative shot.

Dadipentak: 16.5/20
Originality: 5. Cool lighting, cool angles, interesting reflections – very good!
Difficulty: 4. I’d be willing to bet that you had some pretty interesting exposure settings and focusing to do to get this shot.
Execution: 3.5. I realize you were in a restaurant, but getting into the role to match this really cool setting would have taken this up a notch – maybe taking off your camera bag, getting closer, etc.
Processing: 4. I’d be tempted to add some contrast to see what (if anything) it would add to the shot.

Ceericks: 16.5/20
Originality: 4. Sometimes simple is best, as your photo shows.
Difficulty: 3.5. I can imagine that this shot took quite a bit of experimentation to get everything right.
Execution: 4.5. You could have used a bit of fill light on the left side of your face where the shadow falls – or more shadow to make it even contrastier.
Processing: 4.5 Maybe just a bit more contrast to match your expression.

Eaglerapids: 16.5/20
Originality: 3. A man with his fishing gear, his coffee, and his dog. It doesn’t get much more elemental than that.
Difficulty: 4. The dog is posed perfectly, the fishing gear’s odd angles add interest to the shot, and the light is just perfect (and I imagine it didn’t stay that way for long!).
Execution: 4.5. I think this would have been a 5 if there was just a little more space beyond your boots and to the right of the dog.
Processing: 5. It looks like you nailed it in-camera. I can’t think of a single thing that would make this photo better processing-wise.

PrimeObjectif: 11/20
Originality: 2. It’s a mirror shot, but with an interesting twist!
Difficulty: 2. For handholding that camera and lens for 30 seconds. Wow.
Execution: 3. You did achieve a shot that’s held my attention and makes me look deeper into it each time I look.
Processing: 4. I like the harsh processing you did, but be careful of using too much fill light/recovery because you get those weird lines around your left sleeve. Still, I like it!

M80: 10/20
Originality: 1. I think we’ve all done mirror shots before :)
Difficulty: 2. While the set-up of a mirror shot isn’t that difficult, getting the focus so perfectly on your eye is.
Execution: 4. Your expression makes this shot!
Processing: 3. It looks as though you haven’t done any post-processing to this shot, and because you nailed the lighting and the exposure the first time around, you didn’t have to. Good job!

Gokenin: 11/20
Originality: 2. While it’s been done before, you did pick some very nice lighting and the right settings to give the sense of commuting.
Difficulty: 2. It’s not as easy to work in tight spaces as it might seem until you try it, but you managed that well (and having the DA 21 doesn’t hurt!).
Execution: 4. While shots like this have been done before, I really like how your expression looks right into the viewer, and as I said before, the background is well-lit and the perfect amount of out-of-focus.
Processing: 3. The cool tones of your face juxtapose nicely with the warmer, sunlit tones behind.

Xs400: 13/20
Originality: 3.5. Lots of photos taken with bars or fences aim from the other side of the fence. I like this twist on the traditional shot.
Difficulty: 3. It looks as though the exposure was a pretty interesting one, with the sun in the frame, but I think either a tighter composition or a difference fence or gate might have led to a stronger photo.
Execution: 3. The most interesting part of this photo for me is the shadow of the bars on the ground and the way your legs mimic that shape. Very nice.
Processing: 3.5. As I said, a tighter crop might serve to make the focus on your subject(s) even clearer. ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories K McCall http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79863-winners-weekly-challenge-116-self-portraits.html Winners: PROJECT 52-2-17: Landscape (Your Back Yard) http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79831-winners-project-52-2-17-landscape-your-back-yard.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:31:45 GMT Apologies for the delay in judging this theme. I lost track of time…
Well here it is, the Landscape - “Your Backyard” shot competition results:

Firstly, I’ll go with critiquing each entry in chronological order, then proceed with listing the winners:

Bramela: A cute little backyard, Bruce, with lots of small shrubbery about. Looks like a nice place to kick back and relax in the afternoon sun. The photo was taken on a bright and sunny day, casting those shadows over the yard. Looks like you tried to get a good perspective of the yard, although it’s come through a little bland. Hard to know what to improve on other than lighting, but well done with this.

Photolady: Attractive flowers. I would have loved to have seen one a little closer up with a backdrop of the rest of the yard, perhaps with a wide angle lens. Here, the flowers look a little washed out and the harsh sunlight makes it difficult to appreciate the beauty of the surrounds. But it’s given me a glimpse of your finely manicured yard. Thanks.

Rense: This is a fine capture, friend. The subject matter , the moss and leaves at front, go really well with the backdrop of the pots and watering can. The sidelighting works like a charm here. I love the low perspective in this shot. The PP work done here suits and it grabs my attention with each element of the photo. I enjoy looking into this image.

Smf: What a fine backyard you have. Serene and beautiful. The strong sunlight made it difficult to capture the scene for a soft look that would have suited it more, but the colours do shine through nicely. Here, a low perspective emphasising some of the leaves in the foreground may have captured my attention better – here the amorphous leaf-littered ground is a little bland. Good attempt.

Stevebrot: An unorthodox lens choice, but it worked a charm here. Well done with this capture. The interesting pot and colourful plant makes a good subject with the plain background of your deck. The oblique perspective adds some dynamism to the scene and it is well framed. Well done with this one, mate.

Xs400: Looks like a beautiful yard, Frank. Would have loved to see more of it. The cat in the centre of the image would have complemented the scene better if it were looking at the camera, and perhaps off to one side of the frame. The variety of flowers here is nice to see and brings a sense of peace. The harsh sunlight here also has made it hard, but it hasn’t taken too much away from the look of the yard. Nice one.

Ceericks: This is a down-to-earth reality-style image that strikes impact. The clutter in the foreground complements the scene and adds to the environment being depicted. The strong contrast in PP is well suited and the desaturated look from everything apart from the foreground clutter is cleverly arranged. I like this image, although it’s clearly not the most picturesque of backyards! Well done.

Mithrandir: This is your backyard, Rob? It’s spacey and serene. Lucky you. The photo shows a nice open yard littered with autumn leaves – quite peaceful. The house complements the image well, although the colours don’t quite make an impact and leave the scene less engaging. But as for the backyard itself – very nice.

Daacon: Dave, you have a cute little yard that’s well cared for. Clearly, the autumn has gotten the better of your plants, but what could you do? :) You chose a good perspective to take the shot and incorporated the afternoon sky to good effect. A little PP could have brought out more of your yard as the subject matter in the photo. Dodging and burning as well as some contrast to boost its appearance. Nevertheless, a nice depiction of your humble abode.

Seacapt: Another grand back yard view. Here, the image looked technically difficult due to the bright sky and shadow over the yard, so the yard hasn’t come up all that well. The image is too dark to make out the beauty of the yard but it does look like a gorgeous backdrop to your home, Ken.

Tsukiouji: The advantage of having neighbours close by comes through here, with a picturesque backyard capture. The unique home designs here are interesting and the time of day used to capture the scene is good. Only, the foreground is dark as a result and as it is the subject of the photo, it has taken a little away form the impact the scene would otherwise have had. Otherwise a fine attempt.

Thanks all for entering this competition, and I hereby announce the top 3 photos for this project:

2nd runner-up: stevebrot


Runner-up: ceericks
http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/794690-post14.html
Sorry, I couldn't find a way to link the attached image on your post...

Winner: Rense


Congratulations to all the winners and once again a thank you for all the entrants. This was an enjoyable competition to judge on. ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories Ash http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79831-winners-project-52-2-17-landscape-your-back-yard.html PROJECT 52-2-19 Lighting: Light Painting (Use flashlights) http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79729-project-52-2-19-lighting-light-painting-use-flashlights.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:20:06 GMT For week 19, we will have a bit of fun with light painting. Just your camera, your flashlight(s) and your imagination. Here are a few links to get the juices flowing. Painting with light :: Photocritic... For week 19, we will have a bit of fun with light painting. Just your camera, your flashlight(s) and your imagination. Here are a few links to get the juices flowing.

Painting with light :: Photocritic photography blog

Turning exposures into art

Light painting and photography

(Pictures for the week 19 competition are to be taken and posted between 20091115 AND 20091122).

NOTE: We have two Seasonal competitions planned for the last two weeks of year two. You may take pictures for these anytime between 20090705 and the posting dates of 20100704 or 20100711. This way you can include your favorite holiday or season whenever it occurs during the year.

Rules:
1. Anyone and everyone who is interested in eligible. The goal continues to be
have fun and share comments, concepts, insights, and techniques with fellow
Pentaxians.
2. Each week will feature a Theme and Sub-concept for you to explore.
3. Post your single picture in Project 52-2 thread for the week. Explain what
motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly
theme.
4. Some post-processing is OK (adjusting white balance, exposure, color
saturation), but let's try to stay away from heavily PP'ed images here. Try to
keep the creativity to photographic techniques and the captures themselves.
5. There is one “Theme Concept” labeled “black and white,” but feel free to post
black and white, sepia, monotone, etc., for any of the other themes.
6. The picture you post should be taken during the week in which the theme is
active to be eligible for judging.
7. Any picture taken from 20090705 to listed closing date is acceptable for the
two “Seasonal” competitions – Projects 52-2-51 & 52.

Full information is available at Thread http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/m...ct-52-2-a.html ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories mithrandir http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79729-project-52-2-19-lighting-light-painting-use-flashlights.html 16:9 until further notice. http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79521-16-9-until-further-notice.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:30:14 GMT I guess you guys may be sick and tired of looking at Pictures of my boys by now :)
I can understand, why would we want to spend looking at others' children.

The following shot has been cropped to 16:9 Format, And there is a story behind why.
Even though this picture is a snapshot of a child having fun I have used it as the beginning of this (hopefully successful) thread on 16:9 shooting, trying to see in this format and composing to suit.

I have recently been amazed by a collection of photographs taken in japan by a very talented photographer and most of his shots have been processed as 16:9 format.
So until further notice I am going to attempt to shoot in this 16:9 Format.

This is not going to be my thread but a thread for everyone to show their attempts to try this wide angle view (TV WIDESCREEN) And considering a high percentage of us now watch our daily dose of TV in this format, I think it is something that will come very naturally to us all.

Can we please keep this in the good heartedness of picture taking rather than an ongoing debate on what format some of us may watch tv in, I know what you norty people are like ;)

I hope that we can all get involved in sharing our pictures and our creativity.

Well here is Finli shot with Pentax 50mm@2.4 cropped 16:9


Pleasant Shooting

Taff ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories Taff http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79521-16-9-until-further-notice.html Picture of the week #87 Nov 1 - Nov 15 2009 http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79355-picture-week-87-nov-1-nov-15-2009-a.html Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:08:26 GMT Picture of the week #87 Nov 1 - Nov 15 2009
So it's time to see your stuff from last week and this upcoming week.

Welcome to POTW #87 and counting. Nice stuff last week posted here http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/m...-8-2009-a.html

Again same rules and really other than time frames there are no rules

1) No theme just your favorite stuff.
2) Let's keep it to about 4-6 images per post just so the thread doesn't get too big each week.
3) Any Pentax camera is fine, film, P&S, DSLR (or Samsung DSLR)
4) Date : Sunday 10/25/2009 to Sunday - Sunday 11/08/2009. Enter anything you shot last week or during this current week until the thread closes.


Previous hosts: (each one is a hotlink to that POTW thread to look past at the previous 86 weeks. Peter started the links, I know it had to be a lot of editing!!


1 Peter Zack, 2 Eaglerapids, 3 rmtagg, 4 Peter Zack, 5 daacon, 6 Bramela, 7 mtnbearhug, 8 dantuyhoa, 9 gawan, 10 roentarre, 11 daacon, 12 Kris, 13 mtnbearhug, 14 SCGushue, 15 daacon, 16 maxwell1295, 17 dantuyhoa, 18 daacon, 19 maxwell1295 19(2) daacon, 20 Bramela, 21 Syb, 22 maxwell1295, 23 maxwell1295, 24 dantuyhoa, 25 Gawan, 26 Peter Zack, 27 borno, 28 daacon, 29 gawan, 30 Damn Brit, 31 maxwell1295 32 maxwell1295 , 33 dantuyhoa, 34 daacon, 35 Peter Zack, 36 Damn Brit, 37 Borno, 38 Kevint, 39 Peter Zack, 40 Timbo13, 41 daacon, 42 daacon, 43 gawan, 44 dantuyhoa, 45 daacon, 46 rense, 47 daacon, 48 Rense, 49 borno, 50 Rense, 51 daacon, 52 Peter Zack, 53 Peter Zack, 54 dadipentak, 55 David Whiteley, 56 planedriver, 57 daacon,58 bramela, 59 daacon, 60 gawan, 61 virgilr, 62 daacon, 63 RickL 64 Peter Zack 65 Peter Zack 66 Causey 67 daacon 68 Bramela 69 georgweb 70 daacon 71 seacapt 72 daacon 73 AOski 74 Rense 75 eccs19 76 daacon 77 xs400 78 daacon 79 Bramela 80 borno 81 legacyb4 82 daacon 83 gawan 84 Rense 85 Peter Zack 86 davef 87 davef ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories davef http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79355-picture-week-87-nov-1-nov-15-2009-a.html Bokeh Seek-n-Find http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79035-bokeh-seek-n-find.html Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:54:18 GMT This is my first attempt at a game/challenge, so be kind (hopefully it hasn't been done before). The inspiration for it comes from a couple memories from childhood. We used to play the "cloud game" while driving on vacation, picking out animals or other shapes the clouds looked like and pointing them out to everyone. I also enjoyed finding the hidden items in the "Highlights For Kids" magazine at the dentist's office.

This game combines the two as bokeh can have a cloudlike appearance or create other images that only our imaginations bring out.

Here's the rules as I see them, though I'm happy to let it run in any direction that keeps it fun for everyone:

Post any photo where there's a definite subject (i.e. no intentionally OOF shots).

Standard size restrictions apply.

Along with the photo, post a list of items to look for in the bokeh.

Also make an "answer key" to post later if needed. (Circle and number the items in PP).

The first person to find all the items and post a list of where they were found will get to post the next challenge photo. Copying the original to circle in PP is also a fine way to answer. That's it. Hope this turns out the way I envision.

I'll start us off....

Find the following:
1. An astronaut with arms outstretched.
2. A sabre-style sword.
3. A goofy dinosaur-looking creature's face.
4. A bird's beak (can also look cartoonish with eyes and a tongue).
5. A hamburger with eyes.

Go!....
Attached Images
 
]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories jheu02 http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/79035-bokeh-seek-n-find.html PROJECT 52-2-18 Lighting: Frontlighting http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78860-project-52-2-18-lighting-frontlighting.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:42:45 GMT Our Assignment for Week 18 begins a 9 week look at Lighting. This week we will experiment with Frontlighting. Wait, don't just run out and take a shot.

The type of lighting created when the sun is in back of the photographer is called frontlighting. This over-the-shoulder lighting was probably the first photographic advice you ever received. This may seem to be a universal recipe for good photography. But it is not. The case against over-the-shoulder lighting is it produces a flattened effect, doing nothing to bring out detail or provide an impression of depth. The human eye sees in three dimensions and can compensate for poor lighting. A photograph is only two-dimensional; therefore, to give an impression of form, depth, and texture to the subject, you should ideally have the light come from the side or at least at an angle. (Thanks to photoinf.com)

This is not going to be easy, using frontlighting and making it detailed.

(Pictures for week 18 competition to be taken and posted between 20091108 AND 20091115).

NOTE: We have two Seasonal competitions planned for the last two weeks of year two. You may take pictures for these anytime between 20090705 and the posting dates of 20100704 or 20100711. This way you can include your favorite holiday or season whenever it occurs during the year.

Rules:
1. Anyone and everyone who is interested in eligible. The goal continues to be
have fun and share comments, concepts, insights, and techniques with fellow
Pentaxians.
2. Each week will feature a Theme and Sub-concept for you to explore.
3. Post your single picture in Project 52-2 thread for the week. Explain what
motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly
theme.
4. Some post-processing is OK (adjusting white balance, exposure, color
saturation), but let's try to stay away from heavily PP'ed images here. Try to
keep the creativity to photographic techniques and the captures themselves.
5. There is one “Theme Concept” labeled “black and white,” but feel free to post
black and white, sepia, monotone, etc., for any of the other themes.
6. The picture you post should be taken during the week in which the theme is
active to be eligible for judging.
7. Any picture taken from 20090705 to listed closing date is acceptable for the
two “Seasonal” competitions – Projects 52-2-51 & 52.

Full information is available at Thread http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/m...ct-52-2-a.html ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories mithrandir http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78860-project-52-2-18-lighting-frontlighting.html PP Challenge #10 - Child playing http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78813-pp-challenge-10-child-playing.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:49:08 GMT Welcome to PP Challenge #10. The image for this weeks challenge is a child playing. I was disappointed that this shot came out underexposed. Hopefully you guys can improve the look of this shot or create an... Welcome to PP Challenge #10. The image for this weeks challenge is a child playing. I was disappointed that this shot came out underexposed. Hopefully you guys can improve the look of this shot or create an image that is more interesting. I'm not looking for anything in particular, so surprise me with your creativity.

Thanks again to Tim for setting up the generic Mediafire Account
Mediafire Account Log-In Name: pentaxchallenge@yahoo.com
Password: postprocessing

RAW (PEF) file link (12MB): Peru street scene - PEF

Full size JPEG (2.3 MB): Child playing - jpg

The Challenge will close for entries in 1 week - i.e. 9:00 pm (Pacific Time) on the 12th of November.

This is the image straight from the K20 using DA 50-200mm, no PP, only resized.
]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories xs400 http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78813-pp-challenge-10-child-playing.html Winners - PP Challenge #9 - Sunrise over Atlantis http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78667-winners-pp-challenge-9-sunrise-over-atlantis.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:53:46 GMT Thanks to everyone for participating. Ash - Honorable Mention - maybe this is what happened to the original Atlantis... Well done! Image: http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t288/ashsaleh/PPchal2.jpg ... Thanks to everyone for participating.

Ash - Honorable Mention - maybe this is what happened to the original Atlantis... Well done!



SWEngineer - 2nd Runner Up - Mark...great work on the colors and good job getting rid of the cranes.



Mithrandir - 1st Runner Up - Love the dreamy, other-wordly effect. Very fitting.



xs400 - WINNER - Frank... This combined with your other version where you finished the hotel, deleted the cranes and moved the bird is the clear winner. Well done indeed!


I realize twas an incredibly hard image to work with and I applaud the results everyone achieved. Congratulations to Frank for a superb result!

Mike

You're up Frank! ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories MRRiley http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78667-winners-pp-challenge-9-sunrise-over-atlantis.html Weekly Challenge #116 - Self-Portrait http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78654-weekly-challenge-116-self-portrait.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:56:58 GMT Weekly Challenge #116 – Self-Portrait

The challenge explained:
It's one of the oldest subjects in art, and now it's time to show us what you can do with you! I'm going to take a very broad interpretation of what counts as a "portrait," i.e. the photo doesn't have to be a standard shoulders-and-head portrait but can include any parts of you or your reflection. Photos will be judged on creativity and execution.

Challenge Starts:
Now!

Challenge Ends:
Wednesday, Nov. 11th @ 11:59pm EST

Results:
Thursday, Nov. 12th

The fine print....
1. Post ONE photo (max 1000x1000).
2. The photo must portray an interpretation of the theme.
3. Post your single picture in this thread, and explain what motivated you to take the picture and/or how you feel it represents the weekly theme
4. The challenge is interactive. Any response is welcome.
5. The judge will pick the WINNERS and chose 1 of them to be the judge for the next week.
6. This challenge runs for 7 days plus a day for the judge to choose the winners.
7. Any Pentax camera will do or a Samsung DSLR.
8. Pictures can be from any time frame, not just within the week of the current theme.

Previous Challenge Subjects:
1-Statues, 2-Wheels, 3-Speed, 4-Peace, 5-Survival, 6-Macro, 7-Mountains, 8-Children, 9-Post Processing, 10- Windows & Doors, 11-Sport, 12-Urban Landscape, 13-Wisdom, 14-Power, 15-Music, 16-Pathways, 17-Lines, 18-Storm, 19-Boats, 20-Water, 21 - Golden Hour, 22 - Natural Lighting, Portraits, 23-Motion Blur, 24-Simplicity, 25-Color, 26-Cars, 27-Repetition, 28-Wildlife, 29-Epiphany, 30-Contrast, 31-Pets, 32-Landscapes, 33-Coastal, 34-Churches, 35-Bridges, 36-Creation, 37-Still Life: Food, 38-At the Zoo, 39-Wide Aperture, 40-Merry Christmas, 41- Sunsets, 42-Action, 43-Fireworks, 44-Manipulated Light Portraits, 45- Advertising/Product Shot, 46- B&W Street Shooting, people/buildings, 47-Vanishing Point, 48-Reflection, 49-Tranquility, 50-Expressions, 51-S Curve, 52-Hands, 53-Shadows, 54-Your Favorite Beverage, 55-Barriers, 56-Perspective, 57-Night Scenes, 58-Zen-like...Water and Stone 59-Modern architecture, 60-Sunrises, 61-Red, 62-Action on water, 63-Bodies in Motion, 64-Ruins, 65-Blue and green, 66-Iridescence, 67-Anthropomorpha, 68–Sound, 69-Backlight, 70-Group Shot, 71-Railway Scenes, 72-Technology, 73-Color on Color, 74-History, 75-Autumn/Harvest 76-working men and women, 77-Silhouettes, 78 Stranger Portrait, 79-Transportation, 80 - Lonely, 81 - Holidays, 82 - Toys 'n Games, 83 - Machines, 84 - Ice, 85 - Cats, 86 - Stories, 87 - Cultures, 88 - Absence, 89 - Weather, 90 - Old roads, 91 - The River, 92 - The Seventies, 93 - Beautiful Bokeh, 94 - Balance, 95 - Crop a miniature landscape, 96 - Opposing gravity, 97- Feet, 98 - Sacred Grounds, 99 - Extraordinarily Ordinary, 100-added textures, 101-still life, 102-bicycles, 103 - Broken, 104- Flowers (B&W), 105 Backlighting, 106-Water. 107-Wind, 108-Parent/Child candids, 109-Passion, 110-Events, 111-Streets, 112-The Aged, 113-Fire and Heat, 114-Nature vs. Culture, 115 - Letters or Numbers, 116 - Self-Portrait

Good luck, chuck your modesty in the bin, and have fun! ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories K McCall http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78654-weekly-challenge-116-self-portrait.html Panorama-orama - Post your Panos http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78589-panorama-orama-post-your-panos.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:41:26 GMT We've got threads for birds in flight, hats, men at work, bicycles, pets and many more but nowhere to showcase the panoramas that put our CPUs into meltdown.

I invite you all to add your panoramas to this thread. ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories Mike L http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78589-panorama-orama-post-your-panos.html <![CDATA[Weekly Challenge #115 - "Letters or Numbers" - results!]]> http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78565-weekly-challenge-115-letters-numbers-results.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:45:50 GMT Lots of wonderful submissions for this week's challenge - great work everyone!

I decided to use a bit of a different criteria set for coming up with the results for this week's winners - they are based on the following (they are subjective of course):
1.) Framing 0-3pts
2.) Exposure/post processing/wow factor 0-3pts
3.) Difficulty in obtaining the photo 0-3pts
4.) Natural #/letter that is a focal point, but not necessarily outward to the viewer 0-3pts
Max score is 12.

Here are the results:

atupdate: 2-1-1-2 = 6

bbluesman (4 entries - first entry used, as per challenge rules): 1-1-1-2 = 5

Bramela: 3-2-2-2 = 9

RollsUp: 2-1-3-3 = 9

Rense: Wonderful shot with beautiful framing, exposure and bokeh. Unfortunately this entry didn't follow the guidelines of the challenge - so it wasn't judged. Beauty shot though!!

ohce (4 entries - first entry used, as per challenge rules): 3-2-1-3 = 9

cyy47: 3-2-2-3 = 10

reeftool: 3-3-1-3 = 10

Ash: 3-3-3-1 = 10

Sunniebgi: 2-2-1-1 = 6

Stratman: 3-3-2-2 = 10

smf: 3-2-1-1 = 7

xjjohnno: 2-3-3-2 = 10

Runner up:

K McCall: 3-3-2-3 = 11
What an awesome shot. This really captured the essence of the challenge with it's simplistic interpretation and beautiful rendering. This is the type of photo I would hang in my home. Beautiful work Keitha! :)


Winner:

mickeyrobe: 3-3-3-3 = 12
This is a beautiful picture that captures the essence of the challenge in it's entirety. Well framed, wonderful capture, well exposed, timing of the ducks with their heads in the water - all wonderful. The number "8" is so easy to see and is the focal point of the image, but it isn't something your eye registers right away - that goes to the ducks. Lot's of great pics this week, but this one fulfills all requirements and does so with style. Awesome work!


Thanks to everyone for your participation. I hope you enjoyed the challenge as much as I did hosting it. So with that...I will pass the baton over to Mickey for our next challenge.

c[_] ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories ll_coffee_lP http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78565-weekly-challenge-115-letters-numbers-results.html Picture of the week #86 Oct 25 - Nov 8 2009 http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78371-picture-week-86-oct-25-nov-8-2009-a.html Sun, 01 Nov 2009 13:59:19 GMT So it's time to see your stuff from last week and this upcoming week.

Thanks Peter for the POTW. Nice stuff last week posted here http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/m...-1-2009-a.html


Again same rules and really other than time frames there are no rules

1) No theme just your favorite stuff.
2) Let's keep it to about 4-6 images per post just so the thread doesn't get too big each week.
3) Any Pentax camera is fine, film, P&S, DSLR (or Samsung DSLR)
4) Date : Sunday 10/25/2009 to Sunday - Sunday 11/08/2009. Enter anything you shot last week or during this current week until the thread closes.


Previous hosts: (each one is a hotlink to that POTW thread to look past at the previous 83 weeks. Peter started the links, I know it had to be a lot of editing!!

1 Peter Zack, 2 Eaglerapids, 3 rmtagg, 4 Peter Zack, 5 daacon, 6 Bramela, 7 mtnbearhug, 8 dantuyhoa, 9 gawan, 10 roentarre, 11 daacon, 12 Kris, 13 mtnbearhug, 14 SCGushue, 15 daacon, 16 maxwell1295, 17 dantuyhoa, 18 daacon, 19 maxwell1295 19(2) daacon, 20 Bramela, 21 Syb, 22 maxwell1295, 23 maxwell1295, 24 dantuyhoa, 25 Gawan, 26 Peter Zack, 27 borno, 28 daacon, 29 gawan, 30 Damn Brit, 31 maxwell1295 32 maxwell1295 , 33 dantuyhoa, 34 daacon, 35 Peter Zack, 36 Damn Brit, 37 Borno, 38 Kevint, 39 Peter Zack, 40 Timbo13, 41 daacon, 42 daacon, 43 gawan, 44 dantuyhoa, 45 daacon, 46 rense, 47 daacon, 48 Rense, 49 borno, 50 Rense, 51 daacon, 52 Peter Zack, 53 Peter Zack, 54 dadipentak, 55 David Whiteley, 56 planedriver, 57 daacon,58 bramela, 59 daacon, 60 gawan, 61 virgilr, 62 daacon, 63 RickL 64 Peter Zack 65 Peter Zack 66 Causey 67 daacon 68 Bramela 69 georgweb 70 daacon 71 seacapt 72 daacon 73 AOski 74 Rense 75 eccs19 76 daacon 77 xs400 78 daacon 79 Bramela 80 borno 81 legacyb4 82 daacon 83 gawan 84 Rense 85 Peter Zack 86 davef ]]> Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories davef http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/mini-challenges-games-photo-stories/78371-picture-week-86-oct-25-nov-8-2009-a.html