Random Photos

[pinball1970]

Not quite there yet, I think
View attachment 328064
(Common sparrow taking a dustbath...)

... but closing
View attachment 328065

I didn't know sparrows did that. The insect is using pretty decent physics knowledge to do that. Impressed

 

[DennisN]

(Common sparrow taking a dustbath...)

That's a cool photo with a lot of action in it !
I don't think I've seen a bird do that (whatever it's doing).
In that case I think I prefer your photo with motion blur actually, because of the action.

 

[DennisN]

Scruffy little thing isn't it? What species?

Seagull (a juvenile).
Cute, fluffy and quiet now, but give it some time and it will grow up to become a screechy rascal.

If I remember correctly, seagull parents finally leave their juveniles completely alone so they learn how to make it on their own. The one on my photo was completely alone.
Tough love.

 

[nsaspook]

 

[Rive]

That's a cool photo with a lot of action in it !
I don't think I've seen a bird do that (whatever it's doing).

Just as a reference (random stuff from the internet), this is the actual action:

The distance and circumstances are ~ the same what I had.
A closer one.

A photo, as 'others do it':

You are right, mine conveys more of the action

Though I think I still have much room for improvement.

 

[morrobay]

From the Southern most place at end of Jomtien Beach Rd.

 

[DennisN]

Happy Midsummer!

Here's a red admiral on a yellow flower:

(Lens: Canon nFD 50mm f/1.4)

 

[morrobay]

Hard photo to follow above ^

 

[gmax137]

I like these kind of chaotic asian street scenes

 

[pinball1970]

Hoping to get some images in Carlisle today. Clouds and rain again though.

 

[DennisN]

Hoping to get some images in Carlisle today.

Nice! We passed Carlisle when we visited Hadrian's Wall.
There are multiple historical landmarks of the wall quite close to Carlisle.

The Birdoswald Roman Fort is only ca 15-20 km away from Carlisle:

...and some more sites in the same area:

(Google maps link: here)

 

[pinball1970]

It's a newish Levono pad and my picture taking has not been great so far. Hoping we get to the venue before dusk.
This was ok.

 

[DennisN]

It's a newish Levono pad and my picture taking has not been great so far. Hoping we get to the venue before dusk.
This was ok.

A lovely sunset, very nice, I think!

Better quality than at least I would expect for a pad.
The camera(s) on my pad (Huawei Mediapad T5) are absolutely terrible and I don't think they would be able to achieve that quality (though I'm quite satified with the pad otherwise, good value for money).

 

[jtbell]

Maybe this plant should try out for the NBA. After it grows some arms, of course.

 

[pinball1970]

A wash out. Tried to get some images but wet grey and misty. There is a castle in the centre. EDIT Apologies, the images are uploading as thumb nails.

 

[DaveC426913]

A wash out. Tried to get some images but wet grey and misty. There is a castle in the centre. EDIT Apologies, the images are uploading as thumb nails.

Dunno. Doesn't seem so bad.

 

[phinds]

Dunno. Doesn't seem so bad.

I see what you did there

 

[pinball1970]

Dunno. Doesn't seem so bad.
View attachment 328573

We are there for a gig and I am always looking for something image worthy. Tried to take pics from the back of van but it but it never works and by the time I arrive at the venue it is grey, raining and poor light.
I got lucky with the Castle, just round the corner from the venue.

 

[DaveC426913]

... wet grey and misty...

I try to go by the philosophy that every adversity is an opportunity by just changing my subject matter.
If grey and misty is what I have to work with, I try to lean into it.

(I'd likely go for an extreme closeup of a mossy wall or rain drops on a flower, maybe with the castle unfocused in the background, a little like this...)When it rained on my Caribbean cruise, I stopped trying to get sunny pics and went for a wet theme instead:

By the way, these pics are on the cruise ship - in the "Central Park Neighborhood" open to the sky and weather:

Every time the ship gets near a new port, birds from shore come to visit and stay in the ship's park...

 

[DennisN]

I try to go by the philosophy that every adversity is an opportunity by just changing my subject matter.
If grey and misty is what I have to work with, I try to lean into it.

A good philosophy, in my opinion .

 

[DennisN]

The recent adventures of my cat...

A couple of days ago one of my cats decided to rearrange a corner in one of my rooms...
...I don't know... I don't like the style myself... it's... how to categorize it? Avant-garde, perhaps?

And today I built a small box for reproducing developed photos (i.e. taking photos of photos).
I clad (is that the correct word?) the inside of the box with black paper, and the idea was to diminish light reflections which very, very, VERY easily appear in real photos. There's probably a name for such boxes, but I don't know it.

It seems to work rather well. But soon a problem appeared...

"What's this? I like it..."

"...but I think it's too small, so I made it bigger."

"Now I'm comfy. You go sit by the computer instead, I'll rest here."

I guess there will be no photo reproduction going on here today .

 

[DaveC426913]

There's probably a name for such boxes, but I don't know it.

Hm. Light box? Dark box?

 

[gmax137]

B&H calls them "light tents"
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Shooting-Tables/ci/1409/N/4037060017

 

[BillTre]

I don't know... I don't like the style myself... it's... how to categorize it? Avant-garde, perhaps?

Feline Discordance.

 

[DennisN]

Hm. Light box? Dark box?

"Dark box" was what I also thought.
But it is quite light since it's made of cardboard, so it could be called a light box.

 

[DennisN]

Ok, this is not a real photo but I just had to post it here...

Today a friend of mine who has been training his AI software to generate more realistic images sent
me an image. I was very, very impressed....:

(image posted here with permission from my friend)

He said that training and rendering with the software is like dealing with an unruly camera...
...he also said he was complaining a lot over all previous unsuccessful attempts .

But the work definitely paid off. I guess he will continue to finetune the software for realism.

 

[DennisN]

Hard photo to follow above ^

I particularly like the sixth (last) image here.
I find there is a bit of a strange thing with "clutter" in photos. One, often good rule, is to minimize the clutter in photos. But then there seems to be a soft limit somewhere when the clutter gets so significant that it suddenly becomes very interesting and central to the photo, like in your last photo.

I like these kind of chaotic asian street scenes

Me too .

 

[BillTre]

I think most interesting clutter has an order to it which is seen in its order.
In this case, its (mostly) the electrical infrastructure made to provide electricity.
The purpose structures the outcome.

 

[BillTre]

Here is a cluttery infrastructure example, looking up from the inside of a giant hedge in the LA area.
Its at least 20 feet wide and 30 feet tall.
The leaves are on the outside, its too shady for them inside the hedge where the picture was taken from.
The stems and branches connect the leaves and roots in a manner determined by their earlier patterns of growth, their opportunistic interactions with their environment, minus negative environmental impacts (like predators or storm damage).

Here is an interesting one:

Roots growing where there was a substrate (a decaying log) which is now gone:

Here is some depositional clutter (logs no longer moving in the river flow):

 

[morrobay]

 

[phinds]

View attachment 328658

Reminds me of Stephen Wright's joke that he has the most extensive collection of sea shells ever ... you've probably seen it. He stores it on the world's beaches.

 

[morrobay]

 

[phinds]

Yeah, that's some of his collection all right.

 

[morrobay]

Clutter City at Lam Pho seafood market

 

[pinball1970]

Taking the advice of @DaveC426913 I have made an attempt to make use of the subject matter. Another disappointing weekend of lack of opportunity, glare, rain, mist and clumsy technique in Chester and Carlisle (bar a convenient castle) so I am trying closer to home. Manchester. The jewel of North West of England and quite possibly the world.

Shambles square.