Discarded, not wanted?:dltphoto

 I have been working on a little side project for a short while now with surprising results. It would appear that in this little town people have a habit of leaving things lying around... why?

APAC: Photoclub Submissions, May 2012: dltphoto

SO... May's submissions were very, very  interesting.
We had been informed that the usual CAPA judge would again be replaced by somebody not trained with the "rules", this Judge was an Artist (painter) and a teacher I believe. Something different!

My first Image up was for the Assigned Category, this months topic was "Junk".

"where beds are laid to rest" (score 20)

It was a junk store I came across last summer on one of our camping trips, Shot with the Nikon D200 and 70-200 2.8VR, I thought it had decent colour and detail.I hoped the bed frame would look obvious and people could distinguish it, it scored ok compared to all the others, it wasnt scored the worst!

Next Up... A shocker!

"skies that surprise" ( score 10)

So, I have shown this image before on my other blogs for Lens and Shutter etc.... So, I am sure other APAC club members had seen it before, but the Judge has not.... SOOOO she gave it a 10... blimey, a 10. The only 10 of the night!
So I had to give a quick spiel about it, Shot with the Olympus Pen E-PL2 with the stock 14-42 lens, right out of the camera using one of the ART Filters called "Dramatic Tone". Basically it then offers the operator , regardless of photo knowledge, the power of well edited images without any of the after shooting non-sense ( a kind of in-camera photoshop).

Then, to top it off I had this image. A little more on the creative edge. I thought since its a Non-Capa judge I might get lucky and I scored an 8... very pleased she recognised it as an interesting composition. She even selected it to critique at the end. Of which she offered it sparked and emotion from her, she was mad at it as she wanted to move the leaf off centre for some reason, but she enjoyed the image.
As for the title I don't think anyone quite understood which is fine, it sparked a reaction... Titled 50/50 due to the fact the leaf was sitting mostly  50% over the blue paint and the road... not 50% of the blue and road which most people assumed what I was suggesting. Also this one was shot with my Phone, this is my highest scoring phone pic...

"50/50" score 8

Wedding Golden Oldie (2007): dltphoto

Fortunately over the years of shooting many, many weddings you get to meet people with talents different from your own, which often proves useful in the future...hence the beautiful Tile job I am getting in our bathroom, if anyone needs tiles laid then let me know, I can hook you up with Ruslan!

Here a shot from waaaaay back in 2007 of the affore mentioned Ruslan, which at the time someone suggested it reminded them of a famous artist's painting, Jack Vettriano... here is my new rendition and below is my previous 2007 effort of which I named myself  "Turnerano".... I'll let you guys decide whether or not its reminiscent of his work, which is featured at the bottom!

2012 edition

2007 edition

"the Swinging Butler" by Jack Vettriano

Happy 300th Post: dltphoto

It feels like I have done alot more but apparently Blogger informs me that I have posted 300... So what special thing can I do for my 300th post?
Give away 300 images....all in one shot.

APAC: Photoclub submissions, April 2012:dltphoto

So this month I got my submission right!! The image below is the one that never made it! Actually to bad it did make it since the Judge ripped it to shreds, something to do with change my angle, get lower, use a macro lens, crop the light from the top, blah blah blah.... wah wah wah was all I heard!

"frozen and leaning" score 7

Just when you thought the night couldn't get any worse he hands me a 6... I think it was the lowest score all night. Pft... whatever, once again he slammed it into the ground, something to do with the mountains needing to be in focus and the tree on the left to distracting..... blah blah blah. Maybe next time I will just submit some non-discript, plain boring shot that conforms to the Capa rules... Actually I have noticed that those whom use PHOTOSHOP a lot seem to do very well, maybe the judges have now gotten used to seeing edited or over edited images rather than the nice capture out of the camera, as they would have seen back in the good old film days... Challenge accepted!
 Like I have said on previous posts I really don't care what the judges do or don't like, I would like them to expand their horizons to see past the rules which as I have learned in my years, need to be broken.
My images certainly arent the best in the world, I am not blowing my own trumpet, creatively I think I have good content, with a solid composition and good technical merit.
Yes I have a little high-lighted areas Mr Judge, after all I did use my phone for these images. Its much easier from a real camera, I am enjoying pushing myself from a camera which is far less capable. That makes it much harder. Much more FUN.

"over the hills and far away" score 6

My final submission was the Assigned topic "from ground level". I chose a cute little wedding couple shoot I did for Offload Studios, to show how small they were I chose to do a diptych, which I imagine I was punished for.. I scored a combined 22 out of 30!

"the bride and groom" score 22

littlephoto app: dltphoto (celltography)

One of my favourite editing apps for my android phone is "littlephoto". It is simple and easy. If your an androider like me, then check it out!

APAC: Photoclub submissions, March 2012:dltphoto

Working with the categories  is quite restricting sometimes, at least trying to put them into the correct categories I find challenging. Fortunately being a Level 1, I have the ability to chuck them all under the "open" category which is an easy way out.
So this month I have tried the "Nature" category,
 "Nature: images of untamed animals and uncultivated plants in their natural habitat. (CAPA rules and ethics apply!) Evidence of man, manipulation of the environment in any part of the image and human elements must not be present, except on the rare occasion where those human elements are part of the nature story; e.g. for birds – sitting on a thin wire or the top of a post. However, if at all possible, these must be avoided. The presence of scientific bands or collars on wild animals is acceptable where it adds to the story, but should be minimal and avoided. After satisfying the above requirements, every effort should be made to use the highest level of artistic skill in all nature photographs."

Not easy to fully abide by these rules. I assume I have!!

Frozen and leaning

mytubo update, march:dltphoto

So I have been on mytubo for quite some time now and have become a little frustrated with the amount lovely ladies posting themselves on there, Mirror shots and Risque shots, also the flagrant mytuboers using there fancy DSLR cameras and posting them under the cellphone #tags...so much so that on the weekends I have been sharing images from my real cameras... but informing what camera they have been done with. Its too easy from a real camera. The real challenge has been doing it all with a very limited cell phone... now, that it is a challenge!
Heres a little update from my mytubo world, since none of you see them accept #wallaceross & @beyondexposure and the others whom follow my images on the program itself. I know have over 726 images on mytubo, cant share them all sadly.

"twists"

"un-named"

Snail Mail Surprise, Damn! Chakra: dltphoto

Came home to an interesting package yesterday. A  package approximately 7incs square. Mysterious...

Upon further inspection I wondered if it was the Life Saving Instrument that I ordered...

February 2012: Favourite Shot:dltphoto

February is always a busy month for us. Many birthdays and events and the Lens and Shutter retail inventory and so on. This shot happens to be the one I enjoy the most. Its a natural shot of my pretty girls doing what they do best, not posing well for me!

A wintery winters day, the Digital Saga: dltphoto

So  in a previous post dubbed " the film chronicles", I went out and shot some goodies with the classic Nikon F5, but as to not make the Nikon D200 feel left out of course I dragged it along with me...really, what photographer only goes out with ONE camera? and maybe also a smart phone too!

Olympus XA2, gone but not forgotten: dltphoto

Heres a few "winners" from a roll of film I found from the Olympus XA2 which I acquired from somewhere!
The XA2 was an interesting little camera, super small but so simple. It was introduced in 1980 and was a more simplified version of the XA. The only "negative" (pun) of this little camera is the silly zone focusing system. Three little symbols, one that looks like two snowmen, the next is two people shapes like bells holding hands and the third is the classic symbol for a mountain.

A wintery winters day, the Film Chronicles: dltphoto

After our dump of snow a short while ago I broke out my amazing Nikon F5 for the harsh cold temperatures. Why the F5 I hear all of you asking... since its weather sealed to death and robust as heck and its my favourite film camera.

Anyways, the girls and I built "turner mountain" in the front garden and the girls revelled in sledding on their boogie sleds.

Happy Valentine's Day, 2012: dltphoto

Heres a few of my pics from playing around in my studio..somewhat of a Valentine Theme!!

How the magic happened!:dltphoto

So in a previous post for the photoclub submission in February, I did a simple photo-shopping technique to help create an image. This isn't probably the best-est way to do this, its just the way I do it. I am sure some photo-shop nerd could come along and do it a different way in half the time, since there is multiple ways of doing the same thing, as long as its a way your comfortable with then go for it.

Here is the finished shot just so you know which image I am talking about....

APAC:Photoclub submissions, February 2012: dltphoto

February saw APAC going back to their normal Judging style. Not that I disapproved of the previous non-capa judging, I just didn't think his opinions were right. However, as I have said previously all of this judging is based on personal preference by the judge. So is anyone ever right? Only the photographer should know. It is our job to interpret what we see in a form that someone else can only try to understand.... ug, this is getting deep, lets get to the images.
Firstly the Assigned topic. This month was "Motion Blur". A relatively obvious title so no hidden surprises with this one. I chose an image I had worked on with the girls. I had purchased them some colourful dresses( yes I chose them) and I wanted to work with the colour of the dresses and in a relative grey scene to enhance the colours...after much running back and forth, by the girls. I ended up with the following.

When Two Atoms Collide (26)

One leaf amongst many: dltphoto

I have just realised I have reached the "10,000 page views" mark. In celebration of this I have released a commemorative "limited edition" 1920x1080 resolution  desktop image entitled "green and orange". heheheh!. Thanks to all my followers!

"Pink Wheat"?:dltphoto

So a little while I go I found some "pink wheat", as called by Lucy. I used a combination of  my NikonF5, Nikon AF-S 60mm 2.8 and some sweet Kodak Ektar 100 film. It was all hand held and the breeze was blowing the "pink wheat" around. ( I am sorry I dont know its real Plant name, but if someone does they could let me know.)

January 2012, Favourite Shot: dltphoto

This months favourite shot was a fortunate snap from my little Fuji F200 EXR, one day whilst the girls were playing at Eagle Mountain Park. Its just "another" shot of Mount Baker, but the light was really nice despite being cold and windy.
This time I have attached two images, the original "out of the camera" version and a post edited version for your extra viewing pleasure... heheheh!

Original Image

Black and White Edited

Somethings dont change, like a good Sepia:dltphoto

One of the classic tones for photos over the years has been Sepia Tone. From way back,  people doing Black and White Photography would tone their images using and additional toner within the process. This same process is replicated today using our modern miracle programs such and Photoshop etc... Here's a few images from my archives to celebrate Sepia and its consistency!
Happy Consistency Sepia. Thankyou!

Iconic Images and the People behind them: dltphoto

I just saw a cool Website from a famous photographer regarding a series of images of Famous Photographers and the Iconic Images that that person is known for.

I wonder if I have an Iconic Image I will be remembered for? Maybe I haven't taken it yet or maybe I never will.

December 2011, Favourite Shot: dltphoto

Here is my December effort. A long and busy December, very glad to see it done.

This has several cool elements for me, I love the back lighting with the light reflecting into the steam that was pouring off the wet wood. Also I like the fact the pattern within the deck fencing resembles beer bottles!
Shot with my Samsung Galaxy S, and added effect applied through mytubo.

Fuji F200 EXR :dltphoto

Recently I have revisited a camera I won on a contest a little while ago, since Fuji put out a little update for it and I figured I would start to use it again. I wouldnt want it to feel left out.
I really enjoy the EXR sensor that Fuji created. So much so I would love to have one of there newer Fuji X10's but that isn't going to happen right now, which is too bad as it looks so nice!
Shop the Fuji X10 here.

Anyways, here are a few images shot straight out of the camera!

Photoclub Submissions, January 2012:dltphoto

Something new for this months submissions, since the club is having a Judge from outside of the CAPA circle...Although, I imagine after tonight they may rethink that choice. Personally, I considered the judge to be as worldly as myself. Someone who has been around photography for the better portion of there lives.

Well, let me tell you I was mistaken. I actually left early from the meeting since I couldn't bare it anymore. How embarrassing that someone whom I thought would have a clever photographic brain blew it soooo badly. I was embarrassed for the Judge and he embarrassed me as someone who is within his profession. I would name the accredited local artistic professional portrait photographer for 30 years, but I am too embarrassed.
Anyways,  enough with my rant.

The First I chose was a classic portrait shot of myself, shot by myself as featured in a previous post (Me). Its just a wacky shot and figured it might get a bit of a chuckle and one of the other club members suggested I put it in. I scored a 6

Me by Me

The second Image is one I shot of a leaf imprint on the sidewalk, with my phone, then edited using "littlephoto" app on my phone. This scored a 7.

Latent Leaf

Lastly I though would enter into the assigned catagory since I had a fun shot I thought fit the catagory quite well ( which was "Street Photography"), it was posted before on a previous entry but here its is again. I didnt expect to score high with it but I like it, it just has a nice feel to it. This scored a combined 21/30 ( 7 avg)

Street Photographer

11 years ago.... :dltphoto

Look who got married 11 years ago today!!

"Backlit Macro Pro" you say....: dltphoto

Recently a friend of mine watched an upload on the mytubo site and instantly reported the image as being mine since he noticed it as being my style, which I later found out to be "backlit macro pro"... hahahahah
 "my Style?"... I dont see it! I think he's mad!

Happy Christmas:dltphoto

Happy Christmas to everyone.
Feel free to download this as your desktop. its sized to 1920x1080.
Enjoy the BNL's Green Chritsmas

Mushrooms: dltphoto

Just Mushrooms. That's all. Carry on please.