Simon's 52 in 2021

Living - really nicely captured and perfect for the theme. My cyclamen that needs planting out is looking a far cry from this ha ha!! The lighting and background work well.

Still life - all fit the theme. My first thought was that I liked the first one best, but I think the blind in the background does distract a little, so I'll plump for the kettle one as my favourite. The colours and lighting remind me of an old painting.
 
I like the kettle one as the wonky candle does my head in. Wondered if you had moved slightly to the left and just taken the shot of the kettle/pot and the fruit on the tray that it may have been a less distracted shot? But I do like the lighting on it. Those felted table decorations along with cheap plastic fruit should be binned! But the tree looks lovely! National Trust properties normally put on a fabulous show as well .......................
Sorry, being a bit curmudgeonly today!
 
Scots_quine said:
I like the kettle one as the wonky candle does my head in. Wondered if you had moved slightly to the left and just taken the shot of the kettle/pot and the fruit on the tray that it may have been a less distracted shot? But I do like the lighting on it. Those felted table decorations along with cheap plastic fruit should be binned! But the tree looks lovely! National Trust properties normally put on a fabulous show as well .......................
Sorry, being a bit curmudgeonly today!
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Thanks - all valid points. Couldn't do much about the wonky candle, and hadn't really noticed it that much until a couple of you pointed it out! (Maybe my eyes are wonky too!)
They were (as with many of my photos) a bit shoot from the hip rather than a studiously composed frame, and I really do need to take more care and thought in my shooting, but I'm normally dragging along behind my wife so end up rushing stuff! :LOL:
 
I like the third one best as the light at the bottom of the blind on the first distracts me.
 
Living - the lighting and detail is great. A very sharp shot.
I think you chose the right image. Somehow fruit seems to be the order of the day for still life.
 
seaodyssey said:
They all work well and as you could not correct the wonky candle I will let that go. I like the kettle one and the IQ is not that bad and I think works with the period of the items.

Pete
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wornish said:
I like all of them. The kettle one is my favourite too, but I bet the toast is cold though :)
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Allan.H said:
All of them are on theme but I prefer the second shot of the table, the BG doesn't really matter as much in that one,
it could do without the info sign on the left and the modern glass cabinet to the right, I know there was nothing you could do though
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Bebop said:
Living - really nicely captured and perfect for the theme. My cyclamen that needs planting out is looking a far cry from this ha ha!! The lighting and background work well.

Still life - all fit the theme. My first thought was that I liked the first one best, but I think the blind in the background does distract a little, so I'll plump for the kettle one as my favourite. The colours and lighting remind me of an old painting.
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Scots_quine said:
I like the kettle one as the wonky candle does my head in. Wondered if you had moved slightly to the left and just taken the shot of the kettle/pot and the fruit on the tray that it may have been a less distracted shot? But I do like the lighting on it. Those felted table decorations along with cheap plastic fruit should be binned! But the tree looks lovely! National Trust properties normally put on a fabulous show as well .......................
Sorry, being a bit curmudgeonly today!
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FlyPhot said:
I like the third one best as the light at the bottom of the blind on the first distracts me.
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Fuji Dave said:
All are good shots, but the second one for me too as the main focus is on the table.
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HelenC said:
Living - the lighting and detail is great. A very sharp shot.
I think you chose the right image. Somehow fruit seems to be the order of the day for still life.
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Thanks all for your feedback and comments. I still need to learn to construct my shots more carefully, ensuring no distractions (and wonky candles) , but I’m (generally) enjoying the challenge of getting an image out there every week!
 
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first and third are my picks - both good considering it wasn't an actual "build set" but someone elses arrangement - the still life nut in me is currently sat here, thinking "hmmm, what would I have given for 2-3 hours and my lighting kit to have shot those..."...
 
TheBigYin said:
first and third are my picks - both good considering it wasn't an actual "build set" but someone elses arrangement - the still life nut in me is currently sat here, thinking "hmmm, what would I have given for 2-3 hours and my lighting kit to have shot those..."...
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Thanks - I think my wife would have gone nuts if I'd hung around for 15 minutes let alone 2 hours!!! :LOL:
 
Week 50 - Miniscule

Can't believe I've made it to week 50!

There are some unbelievably good shots on the thread this week, so feeling a bit lacking in my contributions which are (as usual) probably too rushed.

First up is a miniature Christmas tree which is usually sitting on top of our Christmas cake. Not sure why it didn't make the cut this year. I wanted to take it with our big living room tree in the background, but a combination of horrible lighting and clutter put paid to that, so all you get is the diffused lights from that tree in the background.

The second shot is a collection of fine propelling pencil leads. This is my preffered shot of my three this week, although it could have been sharper.

The final submission is a bit of a tongue in cheek effort of "mini-me" reflected in one of our tree baubles.

DSCF2752 by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr


DSCF2754 by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr

DSCF2767 by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr
 
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Really like #2. The simplicity and crispness of the image really work, I think it's sharp enough.
 
All 3 are good, and have their own merits, but I like the mini tree with the defused lights, it works :)
 
You picked the best one - nicely done :)
 
I think the first one for me the second one without knowing what it is there is no sense of scale
 
Three great shots for the theme. I am loving the colours of no. 2 but also the bokeh in no. 1. Tough to. choose but no. 2 is so unusual and makes you think.
 
Very seasonal, very typical, and yet very important to document. Have a fab Christmas Simon.
 
Two trees o_O we don't have one, both work well for the theme

Happy Christmas
 
Nice Chrimbo pix Simon :)
 
A nice pair of seasonal images Simon :)
 
Week 52 - Showcase

Well, it's been a blast. I wanted to challenge myself when I signed up for this. I think my photography has improved over the last 12 or so months, but still lots to learn - mostly to think more rather than just firing off - a lot of my photography is done on the hoof on short walks with my other half, rather than a planned photo outing to capture a distinct shot/theme/technique, and I must learnt to overcome my impatience to just "get something done". It's been fun though and I must thank everyone for their comments, advice, and especially Chris and Tim for keeping us all on the straight and narrow.

I found it hard to pick one favourite (I know I have to on the main thread), so here are a few of my own personal faves from this year.

This landskein from the beach at Barry in South Wales I like because of the banding in the image, the silhouette of the people and the container ship coming up the Bristol Channel

Bristol Channel sunset by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr

Another sunset - this time over the Menai Strait on a holiday to N Wales in May. I particularly like this one because it's the first time I've really captured sun stars, deliberately closing down the aperture to F22 (see - thinking about the shot!)

Sunset at Y Felinheli by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr

A rain shower over Barry from Barry Island

Rain over Barry Island by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr

A stonechat with a spider for lunch, taken on the Pembrokeshire coast - hard to get close these little fellas.

Stonechat by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr

Evening light at Whitesands in Pembrokeshire, one of my favourite places

Evening light, pembrokeshire by Simon Hiscocks, on Flickr
 
I think your chosen image is a cracker. The colours and the silhouettes work really well. Well done for finishing and all the best for 2022.
 
Nice set to finish Simon.
Great light on the chosen one, and thanks for the kind words :)
 
They're all lovely, but your chosen image is fabulous.

Well done for completing the 52. Sometimes we all just have to get the shot and move on, but I think you should be proud of your 52 as a job well done.
 
Bebop said:
They're all lovely, but your chosen image is fabulous.

Well done for completing the 52. Sometimes we all just have to get the shot and move on, but I think you should be proud of your 52 as a job well done.
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Thanks Bee...
 
A lovely set of images from the year but I would go for your chosen one. A simple but very effective image. Well done for getting through the 52 this year.
 
I particularly like the last image of Whitesands. Well done on the completion of the 2021 52.
 
HelenC said:
A lovely set of images from the year but I would go for your chosen one. A simple but very effective image. Well done for getting through the 52 this year.
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Thanks Helen! A challenge at times, but I suppose that's what it is!
 
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