Vote for June Photo Contest - Things beginning with 'W' [Archive]

jak

03-07-2005, 06:01 PM

Thank you to everyone who participated in the monthly assignment. A couple of entries were larger than 1024 on the longest side. Please remember to keep at 1024 as images greater than 1024 cannot be uploaded into the zgeek image library (yeah, it means I have to resize them and I am lazy)

Winners:
1st - jak - 300 points (white mist)
2nd - asdjkl - 200 points (waterfall)
3rd - Matt_R - 100 points (water droplets)

You have the opportunity to choose the winner for the June photo contest. The theme is "Things beginning with the letter....... 'W'".

Vote away! Mulitple voting is permitted this month (as a trial). So feel free to choose a couple of your favourites.

Entry 1 - Wheelie - Lord_Phat
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_01.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_01.jpg)

Entry 2 - Whale - dilligaf
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_02.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_02.jpg)

Entry 3 - Drippy - galdab
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_03.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_03.jpg)

Entry 4 - Water on Urban Wasteland - Stan Kleir
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_04.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_04.jpg)

jak

03-07-2005, 06:01 PM

Entry 5 - Winter Ice Patterns - Sperm
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_05.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_05.jpg)

Entry 6 - Water Droplets - Matt_R
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_06.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_06.jpg)

Entry 7 - White Mist - jak
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_07.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_07.jpg)

Entry 8 - Walking - babarfloyd
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_08.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_08.jpg)

jak

03-07-2005, 06:02 PM

Entry 9 - Wongs - gunsella
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_09.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_09.jpg)

Entry 10 - White Wall - Deimos
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_10.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_10.jpg)

Entry 11 - Waves Under a Sunrise - Z-Man
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_11.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_11.jpg)

Entry 12 - Waterfall - asdfjkl
http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/thumbnails/48/entry_12.jpg (http://gallery.zgeek.com/data/media/48/entry_12.jpg)

amj

03-07-2005, 09:08 PM

I'm so glad that I didn't even enter this month. These entrys are awesome!

jak

03-07-2005, 09:15 PM

I'm so glad that I didn't even enter this month. These entrys are awesome!

No way! Please enter anyway. Variety is what we want.

amj

03-07-2005, 09:58 PM

No way! Please enter anyway. Variety is what we want.

haha I kind of did decide to enter this months, but due to other stuff, I kinds forgot. Plus I don't have a decent camera of my own so I would have had to borrow my friends camera etc blah blah blah. I wouldn't mind getting into photography though. Maybe I can steal my dad's camera for a bit (he works at kodak :D)

DOGG

03-07-2005, 10:05 PM

glad you done a multiple-vote experiment. my 4 favourites are winning as of right now. perhaps you should make it clear that it's a multiple vote as not everyone may be aware.

amj

03-07-2005, 10:07 PM

glad you done a multiple-vote experiment. my 4 favourites are winning as of right now. perhaps you should make it clear that it's a multiple vote as not everyone may be aware.

Ah yes, I wasn't aware of this!

EDIT: how do you vote again?

DOGG

03-07-2005, 10:20 PM

usually you can change can't you? i don't know perhaps you'd have to get pirate to fix it for u

ThraX

03-07-2005, 11:35 PM

White Mist > * :D

jak

04-07-2005, 12:17 AM

erm yeah, cheers DOGG. You are correct, in that I am experimenting with a multiple vote. And yes, did neglect to mention it.

Mentioning it now.... :)

Once you have voted, thats it. My apologies for not mentioning it (multiple voting) when I first posted.

Grumblefish

04-07-2005, 05:51 AM

I like the Whale and the White Mist pictures. I don't see why 3, 5, and 10 are impressive, and number 9 is just a picture of a sign saying a name, with a stupid circle around the character Lao. I guess it's cool if that's your name, or you're obsessed with Chinese characters.

ShinymetalASS

04-07-2005, 10:21 AM

Drippy, White Mist and the Wheelie.

Those ice patterns were pretty damn sweet.

But, as usual, all of them are votable. ;)

Vardsy

04-07-2005, 10:26 AM

water droplets

Fenaughty

04-07-2005, 05:11 PM

Awesome entries this month guys, I didn't get my butt out and get some photos but will try for this month. Damn WoW, taking over my life.
but on the plus side i'm doing a photography course starting the end of july so will be doing lots of experiments that should make it in the future :)

muga

04-07-2005, 05:53 PM

well done! :D
good photos

jak

05-07-2005, 07:25 PM

So, are people preferring the multiple voting? Or best to stick with single voting?

HAL

05-07-2005, 07:34 PM

I took a few photos of Walter blasting off some solid 10 feet drops on his mountain bike, but haven't got them developed (prob turn out bad anyway) and I never got to take any photos of some Waves... surf just never got that photogenic during the month, except for last Friday. But I didn't have my camera and I believe the comp was closed by then anyway, that and no one was in sight and I was in more than a hurry to get suited up!

White Mist and Waterfall looked cool :thumbsup:

jak

05-07-2005, 08:15 PM

berserk

05-07-2005, 09:24 PM

So, are people preferring the multiple voting? Or best to stick with single voting?
I vote to keep multiple voting. The results seem more reflective of the quality of the photos. (to my untrained eye anyway)

asdfjkl

06-07-2005, 04:33 PM

Yeah is there a way to force 3 votes. that would be good.

jak

06-07-2005, 04:35 PM

Yeah is there a way to force 3 votes. that would be good.

nah, cant be done. either one vote or as many as you like.

besides, if someone votes for all of them, then its as if they didnt vote (has no effect - but no one would do this). Voting for one is the same as it used to be anyway.

Not sure your reasoning for wanting 3 votes (not more or less)?

Necron

06-07-2005, 04:46 PM

I like being able to vote for more than one, there are two photo's that grabbed my attention. Very nice all round though.

Keep it up guys, great stuff.

DOGG

06-07-2005, 09:19 PM

i vote to keep multiple, it seems like it's working well.

jak

06-07-2005, 09:22 PM

Yeah, that makes sense. The only options I have when creating a poll are:

- multiple voting (vote on as many options as you want)
- single voting (one vote).

So dont really have much choice. Multiple or not.

I have always gone single voting in the past. A few people have asked for multiple voting, so I trialed it on last months theme - seemed to work (and was popular). So am trying it this month for the actual comp.

If people want to get all their mates to vote for their pic, then they can do it regardless of multiple voting or not. Unfortunately, I cannot force a specific number of votes.

Marshall77

07-07-2005, 07:27 PM

I prefer to have multiples. Its more fun. it would be good if you could rank each photo from 1 to 10 or something

jak

07-07-2005, 07:58 PM

I will check with Pirate re. this.

berserk

07-07-2005, 08:27 PM

To curb vote stacking.
Hmm.. can you rank them? Like an electoral ballot so that you have to number all the boxes for your first choice to count?
Does the winner get a seat in the Australian Senate? :D

Lets go all th way & have run-off voting.

Deimos

07-07-2005, 09:23 PM

I voted below the line...

I agree, multiple voting is better - especially for sorting out 2nd and 3rd. If one photo is far and away the best, but it is still a competition for 2nd and 3rd, it is easier to decide this with multiple voting.

PsychoNavigator

08-07-2005, 05:23 AM

Jak, you gotta change that picture. Your avatar... damn, it makes me wanna put my dick in you and wiggle, and that's just not right... I feel like a dirty sick bastard everytime I see you post... seriously, cut that out.

berserk

08-07-2005, 06:16 AM

You do realise Psycho that half of Jak's reps are from people repping him for that photo of Arwen Undómiel?

jak

08-07-2005, 12:27 PM

You do realise Psycho that half of Jak's reps are from people repping him for that photo of Arwen Undómiel?

Its sooooo true! :)

I have been thinking of changing it. But it will be to another pic of Liv Tyler of course. ;)

asdfjkl

08-07-2005, 01:12 PM

Dammit, and here i was thinking that jaks avatar was a self portrait.

i really want to do things to jak that i probably shouldn't mention. i have dreams about it.

Matt_R

08-07-2005, 03:19 PM

Dammit, and here i was thinking that jaks avatar was a self portrait.
Yours is a self portrait too, isn't it? :)

asdfjkl

08-07-2005, 05:22 PM

Yours is a self portrait too, isn't it? :)

haha yeah. I think that photo highlights my cheek bones nicely.

jak

09-07-2005, 02:41 AM

Winners announced in the morning people.

:)

jak

09-07-2005, 12:58 PM

Winners for the June comp are:

1st - jak - 300 points (white mist)
2nd - asdjkl - 200 points (waterfall)
3rd - Matt_R - 100 points (water droplets)

Please post the details of your submission (setting, camera setup etc) for the rest of us!

:)

(and cheers to all those who voted for me)

jak

09-07-2005, 02:09 PM

OK, I will get the ball rolling.

My photo (white mist) was shot with a Canon 10D mounted on a tripod (standing on the rocks) with an ISO of 100 (lowest setting to eliminate noise) with an exposure time of 8 seconds at f/6.3 (I should have used a smaller aperture (higher number) to increase the depth of field - the rocks in the top right are out of focus). I used a remote shutter to eliminate any camera shake (always do when using a tripod).

The light was falling quickly (sunset) and the mossies were biting! Photo was taken as the wave was receding to achieve those wispy misty lines of white.

Post processing was my standard (I do this to all photos coming out of this camera for web use) auto levels, +1 saturation, and resize with 'low sharpen' setting in Photoshop.

Photo was taken in Bunbury at the main beach (2 hours drive south of Perth).

Now lets hear from the rest of you!

:)

asdfjkl

09-07-2005, 06:51 PM

Cool pic Jak, well done.

My pic was Waterfall, and was taken on the Upper Allan river in the Barrington Tops National Park about 1.5 hours north of Newcastle.

It was taken on 35mm Fuji Velvia 50 slide film at f/22 with a 4 second exposure (tripod and cable release essential).

Some good shots all round. Now to get started on this months assignment, if only the clouds would disappear for a few days though.

Matt_R

09-07-2005, 07:41 PM

My water droplets photo was taken with my two day old Canon EOS 350D with 18-55mm lense, set in macro mode. Handheld.

I should have used manual, as the Depth of Field isn't large enough (the front is out of focus) - but hey, I'd only had the camera for two days.

Exposure time : 0.013 s (1/80)
Aperture : f/5.6
ISO equiv. : 200
Focal length : 55.0mm (35mm equivalent: 87mm)

The photo was taken in my back yard, one morning after some rain.

Post Processing? What's that? :)

Matt_R

09-07-2005, 07:46 PM

Some good shots all round. Now to get started on this months assignment, if only the clouds would disappear for a few days though.
Sounds like you're planning the same type of photo as I am :)

I did manage to get a nice shot OF the clouds one night, I may still use that.

CharmedOne

10-07-2005, 03:41 AM

Congrats to all the winners. The photo's are amazing. :banana:

Hippy Vindalou

11-07-2005, 08:34 PM

A question for jak and asdfjkl - How much light was around when you took your shots (was it darker than it appears in your shots)? Apart from making the aperture as small as possible what other things can you do to stop exposures longer than a second from looking to bright or over exposed during the day?

Congrats to the winners by the way and top work to all the other entrants as well;). Good to see a few new participants each month.

jak

11-07-2005, 09:56 PM

It was slightly darker than what the shot shows at the time (sunset).

Obviously, the smaller aperture (higher f number) is the easiest way. Other methods are to ensure the ISO sensitivity it at its lowest (ie 100). This makes your sensor *less* sensitive to light. Another option is to shoot in the shade (of course). Also consider getting a filter of some sort to block out light. For example, I used a circular polariser to reduce the amount of light coming into the lens in these photos (http://www.angstrom.com.au/Serpentine_Falls/) (shot in the afternoon, but in the shade of the hills) . There are plenty of other filters you can use to help reduce the light, but are pretty much in the realm of digital SLRs.

I'm guessing you are doing long exposures during the day? This is the one of the reasons I upgraded to a digital SLR. My old camera (Nikon 5700) only allowed a smallest aperture of f/13 (from memory). My new(er) camera is dependent on the lens I am using. Ranges from f/22 to f/36 depening on the lens and if its zoomed or wide.

So your choices are smallest aperture, slowest film speed (smaller ISO number), shoot in the shade, use a filter to block light, upgrade to a DSLR or stick your sunglasses in front of the your camera!

You say your shots are too bright/over exposing. Are you using your cameras light meter to expose for the shot? (ie shooting in manual, reading the light, adjusting the shutter/aperature to get a correct reading)? IF so, then you shouldnt get an overexposed shot - it just may not get the shutter speed you want.

Another idea - try adjusting the exposure compensation. ie add (or is it reduce) by half a stop or a full stop. (ie some cameras you can set the image to be - 1/3 of exposure etc). Try this, if your camera supports it.

asdfjkl will probably have some more/better ideas!

gaLdaB

12-07-2005, 02:43 PM

Mine = Drippy

Still only have the point and click $5 Kodak Digital camera so this shot was 1 of 15 or so. I made sure that the sun was pounding in from behind the water to give it some sparkle. If I had any sort of control over my stupid camera the front edge of the tap fitting and the water drops would both have been in clear focus. Cheer to all the +reppers, you know who you are :)

gunsella

12-07-2005, 02:49 PM

i was responsible for Wongs.

i use an olympus d-580. a digital point-and-click.

i was walking around town, making a list in my notebook of things beginning with 'W':
waiter
washing
wishing well
wheel
wool
whale
worcestershire sauce

etc...

anyway, wong was on my list and i was near chinatown. when i found the perfect sign i pointed and clicked. ;)

jak

12-07-2005, 02:59 PM

cheers guys, for giving us the details.

Just for reference, anyone who enters the contest and posts a description in this (and each months) thread gets some +rep from me! OK, so its only 4 points but its all I can do.

So the rest of you, please post your details of your shot!

:)

To the winners, Pirate will be late this month with the rep points as he has limited net access at the moment.

Hippy Vindalou

12-07-2005, 06:11 PM

.......A heap of things jak said....
I think my biggest problem was trying when it was too bright. I have bought a Hoya circular polarising filter and switched to ISO100 since I tried last time too so that will make a difference by the sounds of it. I will definately be going though the manual again to try your suggestions, thanks mate. I have a sony digital SLR, unfortunatly its smallest aperture is F8(I think).

That night time cityscape on the front page of your website is frickin awesome by the way.

sperm

12-07-2005, 07:44 PM

my photo was just something i saw one morning, ice formed on the roof of my car. I liked so took a picture; it was only much later i realised i could send it in as an entry. Its taken with a point and click 3.5 megapixel digital camera. The best explanation of it was when i sent it to jak.

care to repost what i said jak ?

cheers all :)

jak

12-07-2005, 07:46 PM

I think my biggest problem was trying when it was too bright. I have bought a Hoya circular polarising filter and switched to ISO100 since I tried last time too so that will make a difference by the sounds of it. I will definately be going though the manual again to try your suggestions, thanks mate. I have a sony digital SLR, unfortunatly its smallest aperture is F8(I think).

That night time cityscape on the front page of your website is frickin awesome by the way.

I didnt know Sony made a DSLR?

f/8 - yeah, thats the problem. That doesnt help much. Have you tried zooming in to see if the aperture close down some more? It should. Maybe zoom in fully and walk way back to get the same framing!

re. the Perth cityscape. cheers. Thats about 5 images joined together from memory. (I really must get my website sorted).

jak

12-07-2005, 07:51 PM

care to repost what i said jak ?

what sperm said:

"Its an interesting textures and pattern pic i took the other day, the swirls are ice patterns formed on the roof of my car.

Im guessing the car roof was still wet from rain and the temperature was cold enuff to freeze gradually

the patterns are then due to random shifting winds blowing across the top !!"

:)

(I voted for it)

Hippy Vindalou

12-07-2005, 08:40 PM

Its a dsc-f828 (http://www.sony.com.au/dis/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=22119) , I got in the duty free last year. I will be trying out your advice in the next couple of weeks so you'll know how I went at the end of the month;)
That zoom in and walk back trick sounds good.

jak

12-07-2005, 09:32 PM

Cool camera - very cool. But thats actually not a SLR. :)

SLR = "Single Lens Reflex. This term designates a type of camera which incorporates a viewing system where the subject is seen through the lens. This image is reflected on a mirror and passes through a prism that restores the normal view. Interchangeable lens 35mm cameras are mostly of this type."

With a SLR you won't be able to "look" through the rear LCD when taking a picture. The LCD is only for viewing images already taken (etc). You have to look through the viewfinder like a film SLR (as it is exactly the same except exposes onto a sensor instead of film).

eg http://www.canon.com.au/products/cameras/digital_slr/eos20d.html

Hippy Vindalou

12-07-2005, 09:58 PM

oh well, I'm not bothered if it isnt. I picked up the SLR bit from reading reviews of it, I have seen a couple of them refer to it as an SLR. I never actually read anything about it till after I bought it. It was very much an impulse buy. I wasnt planning on buying a camera but I only had a 17yo point and click job and decided I should get a camera to do the NZ scenery justice while I had 4 hours in an airport to fill in.
I am very happy with it and have learnt more about photography with it in one and a half years than I did in 17 with my old one.

I dont suppose you noticed any features of it I should be exploiting or some user tricks perhaps? I still havent experimented with half the stuff it could be used for yet.

jak

12-07-2005, 11:34 PM

I dont suppose you noticed any features of it I should be exploiting or some user tricks perhaps? I still havent experimented with half the stuff it could be used for yet.

Yeah I did. " Exposure Control: +/- 2.0EV". Set this too -2 (or is it +2) next time you are overexposing when doing long exposures during the day.

Read up on using the camera in manual (ie reading the light and setting the aperture and shutter manually - if you havent already that is).

I go to NZ (skiing trip) at the end of August. 5 guys. should be awesome. Not sure if I will bring my camera gear though. Which is a shame as its such beautiful countryside.

Want to share some of your NZ pics?

babarfloyd

13-07-2005, 09:57 AM

My photo was Walking. It was taken with my wife's 3.2 Megapixel Sony camera (I can't remember the model number off hand). I took it in the hallway of my house with my 1 year old, who was just learning to walk, walking away from me. You can see my wife and my 5 year old daughter in the background trying to get him to walk to them.

I suck at photography...the picture sucks....but I just couldn't resist sending it in. I was very proud of him taking his first few steps. I'm surprised I even got 8 votes. I didn't expect any. :)

Hippy Vindalou

13-07-2005, 09:24 PM

You have to take a camera, the whole place is photogenic. I am so glad I got mine going over, even though I was figuring out what the hell I was doing as I went along I still got better photos than I would have with my old camera. Still I wish I knew then what I know now.
I have been experimenting with manual mode but not the EV controls but I will be looking into it now.
I thought I did post some pics from the NZ trip but I cant find where so I'll dig em out and post some again.

Deimos

14-07-2005, 01:07 AM

Mine was White Wall. I felt guilty for not participating in the last few photo comps so I figured I'd better at least do something. It is actually the wall outside my bedroom with some nice vine growing on it. Very simple, I didn't expect it to get any votes, really, but I quite like simple things like that.

jak

14-07-2005, 02:36 AM