View Full Version : T189 Digital Photography: creating and sharing better images.
Welcome to DPNow's forum discussion board dedicated to the Open University course T189 Digital Photography: creating and sharing better images (http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?C01T189).
Julia has signed up for this ten week course, aimed at enthusiastic digital photography beginners, and will be documenting her experiences - and pictures!, blog-style, on this board. If you are also studying this course or a similar one, or are interested in taking it on in the future, you're very welcome to join in the discussion here!
Ian
Hi,
We received a press release about this course and I thought if I work for a Digital Photography website perhaps I should learn a bit more about taking pictures. The first assignment was to look at Flickr and choose some photos I liked. I seemed to go for the Macro images so, borrowing a Macro lens, I had a go. Please let me know what you think. The camera is an Olympus E330 with a Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG Macro lens.
http://dpnow.com/galleries//data//770/P5117036small.jpg
http://dpnow.com/galleries//data//770/P5117153small.jpg
http://dpnow.com/galleries//data//770/P5117041small.jpg
Being Julia's better half *LOL, I could be accused of bias, but I really like the dandelion clock, even if the subject isn't particularly original. Jemima the cat, who was telling the photographer at the time that she wasn't interested in being an international superstar model (daughter Elizabeth, out of shot, had her pinned down for the shoot :)) turned out better than I was expecting and can you guess what the third picture is of? !!!
Ian
Hi,
We received a press release about this course and I thought if I work for a Digital Photography website perhaps I should learn a bit more about taking pictures. The first assignment was to look at Flickr and choose some photos I liked. I seemed to go for the Macro images so, borrowing a Macro lens, I had a go. Please let me know what you think. The camera is an Olympus E330 with a Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 DG Macro lens.
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I'm not keen on the second shot (the cat). The colour of th eyes doesn't appeal to me and there doesn't seem to be a clear and specific point of focus anywhere.
The first and third are very good though - in my ever so 'umble and not very experienced opinion (I hasten to add)
The Dandelion -- nice composition and framing. Nice point of focus and interesting sort of 'hazy effect' around the stem and leading off into the seeds. I might have pulled back ever so slightly to include the tips of the greenery ..... on the other hand, I reckon your framing is excellent just as it is. Altogether a good and memorable shot imho.
The Chocolate Flakes -- Yay! I really, really like the 'fingers' beckoning me to come over and eat that tasty mouthful. That is just so tempting and sexy!! I want it and I want it NOW. :D
I suppose some might say there's too much white, especially the top/right half .... but it doesn't especially bother me as I also find the icing, and shadows, from the chocolate flakes, adds to the tasty temptation.
A naughty but nice image imo. Is it a chocolate log?
I'm gonna have myself a slice of Viennetta now - choccy and vanilla. :D
Pol
............. can you guess what the third picture is of? !!!
Ian
Have you eaten it yet?
I hope you left some for me! :D
Pol
Hi Pol, thanks for your comments. Unfortuately the third images isn't chocolate but used Earl Grey tea leaves. Chocolate never lasts long enough in this house to be photographed :)
Julia
Hi Pol,
This one is of our other cat - any better?
Julia
http://dpnow.com/galleries//data//770/P5117159small.jpg
Hi Pol, thanks for your comments. Unfortuately the third images isn't chocolate but used Earl Grey tea leaves. Chocolate never lasts long enough in this house to be photographed :)
Julia
Naaaaaaaah!! Wicked!! I'd never have guessed.
So Pol's a plonker. :o :D
...... but she's a plonker wiv a big chunk of Viennetta on her desk.*smash
Pol
Hi Pol,
This one is of our other cat - any better?
Julia
Awwww yeah - that's ever so sweet. :)
Nice point of focus too as she/he is communicating eye-to-eye with the viewer.
Pol
Awwww yeah - that's ever so sweet. :)
Nice point of focus too as she/he is communicating eye-to-eye with the viewer.
Pol
Julia has created a gallery album dedicated to her OU pictures (http://dpnow.com/galleries/showgallery.php/cat/770), by the way.
Ian
Not a plonker at all - Ian thought it was chocolate too *shh
Jasmine (the cat) was saying, "Put that camera down and get my supper"
Julia
Not a plonker at all - Ian thought it was chocolate too *shh
Jasmine (the cat) was saying, "Put that camera down and get my supper"
Julia
Oh no I didn't! *nono
I simply said - "What's that???"
Forget 'chocolate doesn't last long in enough in this household to be photographed... chocolate doesn't last long enough for me to get any! :mad:
Ian
Stephen
12-05-07, 02:41 PM
Oh yes you did :b
Haha, I'm gonna love catching up on this one when I get back from me Jollies *LOL
Haha, I'm gonna love catching up on this one when I get back from me Jollies *LOL
Aren't you on your way to Alaska yet?!!!
I'm expecting some serious photography from this trip, Stephen! t-up
Ian
vlarcombe
12-05-07, 03:27 PM
Hi Julia,
My comments, for what they're worth:
1. Nice and sharp image but a bit tight in the frame. I'd prefer a little more space around the dandelion head (particularly at the top).
2. This one does not look sharp, for this to work the eyes need to be the point of focus (not quite sure what is, possibly the nose). More depth of field could help (but needs a co-operative subject).
3. Don't know what it is (possibly chocolate) but the image would be improved by cropping out the areas of white at the left and top of the frame. At the moment these distract from the subject matter.
Good luck with the course.
Vernon.
vlarcombe
12-05-07, 03:31 PM
Beautiful. Almost chopped her ear off but really draws you in.
Vernon
paul.r.w
22-05-07, 10:59 AM
Hi, looks very interesting for a newbie like me. I'll be following your progress with a view to try it myself. I've been taking "snaps" for years and occasionally get a good one. It would be nice to know how I got the good one though! :)
I already know what the third pic is now, but my first thoughts were either Tea or Cinnamon bark. I was surprised when I thought it must be chocolate.
As for critique, id echo previous comments, I like all the shots, especially the dandelion and its cropped just fine for my liking.
Sharpness is lacking in the cat picture as you know but boy am i glad you posted it. Makes me less scared of posting my unsharp images.
I have a great respect for the open university having done some of their post graduate computing courses before, but I didnt know they did a photography course until just now, so Im likely to sign up with them for the October presentation.
Steve.