>> dgrin challenge 19, wide angle <<

[Andy]

dgrin challenge 19 is upon us. it will run from monday, august 9th at 12:01am nyc time, through monday, august 23rd at noon nyc time. the guest judge is a photographer friend of mine named penelope duns, and she knows her wide-angle shooting, let me tell you! the critiques and comments thread is working really well , so we'll continue with it. that's where you can place your images for, well, critique and comment! remember, in order for this to work, you should be commenting and critiquing for others as much as you expect to get for yourself. you've got to give to get!

the challenge 19 comments and critiques thread is right here (http://http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=23144#post23144)

challenge 19 is about "going wide."

this is an opportunity to really exercise our compositional skills, for landscapes or street scenes, architectural shots, micros/macros, candids and portraits. remember, you're not zooming with the camera to create a focal point....rather, you'll use your feet, and compose through the viewfinder, and present the viewer with a scene that is rich in detail, keeps them busy and interested, and provides usually more than just a single element. for people shots, you have many compositional choices available, and you'll be surprised at the context you can put your subjects in when you shoot wide! at shoot, and in post, you'll be further challenged with the extended dynamic range that typically faces the wide angle shooter. brush up on your exposure techniques, bracket when you can, shoot in raw, and with any camera, learn some exposure management tricks for "in-post."

here are a two examples for you:

(28 mm, photo by me)
http://www.moonriverphotography.com/photos/5644604-L.jpg

(28 mm, photo by penelope)
http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/7108939-L.jpg

here are a couple links that should be of help:

mastering wide angle, by petteri sulonin (http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/m_Mastering_Wide-Angle/m_Mastering_Wide-Angle.html)

six guidelines for better composition (http://asp.photo.free.fr/Composition/photoProgramCompMainClass.shtml)

special rules for challenge 19 - wide angle

* you must shoot at focal length of 50mm (in 35mm equivalent) or smaller. if you have any doubts about how to calculate focal length for your camera, post the question in the comments thread and/or pm me. most digicams (sony f828, f717, nikon 5700 etc) will qualify, at the wide end of the zoom range. again, if you have questions or doubt, pm me!

* there is no cropping allowed for this challenge. yep - you have to get it right at time of shoot. minor, and i do mean minor, leveling of the horizon in a shot is allowed, even if this results in you cropping off a pixel or three.

all of the other rules of the dgrin challenges apply, click here to review them (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=1338)

this thread, is the one into which you post your challenge entry, and remember, one entry per person, and the photo must be fresh, taken during the challenge period

***challenge 19 will close to entries on monday, august 23rd, 2004 at 12 noon nyc time***

enjoy (challenge) photography,

[DoctorIt]

i've worked this one quite a bit, and Harryb says, "if you like it, thats good enough" :D

18 x 1.6^DRebel = 29mm, F16, 1/13 second

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/7275592-L.jpg

[GREAPER]

http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/7304135-L.jpg

Date Taken:2004-08-14 14:49:43Make:NIKON CORPORATIONModel: NIKON D100 Size: 3008x2000 Bytes: 4340142 Aperture: f/4.0 Focal Length: 28mm (42mm 35mm) Exposure Time: 0.05s (10/200)JPEG Quality:fineExposure Program:ManualExposure Bias:-0.66666666666667ExposureMode:1DigitalZoomRatio:1/1SensingMethod:One-chip color sensorColorSpace:sRGB

[ginger_55]

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/7395456-L.jpg



Photography by ginger
18 mm 300D
Smugmug guesses the 18 mm
in this shot to be the equivalent
of 28 mm.

Charleston, SC
August 15, 2004

[cletus]

http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/7377720-L.jpg

Canon G5
ISO 50
1/15th Sec. @ f/8
7.2mm (35mm in 35mm)

[Harryb]

Nikon D100, 18-35mm lens 3.5-5.6, ISO 320, focal length 26mm (1.5 factor=39mm), f/11, 1/80 sec.

[snapapple]

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/7307378-L.jpg

Olympus C5050, focal length 7.1mm (equivalent to 35mm)
ISO 64, 1/400sec. at f4.0

[dugmar]

http://dugmar.smugmug.com/photos/7399263-L.jpg

Aperture: f/11.0 ISO: 200 Focal Length: 18mm (guess: 28mm in 35mm) Exposure Time: 0.0025s (1/400)

[Shakey]

Purple Mountain Majesty
http://shakey.smugmug.com/photos/7490147-L.jpg

Shooting Date/Time
17/08/2004
Shooting Mode
Aperture-Priority AE
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/400
Av( Aperture Value )
10
Metering Mode
Evaluative
Exposure Compensation
-1 1/3
ISO Speed
100
Lens
18.0 - 55.0mm
Focal Length
18.0mm
Image Size
3072x2048

With leveling at arbitrary .5 degrees Clockwise , image size =3059x2008 Tight as a crop as I could make.

[Mitchell]

8/15/04
18mm
F11, 1/640
ISO 400

[johnnydanger]

Shadow and a half

http://www.johnnydanger.net/dgrin/IMG_6207.jpg

8/18/04
Canon 10D
17-40mm @ 17mm (27.2mm equiv.)
f4.0
1/1000
ISO 200

[SeeMoon]

8.9 = 35mm

http://see-moon.smugmug.com/photos/7607584-L.jpg

[gubbs]

http://Gubbs.smugmug.com/photos/7245125-L.jpg

7.1mm ( equiv 28mm ) slightly cropped

[tmlphoto]

"Old Diving Board" 27mm (35mm equiv)

http://tmlphoto.smugmug.com/photos/7582936-L.jpg

[lynnma]

Zen water
IS0 200
1/100 f9.0
18.0 mm x 1.6=28.8mm


http://lynn.smugmug.com/photos/7648927-L-1.jpg

[AltPro]

"MaTT's Distraction"

http://throughthelensltd.smugmug.com/photos/7634612-L.jpg



Shutter: 1/14 Aperture: 4.0 ISO: 800 No Flash No Crop
Lighting: 2-100w Incandecent Bulbs
Focal Length: 8.90mm x 1.6 + 14.24mm

ginette

[lynnesite]

24mm (24-85 lens) uncropped or rotated, 1/45th handheld, f9.5 ISO 200, shot tonight.
http://lynnesite.smugmug.com/photos/7635628-M.jpg

[dkapp]

http://dkapp.smugmug.com/photos/7636757-L.jpg

8/15/04
Nikon D70
17-35mm f/2.8-4 lens
Focal Length 17mm x 1.5 = 25.5mm
ISO 640
1/250 sec @ f/4.5

No crop.

Thanks,
Dave

[spockling]

The Guardian
Focal Length 5.4 mm = 35 mm

[pathfinder]

Hey Sailor! 35mm x1.3 = 45mm equivalent
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/7484298-L.jpg

[ehughes]

26mm

http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/7298252-M.jpg (http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/7298252-M.jpg)

[Bryan]

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/7652131-M.jpg
Canon DRebel
18m = 29mm

[wxwax]

Ginger

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/7644438-L.jpg
16mm x 1.3 = 20.8mm

[rutt]

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/7272647-L.jpg

16mm x 1.3 = 21mm equivalent

[dugmar]

Nice work everyone. A lot of great stuff here.


Doug

[Andy]

challenge 19 is now closed. finalists and voting will be done by tonight i hope.

[Andy]

i've worked this one quite a bit, and Harryb says, "if you like it, thats good enough" :D

18 x 1.6^DRebel = 29mm, F16, 1/13 second

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/7275592-S.jpg

from andy: as soon as i saw this shot i really smiled. it's so cool to see photogs grow in such a short time, and this is an impressive photo, truly showing the effect of wide angle photography. it's really really good. i'm esp fond of the angle you chose. congrats on a fine job.

from penelope: This made me smile too I just love the perspective effect, although I think it might have been better in colour. What a great angle shot you did here. Well done!

[Andy]

http://dehmphoto.smugmug.com/photos/7304135-S.jpg

from andy: greaps - a fine job on a dslr ir shot, which technically isn't easy so i applaud you there. as far as irs go though, it didn't jump out at me. i look for more contrasty scenes and a bit more interest in the scene as a whole. there's nice interest here from a herbaceous standpoint, and i do like the grey forbiddign sky. keep up the infrared, man!

from penelope: The foliage effect is great, not sure about the composition, but the toning is wonderful, you've really got the hang of IR from a technical standpoint, very nice!

[Andy]

http://gingerSnap.smugmug.com/photos/7395456-S.jpg


from andy: ginger, i really like this photo, good eye, and good use of wide angle. i like the dark mood of the shot. i think, this would have worked best, in a landscape (horizontal) format, with you even closer to the subjects. i think there's too much empty at the top and compositionally i 'd like to see some breathing room at the bottom, too. congrats, on a nice job though, really.

from penelope: I really love this picture. The subject is interesting, there's a nice contrast between the everyday diners and the sex goddess on the wall which is enhanced by the lighting in a very subtle way, the mood is perfect and the colours are beautiful too. Maybe technically it could be improved slightly but artistically it really works for me.

[Andy]

[QUOTE=cletus]http://ab0wa.smugmug.com/photos/7377720-S.jpg

[QUOTE]

from andy: this is just a great shot. not much to say, except that it has a lot going for it - cool subject, expression, the movement, the great color, it's all come together cletus, in a fine, fine shot. congrats.

from penelope: I agree with andy, you really captured the action here, you can feel proud it's a great shot, congratulations.

[Andy]

from andy: it's funny - you shoot with a guy for over a year, several times a week sometimes, and you think you get to know his style. well this one is a fine example of great wide-angle shootery. i like also how you really nailed the exposure. you are really enjoying your retirement to florida, eh friend?

from penelope:

[Andy]

http://snapapple.smugmug.com/photos/7307378-S.jpg

Olympus C5050, focal length 7.1mm (equivalent to 35mm)
ISO 64, 1/400sec. at f4.0

from andy: this was really close to being a finalist for me, snappy. i do like the shot, it was really just edged out by the other finalists. i think if i'm to pick one thing to criticize - it's that the tree is so overwhelming in the foreground of the shot - i believe i'd prefer it if you could have stepped back 25 yards, maybe even more. all in all though, a really nice effort.

from penelope: This was on my shortlist too, I really like the tree and the overall composition, and the colours are lovely too, a beautiful photo.

[Andy]

http://dugmar.smugmug.com/photos/7399263-S.jpg

Aperture: f/11.0 ISO: 200 Focal Length: 18mm (guess: 28mm in 35mm) Exposure Time: 0.0025s (1/400)

from andy: you were almost there... i think this shot is a finalist if you could have gotten all of the tail, and perhaps something, anything, in the sky to add some more interest. good job on the exposure in a difficult situation.

from penelope:There are some lovely shapes here, but I agree with Andy that you could have had a little go at the sky. Considering the high dynamic range due to the very difficult lighting situation you've managed to come up with a result that is really not too bad, well done!

[Andy]

[color=silver]Purple Mountain Majesty
[b]http://shakey.smugmug.com/photos/7490147-S.jpg


from andy: a magnificent shot, a dramatic wall-hanger, for sure. really really really fine. i think you may still be .5 degrees off level, but that's just me. the strong rays of light are a real nice bonus here. the colors are splendid. i could have fun with this, i'd print it big, as is. then i'd also try ps-ing a silhouetted canoist or pair of canoes in the foreground :D

from penelope: This is just lovely. The colours are fantastic. I'm sure you would have no problems selling this picture it's really really beautiful.

[Andy]

8/15/04
18mm
F11, 1/640
ISO 400

from andy: a good effort at a nice wide shot. foreground interest, too. lovely as the beach scene is, it's still rather plain. a perfect shot here? a pair of lovers, walking away, hand in hand, at the surf level. hoo-boy! nice work, mitchel!

from penelope: This is very interesting, moody sky, breaking waves, where did the people go? I love it, its a very cool shot, great stuff!

[Andy]

Shadow and a half

http://www.johnnydanger.net/dgrin/IMG_6207.jpg

8/18/04
Canon 10D
17-40mm @ 17mm (27.2mm equiv.)
f4.0
1/1000
ISO 200

from andy: i really dig the concept here johnny, but the composition to my eyes is broken unfortunately. the strong black line up/down in the middle really detracted for me. though i will say it's a cool shot, you can make it better i'm certain. thanks for entering and good luck next time!

from penelope:

[Andy]

8.9 = 35mm

http://see-moon.smugmug.com/photos/7607584-S.jpg

from andy: definitely a good example of wide angle shooting! nice 1/3s composition, cool interest in the sky. i found the windmills so small that they weren't enough of a feature to make this a really compelling entry, simone. technically it's wide - compositionally it's good - subject matter to me was just a bit tiny :D keep up the good work and i just love your attitude. maybe i'll see you on one of my transatlantic flights one of these days!

from penelope:

[Andy]

http://Gubbs.smugmug.com/photos/7245125-S.jpg

7.1mm ( equiv 28mm ) slightly cropped

from andy: this is a classic gubbsian shot, i'd have known it was yours without your name on it i'm certain (that's a good thing). i like the mood, the wide d.r. and the wide effect here. i wonder why they are drinking in the middle of the day :D nice work.

from penelope:

[Andy]

"Old Diving Board" 27mm (35mm equiv)

http://tmlphoto.smugmug.com/photos/7582936-S.jpg

from andy: i know you shot wide, but this doesn't do it for me. with a five year old kid in the foreground, and you shooting a bit lower (crouched) i'd have thougth: yeah, really cool wide angle. as it is, it's a still life that, while technically fine, artistically it doesn't grab me. thanks for entering and i do appreciate your effort and work.

from penelope:

[Andy]

Zen water
IS0 200
1/100 f9.0
18.0 mm x 1.6=28.8mm


http://lynn.smugmug.com/photos/7648927-S-1.jpg

from andy: well, lynn, this one is really cool. i love the swirling foam the effect is mesmerizing for sure. i like how i'm led waaaaay into the scene, good job on the composition and on the exposure (lots of d.r.) nice work!

from penelope:

[Andy]

"MaTT's Distraction"

http://throughthelensltd.smugmug.com/photos/7634612-S.jpg



Shutter: 1/14 Aperture: 4.0 ISO: 800 No Flash No Crop
Lighting: 2-100w Incandecent Bulbs
Focal Length: 8.90mm x 1.6 + 14.24mm

ginette


from andy: nothing to complain about with this marvy portrait. you should be proud. as regards wide angle, yeah it's a wide shot, but the reason it probably didn't win is that there's nothing about the shot that says "wide angle" imo - that doesn't detract from the fact that it's a great photo btw! keep shooting and thanks for being a contributor.

from penelope:

[Andy]

24mm (24-85 lens) uncropped or rotated, 1/45th handheld, f9.5 ISO 200, shot tonight.
http://lynnesite.smugmug.com/photos/7635628-S.jpg

andy: well i liked it, and if there were to be 10 finalist you'd have been in. good foreground interest, some detail in the shadows, and nice colors. well done, lynne :D

from penelope:

[Andy]

http://dkapp.smugmug.com/photos/7636757-S.jpg

8/15/04
Nikon D70
17-35mm f/2.8-4 lens
Focal Length 17mm x 1.5 = 25.5mm
ISO 640
1/250 sec @ f/4.5

No crop.

Thanks,
Dave

from andy: i think the improvement here would have been from maybe a really low angle of shoot, like maybe with your butt on that gorgeous pacific sand. it's a fine shot, silhouette works, but i want to something more for my money :D his head is a wee bit close to the horizon imo and i know it's a nit, but it detracted compositionally for me.

from penelope:

[Andy]

The Guardian
Focal Length 5.4 mm = 35 mm

from andy: it's a cool scene, i think i'd prefer a horizontal wide angle. i think the image suffers from lack of "pop" too. here's a great thread on b&w techniques, here on the sony talk forum, check it out (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=7475823)

from penelope:

[Andy]

Hey Sailor! 35mm x1.3 = 45mm equivalent
http://pathfinder.smugmug.com/photos/7484298-S.jpg

from andy: this is a really cool mural and a good eye to find it. perfect exposure, i really think you just got edged out here. improvement? a live subject, maybe a pair of lovers smooching in silhouette...

check out this thread on street art over on the sony talk forum (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=8366174) hey maybe you could even add this one, pf, and bump that thread up again.

from penelope:

[Andy]

26mm

http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/7298252-S.jpg (http://ehughes.smugmug.com/photos/7298252-S.jpg)

from andy: nice to see you here, ed :D this is a nice, dramatic wide-angle shot. i like the birds, they add interest. compositionally the central compo doesn't do it for me, and i'd like to see a tad more exposure on the foreground rocks so that they would be more featured. a nice effort though, please keep it up!

from penelope:

[Andy]

http://gifford-family.smugmug.com/photos/7652131-S.jpg
Canon DRebel
18m = 29mm

from andy: good try - the right idea, wa definitely accentuates these palms. i need some more interest though, this shot comes off a bit flat to me. good effort, and i'm really enjoying your participationk, bryan.

from penelope:

[Andy]

Ginger

http://wxwax.smugmug.com/photos/7644438-S.jpg
16mm x 1.3 = 20.8mm


from andy: well, there's plenty of "awwwwwwwwwwww" factor in this shot. i love your night work, you found a great subject, and you made everything work in wide angle. nice nice work, sid, congratulations on the 3rd win :D

from penelope:

[Andy]

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/7272647-S.jpg

16mm x 1.3 = 21mm equivalent

from andy: well i really dig this one, john. lots going on here, definitely accentuated by wide angle. it's an image that holds my interest. nice job.

from penelope: