FM WA -- Our big chance!

[rutt]

This week's Fred Miranda weekly assignment is "Cars". I think this should be a very strong topic for many dgrinners, especially some of the founders.

OK, we're doing great with KPOTD. But to my knnowledge (correct me if I'm wrong) we have yet to crack these FM contests (Andy told me he was once got 2nd place in a Monthly Assignment.)

So let's go out there and win one for dgrin!

[Andy]

This week's Fred Miranda weekly assignment is "Cars". I think this should be a very strong topic for many dgrinners, especially some of the founders.

OK, we're doing great with KPOTD. But to my knnowledge (correct me if I'm wrong) we have yet to crack these FM contests (Andy told me he was once got 2nd place in a Monthly Assignment.)

So let's go out there and win one for dgrin!

yep - i remember that vividly :D and my prize? an fm action - so second place was pretty cool, becuase the first place prize in the ma was a hosting account on fm.com :D

go baldy!

[dkapp]

Thats a tough group there. From what I've seen in the past is studio photographers do the best. I've entered a few of my shots, and made it to the finals several times but get stomped there.

I see that site as very good studio photographers. I think the cars assignment will help level the field a bit.

Dave

[rutt]

I took a look and so far no entried from recognizable dgriners. Also so far nothing unbeatable. I know some of you motorheads have it in you. Take a look to see the current entries.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/WA

So far, I like this one, which might inspire those of us who don't live in the sunbelt.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/hosting-data//500/20029IMG_0223.jpg

Whatever you do, under no circumstances vote for this one:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/WA-MA/WA150_ST182271.jpg

The photographer is a notorious crank. He once critiqued on of my child portraits (one I liked, I might add) by saying, "if the parents don't have a camera they might like this. Shooting this kind of picture takes patience and practice, my friend."

[dkapp]

I just entered a pic in this challenge. It took me all week to find the right car, but I got it today.

Link to my thread (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/183181).

Here is the shot....

http://dkapp.smugmug.com/photos/15777872-L.jpg

Lets go dgrin! I know we can have a great showing there.

Dave

[dkapp]

Whatever you do, under no circumstances vote for this one:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/WA-MA/WA150_ST182271.jpg

The photographer is a notorious crank. He once critiqued on of my child portraits (one I liked, I might add) by saying, "if the parents don't have a camera they might like this. Shooting this kind of picture takes patience and practice, my friend."

Thanks for the tip. I just took a look at his entry & thread. He is a self proclaimed digital newbie....what a POS.

Thank god for dgrin. Otherwise I'd have no place to share my pics.

Dave

[rutt]

Thanks for the tip. I just took a look at his entry & thread. He is a self proclaimed digital newbie....what a POS.

Thank god for dgrin. Otherwise I'd have no place to share my pics.

Dave Dgrin is very comfortable, but there are a lot of really great photographers on FM and you can learn a lot (really a lot) there. This guy just happens to be a waste of precious minerials and water. Let's hope he doesn't find dgrin.

BTW, your shot is great and might just have that FM touch. I wonder whether you could recover just a little detail in the blown highlight on the steering wheel without losing the sense of blinding reflection? Just a thought. The composition is so strong that I don't think it would matter, especially not at the FM conttest size.

[dkapp]

Dgrin is very comfortable, but there are a lot of really great photographers on FM and you can learn a lot (really a lot) there. This guy just happens to be a waste of precious minerials and water. Let's hope he doesn't find dgrin.

BTW, your shot is great and might just have that FM touch. I wonder whether you could recover just a little detail in the blown highlight on the steering wheel without losing the sense of blinding reflection? Just a thought. The composition is so strong that I don't think it would matter, especially not at the FM conttest size.

Thanks rutt. I spent some time on this shot knowing I would post it to the challenge. I wanted to colors to *pop* in post. I loved the way the gold sparkled in the sun, and actually blew out the bottom part in post. It is a tad distracting, but I think it looks better blown...lol. Never thought I would say that.

Did you enter one yet? I'd like to see one of us (dgrin) do good there. Our level of tallent is amazing, and I don't think enough people know it!

Dave

[rutt]

Did you enter one yet? I'd like to see one of us (dgrin) do good there. Our level of tallent is amazing, and I don't think enough people know it!

Dave
I'd have to get pretty lucky to get a good car shot; it's not really something I've ever worked on. I have an idea that I'm going to play with tomorrow, but it's a real long shot.

[wxwax]

kappman, really nice shot, love the sparkles on the wheel, the depth, the moodiness.

You guys would really not vote for a shot you liked, because of who took it?

I must admit the quality of the winners over there is intimidating. Lots of formally lit stuff, sometimes with models, seems to win. Out of my league.

[rutt]

You guys would really not vote for a shot you liked, because of who took it?
It helps that I don't like the shot.

I must admit the quality of the winners over there is intimidating. Lots of formally lit stuff, sometimes with models, seems to win. Out of my league.
No, Sid, really I don't think so. Some of my all time favorite winners there actually remind me of yours. Like this: http://www.fredmiranda.com/fmgallery/albums/album66/1_Stripper_Diner.jpg
There was one last year that really reminded me of your work. It had a train with a conductor at night in B&W. But I couldn't find it.

And what about this: http://www.fredmiranda.com/fmgallery/albums/album73/1_alephx01_Speed.jpg
You're almost there.

Sometimes humor takes the day on FM. http://www.fredmiranda.com/fmgallery/albums/album11/Greg_Money_in_Motion.jpg

Here are the finalists from the last time they did cars:
http://www.fredmiranda.com/fmgallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album10

So don't dispair. The bar is high there, but you are plenty good enough.

[wxwax]

Good links, thanks Rutt. I guess I just remember the highly produced shots. They skeer me! :uhoh

[rutt]

Andy's toy train of a few months back inspired me. I have no chance at all with real cars, but maybe I can get something to happen with these.

Title: "He'll never by 7 again"

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/15812527-L.jpg

I'm going to play with it some more, but I'd love some feedback about this idea.

[dkapp]

Andy's toy train of a few months back inspired me. I have no chance at all with real cars, but maybe I can get something to happen with these.

Title: "He'll never by 7 again"

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/15812527-S.jpg

I'm going to play with it some more, but I'd love some feedback about this idea.

I like what you've done here. Seeing all the colorful cars lined up reminded me of the shot Andy did w/ the clay balls. Do you think you could pull some of the color out of the car & have it in the reflection?

I like the composition a lot here. Good use of negative space too. This is my favorite studio shot I've seen for the challenge so far.

Dave

[rutt]

This is fun.

What about these:

http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/15822317-L.jpg


http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/15822370-L.jpg


This last isn't exactly a car, but I think it's my favorite so far.


http://rutt.smugmug.com/photos/15822425-L.jpg

Shows one reason why I'm no good at these kind of contests. Just can't stay on theme.

[Andy]

:clap rutt nice work. the white bgs are great. if you mess with the curves and/or the lighting, you might get some colored shadows, which imo would enhance the lineup of cars ... nice exposures, too, rutt.

[ginger_55]

good gosh, I was right on the shadows, I will be...........gosh darned.

g

[rutt]

I started a separate thread here:
http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?p=60391&posted=1#post60391
I still appreciate any input, thanks.

[Andy]

good gosh, I was right on the shadows, I will be...........gosh darned.

g

http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/14326034-L.gif


http://williams.smugmug.com/photos/11746838-L.gif

[dkapp]

Just wanted to share with you all. I was selected for the finalists in the Monthly Assignment at Fred Miranda. The topic was "The Road Ahead." You can see all the finalists here (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/viewtopic.php?TopicID=183610).

So far I'm doing ok in voting. There are some great shots there, and I'm just happy to be chosen.

**EDIT**
I just took a closer look at the finalists. It looks like Shakey (http://www.dgrin.com/member.php?u=231) has also been chosen. Thats 2 out of 8 finalists for DGrin! :clap :clap :clap
********

Dave

[John Mueller]

Thats GREAT Dave.Congrats and best of luck.

[GREAPER]

Just wanted to share with you all. I was selected for the finalists in the Monthly Assignment at Fred Miranda. The topic was "The Road Ahead." You can see all the finalists here (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/viewtopic.php?TopicID=183610).

So far I'm doing ok in voting. There are some great shots there, and I'm just happy to be chosen.

**EDIT**
I just took a closer look at the finalists. It looks like Shakey (http://www.dgrin.com/member.php?u=231) has also been chosen. Thats 2 out of 8 finalists for DGrin! :clap :clap :clap
********

Dave
Man there are some nice shots there, congrats on bein in the runnin. You and Shakey both. Votes are gettin spread across the board. Tough contest. Good Luck.

[Nikolai]

Good job, man!:thumb
(You got my vote too:-)
Cheers!:1drink

[rutt]

Just wanted to share with you all. I was selected for the finalists in the Monthly Assignment at Fred Miranda. The topic was "The Road Ahead." You can see all the finalists here (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/viewtopic.php?TopicID=183610).


Dave
How cool is that?! And beautiful shot. Both yours and Shakey's actually.

[wxwax]

Just wanted to share with you all. I was selected for the finalists in the Monthly Assignment at Fred Miranda. The topic was "The Road Ahead." You can see all the finalists here (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/viewtopic.php?TopicID=183610).

So far I'm doing ok in voting. There are some great shots there, and I'm just happy to be chosen.

**EDIT**
I just took a closer look at the finalists. It looks like Shakey (http://www.dgrin.com/member.php?u=231) has also been chosen. Thats 2 out of 8 finalists for DGrin! :clap :clap :clap
********

Dave


Wow, great shot. :thumb Nice work. I see the Shakester's over there too. Some cool images - I like the foggy bridge one a lot as well.

[lynnesite]

Dave, you're seriously kicking butt (as of this moment); great image!

Shakey's too.

Lynne

[ginger_55]

kappman, really nice shot, love the sparkles on the wheel, the depth, the moodiness.

You guys would really not vote for a shot you liked, because of who took it?

I must admit the quality of the winners over there is intimidating. Lots of formally lit stuff, sometimes with models, seems to win. Out of my league.
WIN? WIN? I just want them to talk to me. That is my first goal, other than the fun of posting, if I happen to have a recent appropriate shot.

Dave is doing very well, and I think he will win. Yes, there are some great "paths" there, but Dave's is different. Would work very well in dominent color, too.

Actually, someONE did comment on one of my posts tonight. Darn seagulls............ That was one comment on one post out of about five.

So that is my goal, I guess. I just wish I could post more and more. Don't like this thing about waiting a day. I posted after midnight, so it will seem like two days.

ginger

[rutt]

WIN? WIN? I just want them to talk to me. That is my first goal, other than the fun of posting, if I happen to have a recent appropriate shot.

They will talk to you, but the bar is high. If you ask a specific question it will be answered usually very quickly. If you just want positive feedback, well, your shot better be really good.

[rutt]

Ginger, I want to expand a little on what I said about FM. I've had some posts that got lots of feedback there and it made me feel almost as good as making the dgrin finals. Lots of time I don't get any feedback. It's not really a chatty place, you need to get that from dgrin.

Here are some things that provoked a lot of responses on FM:


Getting postprocessing help with "Rutt's But" (known on FM as "The Half-Assed Shot" http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic2/117554/0#945024
An umpire question, "Was he out?" http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/182202/0
Technique question, most recently the question about how to get good pans: http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/182202/0
The accidental wedding photographer. http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic2/105753/0
How to create fake bokah in PS and make it look natural. http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic2/94590/0
All these things were in the nature of questions and tecnique discussions. If you want to find out how the pros do it, try asking on FM. Chances are you'll quickly get high quality answers.

Only a few of my posts have provoked some applause without really being questions. The watch factory with reflections. The geyser basin in Yellowstone. Some candids at sports events. It does happen.

But, remember, FM is like a big city. Nobody can keep up with all the posts there. There are almost 60,000 registered users. This monring at 9:30 there were over 800 users online, about 1/2 guests. There have been more than 1 million posts. So you do get a lot of views there. But it's not nearly so intimate as dgrin.

I love both dgrin and fm for what they each are. But it helps not to confuse them.

[TristanP]

Just wanted to share with you all. I was selected for the finalists in the Monthly Assignment at Fred Miranda. The topic was "The Road Ahead." You can see all the finalists here (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/viewtopic.php?TopicID=183610).Congrats on being selected! I have to go with Rob O's pic because he's a fellow Audi owner and I read and really enjoyed his saga on how he did the shot (plus I think the shot itself is cool, whether terribly original or not). That whole site is intimidating. I have LOTS of work to do.

[ginger_55]

Thanks, Rutt. I did get some posts on my seagulls which I called something like Heaven Above. The posts were favorable, some offering suggestions. So, I felt much better about the place. The only thing that is frustrating me now is that I can't repost on a thread for 24 hrs, or once a day. I don't know how they figure that. I posted my stuff after midnight. So does that mean not until tomorrow?

I have noticed here that specific questions do get more attention, especially if I haven't asked them a gazillion times before (levity there). And I can't keep up anymore. I have certain "commitments" I have informally made, and I do comment on that stuff with regularity and those people then comment on mine. In bird photography is one area. And I got a lot of help when I was trying to buy equipment. I got very good lenses, two, with the advice of others, many others. And I got them from people here. So people are prepared to help. But that leaves precious little time to cover everything else.

So I understand what you are saying. (I experience what you are saying, smile) But this is the first time I have felt "noticed" on FM. And this time I posted more, had more to post after the camera and lens buying with the photography spurts, etc. And I think I am better than I was, or have more good stuff.

I would like to ask you about the size requirement. I had gotten the impression awhile back that I could just transfer from Smugmug as I do here, with the large size. So I did that. And I entered something in the monthly assignment. I got a nice response with the preliminary "good photo" and the advice that I might want to check the rules as the max size was 640. I already knew that, but thought somehow it became the correct size when I transferred. (In other words, I put my head in the sand) So I immediately went around and changed everything to medium instead of large. You know M instead of L. Everything is now smaller. I think it is about 600.

How do you handle the size situation? Do you transfer from smugmug?

Also, when they say it has to be taken in the month of the contest and the closing date is March 5, are they talking about the month preceding March 5? I only saw one other entry besides mine and it is Feb 14/15. No, I don't want to ask them.

I just stick my toes in there for fun periodically with photos I have done recently whenever that is. I had fun with it last night. And was surprised to see some responses after I complained here. And more this AM. I rarely have questions or want a lot of help, but I do have a photo that I don't know which category it fits in: landscape or Nature, and I planned on using that as a question, if there is a forum for that, and I imagine there is.

Thanks for the advice, Rutt. You know we are growing here, and that advice is good for here, also.

Do you get to know a few people's names over there, people who regularly post good stuff that you would look at immediately? I know it is true here.
It looked like it was true there.

I, too, like that series of the watch factory. There is one in particular from last fall. I like the winter ones too, but you have worked on it so long, and last fall when I thought you finally nailed it, I became very fond of the photo.

I have wondered if there is any way you can expand on these passions of yours. Those watch factory photos are superb in my opinion and will withstand a test of time. You appear comfortable with it now and can continue expanding that series as the scene changes. I am sure it would be accepted for exhibit in the area, too. Name value: doors......more photography opportunities if you wanted them.

But I wondered if there was an off shoot you could pursue, or another connection to the past that you could exploit in your photography. I get such passion from you that often does not show up, but it does show up at the watch factory.

Maybe you could photograph Annie Leibowitz, smile. That would be interesting. She could do it her way with you, conveying the message she would want to show, and you could do it your way. Her photography and the presentation to the world is certainly something you are passionate about. And she is still alive, a plus right there. I see that as becoming a problem: this mortality thing and great people. They are leaving us.

ginger

[rutt]

Too many questions at once, Ginger. I'll try to answer just two that I know something about.

For FM contests, I resize manually in PS to exactly 640 pixels on the long dimension, save to a new file, upload that to my smugmug account, link to that with O for original. That way I know it's right and I know I have used every pixel they allow. And it really isn't much work.
You are a good critic, Ginger. I wish I were a better photographer and could capture more of the things I see better. The cars were just a five finger excercise, seeing if I could learn to use the studio lights a little better before I subject people to them. The things I like to shoot the most are difficult to capture: people doing things, animals. It seems like there is a long learning curve for many of those things before I start to get a few that express how I feel. The Charles River scenes are an outgrowth of my location and daily routine. Personally, I like people photography the best.

[dkapp]

Thanks everyone for your kind words. I'm pretty excited right now, but there is about a month left in the voting & lots can happen by then.

I just want to say that I don't want people voting for me just because I'm a dgrin member. I want everyone to vote for their favorite picture whatever the reasons. I don't care if I win, or come in last. Just making it this far is more than enough for me.

Thanks again!
Dave

[rutt]

Well, Dave made the finals in the WA as well and the MA. Great going, Dave!

As usual, I didn't make the finals and I understand why. They chose one toy car shot and it was so clever and original that I would have picked it as well.

Also as usual, there were shots that I liked better than mine that also didn't make the finals. But no shots made the finals that I honestly thought were not as good as mine. In other words, some really nice shots didn't make the finals so I feel OK about not making them either.

I find it really disturbing when there is a shot that I am sure will not only make the finals but that I plan on voting for and which I'm sure will win. And then it doesn't make the finals. That didn't happen this time, but has happened at least once that I remember.

Ginger, there really isn't a car shot that is also a people shot in the finals. I liked that a lot about your entry. Keep trying!

They did signs before and the winner was really clever and also beautiful. The winner's gallery is way out of date, so I don't think I can dig it up. But it involved an open ended wrench and a stop sign and great DOF. See if you can put those together.

[wxwax]

I find it really disturbing when there is a shot that I am sure will not only make the finals but that I plan on voting for and which I'm sure will win. And then it doesn't make the finals. That didn't happen this time, but has happened at least once that I remember.

Ginger, there really isn't a car shot that is also a people shot in the finals. I li


Which one? :ear

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/WA/

[ginger_55]

The toy car shot. Is that a "toy" or a first person? It is so well done I can't decide, but a first person is such a great/obvious idea after our challenge here with it. I feel like an idiot for not thinking of it, not that I was thinking of anything re that assignment at all. I never sized my photo correctly.

There were great shots in that "challenge", there are in this one here, too. And that happened to me in the last challenge here. A shot I planned on voting for didn't make the finals. Then the winner was not the one I had thought from the beginning would win. "We" are getting so good here, too. I don't get upset anymore re not being picked. Usually. I just get upset when these great shots go up............. I admire them, like them, etc. I just think, oh darn, now I wouldn't pick me either.

I am not into cars, but congrats, Dave! I did not check out the whole group so I don't know about the ones that did not make it, but the ones that did make it are very good shots.............for cars, lol.

ginger (I don't do signs, not as in religion nor as in funny, I just don't notice either one. I don't have one already anywhere, I will keep my eye out. Would rather hear from God, but doubt that, too.)

Mike had that really good one in Iraq. Maybe someone here could copy it, nah........

[rutt]

Which one? :ear

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/WA/
It was for a WA called "blue" and there was a macro shot called "Keep on Climbing The Blue Mountain" of a bug on a blue dog toy. I loved that shot.

The FM winner's gallery is way out of date or I'd point it out. I found the thread but the photo is gone now.

Anyway, the photographer uses the name "missmouse" there and she has gone on to win MAs and I always think her work is interesting. She has a way of finding a really different take on the assignments, sort of playing with the topic. Very on topic, yet very funny and playful. Do a search for her there and you'll see.

[Shakey]

Dave is going to win he deserves it.:clap :clap :clap He has taken an exceptional photo.

I believe Spockling also made it to the FM MA finals once:dunno But I cannot remember which one. Sorry Steve:scratch

Ginger.. feedback in the MA is in my experience always less then that of the WA
(weekly assignment ,monthly assignment)

Rutt, I too have seen some finalist choices that have made me think. Is it disturbing...? well not to me, its all opinion and you know what they say about opinions and As.. erm I mean arm pits:D And I believe the finalist Judges are FM and one other. Your pictures just might not have struck them.
I am positive however that you will have a contender in the near future ,you are to good a photographer not to.:thumb
Heck even a doofus like me gets lucky:photo


Cheers
Tim

PS Go for the gold Dave!

[dkapp]

Thanks guys. I was really surprised to see that I made it to the finals on the WA. The last two days there were some awesome entries in this challenge. I love the B&W of horses & sports car with dramatic sky.

I think its time to find my way to the camera shop and reward myself :D

Dave

[dkapp]

Thanks guys. I was really surprised to see that I made it to the finals on the WA. The last two days there were some awesome entries in this challenge. I love the B&W of horses & sports car with dramatic sky.

I think its time to find my way to the camera shop and reward myself :D

Dave

Well, I went to the camera shop :D

I fell in love with the Nikon 17-55 f/2.8, but the almost $1500 price tag was more than I could handle. I came across a great used one (1 week old) for a lot less. I went & picked it up yesterday!!

I'm so happy now. This is my first "professional" lens. For all you canon folk, this is better than L glass....hahaha

Everyone was getting new lenses, so I wanted to play too. Once the rain stops I'll be out in full force testing it out.

Just wanted to share.

Dave

[Andy]

awesome. and, yer leadin' in the polls!

good luck.