Weekly Assignment #63: Paper

[Nikolai]

Welcome to the new Year 2008! :clap
The winter break is finally over and our Academy is back in full swing.

Our very first subject of this school year is gonna be paper. :wink

Try to find an interested way to present it.
It can be the texture of the heavy gauge artistic paper, or a translucency of the parchment, or a gentle curve of a half-turned page...
Fresh pictures, moderate post-processing only.
Let's get your papers started! :thumb

[weronika]

Wow, I love this assignment idea! We'll see how long I manage to stick around...

Here's a first try on "paper".

I hope my photo attachment actually worked...

[Nikolai]

Wow, I love this assignment idea! We'll see how long I manage to stick around...
Here's a first try on "paper".
I hope my photo attachment actually worked...
Weronika, thank you, nice entry!:thumb

[captain78]

http://captain78.smugmug.com/photos/241499267-M.jpg

[Nikolai]

shredded paper and paper on a table
Captain, welcome to the Class!
I like the shredded version, interesting take. :thumb It would be even better if the crop was tighter, methinks.
The second one leaves me cold. While there is some paper in the frme, it does not act as a primary subject IMHO. :dunno

[captain78]

How's this look with the tighter crop?
http://captain78.smugmug.com/photos/241498859-M-1.jpg

[Nikolai]

How's this look with the tighter crop?

Better :thumb , but I now think I would simply fill the whole frame with it. It would give you more dynamic range on paper only, so you don't have to adjust for the black b/g.
Oh, and btw, please don't delete/modify your original entries, simply make a new one. Otherwise it kinda ruins the logic of the thread, since there is no sense in what's being discussed. :deal

[captain78]

Thanks for your comments....Sorry about deleting the first one.

[captain78]

http://captain78.smugmug.com/photos/241854341-M-1.jpg

[Nikolai]

cropped
Yeah, I think this is about as much as you want to go "in" without reshooting :wink

[Antonio Correia]

This is more like "In the kingdom of paper" type :D

http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/photos/241895350-M.jpg (http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/gallery/1587711#241895350-A-LB)

[Nikolai]

This is more like "In the kingdom of paper" type :D

All I see is plastic binders :-( :dunno

[Antonio Correia]

All I see is plastic binders :-( :dunno

Sorry but those are paper binders !

[Nikolai]

Sorry but those are paper binders !
aaaaaahhhhh. ooookaaay.... paper... yeah...thanks!:thumb

[Antonio Correia]

aaaaaahhhhh. ooookaaay.... paper... yeah...thanks!:thumb

I am serious Nikolai.

I just showed what you wrote to my wife and she said that you have never seen these kind of files, so you may think it is plastic but it is not.

Anyway: If it was not paper I would not post it ! :wink

I will try something that is not so dubious.

:thumb

[Nikolai]

I am serious Nikolai.

I just showed what you wrote to my wife and she said that you have never seen these kind of files, so you may think it is plastic but it is not.

Anyway: If it was not paper I would not post it ! :wink

I will try something that is not so dubious.

:thumb
I believe you. It's a carton/think paper folders/binders. I vaguely remember similar things from USSR.:deal

[MooreDriven]

Two entries.......
http://MooreDriven.smugmug.com/photos/241926649-M.jpg
:rofl
:rofl

Sorry, a bit more serious this time.....
http://MooreDriven.smugmug.com/photos/241926671-M.jpg

[Nikolai]

Two entries.......
Sorry, a bit more serious this time.....

2d one is nice, thank you!:thumb

[MooreDriven]

2d one is nice, thank you!:thumb

I had planned to do a shredded paper version, but Captain78 beat me too it!

I couldn't help myself with the first one. My daughter thought it was funny, so it got posted. Sorry, did not intend for it to be tacky! No pun intended.:D

[OffTopic]

OK Nikolai, I made a commitment to myself that I would stop just lurking in Weekly Assignment and start showing my regular attendance by posting. :D
If I play with this one any longer I'll never get around to posting.

I decided to try side-lighting to emphasize texture (well, it was side-lighting until I rotated the photos :rofl), hand-made paper with botanical stuff. Turned out to be a lot tougher to light then I thought it would be - started out trying with a strobe set up to light directly across the paper, but the shadows were just too harsh for this delicate paper no matter what I tried. Ended up using late afternoon sunlight coming in through a window.

http://www.careyphoto.com/photos/242245467-M.jpg

Exif here (http://www.careyphoto.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=242245467)

http://www.careyphoto.com/photos/242245033-M.jpg

Exif here (http://www.careyphoto.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=242245033)

If nothing else it got me playing with my lights for a few hours (and deciding I need a softbox). :nod

[Azzaro]

Nikolai........Does this work.....they are drawings from my sketch book...AZZARO:scratch:scratch

http://Azzaro.smugmug.com/photos/242255881-L.jpg

[Nikolai]

Nikolai........Does this work.....they are drawings from my sketch book...AZZARO:scratch:scratch

It does, thank you!
Nice entry, and very cool sketches!:thumb

[Nikolai]

OK Nikolai, I made a commitment to myself that I would stop just lurking in Weekly Assignment and start showing my regular attendance by posting. :D
If I play with this one any longer I'll never get around to posting.

I decided to try side-lighting to emphasize texture (well, it was side-lighting until I rotated the photos :rofl), hand-made paper with botanical stuff. Turned out to be a lot tougher to light then I thought it would be - started out trying with a strobe set up to light directly across the paper, but the shadows were just too harsh for this delicate paper no matter what I tried. Ended up using late afternoon sunlight coming in through a window.



Exif here (http://www.careyphoto.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=242245467)



Exif here (http://www.careyphoto.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=242245033)

If nothing else it got me playing with my lights for a few hours (and deciding I need a softbox). :nod

Lori, thank you!
Very interesting!:thumb

[MooreDriven]

Nikolai........Does this work.....they are drawings from my sketch book...AZZARO:scratch:scratch

http://Azzaro.smugmug.com/photos/242255881-L.jpg
Nice sketches!! It might be interesting in B&W, and posssibly some noise added. I've always been envious of anyone you can hand draw.

Dale

[Azzaro]

Nice sketches!! It might be interesting in B&W, and posssibly some noise added. I've always been envious of anyone you can hand draw.

Dale
Thanks for commenting......I will give adding noise a try.......learning to draw is a never ending process.....but then so is learning photography. AZZARO

[douglas]

Turning Pages

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/242754621-L.jpg

[Nikolai]

Turning Pages

What a comeback! Great entry, thanks, Dougals!:thumb

[douglas]

What a comeback! Great entry, thanks, Dougals!:thumb

Thanks alot Nik, enjoyed taking shot very much, and nice to be back.

[Antonio Correia]

http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/photos/242865042-M.jpg

[Nikolai]

something
I have no idea what it is, but I'm gonna assume it's made of paper.
I looks cool anyway, thanks for the entry! :thumb

[goonie]

First I would like to say how cool "Assignment" thread is

Second, I'm a total neophyte in the photography world. This is my first photo entry, actually my first post:dunno

http://goonie.smugmug.com/photos/243123036-M.jpg

[Nikolai]

First I would like to say how cool "Assignment" thread is

Second, I'm a total neophyte in the photography world. This is my first photo entry, actually my first post:dunno


Welcome to Dgrin and to the Class!:thumb
Thank for your entry!

[weronika]

A new paperback book in hard sunlight:

[weronika]

And a close-up... I had no idea that's what paper looked like!

[Nikolai]

And a close-up... I had no idea that's what paper looked like!
That's pretty cool, thank you!:thumb

[Jed Smith]

This isn't the most exciting but I was using the white background for other things and figured I'd try something to post here.

http://theworldtrekker.smugmug.com/photos/243771330-L.jpg

[EDIT] How about that for a little bigger? I thought it was a little small too, after I posted it... :)

[Nikolai]

This isn't the most exciting but I was using the white background for other things and figured I'd try something to post here.

Jed, thank you for your entry! :thumb
For the future references, we'll be able to appreciate your work better if you can submit slightly larger images... :wink

[doug pettway]

i just discovered the "Assigments" section yesterday.

here is my first 'entry' into this area:

it may be a stretch on the theme of paper but i call it "Paper In The Raw"



http://douglaspettway.smugmug.com/photos/243853390-S.jpg

[Nikolai]

i just discovered the "Assigments" section yesterday.
here is my first 'entry' into this area:
it may be a stretch on the theme of paper but i call it "Paper In The Raw"

Doug, welcome to the Class! :clap
And yes, it is a stretch... :wink

[doug pettway]

Doug, welcome to the Class! :clap
And yes, it is a stretch... :wink


:D i'll keep trying different things. i've got a lot to learn and 'assignments' like these give me plenty of opportunities to try things that i normally wouldnt in my day-to-day photography.

[JenGrace]

How're these?

http://flipography.smugmug.com/photos/244554999-L-1.jpg


http://flipography.smugmug.com/photos/244554890-L-1.jpg

[Nikolai]

How're these?

Jen, these are awesome, thank you, great entries! :thumb

[JenGrace]

Thanks, Nik! :clap

[Chrissiebeez_NL]

http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/246514304-L.jpg

http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/246515160-L.jpg

[Nikolai]

colorful paper

When I looked at the first one I honestly thought this is a PS trick. It took me scrolling down to the second one to realize the first one is plain real.
Great entry! :thumb

[therealboney]

http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/3118-1/Paper+010.jpg

[Nikolai]

late for class
Interesting... I would have thought it's a fabric or fabric-like material...:scratch
Thanks! :thumb

[therealboney]

Interesting... I would have thought it's a fabric or fabric-like material...:scratch
Thanks! :thumb

Registration and proof of insurance. They got washed in a jacket.

[Nikolai]

Registration and proof of insurance. They got washed in a jacket.
Nice... Sorry about that.

[Chrissiebeez_NL]

http://www.beachbus.net/photos/d/3118-1/Paper+010.jpg

hey very nice! like the red on the almost B&W, very striking! :thumb

[Dayva]

Ok, I'm going start participating in the assignments to hope I get better. Here's my first one.

Shredded
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2321/2216233904_269b46636d.jpg?v=0

[Chrissiebeez_NL]

interesting take, like the OOF letters contrasting the letters in focus. maybe a striking piece of information on the piece in focus like
"frontman Fr.."
"Assasinated.."
"this remains a"
"victim .."

or something, just an idea.. :rolleyes

[kejago]

I am not too happy about the sharpness, but that asside, how could I improve this pic? My submission:

http://kejago.smugmug.com/photos/246839470-XL.jpg

[kejago]

Looking at it posted like this, it looks too cluttered. Mmm... :scratch

[Chrissiebeez_NL]

hope you dont mind but i cropped your shot for the suggestion.

is this an idea?

http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/246869589-L-0.jpg

[darkdragon]

Looking at it posted like this, it looks too cluttered. Mmm... :scratch

yes, I agree. I think to improve the photo there are two things you could do
1) use fill flash to help get it sharper
2) focus on just one rack of 3 paper and use a some DOF tricks to put some of it out of focus with the other parts in very sharp focus.

[doug pettway]

here's another entry for this assignment. it's more in-line with the theme than my previous entry.

http://douglaspettway.smugmug.com/photos/246930176-M.jpg

[Pilznr]

http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/photos/242865042-M.jpg
I don't think you ever said what this was, but I'd like to take a guess if I can... Is it the byproduct of different paper hole punches?

I'm new to this thread, and I plan on submitting something tonight, unless it's too late.

[Antonio Correia]

I don't think you ever said what this was, but I'd like to take a guess if I can... Is it the byproduct of different paper hole punches?

I'm new to this thread, and I plan on submitting something tonight, unless it's too late.

Pilznr, good evening. :D

You are right. Indeed this is the byproduct of different paper holes punches.:wink

I got them in my job from a machines which does the holes in many pages at the same time. It punctures the paper, if I may say so.:D

Good guess ! :D:thumb

[Nikolai]

Ok, I'm going start participating in the assignments to hope I get better. Here's my first one.
Shredded

Dayva,
welcome to the Class :clap and thank you for the entry!:thumb

[Nikolai]

I am not too happy about the sharpness, but that asside, how could I improve this pic? My submission:

Kejago,
welcome to the Class :clap
Thanks for your entry!:thumb
I think Chris's crop suits it better. But if you really want to make something out of it, I suggest reshooting or checking this class (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=59404), since "as is" it feels kinda bland... :dunno

[Nikolai]

here's another entry for this assignment. it's more in-line with the theme than my previous entry.

Thanks, Doug! :thumb
For some reason the top edge bothers me, I think it would look better cropped out. :scratch

[kejago]

Kejago,
welcome to the Class :clap
Thanks for your entry!:thumb
I think Chris's crop suits it better. But if you really want to make something out of it, I suggest reshooting or checking this class (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=59404), since "as is" it feels kinda bland... :dunno

That bad, huh? :rofl (Save your worse shot) :D

I like Chris's crop too. Thanks, Chris... I can see the difference it makes to the photo. :thumb

I'll re-shoot for this one... I want to come up with something that is not bland, or cluttered, but still captures my original idea in some way.

Stored in my memory bank. I'll never look at a newspaper stand again in the same way, I'll always wonder how to photograph it. :scratch :D

[Chrissiebeez_NL]

haha you should enter it :rofl

it is my experience i make the best photos when either im forced to look for things or when im very enthousiastic. thats the beauty of participating in these assignments and i'm looking forward to your reshoot! :bread

[doug pettway]

Thanks, Doug! :thumb
For some reason the top edge bothers me, I think it would look better cropped out. :scratch

the top edge of the photo or the top edge of the paper in the front? i recognize that there is an odd angularity to the whole photo though. :)

[Pilznr]

#1
http://pilznr.smugmug.com/photos/247134659-M.jpg

#2
http://pilznr.smugmug.com/photos/247134641-M-0.jpg

#3
http://pilznr.smugmug.com/photos/247140240-M.jpg

Here's my paper. I think I prefer #1 Better. These are not edited, except for 3 which was cropped a little. FYI: #1&2 are coffee filters.

[Nikolai]

That bad, huh? :rofl (Save your worse shot) :D

I like Chris's crop too. Thanks, Chris... I can see the difference it makes to the photo. :thumb

I'll re-shoot for this one... I want to come up with something that is not bland, or cluttered, but still captures my original idea in some way.

Stored in my memory bank. I'll never look at a newspaper stand again in the same way, I'll always wonder how to photograph it. :scratch :D
WTG, Kevin, that's the attitude! :thumb :clap

[Nikolai]

the top edge of the photo or the top edge of the paper in the front? i recognize that there is an odd angularity to the whole photo though. :)
The second one :-)

[Nikolai]

#1
#2
#3
Here's my paper. I think I prefer #1 Better. These are not edited, except for 3 which was cropped a little. FYI: #1&2 are coffee filters.
Very nice! :thumb I like #1 (better light than #2), and #3 (multidimensional meaning) :clap

[tamplum]

I have been working on this assignment, is it too late to submit an entry? I see moved on to chess and knives in meantime. :huh

[stirfry]

I have been working on this assignment, is it too late to submit an entry? I see moved on to chess and knives in meantime. :huh

It's never too late :D just so long as your shots are "fresh" you can participate in any lesson, past or present.

Let's see your entry!

[Nikolai]

I have been working on this assignment, is it too late to submit an entry? I see moved on to chess and knives in meantime. :huh
What strirfry said... It's never too late as long as the image is fresh (i.e. shot with the assignment in mind, not picked up from some archive).
But I do recommend to start with the most current one, and only then begin playing catchup...

[dchris]

I'm another late comer to this assignment - actually I shot this two works ago for this assignment but had to go out of town and finally converted it tonight from RAW. This is my first posts to the assignments and I hope to contribute throughout the year.

This is a music roll from a ~1930's player piano.

-Chris

http://taylo.smugmug.com/photos/249877062-M.jpg

[Nikolai]

I'm another late comer to this assignment - actually I shot this two works ago for this assignment but had to go out of town and finally converted it tonight from RAW. This is my first posts to the assignments and I hope to contribute throughout the year.

This is a music roll from a ~1930's player piano.

-Chris


Chris,
welcome to the Class :clap and thank you for the entry! :thumb
Very interesting piece of history you got there!

[spb13]

Here is my take on this assignment.

http://spb13.smugmug.com/photos/252284192_aZWoB-M.jpg (http://spb13.smugmug.com/gallery/3719475_8CGsG/1/252284192_aZWoB/Large)

[Nikolai]

Here is my take on this assignment.

Good entry, Sean, thank you! :thumb

[Slinky0390]

http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/246514304-L.jpg

http://chris-en-hils.smugmug.com/photos/246515160-L.jpg


I am in love with the first shot. I know its a little late to start this assignment, but Im lacking places to go out and shoot since its so damn cold out right now, and I was thinking of shooting colored paper like you did but I guess you beat me to it.. Oh well, back to my bag of ideas. Ill try to have something posted later today.

[Slinky0390]

Heres my submission... "Living in a World of Rejects"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2206/2278408486_8acf7ee8b0_b.jpg

[Nikolai]

Heres my submission... "Living in a World of Rejects"

Nice angle, interesting lighting, good entry!:thumb

[Slinky0390]

Nice angle, interesting lighting, good entry!:thumb
thanks!

[eL eSs Vee]

At work (again). Point-and-shoot (again), resting camera on edge of box, under flourescent, daylight balance.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/DSCN2432copy.jpg

[Nikolai]

At work (again). Point-and-shoot (again), resting camera on edge of box, under flourescent, daylight balance.

Thanks, Lee, nice compo. :thumb
I'd fix the graypoint in PS (WB issue), but that's just me :wink

[eL eSs Vee]

I rather like the green cast, but here's one I adjusted a little for you, Nikolai. Just a little. :D

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb171/MrNewportCustom/DSCN2432copy2.jpg

[eL eSs Vee]

On second thought, the adjusted one does look better. Thanks for the tip, Nikolai. :thumb

[Nikolai]

On second thought, the adjusted one does look better. Thanks for the tip, Nikolai. :thumb
Lee,
I also think it looks better.
Very few things look nice as is under office lighting (vampires, maybe) :wink

[eL eSs Vee]

Lee,
I also think it looks better.
Very few things look nice as is under office lighting (vampires, maybe) :wink

Warehouse lighting, actually. :D Good call. Thanks for the nudge.

[JayMitch]

http://JayMitch.smugmug.com/photos/276929782_sTTXd-XL.jpg

Here is my submission.

Happy April, fellow US taxpayers!

--Jay

[Nikolai]

Here is my submission.
Happy April, fellow US taxpayers!
--Jay
LOL
Thanks for the entry! :thumb

[B Rock]

First Assignment entry in hopefully many to come. Worked on focusing on "The Dallas Morning News" as sort of a company spotlight per say.

http://b-rock.smugmug.com/photos/283566882_m8ZMK-XL-0.jpg

EXIF (http://b-rock.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=283566882&ImageKey=m8ZMK)

[Nikolai]

First Assignment entry in hopefully many to come. Worked on focusing on "The Dallas Morning News" as sort of a company spotlight per say.
EXIF (http://b-rock.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=283566882&ImageKey=m8ZMK)
Welcome to the Class! :clap
Thank you, nice entry, I like both the concept and the execution! :thumb