Weekly Assignment #75: Palm

[Nikolai]

This time your target is gonna really be within your reach: we're gonna take a picture of a palm. No a palm tree, or Palm Pilot - a human palm. Or palms, plural. Not a fist, either - it's should be at least semi-open.
However, there is a catch: not just any snapshot will do. I want to see your picture telling the story of the palm's owner in some way. Or of the relationship between the owners. Bottom line, it's gotta be an interesting picture to begin with. :wink Think Da Vinci, or Michelangelo, or Botticelli...:-)
One image per entry, multiple entries OK. Moderate PS. Fresh pictures only, as always.
Let's get some palms!

[spb13]

Guess I will go first.

http://spb13.smugmug.com/photos/281429973_tnfD2-L.jpg

[DonRicklin]

http://DonRicklin.smugmug.com/photos/282079058_WV7wV-M.jpg

Read my Palm. I take images!

Don

[Pexi]

http://pexi.smugmug.com/photos/282112476_X9oq4-L.jpg

[Nikolai]

Guess I will go first.

Thank you Sean!:thumb

[Nikolai]

Read my Palm. I take images!

Don
Hey Don, thank for the entry!
I feels a bit soft/oof, though :dunno And the writstwatch draws attention aways from the main subject...

How do you like your Zigview-R? Worth the price?

[Nikolai]

palm
I love this! :thumb Very clean shot, nice treatment!

[DonRicklin]

Hey Don, thank for the entry!
I feels a bit soft/oof, though :dunno And the writstwatch draws attention aways from the main subject...

How do you like your Zigview-R? Worth the price?I was just playing around. I need to retrieve my stand from the car and try again. I love the Zigview for vertical Straight down shots for work and candid street scene shooting.

Don

[Bayer-Z28]

Yeah! My first assignment with my new camera!!! :ivar

Anyway.. I've always had a fascination with anything mechanical..

My lens is a bit too big.. I can't do a 2.5f... 3.5f is all I can go.. Made this difficult, but CS3 helped.



http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/7643/dsc0012psjs1.jpg

[DonRicklin]

Nikolai, Re-crop and sharpen:

http://DonRicklin.smugmug.com/photos/282355430_wcyK6-M.jpg

Don

[Nikolai]

Yeah! My first assignment with my new camera!!! :ivar
Anyway.. I've always had a fascination with anything mechanical..
My lens is a bit too big.. I can't do a 2.5f... 3.5f is all I can go.. Made this difficult, but CS3 helped.

Thank you!:thumb

[Nikolai]

Nikolai, Re-crop and sharpen:
Don
Don, thank you!

I see a trend developing (a thing on a palm) and I must say I really don't like it. :deal
As I said in the lead post, this class is
1) about the palm itself
2) about telling a story with it
I also think I mentioned something about overall picture quality.

I'm not gonna point any fingers here, but thus far only Pexi's entry would really made me stop and think about it. :dunno

Come on guys, I'm sure you all can photograph something you see hundred times a day better...

[Antonio Correia]

http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/photos/282938876_KNPMh-M.jpg . http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/photos/282958107_NKnAs-M-0.jpg

[cmr164]

Hopefully a decrease in saturation and a light glass filter are not beyond the bounds of "moderate PS".

[Nikolai]

Hopefully a decrease in saturation and a light glass filter are not beyond the bounds of "moderate PS".
Charles,
thank you!
PS amount is fine, but the image is very dark and there is no story :dunno

[DonRicklin]

Charles,
thank you!
PS amount is fine, but the image is very dark and there is no story :dunno'Out of my face, Paparazzi!'
comes to mind. If the hand had a humungous ring on it , might read more that way.

Don

[B Rock]

I may join this one! I think I may have an idea that fits into a story and whatnot.

[cmr164]

Charles,
thank you!
PS amount is fine, but the image is very dark and there is no story :dunno
Hmmm.... I'll stand by the "very dark" and by the story told. There is a title and a photo. I started to add verbiage here.... but I guess I'll let the story stand on its own.

For what it is worth, I think your assignment is very tough in terms of having the palm tell a story. I understand your comment about seeing things on palms, but I also undestand why folks needed those props to add a bit of story.

[Nikolai]

'Out of my face, Paparazzi!'
comes to mind. If the hand had a humungous ring on it , night read more that way.

Don
:agree, but I'm not the author :wink

[silversx80]

Well, I guess I'll give the fresh assignment a try. I hope this one counts. Only PP is color, crop and contrast
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2435407344_1a9a72ef6d_b.jpg

[Cason]

http://www.restorethepast.com/photos/283618968_XAYoo-L.jpg

[Nikolai]

Well, I guess I'll give the fresh assignment a try. I hope this first one counts. The second one is a bit cliche but is my backup since I know it works for the assignment. Only PP is color, crop and contrast on the first. PP on the second is B&W, contrast and crop.

Since you're new here.. :wink
Please, read the lead post carefully.
It usually contains some important rules. :deal
In particular: "One entry per post".

[Nikolai]

pills
Great entry, I love this! :clap
Nice treatment, too! Looks like a film scan :thumb

[cmr164]

Great entry, I love this! :clap
Nice treatment, too! Looks like a film scan :thumb

I like this one too! Good story.

[silversx80]

Since you're new here.. :wink
Please, read the lead post carefully.
It usually contains some important rules. :deal
In particular: "One entry per post".

I was never too good at following the rules (I guess I'm the dunce of the class :D ). I went back and fixed my post.

Edit: OK, now I think I understand a little better, maybe :scratch . Staying with the one entry per post, lemme give this one a try again:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2210/2434590695_979fceb7ce.jpg

I know there is something on the palm but is this closer to what you're looking for or do I need to try again?

[Nikolai]

Well, I guess I'll give the fresh assignment a try. I hope this one counts. Only PP is color, crop and contrast

Thank you for splitting the post! :-)
I like the idea. Technically you're in. :thumb

However - on a very neatpicking level - I don't buy this one. :dunno I am a cyclist myself, and this is a very unnatural position for the hand to be on a bar. I'm not even talking about the fact that IRL you'd probably be wearing gloves :wink I still think this idea has potential, maybe reshooting it with the "white knuckles" on the breaks or something...:scratch Also it will let the primary subject (the palm) fill the frame more, which it doesn't now ...:rolleyes
HTH

[silversx80]

Thank you for splitting the post! :-)
I like the idea. Technically you're in. :thumb

However - on a very neatpicking level - I don't buy this one. :dunno I am a cyclist myself, and this is a very unnatural position for the hand to be on a bar. I'm not even talking about the fact that IRL you'd probably be wearing gloves :wink I still think this idea has potential, maybe reshooting it with the "white knuckles" on the breaks or something...:scratch Also it will let the primary subject (the palm) fill the frame more, which it doesn't now ...:rolleyes
HTH

Thanks, I'll try again. Sometimes I actually ride like this but you're right, looks unnatural and I wear gloves most of the time. If the weather holds out today I'll get a chance. If not, I'm going on a long ride tomorrow :wink

[Nikolai]

I was never too good at following the rules (I guess I'm the dunce of the class :D ). I went back and fixed my post.

Edit: OK, now I think I understand a little better, maybe :scratch . Staying with the one entry per post, lemme give this one a try again:

I know there is something on the palm but is this closer to what you're looking for or do I need to try again?

Thank you! Nice idea again! :thumb
Light is a bit harsh to my taste and part of the image looks blown out, though...:rolleyes

[silversx80]

Thank you! Nice idea again! :thumb
Light is a bit harsh to my taste and part of the image looks blown out, though...:rolleyes

OK, I see what you're talking about. I think I upped the contrast too much in the B&W conversion. The pic was taken with a low Watt flood, 1.3s exposure. I'll have to get the original and look at it again when I get home from work; it might be an easy fix.

[Antonio Correia]

http://antoniocorreia.smugmug.com/photos/284042913_bxzTu-M.jpg


Canon G9

[Nikolai]

Don't take my picture
Canon G9
Antonio, I like this one a lot!
Solid idea, clearly expressed!:thumb

[spb13]

The young artist.

http://spb13.smugmug.com/photos/284185306_VfioM-L.jpg

[JAG]

http://JAGCreations.smugmug.com/photos/284262727_HnvKz-L.jpg

[JAG]

http://JAGCreations.smugmug.com/photos/284262787_asiba-L.jpg

[JAG]

http://JAGCreations.smugmug.com/photos/284262962_vS9TR-L.jpg

[Nikolai]

The young artist.

Very nice, thank you, great idea! :thumb

[Nikolai]

Jag,
out of the three entries (two with the bird and one with the silhouette) I think I like the first one best of all, since it's a decent shot and a nice idea.

[Dayva]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/2441973747_cab0f678a0.jpg

Is this ok?

[Nikolai]

Is this ok?
It's close, but...
Let me ask you in return: is this something you may consider putting on your wall, your desktop, submitting to any challenge or at least writing home about?

[redleash]

Here is my palm shot. I think it tells the story pretty clearly, but I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks!

Lauren

[Nikolai]

Here is my palm shot. I think it tells the story pretty clearly, but I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks!

Lauren
Hi Lauren,
thank you for your entry!:thumb

To my utter dismay all I see a built-in-flash-aided snapshot of a icescream scooper and a few fingers holding it. :dunno
If you re-read the lead post, you'll see the bar is set a bit higher than this. :deal
There are also a few very nice entries to this very thread so you can check yours against them.
HTH

[eL eSs Vee]

Preparing for Tomorrow's Final Exam.

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

Does this one pass or fail? :D

[Nikolai]

Preparing for Tomorrow's Final Exam.

Does this one pass or fail? :D

Pass :-)
Thank you! :thumb
Lighting is a bit bland to my taste, but it mimics the class room settings, so..:wink

[redleash]

Hi Lauren,
thank you for your entry!:thumb

To my utter dismay all I see a built-in-flash-aided snapshot of a icescream scooper and a few fingers holding it. :dunno
If you re-read the lead post, you'll see the bar is set a bit higher than this. :deal
There are also a few very nice entries to this very thread so you can check yours against them.
HTH

Thanks for the critique. It's my first "assignment" and I blew it......:rolleyes. I'll give it another shot or try another topic. I'm always ready to learn! Thanks again--

[DaddyO]

http://www.quick-silver.net/pictures/Palm_1855.jpg

[Nikolai]

Rusted bolts
Thank you.
Even though this shot follows the dreaded trend of "thing on a palm" rather than showcasing a palm itself, at least I can see some story. :thumb
Yet it doesn't make the light any less harsh :wink

[DaddyO]

Ack! Phfft! Thptpth!

:doh What... me buck a trend? :D

[DaddyO]

Don't make me come down there... I've got my game on.

http://www.quick-silver.net/pictures/Palm_2_2064.jpg

[Nikolai]

Don't make me come down there... I've got my game on.

Much better! :thumb
I still don't know which subject is a primary one here, though:-) :wink

[DaddyO]

Much better! :thumb
I still don't know which subject is a primary one here, though:-) :wink

Ooppppss..... :scratch

http://www.quick-silver.net/pictures/Palm_3_2064.jpg

[Nikolai]

Ooppppss..... :scratch

LOl, and now we lost the story (except the guy's married) :wink

[DaddyO]

LOl, and now we lost the story (except the guy's married) :wink
Glad you found the humor in that as I figured you would. :roflWas just
spanking you... :whipI'm tired of sitting in the back of the classroom
for being off target. I was pleased with the prior effort and wanted to glow it
more for effect but you mentioned minimals so slacked off.

Thing is I want to say thank you for pushing like you do. I wouldn't be getting
some things I am if you weren't. Really appreciate all that your putting in
on all levels. Way cool. Plus, plus... :thumb

[Nikolai]

Glad you found the humor in that as I figured you would. :roflWas just
spanking you... :whipI'm tired of sitting in the back of the classroom
for being off target. I was pleased with the prior effort and wanted to glow it
more for effect but you mentioned minimals so slacked off.

Thing is I want to say thank you for pushing like you do. I wouldn't be getting
some things I am if you weren't. Really appreciate all that your putting in
on all levels. Way cool. Plus, plus... :thumb

We mean to please :-) :wink :thumb

[darkdragon]

This is a shot of my hand (palm) and my cute little pet Pleo named "Xander". You can Google "Pleo" or got www.pleoworld.com for more info on what a Pleo is. :D



http://darkdragon.smugmug.com/photos/288447069_QEnQQ-L-1.jpg

[Nikolai]

This is a shot of my hand (palm) and my cute little pet Pleo named "Xander". You can Google "Pleo" or got www.pleoworld.com (http://www.pleoworld.com) for more info on what a Pleo is. :D

I guess it does tell a story about you since you have a "dragon" in your nickname :wink

[Shima]

Freshly cut grass:
http://photos.cathoffman.com/photos/290560080_92QWC-M.jpg

Not the worlds most artistic shot, but I like it anyway. ::shrugs::

I was actually just outside running around with the dogs testing out my shiny 40D I got yesterday then remembered there was the palm assignment not that long ago, so I grabbed some grass (my husband had just finished mowing) and snapped this real quick.

f4.0
1/250
ISO 400

[Nikolai]

Freshly cut grass:

Not the worlds most artistic shot, but I like it anyway. ::shrugs::

I was actually just outside running around with the dogs testing out my shiny 40D I got yesterday then remembered there was the palm assignment not that long ago, so I grabbed some grass (my husband had just finished mowing) and snapped this real quick.

f4.0
1/250
ISO 400

Congrats on the 40D! :clap
As to the shot - it shows mostly grass and only a little bit of palm. Grass is your hero, not the palm...:dunno

[sanaka]

Hey, Nikolai! Here's my try:

http://sanaka.smugmug.com/photos/291761068_ybhyv-XL.jpg

EXIF (http://sanaka.smugmug.com/photos/newexif.mg?ImageID=291761068&ImageKey=ybhyv)

I had no idea my palm was all splotchy like this... eew.

EDIT: To move second image to separate entry. :doh Sorry Nikolai.

Peace,
Sanaka

[Nikolai]

Hey, Nikolai! Here's my try:
Peace,
Sanaka

"..one image per entry..." :deal
Make up your mind, man:-) :wink

[sanaka]

Here's the non-BW worked version for reference. I prefer the BW, but I 'd be interested what anyone else thinks (or if this image is worth even thinking much about).

http://sanaka.smugmug.com/photos/291760910_sbfX9-M.jpg

Peace,
Sanaka

[Nikolai]

Here's the non-BW worked version for reference. I prefer the BW, but I 'd be interested what anyone else thinks (or if this image is worth even thinking much about).

Peace,
Sanaka
Oh, so this is a lead guitar? I thought it's some sort of bow-type instrument. :scratch

Well, to be honest, this image doesn't strike me as a palm-oriented. The instrument, the pam and background all draw almost equal shares of my attention. Also the hand looks artificially posed. I would much rather prefer to see the hand in some stretched out bar/chord position.

Anyway, thanks for the effort! :thumb

[DaddyO]

Here's the non-BW worked version for reference. I prefer the BW, but I 'd be interested what anyone else thinks (or if this image is worth even thinking much about).
Peace,
Sanaka

Its worth thinking about. This image is really nice. Like the matt background
you used also. :thumb I like the image in color.

You might also get a photo with the strings showing. Just to
see if that is more worthy yet. My two cents. :D Michael

[sanaka]

Nikolai said, in part:
..see the hand in some stretched out bar/chord position.
Yes, that could make a good hand shot, but would be basically impossible to get a good palm perspective on.

Yes, this is posed, but is also how I would actually grab the guitar to pick it up - right under the head. Even the pick between two fingers is real, if my right hand is holding coffee or something :-) Certainly a better photographer would better convey the "moment of grasping" I was trying for.

I have a little problem with this assignment in that you "...want to see your picture telling the story of the palm's owner in some way..." yet I don't see an empty palm by itself being able to tell much story. I agree that the "something in the palm" theme was missing the point. So that kind of leaves the context around the palm to really tell the story, doesn't it?


DaddyO - thanks for the encouragement :D I was trying to invent a "front of guitar/while playing" shot, but again could only come up with back-of-hand images; palm is concealed by grasping the neck... at least as far as I'm able to think it out :scratch


Peace,
Sanaka

[OffTopic]

Running a little behind on my commitment to keep up with these assignments, so I'm trying to play catch up (you're really making us think lately Nikolai! :rofl)

http://www.careyphoto.com/photos/305922149_ixewc-M.jpg

ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/60 and a SoCal June Gloom softbox (you get that, right Nikolai? :wink)

I used my 24-70 at 27mm; not my first choice...but I was limited by the length of my arm. :rofl

[Nikolai]

Running a little behind on my commitment to keep up with these assignments, so I'm trying to play catch up (you're really making us think lately Nikolai! :rofl)

ISO 100, f/2.8, 1/60 and a SoCal June Gloom softbox (you get that, right Nikolai? :wink)

I used my 24-70 at 27mm; not my first choice...but I was limited by the length of my arm. :rofl

Despite the fact I hate cigarettes this is a great image and a very nice entry!:thumb

BTW, where did you get the June Gloom? It was sunny here in LA/Ventura since May Gray was over :wink

[OffTopic]

Despite the fact I hate cigarettes this is a great image and a very nice entry!:thumb

BTW, where did you get the June Gloom? It was sunny here in LA/Ventura since May Gray was over :wink

Thanks Nikolai...yeah, I fully expected a negative response to the subject matter, but I think with photos a strong negative response is much better than no response.

I'm jealous if you have sun, I'm in SJC and less than a mile off the beach, so it's pretty thick right now and doesn't look like it's going to burn off until after noon. This time of year it frequently doesn't burn off until 3pm or so down here. :rolleyes But at least I finally figured out one good thing about it.

[Nikolai]

Thanks Nikolai...yeah, I fully expected a negative response to the subject matter, but I think with photos a strong negative response is much better than no response.
LOL
so true :-)

I'm jealous if you have sun, I'm in SJC and less than a mile off the beach, so it's pretty thick right now and doesn't look like it's going to burn off until after noon. This time of year it frequently doesn't burn off until 3pm or so down here. :rolleyes But at least I finally figured out one good thing about it.
My you're down South :-) At least it means you still have the same weather pattern, ours changed few years ago.
And yes, overcast is awesome for the outdoor portraiture, so enjoy it while it lasts :-) We seem to be back to our trademark featurless clear blue sky for the rest of this year...