• Members 1649 posts
    July 4, 2023, 10:21 p.m.

    Subject: Happy Fourth of July

    For us in the US, it's a time for celebration. I began this early by going to a parade.

    Photo No. 1 - I was late for the parade, so I ran down the street towards it.
    Resized1DPR1.jpg
    Model - Canon EOS M50m2
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 400
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 20 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 2 - I could see these horses.
    Resized2DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 400
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 29 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 3 - Then this little MG zoomed by; they were throwing candy.
    Resized3DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 500
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 18 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 4 - The boys were wanting to get some.
    Resized4DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 500
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 19 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 5 - So then I walked and ran a little to catch up to the horses, by going another route...cutting through the neighborhood another way.
    Resized5DPR1.jpg
    Model - Canon EOS M50m2
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 800
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 29 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 6 - The horses were very much disciplined.
    Resized6DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 500
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 28 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 7 - Another....
    Resized7DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 640
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 31 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 8 - And one more.... Do you remember seeing the little pony in photo no. 2? Well here it is again.
    Resized8DPR1.jpg
    Model - Canon EOS M50m2
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 320
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 36 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 9 - And here's the same red MG.
    Resized9DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 500
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 41 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 10 - Of course what followed the horses, were some pooper scoopers. 😀
    Resized10DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 320
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 40 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 11 - And one more time....
    Resized11DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 400
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 38 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 12 - The rest of the parade followed, starting with these girls that would do all sorts of gymnastics. I didn't see any of them flip up in the air this time, like last year.
    Resized12DPR2.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/1250 seconds
    FNumber - 10
    ISOSpeedRatings - 800
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 55 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 13 - Again....
    Resized13DPR2.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/1250 seconds
    FNumber - 10
    ISOSpeedRatings - 800
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 55 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

    Photo No. 14 - And finally one more....
    Resized14DPR1.jpg
    ExposureTime - 1/800 seconds
    FNumber - 9
    ISOSpeedRatings - 320
    ExposureBiasValue - 0
    FocalLength - 30 mm
    Lens Model - EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

    Resized4DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 368.1 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized12DPR2.jpg

    JPG, 308.1 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized13DPR2.jpg

    JPG, 308.5 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized14DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 362.0 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized11DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 363.6 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized10DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 372.3 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized8DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 371.6 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized6DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 402.0 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized2DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 317.7 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized5DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 369.7 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized9DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 381.6 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized7DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 376.4 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized3DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 374.2 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

    Resized1DPR1.jpg

    JPG, 294.5 KB, uploaded by Digirame on July 4, 2023.

  • Members 711 posts
    July 5, 2023, 12:17 p.m.

    The last couple of years, we have been going to a town called Santa Claus.

    Santa's Toys.jpg

    This year, for the first time, they introduced drones.

    img_left tutn_0246.JPG

    img_left tutn_0242.JPG

    Gradually, they moved to traditional fireworks.

    img_left tutn_0241.JPG

    img_left tutn_0240.JPG

    img_left tutn_0237.JPG

    I took these with my cell phone, using Canon's Camera Connect while sitting in a camp chair. I;m not used to shooting fireworks, and for the majority of the shots, I was using 1/13th of a sec. That was too long, I think.

    Steve Thomas.

    img_left tutn_0237.JPG

    JPG, 114.1 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 5, 2023.

    img_left tutn_0240.JPG

    JPG, 140.3 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 5, 2023.

    img_left tutn_0241.JPG

    JPG, 95.9 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 5, 2023.

    img_left tutn_0242.JPG

    JPG, 103.4 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 5, 2023.

    img_left tutn_0246.JPG

    JPG, 123.1 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 5, 2023.

    Santa's Toys.jpg

    JPG, 358.5 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 5, 2023.

  • Members 1649 posts
    July 5, 2023, 1:27 p.m.

    Steve1.

    The pictures look good. Yes, with fireworks we have to experiment a little. I don't know if there's a right or wrong way. I suppose it's just what we might prefer.

  • Members 411 posts
    July 5, 2023, 6:47 p.m.

    Hi Steve, Thank You.

    it was the curled wings and the feet just touching the water that made me think Ballet dancer. 😁

  • Members 411 posts
    July 5, 2023, 6:56 p.m.

    Hi Digirame, Thank You.

    He was kind of coming into land on the water but hovered there, they are natural acrobats. 😀

  • Members 411 posts
    July 5, 2023, 6:59 p.m.

    Hi Digirame,

    Super shots of the parade, you captured the atmosphere, love the kids racing for the candy.

  • Members 411 posts
    July 5, 2023, 7:02 p.m.

    Hi Steve,

    Super shots of the fireworks, I think the timing/shutter speed worked well, to short a time makes the fireworks look static and less realistic.

  • Foundation 1468 posts
    July 5, 2023, 8:22 p.m.

    Today's great photos remind me of the 30 years I lived in the Midwest and conducted my orchestras at concerts on the evenings of the Fourth of July. We always ended with Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever and segued into the fireworks.

    That doesnt happen in "old Yerp"! SO... something entirely different. Though the roses peaked weeks ago, they are still on sale in the shops (grown in Africa?). And just to prove that I can handle other colors than red, here are some yellow ones. (Cue: *The Yellow Rose of Texas"!)

    IMG_6153_c-Copy.jpg

    David

    IMG_6153_c-Copy.jpg

    JPG, 907.6 KB, uploaded by davidwien on July 5, 2023.

  • Members 1649 posts
    July 5, 2023, 9:16 p.m.

    David,

    The yellow flowers look great. They are especially good with the dark background.

  • Members 31 posts
    July 5, 2023, 10:18 p.m.

    More picnic shots from the Canon EOS 1200D

    1506EOS-001.jpg

    1506EOS-030.jpg

    1506EOS-047.jpg

  • Members 1662 posts
    July 5, 2023, 10:21 p.m.

    I'm not sure what to think about digging out Santa Claus on 4th of July (regardless of the towns name) 😅, but I absolutely like your firework shots, particularly these two! 👍

  • Members 1649 posts
    July 5, 2023, 10:55 p.m.

    Merlot2004,

    I'm glad to see the photos were restored (the ones posted two days ago). I assume you wanted some feedback based on what we have talked about. These are just my opinions and not necessarily me pointing out things that are good or bad. Everyone has different viewpoints.

    In the second picture, if possible, it's better to be able to see the hands. Also there's extra space at the top, so next time you might want to crop that out or take the picture differently. In the third photo the spacing looks just about right, with space above the head and below the feet. But if possible, show all of the feet in the second and third image without cutting them off in the frame. The first photo looks good in terms of composition; but I would have included all of the leg. It's interesting how you got sandy. What caused that?

    Keep doing the great things that you are doing. 😀

  • Members 1649 posts
    July 5, 2023, 11:10 p.m.

    Merlot2004,

    Looking at the photos posted about an hour ago, it looks like you were having fun. In addition to what I previously mentioned, in the second picture, you might want to straighten the image. Now, sometimes I don't do that although, if I want to convey motion or loss of balance (like when on a boat). The last two pictures would look great if it showed you having a splashing play-fight with someone else.

    A little edit: Do you know how to straighten an image? You can use software to do that. I use a free copy of IrfanView for my photo adjustments.

  • Members 711 posts
    July 6, 2023, 8:59 p.m.

    I started a tradition a couple of years ago,

    On July 4th and again on New Years Eve, we set off a Japanese Lantern and make a wish for the coming year.

    img_left tutn_0271.JPG

    img_left tutn_0264.JPG

    Steve Thomas

    img_left tutn_0264.JPG

    JPG, 52.7 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 6, 2023.

    img_left tutn_0271.JPG

    JPG, 48.9 KB, uploaded by stevet1 on July 6, 2023.

  • Members 31 posts
    July 6, 2023, 9:44 p.m.

    Cool tradition Steve. I guess the american flag photo is the 4th July one? 😀

  • Members 711 posts
    July 6, 2023, 11:17 p.m.

    Merlot,

    Yes. I would have preferred a plain one, but they were all sold out.

    Someday, I'd like round up about 50 people and have them set theirs off all at the same time.
    I think that's the coolest thing I've ever seen.

    Steve Thomas

  • Foundation 1468 posts
    July 7, 2023, 9:34 a.m.

    With some diffidence I present a final couple of yellow rose photos. The previous one had a greenish color cast on the flowers. I am not sure whether that was due to the light source or reflections from the leaves. So, this time I selected a different color temperature for the LED standard light I used -- the most yellow of the three available settings. I have three monitors on my desk, that I use for displaying three documents while I edit music. Two are Acer and one is Dell. I have tried to match the three but they do have different brightnesses and I do not have the gear needed to calibrate them scientifically. Consequently, I never mess around with color balance in post processing of my raw files.

    There are two other problems that I encountered in photographing the roses:

    1. Selection of lens focal length (85mm, 35mm or 16mm). They all do macro, but the 85mm makes larger images and doesnt need to be quite so close.

    2. Finding a perfect bloom. This was impossible.

    My object was to show the different layers of the bloom.

    Without further ado, here are two shots from last night. You are welcome to criticize and say whether you prefer one or the other.

    IMG_6166_b1.jpg

    IMG_6169_b.jpg

    David

    IMG_6166_b1.jpg

    JPG, 1.0 MB, uploaded by davidwien on July 7, 2023.

    IMG_6169_b.jpg

    JPG, 1.1 MB, uploaded by davidwien on July 7, 2023.

  • Members 1662 posts
    July 7, 2023, 10:02 a.m.

    Both look very good - excellent work! I prefer the first one, because of the lighting/better separation.