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Uncle Frank

Uncle Frank

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Since FCAS has a dslr division, I've decided to apply for admission using my d70. I don't have a macro lens, but hope this close-up will met the Committees lofty standards.

The specimen was "borrowed" from Aunt Nancy's James Walker Bougainvillea... when she wasn't at home. I shot it on-tripod, in open shade, and against a black fcb backdrop, which was tilted to avoid reflections.

Processing consisted of cropping, selecting the background using the magic wand at a tolerance of 33, using the black eyedropper from the levels menu to adjust the black point, slight levels adjustments, downsizing, and using a touch of the USM.



Exif data:
Model NIKON D70
Flash Used No
Focal Length 102 mm
Exposure Time 1/10 sec
Aperture f/16
ISO Equivalent
Exposure Bias -1
White Balance (9)
Metering Mode matrix (5)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Program aperture priority (3)

Since there's a conflict of interest, I'm recusing myself from this application, and asking that Dawn (thruthelens) act as liason with the Committee.

Waiting with bated breath for the response.

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Coolpix Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix
D-Seventy Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/d70
 
Frank, since committee is too busy making their own pics and the pic is so beautiful, I beaing a non-FCAS-member could not resist. You subject is amazing (seeing it for the first time). I can also see some of the benefits of DSLRs, for example details (leafs veins are very visible). Overall a great pic!

I am glad that you are making good use of the new toy~

--
Kamran
http://www.pbase.com/kmahbub
C P 5 7 0 0, W C 8 0, T C 1 5 E D, S B 2 4, F 8 0 1
 
_Kamran_ said:
I can also see some of the benefits of DSLRs, for example details (leafs veins are very visible). Overall a great pic!
Click to expand...
Thanks, Karmran. To be honest, I think my 5700 would have done a better job, but I'm real happy the d70 was able to do this well.
_Kamran_ said:
I am glad that you are making good use of the new toy~
Click to expand...
New toys are always fun, even for old guys :-).

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Coolpix Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix
D-Seventy Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/d70
 
and why is centre of the flower so soft and out of focus?!

What is this monstrosity?

How do you even expect us to consider this for an FCAS submission?! Harrumph!!

ROFLMAO... that felt good. Nice job Frank. Glad to see you enjoying your new toy. Nice submission which I am sure will be fairly judged by the rest of the panel.
--
David
Nikon Coolpix 995
http://www.pbase.com/dusty_d
FCAS Member
DDW Challenge Winner
 
Uncle Frank said:
Since FCAS has a dslr division, I've decided to apply for admission
using my d70. I don't have a macro lens, but hope this close-up
will met the Committees lofty standards.
Click to expand...
Uncle Frank, that is a beautiful specimen. I think your capture and the lighting are eloquently natural. Very nice composition with an interesting but not distracting stem and branch.

You have done better with the 5700 but this effort is certainly FCAS worthy. You've got my vote. Best of luck getting past Dawn.

Isn't set up required?

--
Doug Kessler
CP 5700
FCAS Member
CATS Member > ^..^
http://www.pbase.com/dougkess/
 
DougKessler said:
Best of luck getting past Dawn.
Click to expand...
I'll need some. I asked for her, because I know she won't cut me any slack, and there's not a nit that she'll leave unpicked -lol.
DougKessler said:
Isn't set up required?
Click to expand...
No, it never has been. People just started doing it for some reason. Frames and signatures are optional as well. All you need is a good macro/close-up, a well processed background, and an explanation of how you did it.

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Coolpix Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix
D-Seventy Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/d70
 
Uncle Frank said:
Uncle Frank said:
Isn't set up required?
Click to expand...
No, it never has been. People just started doing it for some
reason. Frames and signatures are optional as well. All you need
is a good macro/close-up, a well processed background, and an
explanation of how you did it.
Click to expand...
Uncle Frank - May I as a non-member (failure to track down FCB supplies - but I will) suggest that the setup should be added as a requirement or at least a strong reccomendation. My reason is that what may have started as a light-hearted whimsy, has become a major educational project from which many people including many non-members have learnt so much. I am always fascinated by the full details of how applicants have achieved their entry.

Once I used to be impressed by and certain that most applications were winners, only to see them criticised in detail by the committee. Each time I found the committee had seen what I had not. So imperceptibly my standards are rising, even if I cannot always achieve my new standards myself! - Yet.

Just a suggestion, but you started a great idea which has gathered a life of its own. BTW - lovely shot and thanks for the admission about the self-timer button. There's hope for us all.
--
Best wishes, Alastair

WSSA Member #26
CP 9 5 0 & 8 7 0 0
PaintShopPro 8.1
http://www.pbase.com/alastairneil
 
I've tried to find something wrong with your submission, but being the highly uncritical fellow that I am......, I failed. Composition is good, balanced well, color looks good on my monitor, processing looks fine to me (it should, you certainly have had enough experience with it! ) :)

It's nice and sharp, did you use manual focus? The lighting is just fine and the background is nice and dark.
Heck, I'll give you a thumbs up!
Jarrell
 
Jarrell Conley said:
I've tried to find something wrong with your submission...
Click to expand...
Uh oh. When people start looking for subtle faults, it means the picture didn't wow them. That's OK; I can take a punch (sob).
Jarrell Conley said:
It's nice and sharp, did you use manual focus?
Click to expand...
No, I used AF, and selected the zone directly over the little thingies at the core. The key with this lens is to use a tight aperture.

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Coolpix Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix
D-Seventy Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/d70
 
...the one with the multiple overlapping screens. Then rotate the main dial while looking at the little green LCD window above to the right of the viewfinder. Then, while holding your right foot over your left shoulder, spit on the ground and curse real loud!

Then, scream your wife's name and ask her to bring your manual...:-)

I am sure you know by now LOL

MG
--
Manny
FCAS Member - http://manny.org/FCAS
http://www.pbase.com/gonzalu/
 
I will give you a shot:

Your specimen does not jump out at me.

The skill set required from someone like you, hehehe here is where it gets fun... should be to pluck a perfect selection out of a garden full of leaves and such :-) No sissy FCB for you, no easy selection process, no no no...

So, go back and try again sir, this was way to easy for you...

Just kidding of course. This is really a waste of time as you know no one will have the guts to do it... but then again, maybe Dawn (if she shows) will !

Cheers
--
Manny
FCAS Member - http://manny.org/FCAS
http://www.pbase.com/gonzalu/
 
gonzalu said:
Your specimen does not jump out at me.
Click to expand...
Hmmm, kind of the same reaction as Jarrell had, though he wasn't as explicit.
gonzalu said:
no one will have the guts to do it... but then again, maybe Dawn
(if she shows) will !
Click to expand...
Actually, she will. That's why I appointed her liason with the Committee. Heck, she'll probably give them an earfull, too -lol.

I have a lot of respect for Dawn's critical eye.

There, that should help ;-).
--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Coolpix Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix
D-Seventy Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/d70
 
Nice image UF, but it does have a couple of minor problems and seeing as I had to have three goes at this ....... ;-)

The background has not been fully selected, - look between the stem and one of the leaves and you find some background that has not been blackened.

While I think this overall the picture is technically good, it does reach out and grab me

anyway best of luck

regards

--
Phil A
FCAS Member #100
http://www.pbase.com/philinnz
cp5000, SB26, WC-E68, TC-E2
 
Good catch, Phil. When I used the magic wand, I had the [contiguous] box checked, so it didn't select the small dark areas that were trapped between the stem and leaves.

This part of your critique confused me.
philinnz said:
While I think this overall the picture is technically good, it does
reach out and grab me
Click to expand...
Did you mean to say "it does not reach out and grab me"?

--
Warm regards, Uncle Frank,
FCAS Charter Member, Hummingbird Hunter, Egret Stalker
Dilettante Appassionato
Coolpix Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/coolpix
D-Seventy Gallery at http://www.pbase.com/unclefrank/d70
 
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