Since I am sharing close-ups , I’ve decided also to participated in Cee’s Flower of the Day challenge. This time the T letter is also is attached to it 🙂 Tulips. The stylish and graceful Tulip is always elegant. it Is a delight.
Look around and we’ll see something we take for granted – color. Our wonderful world is filled with it, so this week we’re asking you to Choose A Color. Make that color the theme and inspiration behind your image. Colors evoke moods and feelings – how you choose to compose and use them is what will guide the viewer through the image.
Choosing to focus on a single color in particular is both creative and good use of light, contrast and saturation is what can make or break an image. Pick a color and make it the dominant and outstanding and leave no doubt about which color you wanted to make the main point of your shot.
I am having huge problems with my computer, so much that I need to buy a new one, so these are old shots that I have here already used in my previous posts over the years. I am not able to access my computer files, or additional hard drives to add photos or load new ones from the camera disk. I am able to access the internet for now, so I am using these here this week.
Think landscapes of rolling green hills, or food shots of red chilli peppers or the all encompassing golden color at sunset – there’s a noticeable dominant color there and that’s what we’re looking for.
This time around, we want you to look closer at a Single Focal Point. This is not a technical challenge, it’s more compositional in nature – guide your viewer’s eye to a distinct part of your image. There are a number of ways that this can be done – depth of field can make it so a subject is in focus while almost everything else is blurred; or you could use negative space and a minimalist composition to draw in the viewer to one part of the image. Sometimes you can also use light as a frame to guide the viewer’s perspective to your subject – think spotlight and light shaping.
These photos I took from a car ferry while on my way to visit a small island of Högsåra were one of my ideas to this topic. Strong Focal Point: This is pretty much the crux of the challenge – but it matters the most: choose a strong focal point that’s easily identifiable as the main point of interest of your shot.
It’s all about tuning out the distractions and taking your viewer to the exact spot in your image you want their eyes to well… focus on. You might also want to consider getting some help from your editing software with vignettes, color pops and contrast to make your desired subject stand out. Even better, use a combination of these techniques and other skills to get this challenge sorted.
Depth Of Field: Use a shallow depth of field to isolate your subject. You might also want to consider getting some help from your editing software with vignettes, color pops and contrast to make your desired subject stand out. Even better, use a combination of these techniques and other skills to get this challenge sorted. That’s what I tried here with my strawberry shots.
Leading Lines to guide the viewer to your intended point of interest in mind I took these images of old buildings and this lush road. Consider using some sort of frames to bring in the watcher’s attention – a window, slats of a fence or some tree branches; shooting through something can also work to steer attention to your focal point.
I had this n mind when I took this image from an old mill window in Mathildedal, contrasting colors help the eye to easily differentiate the subject from the background.
This week, we’re looking to shoot a Common Object. And isn’t that what photography is all about, really? Taking the mundane and shining a different light on it. Highlighting an object or scene that we normally pass by with no notice, and making it something special.
Think about all the common objects you can see around you right this moment – a bottle, socks, a pen, eggs, coffee mugs, perfume vapor, cell phone – the list of subjects you have this week are endless.
I once again left this to the last minute, being on holiday it is all about being lazy, or not if you are married to a man who needs something done every day. So this week we have re-arranged our sauna / guest room furniture, got rid of some stuff, bought some new to replace the old one. Re arranges the kitchen cabinets, put up new shelfs. We gave a away a car load of old furniture to be recycled to a flee market. A car load of stuff to the be recycle center. Busy with ordinary, common objects, but it never crossed my mind to take photos. Today, last day to give in the submission I took some photos of common objects.
I often wear costume jewelry, so common to me. I drink coffee, wine and my hubby enjoys whisky. These are some finds from the cottage. Also these old glasses I found whilst our cleaning spree.
Now the challenge is to simply make the ordinary look extra ordinary, or at least photographed well. You could try focusing on a particular detail or texture. Or perhaps show how you use it in your day-to-day life. Tell a story about how something mundane and ordinary can be a valuable part of your day.
what is life with a occasional glass of wine or a cup of coffee
TIPS:
Photography is drawing with light and this week’s Silhouette challenge firmly shows us that. A silhouette is about bringing together contrasts of a well-lit background against a dark subject, making the subject’s shape and outline as the main point of focus. A silhouette balances what the viewer sees alongside the darker toned facets of the subject that are intentionally kept hidden from the light.
Silhouettes are a great way to tell a story while leaving it up to the imagination of the viewer – there aren’t visible features to express emotion, so your viewer will fill in details depending on the context of the image – use this to direct your viewer’s line of thinking.
This is a lesson in exposure, composition and creativity all coming together. While silhouettes are outline.. Portraits, Still Life, Architecture and Nature typically make for good silhouette genres.
Silhouettes can often convey some kind of mystic story. By leaving the details in the dark, the story becomes compelling and the viewer is more engaged with the picture.
I was nearly ready to cheat, until my youngest grandson said he would let me take a photo of him. It was a rainy day and he sat by the window with a cuddly fox. Here was my opportunity to capture a silhouette
Photography is drawing with light and this week’s Silhouette challenge firmly shows us that. A silhouette is about bringing together contrasts of a well-lit background against a dark subject, making the subject’s shape and outline as the main point of focus. A silhouette balances what the viewer sees alongside the darker toned facets of the subject that are intentionally kept hidden from the light.
Silhouettes are a great way to tell a story while leaving it up to the imagination of the viewer – there aren’t visible features to express emotion, so your viewer will fill in details depending on the context of the image – use this to direct your viewer’s line of thinking.
This is a lesson in exposure, composition and creativity all coming together. While silhouettes are commonly shot in the day and at golden / blue hours, you can absolutely shoot silhouettes at night too. This will work best when the object being shot is recognizable through their well-defined shape and outline.. Portraits, Still Life, Architecture and Nature typically make for good silhouette genres.
Silhouettes can often convey some kind of mystic story. By leaving the details in the dark, the story becomes compelling and the viewer is more engaged with the picture.
I would have loved to use these shots I took at Crete as they would have suited this challenge perfectly, but no, still I think they are great examples of silhouette! But I will have to come up with something new for the challenge or I could cheat… no, I won’t do that.
TIPS:
Less is more. This week’s Negative Space challenge is what those words are all about. Make your composition’s subject stand out by ensuring you eliminate clutter, distractions and sometimes even a background.
Many minimalistic photography images have a great deal of negative space to isolate the subject. There are tons of genres and ideas that would make for very compelling shots – architecture, landscapes, portraits, food photography, abstracts and so much more. Think about the story or emotion you’d like to convey to your viewer and compose your shot after taking some time to think about it.
We’re looking for clear, un-cluttered images where the space surrounding the main subject or idea enhances your shot by taking the viewer’s eye straight there. That little bit of extra space allows for breathing room and leaves no doubt as to what the main point of interest is.
There’s magic in negative space, when used wisely, so think, breathe, shoot…
TIPS:
I would have loved to use some of the shots I took at Crete as they would have suited this challenge perfectly, but no, still I think they are great examples of negative space.
It’s time to put on your creative in hats 👩🎨 and take some Abstract images. Photography that makes use of patterns, textures, blur and often enough indistinct shapes – all to convey emotions or to share a narrative.
I did have fun with this one, you will unwillingly be subjected to several posts from my attempt to capture abstract, I shot around 170 frames and trying to find something different or more odd was difficult as I was drawn to certain look and tried to avoid the obvious
Think about focusing on colors and shapes, rather than concentrating on getting technical details like focus and depth of field. There’s absolutely NO right and wrong – it’s all subjective and open to what you – the photographer – wants their viewer to feel.Abstract photography is all about form, color and texture coupled with uncommon viewing angles. Get low, look at the undersides of things, go in close to grab some texture, use bubbles and liquid drops to make random patterns of light and color. Experiment and feel free to mix genres and techniques to create some absolutely amazing shots.
Look at playing around with blur, movement or something that looks different from what you’re trying to portray – yeah, that’s a tough nut to crack but if your viewer can turn to you and ask – “Wow! Great shot… what is it?” – yep, you’ve hit the brief.
Details from my weekend flower bouquet.
Contrasting colors and flowers – one more shot. Slight editing difference in the feature shot and one in the post itself.
What is a better place to capture green than the botanical gardens, they have the light, right temperature there for flowers to bloom. Some green I captured from my visit.
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
I have liked this little green flower, but never knowing what it was, until only few days ago, I learned that it is a carnation 🙂 . It was bit of a struggle to get these shots as there wasn’t that much light and I was too lazy to take out the camera, so I took these with my phone.
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
Kaivokatu in Helsinki
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
Surprise, I went to the grocery store 😀🛒only to find green everywhere
Our favorite month, November! This year we’ll get rid of gray by painting the month in green. Lepis from Parallel lines has hosted this challenge for years, I have been part of it for several years too, feel free to join us 🙂
I saw green 🍀🍃☘️🍃
Open your world to a green November and enjoy your creativity. How you do it is free as long as it’s green!
I annually visit Mustio castle. I love the beautiful park and the dock that is surrounded by water lilies. I have yet to unload my camera disk, these I took with with my mobile.
We call this rose juhannus ruusu, a midsummer rose. This summer it has bloomed beautifully. Happy Sunday!
I love trying to find good angles to take a photo, and light that brings the topic to its best. Sometimes I succeed sometimes not.
this is the time to take photos of this small and delicate beauty the comes to life when you look close enough. These are taken after the rain with small droplets still to be found in some shots.
Time, clock, lavender are the inspirations for these still life photos.
Sitting at breakfast reading news even if they are not that inspiring. I started thinking about todays picture. So I was admiring the flower on the table and as quickly as the thought came to my head, it was done. Took my mobile, took a photo, problem solved. Sometimes its easy as that, if you don’t over think it. Small everyday joys, flowers saved the day!
The old photo is from our trip to the California last year. We met these old hippies, that is their words at a scenic stop on the road. The van and they look photographic together so we exchanged few pleasantries and I aske if I could take a photo.
If you wish to participate in this survival of the darkest month challenge, use this link to add your post to it. PARALLEL LINES
Sleep is so precious thing and I have a problem with it, but his morning I slept late until 9 am, and the best part was the night before It did not take me hours to fall a sleep. the bliss for not having to wait and wait for it to come. So today I am in much better spirits and today we have blue skies again. The joy of that is great.
I had neglected my orchid, I had forgotten to water it, today I did and also got my camera ready. These are my todays shots.
If you wish to participate in this survival of the darkest month challenge, use this link to add your post to it. PARALLEL LINES
It’s two pm on a Sunday, and it seem that I am doing my post about the same time everyday. This November has been so much better than few of the resent ones, even today, there has been a glimpse of blue skies, it has not rained all that much either. So, not at all as gray of a month, that I was dreading. Such a small joy, I am very happy about this.
Went out to try find something to take photo of, macro photography, is great as you do not have to go far to find something lovely to capture. This time it was a brown hydrangea at the end of its life span. Still pretty.
If you wish to participate in this survival of the darkest month challenge, use this link to add your post to it. PARALLEL LINES
Today I am not posting old comparison, but other takes of todays topic. I always have such had time choosing what is my favorite as there are different moods and things that make them stand out as choices. I ended up with the above because it turned out nicely as black and white.
And the yellow sunflower by the brook, in autumn beauty stood.
A flower’s appeal is in its contradictions – so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.
Adabella Radici
“Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. ”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography 