Patterns

[SmartWombat]

I admit the sky on the building isn't really patterns. But either the reflective panels, or the array of windows is. Does the sky add to it, or ruin it?

The blue pattern I like best of these.

I'd have liked to stop and spend longer on the lamp. There are some wonderful abstract macro shots in there. But my wife was dragging me round the show to go shopping for her doll collection.

No, none of this was with the 20D.

[Chunk]

I really like the shot with the reflected sky. The sky adds a good counterpoint to the strong rythm of the pattern.
The others are good too. I think I'd tighten up the composition on the lamp to remove it from all frame of reference and have it seem more abstract. Something like this maybe.
I don't agree that sky images of clouds are not patterns. Not all patterns need to be things in a regular grid or mathmatical arrangement. I think looser irregular patterns of repeeting shape or elements are sometimes the strongest shot of all.

[readingr]

I like all three.

The sky work brilliantly, especially with the breaks in between the reflections. I would have croped the bottom bit out so its refection to reflection if you see what I mean, but that is a taste thing.

No. 2 - Its an interesting pattern but I would have liked it to be completely symetrical.

No. 3 - I like the original until I just saw Chunks crop and that is something else nice one. However I think a tighter crop on the full lamp would be good to.

[SmartWombat]

Thanks, everyone.

>> I really like the shot with the reflected sky.
A great compliment from our pattern-meister - thank you !
It's your work that pushed me into trying patterns for myself.

>> The others are good too.
Maybe I'm getting the hang of this at last?
I've learned a lot from here, looking and listening.

>> I think I'd tighten up the composition on the lamp ... have it seem more abstract
I have another two or three shots of this. It's a set of 3 that hang from a common rail.
If we'd had room in the car I'd have bought it, along with a few other items, just to photograph.

I'll post a few crops for more critique then, if I may, and see how my PS skills are


>> I would have croped the bottom bit out so its refection to reflection
I was arguing about that on with myself, and lost.
Reflection to reflection, window to window, reflection to window, window to reflection, I couldn't see it made much difference to me.

>> No. 2 - Its an interesting pattern but I would have liked it to be completely symetrical.
I tried that, but it looked too sterile to me, not interesting.
I like it with that near vertical line at about 1/3 frame and deliberately asymmetrical.

>> No. 3 - I like the original until I just saw Chunks crop
As I said, plenty of scope for macro shots (rather than cropping).
I would prefer to get it 'right' in the viewfinder than crop afterwards.
There's also a DoF issue, as it was 800 ISO, wide open with the A2 hand held.

The lamp is a great subject. I wanted to spend more time on it, but it was in the middle of a sale!
We were at the Verzammelaarsjaarbeurs (collectors annual/old exchange literally) in Utrecht.
There were lots of wonderful things there, that I'd have loved to get into a studio and shoot.


I must be getting better with Photoshop, becuase nonone has commented on my editing.
Getting the Wacom Graphire pad was obviously a worthwhile investment !

Thanks agian for the encouragement and comment.

[Seb]

I admit the sky on the building isn't really patterns. But either the reflective panels, or the array of windows is. Does the sky add to it, or ruin it?

The blue pattern I like best of these.

I'd have liked to stop and spend longer on the lamp. There are some wonderful abstract macro shots in there. But my wife was dragging me round the show to go shopping for her doll collection.

No, none of this was with the 20D.

SmartWombat,

I agree with Chunk here.
The first one is my favorite out of the tree. In fact, I think that this is an excellent abstract.
For the third shot, the potential is there but Chunk's crop take the picture to the next level (I think).
I am less interested by your second shot (perhaps some level adjustments could give it a little more visual impact) but your composition is ok.

Seb

[Chunk]

Thanks, everyone.

>> I really like the shot with the reflected sky.
A great compliment from our pattern-meister - thank you !
It's your work that pushed me into trying patterns for myself.

What a nice compliment. Thank you.
The reason you didn't hear any comments about your PS work is that there weren't any problems with it. You did great. One variation you could try is to punch up the saturation a bit and make the colors pop a little in the second shot, but I don't really think that would be any better than the original.
I'm glad you are messing with patterns since I like viewing them as well as finding them myself. Keep up the good work.

[SmartWombat]

I've had a go at the colours, but I'm disappointed by the tools in PS Elements.
I find the four histograms in the Canon DPP software (Luminance RGB) really easy to use to adjust the colours.
I want that flexibility, but in Photoshop. So I guess it's time for an upgrade !
My wife doesn't know what she's done buying me this new 3GHz PC

[SmartWombat]

your composition is ok.

Then you can count that as a success for all the comments posted to other people's photographs
Now I just have to take the time at the next opportunity, and let my wife go a-wandering round the show. She takes my credit card, I take my camera

I've tried a few different crops, but there's nothing I'm satisfied with. Maybe I should just have bought them, taken them back to the UK and photographed them a lot ;)

[Chunk]

I like all thes closeups and your color work on the other shot too. Good work Paul.

[readingr]

Im sure I have seen this lamp in the UK shops - try some specialist shops you may be able to get it if you really want it