PSNZ Digital Group 12  -  Mark Brimblecombe

 

Cycle 4

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Click on this thumbnail for image at 1024px wide.

To see a larger still copy of this image (2.6 megabytes in size) then click here. This is 4153 px wide at 72 dpi.

Image 1 - Pompallier Plinth

This image has been made from a 95 megabyte Photoshop CS3 file - 13842 x 2997 pixels (41 megapixels), made from eight images stitched together using the Photomerge feature (much improved in this version of Photoshop). Each of the eight captured images were taken with the 18mm wide angle lens setting, and still CS3 managed to stitch each distorted image together. I've not corrected the final distortion in the overall image (hence the odd shape monument).

Nikon D200. Exposure 4 seconds @ f/22

Mark's Comments:

This is the obelisk that commemorates Bishop Pomallier and the first Catholic mass in NZ in 1838. it is located at Totara Point, about 4km north of Kohukohu (northern side of the Hokianga Harbour)

Taken at 7.30am on 28 July 2007

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Image 2 - Ratana Church, Ruawai

Once again, this is a stitching job in CS3. This time only four images resulting in a final 27 megapixel photo after cropping.

Nikon D200. All images manual focus and exposure: 38mm, 1/80 sec, f/8, ISO 100

My new Manfrotto tripod with ball head has been great for these photos. Keeping things level by using guides in camera viewfinder.

Mark's Comments:

I've thought about adding 'sky'... what do you think?
I rather like the white sky with no detail for this one.

Taken the same day as the above, i.e. 28/7/07

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Just a couple of 'thumbs' to the right to show a few other good shots I got without resorting to Photomerge in CS3

Comments from Digital Group 12
     Please email your comments before the end of November 06.                                              
 
       Image 1 - Pompallier Plinth
Bob McCree    
Doug Moulin    
John Barnes    
Karen Talbot 20/4/07   
Bill Hodges    
Peter McMahon 29/6/07  
Shona Kebble    
       Image 2 - Ratana Church, Ruawai
Bob McCree    
Doug Moulin    
John Barnes    
Karen Talbot    
Bill Hodges    
Peter McMahon    
Shona Kebble    

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Cycle 3

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Image 1 - Zealandia

Nikon D200 with 18-200mm

Exposure: 1/30 at f/3.5   ISO: 400

Focal Length: 18mm

Mark's Comments:

In the Kauri grove at Zealandia Sculpture Garden

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Image 2 - Vero Building, Auckland City

Nikon D200 with 18-200mm

Exposure: 1/60 at f/16   ISO: 100

Focal Length: 18mm

No colour adjustment

Mark's Comments:

Reflection of the Vero Insurance Building in the black Obelisk like 'sculpture' in the courtyard, before the security guard told me that I could only take photos from the pavement.

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Comments from Digital Group 12
     Please email your comments before the end of November 06.                                              
 
       Image 1 - Zealandia
Bob McCree    
Doug Moulin 22/3/07 

This is an interestingly quirky shot. I like it but I'm not sure if I like it for itself or for someone else's artwork or both. I still like it. The greens on the artwork blend well with the forest. I wonder what it would like if the forest was in focus as well?

John Barnes    
Karen Talbot 20/4/07 

I like the image, but find the bright areas on the face image are very distracting. I like the green of the ?copper/painted concrete surround.

Bill Hodges  

It’s different two images in one which match. It’s like the girl seeing something we can. I like  the depth of interest it creates.

Peter McMahon 29/6/07

caught naked in the forest!!! must be marks for originality, well done.

Shona Kebble 20/6/07

Although this is a half and half image I think it works.  I like the crop and colours.

       Image 2 - Vero Building, Auckland City
Bob McCree    
Doug Moulin 22/3/07 

Wonderful Mark, I love it. It's almost a B&W. Great stuff!

John Barnes    
Karen Talbot 20/4/07 

I like the smooth versus the texture of the buildings, and really like your perspective of the buildings. I think the monochromatic forms are great.

Bill Hodges 24/4/07

Well seen and well taken. This has impact. Good subject  placement. Good leading lines. Nice and sharp

Peter McMahon 29/6/07

wonderful image, great angle of view and like the mono look . Was surprised to see how sharp it was considering shutter speed. Then the lens told me, VR.Just got one myself, looks to be a very useful lens.

Shona Kebble 20/6/07

You have to be in quick to get the shot and you got it.  I like it very much.  It is moody.  I think the clouds could have been burnt in a bit to make the sky a bit more dramatic.

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Cycle 2

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Image 1 - Waipua Forest

Camera: Nikon D200 with 18-200mm Nikkor VR lens
Exposure: ISO 100, 1/80 s at f/5. Used Tripod
RAW file has been edited in Photoshop CS2.

With some help from Peter McMahon, I've learn't a valuable lesson in Photoshop re saving to JPEG without loss of colour saturation. click here for better image.

Mark's Comments:

I was all set up with tripod for this photo when fortunately a group of about 10 motorcyclists came by, and not all at once! This is one of many Northland photos taken on a weekend trip from Helensville to Cape Reinga and return. If you're curious to see a few more, click here.

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Image 2 - Passing Time

Camera: Nikon D70

Combination of natural light from a window to the left of the frame, and bounced flash at ceiling.

File has been edited in Photoshop CS2.

Mark's Comments:

The owners of a local antique shop, Passing Time, here in Helensville. I purchased a number of pieces for our home, a 1914 villa, and so got to know this couple. Each time I visited, Lisa would be cleaning the silver. They have since sold and shifted to Puhoi.

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Comments from Digital Group 12
     Please email your comments before the end of November 06.                                              
 
       Image 1 - Waipua Forest
Bob McCree 20/2/07

Nice colour and lighting for this type of image. Compositionally, the road and motorcyclist are well positioned but a pity you have not cloned out the white road sign. "Darby and Joan" and their forest friends make a fine backdrop.

Doug Moulin 31/2/07 A very well composed and exposed photograph. The motorbikes are in just the right place - good timing. There is very nice light falling on the road and the Kauri trunks as well as some of the foliage. I think that with a little judicious dodging and burning and the edges and corners darkened this would become a striking shot.
John Barnes    
Karen Talbot 4/1/07

You really were in the right spot at the right time....I love the image, but some action in the foreground, and a motorcyclist wearing red, just adds something. No criticisms.

Bill Hodges 10/1/07

Well  taken image.  The  overall placement  of Motorcyclist with the red helmet makes for me the image. The white line leads you to him. Well exposed

Peter McMahon 28/12/06

well exposed with nice composition. Forest scenes are a favourite of mine. I think a stronger image would be for the bikes to be approaching,or side on, would help make for more intrigue and interest.

Shona Kebble 16/1/07

This image has lovely colour with lots of interest without being overwhelming.  It may look better flipped with the motorcyclist on the other side and the road leading in from the left but I do like it very much.

       Image 2 - Passing Time
Bob McCree 20/2/07

The black and white treatment adds to the olde world charm of this image. A busy image but it certainly tells a story. I would crop out the bright pan thingee at the top right and tone down some of the brighter areas around the image. Echoes of Robin Morrison, indeed!

Doug Moulin 31/1/07

A good environmental portraiture image with a full range of tones throughout. There are many interesting things to look at but I think there is too much stuff to the left of the black speaker phone thingy. This pulls my eye away from the main subjects. A crop just to the left of the Sinclair Aircraft sign corrects this.

John Barnes    
Karen Talbot 4/1/07 I love your treatment of making this a monochrome- its adds to the "olde worlde" feel you have captured. It is precious as we could   loose this history, and the images are all we have to hand on. I love the detail...  The only criticism is maybe taking some of the contrast out of the pan in the top right, it does catch one's eye.
Bill Hodges 10/1/07

Good subject placement having the person cleaning the silver tells me what the image is all about.  This image would fit in any book of a Robin Morrison type from the Road.   Its been well taken with good exposure and focus.

Peter McMahon 28/12/06

another nicely composed image, with  B&W fitting of the mood, good tonal range. An interesting looking shop, worth a visit.

Shona Kebble 16/1/07

I like this image very much.  The composition is good and your interest is held within the frame.  The black and white treatment suits the topic.

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Cycle 1

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Old Post Office and BNZ, Helensville
26 June 2006, 5:57pm
Camera: Nikon D200 with 18-200mm Nikkor VR lens
Original File: RAW, 3872 x 2592, 240 dpi, 15.27 MB
Exposure: 30 seconds at f/22;  ISO 100
Focal Length: 18mm (= 27mm in 35mm)
Colour Temperature: 4750 K
File has been edited in Photoshop CS2. 325k file
Mark's Comments:

I would like to start with an image from my home town, Helensville. This photos is of the two most recognised old buildings on the main street of Helensville. I walked about the front of the building on the right with a flash, firing it a number of times. Night shots seem to work best when there is still a little sunlight in the sky.

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Batch, Hawkes Bay
13 January 2006, 5:23pm
Camera: Nikon D70
Original File: JPEG, 3008 x 2000, 300 dpi, 2.53 MB
Exposure: 1/750 s at f/13;  ISO ??
Focal Length: 18mm (= 27mm in 35mm)

File has been edited in Photoshop CS2
723k file
Mark's Comments:

One of many photos taken on holiday in the Hawkes Bay. No filters. Some colour enhancement in Photoshop.

Looks like my first two photos are 'Buildings'. I'll throw something different to you all in the next round.

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Comments from Digital Group 12
     Please email your comments before the end of November 06.                                              
 
       Image 1 - Old Post Office and BNZ
Bob McCree 30/10/06

Lovely tones in this one Mark but possibly a little too much in the frame. I would have preferred you to have shown the floodlit building rather more prominently by cropping out half of the other building and generally tightening around the road and sky.

Doug Moulin 29/10/06

I agree, night photography is at its best when there is still some light in the sky.  The buildings are beautifully lit but the car lights do cut the image into two parts. (Probably impossible to avoid at that time of day).  I would also like to see the street light toned down a little.

John Barnes 11/10/06

My eye is drawn to the Post Office where the street light has nicely illuminated the building. The blue sky and the BNZ building blend in to make this a pleasant image to view. The car lights, I believe, don’t do anything for the image and are a bit distracting

Karen Talbot 15/09/06
I love the colours you have captured.I agree the blue sky has a wonderful depth to it, and the warm colours on the buildings are great. I do find the car light(s) distracting- tend to divide the picture.(Really nitpicking to find something to critique tho.)
Bill Hodges 23/10/06

A very nicely taken night scene. Would have like to see the BNZ building straightened. This could be done in photo shop using edit/transform/perspective. Also the tree cloned out. I like the way its been presented in  panorama .

Peter McMahon 23/9/06 nice soft tones and would make a nice panorama, more tightly cropped. Have you tried using HDR with your early evening shots?
Shona Kebble 28/10/06

Nice colour captured on the left building and in the sky but unfortunately the white car lights streaking through the image are distracting. 

       Image 2 - Batch
Bob McCree 30/10/06

Nicely captured and an evocative image of kiwiana. Nice blue polarised sky with just a wisp of cloud to add interest, but watch the horizon.

Doug Moulin 29/10/06

A simple shot with colours complimenting each other so well. The image does bring back childhood memories of holidays at the beach.  The horizon needs some  straightening,  but I don't feel it needs any cropping.

John Barnes 11/10/06

The colour of the house and shed blend in well with the sea, sky and brown grass. I like the simple nature of the image.

Karen Talbot 15/09/06 The great kiwi bach- these photos always evoke memories- maybe its our age!! I love the simplicity, and the co-ordinated blues/greens. The wisp of cloud stops the eye wandering away out of the image. The only criticism maybe the expanse of brown grass-possibly a crop up from bottom, just a little.
Bill Hodges 23/10/06

This image is an image of the Robin Morrison style. It wouldn’t be out of place in his book ‘From the Road’.  I feel that maybe the only thing that could be done is straighten the horizon. Its dropping down on the right.

Peter McMahon 23/9/06 nice strong colours with the browns of rust,grass etc. giving the image a nice balance.  the image seems on a slight skew,I would level the horizon and crop the sky and some bottom.
Shona Kebble 28/10/06

I like the simplicity and colour tones of the image but agree that a slice off the bottom would remove some of the dead grass area. 

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