[two200] - A Photo a.... my photographic journey

[two200]

The year 2008 had just ended. Hopefully all the miseries of 2008 will be left behind and today mark the start of a new brighter beginning to the year ahead. I wish all CSers a..

Happy New Year!
May all our photographic skills improve and may there be more photos posted.

To start my 2009 APAD thread, I present a rose to all CSers. As usual C&C most welcome.

January 1 2009

#1 The Rose

Link to APAD2008

(P11V839)

[two200]

Was in Clarke Quay when suddenly felt the urge to take this shot. Unfortunately, did not have my camera with me and so I whipped up my handphone and took this shot. As usual giving a title is the most difficult. This maybe because I cannot answer what most critics always ask "what is it that you are trying to show?" But then sometimes the scene just look nice! Must a photo always try to tell something?

January 2 2009

#2 Clarke Quay

[Falcon]

What is really important is the scene looks meaningful to you.

[two200]

Originally Posted by Falcon What is really important is the scene looks meaningful to you.

Ah, an alternative view Thanks for the feedback.

[dingzyangz]

i guess the flags caught ur eye.. thus a title with something to do with the flag would be good.

Originally Posted by two200 Was in Clarke Quay when suddenly felt the urge to take this shot. Unfortunately, did not have my camera with me and so I whipped up my handphone and took this shot. As usual giving a title is the most difficult. This maybe because I cannot answer what most critics always ask "what is it that you are trying to show?" But then sometimes the scene just look nice! Must a photo always try to tell something? January 2 2009 #2 Clarke Quay

[two200]

Originally Posted by dingzyangz i guess the flags caught ur eye.. thus a title with something to do with the flag would be good.

Spot-on. The row of flags caught my eye.

I was thinking of calling the photo "Border" but in the unprocess form it does not really demarcate the land from the river. The title is probably more appropriate if I can PP to remove all colours except that of the flag but then my PP skill is even less than my photo skills . So I just give a generic name "Clarke Quay". Will probably repost this photo after PP it.

[two200]

Another scene from Clarke Quay, also taken with camera phone

January 3 2009

#3 Canopy

[two200]

Sigh, falling back (again). Always wonder how night86mare does it, posting a photo each day without fail for the last several years.

My fourth photo this year was taken during the official opening of Marina Barrage. Happened to look up and saw this man's head in an essentially bare foreground. Took this photo which turn out to be quite a challenge because of the mark contrast between the sky and the underside of the roof. Chosen this one out of several.

In view of the largely 'empty' background/foreground with only the head visible, it gives the feeling that he is peeping but was caught in the act. So I named this photo "I can see you..."

January 7 2009

#4 I can see you..

[two200]

This scene caught my eye. Both the kids was walking on the parapet. The older boy had just leaped across the gap on the parapet and he turned round as if the tell the younger boy "don't worry, you can do it. Trust me"

January 11 2009

#5 Trust me, my brother

[two200]

Photography is truly an art. Although there are rules to follow, following the rules to the helm will only hinder the artistic portrayal of an artwork. Following the rules too strictly will make the photo look clinical, commonplace and boring. Even if a composition is nice and pleasing, just the simple act of putting a border may destroy the viewing pleasure. I had tried a few borders for the next photo and none of them is as pleasing to the eyes as this one.

January 14 2009

#6 Tang Yuan 汤圆

[Falcon]

Originally Posted by two200 Photography is truly an art. Although there are rules to follow, following the rules to the helm will only hinder the artistic portrayal of an artwork. Following the rules too strictly will make the photo look clinical, commonplace and boring. Even if a composition is nice and pleasing, just the simple act of putting a border may destroy the viewing pleasure. I had tried a few borders for the next photo and none of them is as pleasing to the eyes as this one. January 14 2009 #6 Tang Yuan 汤圆

The border really works well here.

[Bcool]

Originally Posted by two200 Photography is truly an art. Although there are rules to follow, following the rules to the helm will only hinder the artistic portrayal of an artwork. Following the rules too strictly will make the photo look clinical, commonplace and boring. Even if a composition is nice and pleasing, just the simple act of putting a border may destroy the viewing pleasure. I had tried a few borders for the next photo and none of them is as pleasing to the eyes as this one. January 14 2009 #6 Tang Yuan 汤圆

Originally Posted by Falcon The border really works well here.

Agree with Falcon.

[two200]

Originally Posted by Falcon The border really works well here.

Originally Posted by Bcool Agree with Falcon.

Thanks for the feedback Falcon, Bcool

This border somehow works well with this photo. I guess the white coloured background and the fuzzy white border gives it a dreamy look.

[two200]

January 17 2009

#7 Tomatos

[two200]

January 20 2009

#8 Strawberries

[two200]

I find the most difficult task when doing layering is to cut out an object. It is very difficult to make a clean outline using the lasso, at least to me. So after trying countless time finally given up and use the line/curse instead. Hence in the photo below, a black outline can actually be seen. Agrh, it is driving me crazy!

January 22 2009

#9 Gong Xi Fa Cai

[two200]

Strange as it may seems, one would have thought that with the invention of colour prints who would want to take in black and white? But it turns out that sometimes some of this old monochromatic film can still give an impact to a photo that a colour print cannot. Below is the photo after it had been PP to the sephia effect. Comparing the 2, the one with the sephia effect gives the nostalgic effect. Can a colour print can gives the same nostalgic effect, or is it my 'skill'?

January 29 2009

#10 Old time barber shop


#10a

[Falcon]

The sephia treatment does give it a more nostalgic effect. I think normally we tend to associate color prints with the present times.

[two200]

Actually I tried with B&W initially but it somehow it is not pleasing to the eyes and lacks the nostalgic effect. Somehow B&W does not always works. Photography is truely art - there are rules but it does not always works!

[two200]

January 31 2009

#11 Sultan Mosque