Camera Labs

POLLS ARE CLOSED!

Apologies for the delay in announcing the winner of June’s Assignment!

Congratulations to Cameralabs regular lensbaby for their win with 20% of the votes. Coming joint second are mikeroch and Orsan Kart with 11% each, followed by lewisleu in close third with 10% of the votes. A great assignment with some really imaginative entires – thanks for setting the theme mikeroch, and thanks to everyone who entered.

As always this means the winner, lensbaby, gets to choose the theme for our next assignment in August. Lensbaby, you have until the 31st of July to let us know the theme, although as always, the sooner we know, the sooner we can start thinking about it! Please post the theme in the June Comments thread.

Gordon



MIDNIGHT 30TH JUNE 2009 - ENTRIES CLOSED!

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVOURITE! POLLS CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT GMT 21 JULY



Hi everyone! Welcome to June's Assignment!

The theme for this month is "Alien", as suggested by Mikeroch who won the April 2009 competition. Be sure to read this whole message for the rules.

In Mikeroch's own words:

“Making the familiar unfamiliar”... Remember those TV quiz-show questions “what is this object”? An inexplicable image slowly zooms out until someone recognises it and hits the button. June's task is similar, but with a Sci-Fi twist.

Choose a subject and photograph it in such a way that it looks alien, surreal and other-worldly, something you might have spotted on a distant planet. Challenge the viewer so they really do have to scratch their heads, but so that with a little effort the subject is ultimately plain for all to see. I’m looking for strong visual impact and powerful imagery, cunningly framed and craftily presented … but without totally obscuring the original source. You are encouraged to insert a URL link to an unmodified image to show us how you have manipulated it into its final form.

POST PROCESSING: The image should be a single exposure but may be manipulated and modified in any way, but with this caveat … Don’t over-do the PP and kill off a good idea by the excessive use of technology!

The rules!

1: You can only submit one image and it has to be taken during June 2009. Photos taken earlier will be disqualified!

2: All images submitted must be no more than 500 pixels on their longest side, although you can include a link to a full resolution version if you like. Flickr users must link back to the original version to comply with its latest rules.

As always, please exercise good judgement on what is suitable for the forum. See the Forum Rules for guides.

Please include a sentence or two with your photo describing what you were trying to achieve and if there were any particular challenges in doing so like, for example, any special exposure or lighting setup.

We're all enthusiasts here, so it's also great to see what equipment you used and the settings too. So please also include the following:

Camera Model:
Lens and focal length:
Aperture:
Shutter Speed:
Sensitivity:
Post processing:

Submissions will close at midnight GMT on 30th June 2009. The final poll will follow.

Please remember this thread is for submissions only. If you'd like to comment on any of the submissions or ask any questions, please do so in the June 2009 Comments and Questions thread!

Thanks and good luck!

Gordon

Camera Model: Canon Rebel XTi
Lens and focal length: 18-55 @ 55mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/60
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Post processing: Irfanview, Picasa 3

A planet ? A burning sun ? Stars or sattelite ? A moon ?

July 1st, 2009



Link to the original, unmodified image: here

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Canon Rebel Xti (400D), EF-S 18-55, 50mm f/1.8, Sandisk Extreme III 2gb.
Http://cr4zyh3ad.sisimple.ca

Through misted visors and the swirling methane fog, we are
startled to discover that robotic observers follow our every move.


Original image: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3588843895_39bb42d846_o.jpg

Canon EOS350D ISO400 1/250 @ f.11 18-55 kit lens.
PP in PhotoShop. Extract one 'face' from the strip, paste into three separate layers, each scaled, rotated and varied to have different opacity. Set against the out of focus background layer. Some shading and light erasing. Flattened. Inverted into the negative, 'replace colour' employed to add intensity to the green-ness of the eyes.

They come while we are sleeping....

shutter speed 1/320
f/5.6
210mm
ISO200

Changed to negative image, played with brightness and contrast and added some stars with the paint brush. Simple. To see the original go to:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/359 ... 61d6_o.jpg

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Sony Alpha 700, Minolta 70-210 f/4 and some other stuff

MEMO to ALL CREW:
1. Field parties undertaking surveys on Planet Zarg 3 should be aware of the predatory nature of the native flora, especially the large carnivorous tree illustrated below. Resembling a monstrous insect, the large, pendulous and sensitive tentacles (I typed that especially carefully) surrounding its rudimentary 'mouth' have proved to be capable of seizing and devouring human prey.
2. A Memorial Service for crewman Phillips will take place at 15:00 today in the multi-faith chapel on deck 14.


Original: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3591921384_370e5d08f1_b.jpg

Pentax K20D 55-300 Pentax SMC lens ISO800 1/250 @ f.11
PP: Rotate, crop, sharpen, invert, resize

(click for 100% view)

Camera Model: DMC-FZ8
Lens and focal length: 36mm equiv in 35mm format
Aperture: F/2.8
Shutter Speed: 1/30
Sensitivity: 100
Post processing: PS CS2 (colors adjustment,vigneting,lights & shadows)

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
Visit my work here

Here is my alien,made from my little brothers Bionicle lego.

Kit:Canon EOS 40D with 17-85 at about 35mm
SS:1/15
Aperture: f5.6
Sensitivity: ISO250

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Canon EOS 40D, EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 50mm f/1.8 II, Tamron 90mm f/2.8 macro, EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6, Lensbaby Composer, Canon 430EX II, Giottos MTL 9351B tripod with 3-way head.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/i_gilmour/sets

.

PowerShot G10, 1/125, f/5.6, ISO 400, Light post-processing

Not sure if the original will help or not but here it is. I've walked past this object so many times over the last few years but the light seemed to give it a luminous glow this morning. The photo was rotated by 90° but the blades of grass near the base were "conveniently" horizontal to start with so I hope they now give the illusion that the photograph is the right way up. I'm not sure why it is this colour but my assumption is that there must have been a lightning strike and this is all that's left of the stump. Poor tree.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

"As I looked into the eye of this beautiful beast I knew my life as a photographer would never amount to anything as spectacular as the wonders this creature had seen."

Original Image here: http://www.phildiggle.co.uk/junecomporig.jpg - please note, jpg is compressed down to 1mb since the original was 7MB hope that's allowed?
Exif:
f5.6
exposure 1/80
ISO-100
Focal: 50mm


Was actually just playing with a new flash gun I had got, and took a very boring picture of some keys hanging in a dark spot.

Processing required: Many Steps Firstly increased levels and curves of original so it wasnt as dark. Duplicated layer, set to layer to Difference and rotated slightly, duplicate that layer and rotate it slightly. Continue this until near 360 degrees achieved. Copy merged a selection, pasted onto new canvas. Duplicate Layer, set layer to darken, rotate specific amount. Duplicate layer, rotate specific amount again. Continue until 360 degrees rotation achieved. Make new layer, set foreground pallet to yellow and background pallet to blue, set tool to gradient fill on the round setting, and create circle gradient. Yellow inside circle, blue outside and set layer to soft light. Finally, new layer filled with solid pea green colour and set to overlay.

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Phil Diggle - Freelance Graphics Designer, Full Time University Student and Novice Photographer!

Camera Kit - Sony A200K 18-70 DT | Minolta 70-210 AF 'Beercan' | Sony 50mm f/1.8 | Jessops Flash Gun

http://www.phildiggle.co.uk | Flickr Photo Portfolio - Working Progress

Major Benchley from Close Encounters of the 3rd kind...




Camera Model - Nikon D60
Lens and focal length: Nikon 18-55 DX VR @ 55mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/60
Sensitivity: ISO 400
Post processing: I added a plastic wrap effect and brushed over a hole to give the picture better symmetry.


Original image can be seen here

And if not already apparent..

Here is my revised entry!



This is how the photo was composed:
Camera: Olympus E-30
Lens: Zuiko Digital 14-54mm @ 54mm
Aperture: f/5.4
Exposure: 1/8
ISO: 200

A lot of post processing was done in Photoshop Elements. I first had to crop the image, apply, filters, and change the color. Then, I proceeded to add the effects (which came from a different photo I made). This is the link to the Flickr Page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24648553@N04/3610440851/
For those that haven't guessed what the UFO is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24648553@N04/3610462005/

This is my first assignment entry!

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My Photos: http://flickr.com/photos/24648553@N04/
My Gear:
Olympus E-30
Olympus 14-54mm & 50mm Macro
FL-36
Lowepro Slingshot 200

A lot of people have them little do they know their real purpose......




Nikon D90

Lens and focal length:Nikkor 16-85mm @16mm
Aperture: F/10
Shutter Speed: 3s
Sensitivity: 6400
Post processing: CS4 - Crop, Noise Reduction, Diffuse Glow Filter


Oh first entry and had a lot of fun doing it, great way to find out things about your equipment.


Original http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2428/3619096538_7a6cd581a9_b.jpg

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Why isn't phonetically spelled the way it sounds?

In this picture I tried to capture the finer details of the object while having it fade away into the background.

First the "unfamiliar" picture:


Camera Model: Canon XSi (450D)
Lens and focal length: 78mm
Aperture: f/10
Shutter Speed: 1/100
Sensitivity: 100
Post processing: Minor (sharpen, saturation, clarity, exposure)

Now the familiar picture:
HERE

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Canon XSi (450D) | Canon 50mm f1.8 II | Sigma 18-200mm DC OS | Canon 430EX II Speedlite | Kenko 12mm + 20mm + 36mm Extension Tubes | Joby Gorillapod SLR Zoom + Joby Ballhead | Kata 3n1-20

Sign up with SmugMug using this referral link and get a $5.00 discount on your first year subscription.

Visit GadgetTechie.net if gadgets and technology are of interest to you.

This is the face of a robot which is part of the Destructus class, a small unit action drone robot. This piece of military hardware has seen some action. The armor plate is damaged, however, the optical sensors are still functional.



Here is the original: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3595/3620995817_16357e2cb4_o.jpg

Most people see these everyday while traveling to their destination.

Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D
Lens and focal length: Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 @ 35mm
Aperture: 3.5
Shutter Speed: 1/80
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Post processing: Cropped and moderately adjusted the RGB tonal curves separately.

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Canon 5D Mk II * 17-40 F/4L * 24-105 F/4L * EF 70-200mm f/4L IS * Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 * EF 50 f/1.4 * Lensbaby Composer * EF 100-400 L * EF 100 F/2.8 Macro * EF 1.4x Extender III * Speedlite 430EX II * Speedlight MR-14EX *

SPACE - Where living beings bump into each other.



The image is clickable for larger view, which is recommended to see details.

To see original, click here.

Camera Model: Canon EOS 40D
Lens and focal length: EF 50mm f/1.4 at 50mm
Aperture: f/11
Shutter Speed: 30 seconds
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Post processing: Brightness/contrast edited in Lightroom 2. Drawings made in Photoshop.

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Esben - used to be a wide angle photographer but then I took a Fuji X100 in the knee
My deviantART