Friday 31 August 2007

Day 24 - Torch Play


Torch Play
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Today I decided to try and create a shot with traces of torch light. I've seen this done a few times before and have always been tempted to try it. As with many of the photos I've posted of late, I've not left much time to get the perfect shot nailed so this is only really a practice run.

I have to admit though, I was fairly pleased with the results, especially for a first go.

Wednesday 29 August 2007

Day 23 - Red Wine


Red Wine
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Today I thought I'd experiment with candle light again but this time in colour. I lit some candles we have and found they create a wonderful defused light. The only problem left was to find a suitable subject to photograph in this wonderful light, wot better than the nice glass of red wine I'd just poured.

Tuesday 28 August 2007

Day 22 - Ilkley Moor


Ilkley Moor
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Today we went walking up on Ilkley Moor, I tried to capture the atmosphere on the Moors but did struggle a bit. I need to do some reading up on landscape photography as it's something I find I struggle with.

Day 21 - Leeds West Indian Carnival 2007


Leeds West Indian Carnival 2007
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
We took a trip down to the Leeds West Indian Carnival on Sunday and had an absolutely wonderful time. I was pretty pleased with the shots I took that day and found it quite hard to pick a specific one to put on the blog. It was pretty tough shooting the parade as people were constantly moving in front of the camera however despite this shot being a little blurry I'm quite pleased with the overall result.

See the full set here,

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dodgemc/sets/72157601705755659/

Day 20 - Leeds/Liverpool canal


Leeds/Liverpool canal
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
After the party on Saturday I decided to take a quick snap on Gilly's camera of the canal for the blog. Alas it was only ever meant to be a snap shot but I always have the feeling that if I made more time some of these shots could be a lot better, even in there most basic form.

Day 19 - A bridge too far


A bridge too far
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
On Saturday night we went to a boat party on the Leeds/Liverpool Canal for our friends 40th Birthday party. One of our friends decided to try and climb onto an old abandoned bridge. In the end he though better of the idea, however the following morning everybody ended up climbing it as Gilly's shots show.

They're braver than I am.

Monday 27 August 2007

Day 18 - Red Windmill


Red Windmill
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Today I tried experimenting with shutter speed by taking a few shots of some of the plastic windmills in our garden. On the whole I was fairly pleased with the results, I plumped for this shot as it was the only one taken not looking down on the subject, despite the other shots having better colours.

Check my Flickr stream and decide for yourself which is best.

Friday 24 August 2007

Day 17 - Stumbling Home


Stumbling Home
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Yesterday was somewhat of a hectic day so the shot for the day was really about nothing and more a drunken attempt to get a picture. Whilst walking home after a night out I tried to take a number of shots of this tree (god knows why), this is the only one that turned out.

सोतhere you have it, another nightime shot of road, this time with the added bonus of a tree.

Thursday 23 August 2007

Day 16 - Lights Out


Lights Out
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
I've tried to experiment a bit further taking pictures in low light। I shot this candle in a darkened room and I'm quite pleased with the results. I think this is येतanother type of shot I will have to revisit and experiment with.

Tuesday 21 August 2007

Day 15 - Leeds General Cemetery


Leeds General Cemetery
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Today's shot was taken in the Leeds General Cemetery which is located within the City centre campus of the University of Leeds. The site was created in response to the state of the Parish Church Graveyard (crica 1830).

During heavy rain earth was often washed away exposing shattered pieces of human bone. Understandably this upset the families of the deceased (notbaly the newly rich middle classes) and led to the formation of the Leeds General Cemetery Company in 1833 and the purchase of the site.

The site was planned because such was the state of Leeds' Parish Church graveyard in the 1830s that heavy rain would wash away the earth and expose pieces of shattered human bone.

The Parish Church graveyard was literally full up and in order for bodies to be placed in family plots the gravediggers would remove previous burials, smash the remains and re-inter them alongside the new coffin.

It was these smashed human remains that would sometimes be uncovered by bad weather. The appalling sight upset the sensibilities of the newly rich middle-classes and led to the formation of the Leeds General Cemetery Company in 1833 and the purchase of the site.

The purchase of the site was financed through the sale of shares and a public design competition was held. The historic significance of the site is commemorated with a Blue Plaque.

Day 14 - My Street


My Street
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Today I tired experimenting taking pictures at night. I quickly popped out last night and tried taking a few shots of the street and the results aren't too bad. I like the way lens flare has come out on the camera with the street lights and the sky has possible potential for being made more dramatic in Photoshop (once I learn how).

For a shot taken quickly I'm fairly pleased with this.

Monday 20 August 2007

Stiltwalker on the Royal Mile


Stiltwalker on the Royal Mile
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc

This is one of a series of shots taken on the Royal Mile during the 2007 Edinburgh Festival. The guys on the stilts were part of a Polish Theatre company promoting their production of Macbeth. We were unable to attend this show but friends did, apparently it was a real spectacle involving stilt walkers motor bikes and fire breathers.

Day 13 - The Royal Mile


The Royal Mile
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Sunday afternoon during the Edinburgh Festival and I decided to take a picture along the Royal Mile. My intention was to try and capture the atmosphere and excitement of the crowds of people watching the acts perform along the road.

Day 12 - Dinner at Creelers Restaurant


Dinner at Creelers Restaurant
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Saturday night at the Edinburgh festival and we stopped off for dinner at Creelers, a nice seafood restaurant in Hunter Square. I thought I'd use this shot of family and friends for Day 12 as I feel it captures the atmosphere of the weekend and shows what a great time we all had at the festival.

Sunday 19 August 2007

Day 11 - Statue at City Chambers


Statue at City Chambers
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Our first day of the Edinburgh Festival, walking past the City Chambers (just off the Royal Mile) I shot this statue for Day11 of my photo project. On the whole I don't think the shot is too bad but I realise that,

(1) I really need to get a polarizing filter
(2) Spend more time composing shots to use light better.

Day 10 - Countryside on A66


Countryside on A66
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
We left on Thursday (16/8/07) bound for Edinburgh (via Glasgow), en route we stopped for coffee (oh and they do great bacon) where I quickly tried to get my shot for Day 10. This was taken rather quickly but hopefully I managed to capture the wonderful summer sky.

Thursday 16 August 2007

Day 9 - Leeds Civic Hall


Leeds Civic Hall
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
In a desperate attempt to grab a shot in what was a busy day I plumped for the Civic Hall in Leeds Millennium Square. This picture was taken hurriedly and the composition is pretty poor however I hope it catches one of the great icons of Leeds and the lovely evening sky.

Wednesday 15 August 2007

Day 8 - Scrabble


Scrabble
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
My latest shot in the project and possibly my least favorite to date. I didn't really have many opportunities take a great deal of shots yesterday as it was raining most of the day so I thought I'd try and produce something at home.

We had a game of Scrabble so I had the idea I could use the letters on the board to make a picture. This picture however has a great deal of flaws, the exposure isn't right and the ISO was too high, the focus also needs attention.

I think I'll definitely be revisiting this shot at some point.

Monday 13 August 2007

Day 7 - Bunch of Flowers


Bunch of Flowers
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
I got my girlfriend some flowers today so I tried shoot them using the incoming light from the window. It came out OK but not quite how I wanted it, clearly I still have a lot to learn on exposure, to to go away and do some reading.

More Yorkshire Countryside cropped

I took another shot on our drive out yesterday and after some feedback from fellow flickr users I cropped the shot. I'm really pleased with the result, shame I didn't have a polarising filter. I'm guessing if I did the highlights in the sky wouldn't have looked so overblown.

Day 6 - Yorkshire countryside


Yorkshire countryside
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
As I was at work Sunday my girlfriend and I didn't really get to do anything with our day so when I got home we decided to go out for a drive, we ended up heading out in the countryside towards York.

We stopped off to admire the view and I took this picture, I think it captures the mood of a summers evening.

Day of rest?


Day of rest?
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Unfortunately I had to work this Sunday, so no extra sleep for me. It rained while I was at work, at least it was lovely and sunny when I left.

Saturday 11 August 2007

Day 5 - Last of the Summer Wine


Last of the Summer Wine
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Today we decided to go out walking in Holmfirth, the area is famed as it was where the TV programme Last of the Summer Wine was filmed. The country side was beautiful and the weather was great to boot. Despite being thoroughly knackered from out walk in the heat I took a few basic shots and this was my favourite.

We stopped and had our lunch on this style where I took this snap of my lovely girlfriend. Again like yesterdays shot this was far from amazing technically but I felt it did a brilliant job of capturing the moment and the day as a whole.

Day 4 - Thank god it's Friday


Thank god it's Friday
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Day 4 of my project and after a number of abortive photographic attempts during the day I took this at Loch Fyne in City Square. It's far from being a good photo but it serves its purpose as it documents my life.

The shot came about after my girlfriend and I went out post work drinks in the sunshine. After a few (too many) drinks we decided to get some dinner and wound up having a hot and cold platter with Lobster in Loch Fyne. Yes the technical composition of the photo is dreadful but I'd been drinking since 4pm.

Yummy.

Friday 10 August 2007

Self Portrait


self portrait adjusted
Originally uploaded by dodgeMc
Not an entry for the "To be taken once daily" project but I liked the results so felt compelled to post it. I tired experimenting and taking a self portrait and I'm fairly pleased with the output. It's far from perfect but I do like the usage of depth of field.

It's received mixed feedback on Flickr but doesn't everything. I reckon it's a good starting point for improving my photographic skills.

Thursday 9 August 2007

Day 3 - Coffee, the number 1 fuel for programming

Day 3

Today I wanted to try and capture something from within my working environment so I tried doing a still life of objects laying around the office.

I found this coffee pot laying about and tried to getting better exposures with my camera. It's far from perfect but it's a start, eventually I hoping the penny will drop.

Day 2 - EC Stoner Building, University of Leeds

Day 2

Today I've chosen a picture of the building I work in. You may well be thinking that I've chosen yet another building with reflections of clouds on it but one of the aims of this project is to document places I visit regularly and I figured my workplace was a worthwhile candidate.

I always notice wonderful reflections in the glass when walking past this building (especially on a sunny day) which I've tried to capture in this shot.

Day 1 - Building at the side of Leeds Metropolitan University

Day 1

My first attempt at trying to produce creative or informative pictures on a daily basis. My aim was to try and capture the wonderful cloud reflection on the side of the university building.

Clearly this needs some more work but it's a starter for 10.