2016 Project 52 from Thailand - 1st Quarter

[Shadowman]

Week four already! I do admire those of you who have suffering from snow and blizzards for still getting out and snapping away.

We have had one of the coldest weeks on record with a daytime high as low as 11°C. Bliss for some of you, I know, but no one here is set up for temperatures below the mid-twenties.

Today we staggered up to 26°, so I ventured out to our local handicraft centre, aka as the tourist trap.

Probably the least glamourous job in the place.

These were drying in the sun before the decorative stuff is painted on.

Those old fingers are still pretty nimble

When I called into the silk centre all of the weavers were at lunch, but one spinner was working, extracting the silk thread from the cocoon of the silkworm.

Nice captures.

[IzzieK]

These are beautiful subjects -- the process of the craft sort of thing. I have seen all of the images apart from the last one. I've tried to get out and come in three times and it still wouldn't show...

[bnnrcn]

Very nice series, I like them all but the first two images are special for me.IMO the cocoons on the RHS are a bit too bright in the last image, reducing the highlights selectively might help

Week four already! I do admire those of you who have suffering from snow and blizzards for still getting out and snapping away.

We have had one of the coldest weeks on record with a daytime high as low as 11°C. Bliss for some of you, I know, but no one here is set up for temperatures below the mid-twenties.

Today we staggered up to 26°, so I ventured out to our local handicraft centre, aka as the tourist trap.

Probably the least glamourous job in the place.

These were drying in the sun before the decorative stuff is painted on.

Those old fingers are still pretty nimble

When I called into the silk centre all of the weavers were at lunch, but one spinner was working, extracting the silk thread from the cocoon of the silkworm.

[Val Mansfield]

"Very nice series, I like them all but the first two images are special for me.IMO the cocoons on the RHS are a bit too bright in the last image, reducing the highlights selectively might help"

Agreed, thanks

[Val Mansfield]

Well this challenge is certainly getting me carrying a camera more often; I guess that is what it is all about!

I went off with a friend today to visit a mutual old friend who has recently moved into a retirement village and took these shots at the village, along with (on the left) one of the man himself (on the left), Major Roy Hudson
http://trblchiangmai.org/2014/burma-...or-roy-hudson/

[Shadowman]

Well this challenge is certainly getting me carrying a camera more often; I guess that is what it is all about!

I went off with a friend today to visit a mutual old friend who has recently moved into a retirement village and took these shots at the village, along with (on the left) one of the man himself (on the left), Major Roy Hudson
http://trblchiangmai.org/2014/burma-...or-roy-hudson/

Very nice.

[John 2]

I've been missing these Val. Some very nice shots. I particularly like the people studies.

[IzzieK]

These are good shots, Van...especially the two people here at the end.

[Geoff F]

Yes, everything has worked well with these shots.

[bnnrcn]

Nice set

[Val Mansfield]

I’m running late this week. We were away for the weekend and I hoped that it would yield some photo opportunities, but I found mainly challenges. The light was very hazy, with histograms not extending to the left and in some cases, not extending to the right.

I didn’t end up with anything that I am very happy with, but here are a few.

The main door at Wat Phra Fang
Sadly now decaying

A Buddha Image.

The statue is in good condition, but the niche it is set in is mildewed and covered in pigeon droppings, so I have given it a new background.

A support for a window

Part of a Francis Turbine
At the Siriket Dam

A Suspension Bridge
Also at the Siriket Dam

[IzzieK]

#1 -- Well the decay had not shown at all in the way you did this. It is a beautiful intricate door and colourful, to say the least...
#2 -- I was about to ask about the background but you did explained it. Good enough for me. In places like yours where there are a lot of rich intricate designs on idols and similar structures that abounds the land, there will be bird droppings especially for them that are displayed in public. Understandable but you were able to do this well enough not to show those droppings. Truly an image made by a camera doesn't show the reality of what is there...
#3 -- this is my favourite. The mono conversion is nicely done and it is just nice in a way even I cannot explain.
#4 -- Turbine is nicely exposed. I like the colour here.
#5 -- Your country is very colourful -- even the bridge. It must be nice to live there in your country with a richness of colours amongst the environment...
Overall, good job in these images...

[Val Mansfield]

Thanks Izzie. It is not really my country, rather my wife's and I am jut a long term guest. I'm from the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Val

[Geoff F]

I'm in agreement with Izzie about these images.

There is obviously a variation in light levels between the top and bottom of #1 but this doesn't cause me any serious problems.

A few hot spots with #2. Would it be possible to do a little bit of cloning?

#3 works fine, with a nice use of shadows.

#4 was obviously a challenge in that bright light but you have just managed to get away with it.

The bridge is a good composition but just a couple of thoughts. Is the colour correct or is there a slight magenta tint? Your sensor, I'm afraid, has some serious dust problems which is causing spotting all over the scene.

[IzzieK]

Thanks Izzie. It is not really my country, rather my wife's and I am jut a long term guest. I'm from the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Val

I was guessing about your surname, so I gave myself a pat in the back for guessing right...LOL..So you're a Kiwi...