Guest Gallery 7 - Simon Bull

[Admin]

http://www.releasephotogroup.org.uk/guest7.htm

Our newest guest gallery is now on the website.

[Overbeyond]

Having viewed his website Simon has obviously embraced HDR so I am immediately off to a bad start already 
Members of this forum will possibly know that I am unconvinced of the benefits of HDR and Simon's Gallery does not convert me (assuming that I am correct that HDR has been used; you never know these days ).
However, I am enjoying some of the images here.
The church one is a nice composition despite the book being severly cut off at the bottom but there is also a nice overall mood to the image. I don't actually like the window reflections on the wall, especially the nearest one; just something odd about it.
The Fishing Huts is an excellent image and the best image in the Gallery for me.. Whatever post processing has been carried out here I am confident in saying that it has improved what was probably a good original image anyway.
Early Morning Dew is fine and has been well presented.

[IAN]

Simon
I personally think this is one of the best guest galleries we've had on 'Release' where you have combined good photography and skill in the technique used. HDR, if that's what has been used in some way has only enhanced the images in my view. They all have an old worldy charm about them and are definetely eye catching. Some of them could have been mundane but your technique has brought out that extra special bit of wow factor so often missing.
I will go into detail later on the images but I also agree I think 'Fishing Huts' is my favourite if I had to choose. It has a very graphic quality which strengthens the lines and emphasises texture.
It seems to come across as a monocromatic image which has had colour added as a wash in certain areas which is most delightful. It generally has a strong diagonal make up which has been slightly broken by the second hut in, which seems to be tumbling over. A good crop has got rid of unwanted detail concentrating us solely on the huts and jetty.
well done
Ian

[Glenn Rossiter]

Simon.
Congratulations on the Gallery you've given us and welcome to the RPG.  I've taken an instant liking to the shots you've "constructed" and will discuss further in my next post in more detail. I appreciate the "Image making" you are displaying ... which is going well beyond the HDR technique you discuss at the Introduction page in most of the Images.  Some of the manipulations are producing effects that really add to the initial photographed camera images.  Well done.   I won't as yet tell you my favourite ....... still enjoying
Glenn.

[Joe Tully]

Hi there Simon

Many thanks for allowing us a peek at your work both via your excellent website and this guest gallery set. Clearly you have set about learning HDR with a vengeance and from what I see here you can be considered a master of the technique. Equally clearly you have a similar taste to mine for things mechanical from the past. Got any windmills to complete my joy? As far as I am concerned, the jury is still out where HDR is concerned. To my old failing eyes there seems to be a "sameness" about them which I am not entirely happy about even though I have been known to dabble in the black art from time to time. However you have obviously embraced the form with great success and you are to be commended for a very pleasing set of pictures here.

EARLY MORNING DEW is one of my favourites. Reminds me of that thingy in Brussels. Well seen, smashing angle of view and nice differential focus. The one thing which I might baulk a little at is the degree of colour fringes in places. Looks like chromatic abberation but I suspect it may be more a by product of the post processing.

LOCO SHED and READY AND WAITING are very typical of the type of work which appeals to the photographer/railway enthusiast. I am both, but I am never quite convinced by either of these approaches. Not quite sure about the colour rendition of Loco Shed. Note the red on the loco on the right of frame and the sky doesn't convince; it rarely does in HDR. Also I wonder if it is really necessary to make the two guys look as if they have just been dragged out of the bottom of a barrell of oil. Two techniques well done though and beloved of those with an interest in steam locomotion. Also beloved of magazine editors, which puts me in something of a minority.

THE NURSERY is a bit of a compositional jumble which is a great example of how to ignore the "rules" to good effect because it's a picture I feel quite comfortable with. Lovely lighting, lots of details to dwell on and a well nigh perfect tonal range. Slightly put off by the sky which I find to be just a tad vibrant. I like this one.

VIEW FROM THE LECTERN is another picture I like a lot. Having stood at many a lectern over the years both as a visitor and on "business", this evokes many memories. I can almost hear the embarrased stifleg coughs, the sneaky unwrapping of sweeties and the smell of best Sunday morning clothing... all mothballs etc. Any picture which can bring so many things to mind is one which works.

WHEN THE SNOW..... and WINTER DAWN are two further competent pieces of work although the latter, while being a beautiful picture just leaves me thinking to myself..."ah! HDR rather than ah! beautiful picture. This is what I find about HDR, it's always just too obvious.

FISHING HUTS. I see from your website that this was shot in France. At first glance I thought it might have been Porvoo in Finland a place with which I am very familiar. Either way I like this one. I have seen so many efforts using this basic technique which have been a disaster usually perpetrated by relative newcomers to Photoshop, who lose the run of themselves. You have done well here and I think this might just edge out the others as my favourite one of the set.

Once again, thanks for the peek and for the opportunity to feast the eyes............ Joe Tully

[Glenn Rossiter]

Simon ...
Further to my previous comments ... here are some more details.
EARLY MORNING DEW ..... I like the simplicity of this and the colour quality seems to add to the work. Backlighting is perhaps a little overpowering but a good image.
LOCO SHED ..... I love the colour effects again and the painted-look post processing (even after the HDR treatment). Suggest you darken the central wall to empahsize the Locos with greater detail.  Great digital artwork image mate.
READY AND WAITING ......... a great effect once again, the monchrome look suits the image perfectly, I don't mind the oil-slick look across the board, but I can imagine the drivers still in their original overalls ( as real inserts, I mean) as another version ... Perhaps you have this already ..... don't change the Locos at bit ..... love them.  The wider shot on your website is better still !!
THE NURSERY ..... Subject matter obviously enhanced by HDR ... suits the treatment well.  Like Joe, I think there is a bit too much in the frame within the room, but I enjoy the work that has gone into its production. Well done.
VIEW FROM THE LECTERN ..... a Great Photographic narrative straight out of Harry Potter .... nice one. Perhaps Harry and hermione could be sitting in the pews lower left eh!!
WHEN THE SNOW LAYS ABOUT..... Gorgeous treatment and that Lighting colour is superb ... Like it a lot !!
WINTER DAWN ......  Spooky, is that a road in the right of frame. Again a great after effect of the original HDR production.
FISHING HUTS...... One of my favourites again .... Love the creative treament ..... Not sure if the Frame taken slightly wider would have been even better including some water lower right and the Hut top lines.   Really enjoyed this.

Many Thanks Simon for your Gallery and others on your site.    Glenn

[Simon Bull]

First of all, many thanks for all your comments and thoughts so far and for the time you have taken. Apologies for the delay in replying - the village Gala Week has just taken up all my time as the unofficial official village photographer!

I have been delighted to have been chosen as a 'guest' on this site. As a keen amateur who still has much to learn about photography the comments have been extremely useful in the learning process – I have to say that I've learnt more about my photographs than I knew myself! All to the good of course and, as a result, I will try and take a more conscious look at what is in the viewfinder rather pointing the lens at a subject and taking it! Perhaps I’m fortunate to have a tiny bit of inbuilt compositional skill which now needs more development – so watch this space – and my website!!

A word or two about my use of HDR. I first came across this technique a few years ago and (rightly or wrongly!) I was hooked. I began to look at many HDR examples and, like any form of photography, there appeared to be a whole range from stunning to not so stunning! Experimentation with the ins and outs of Photomatix followed until I began to feel happier with my own results. I know that HDR is not everyone's cup of tea, but to me it's only like using a filter on a camera lens (something which I never use as I don't possess any!) and adds another dimension (an almost 3D textured quality) to the original camera sensor version and something which perhaps is a little closer to what the human eye sees.

[Wearwell Mike]

Hi Simon, Welcome to our site and many thanks for allowing us to see your fine work, I have in fact folks seen Simons images before, not all of these I might add but a few of them on another site. I like the way the HDR treatment was applied to some of them and it was Simon’s way with tone mapping that first got me interested in the process. Well I have to say that one of my favourite images “ Ready & waiting “ Simon has included in the panel, I think this works well as a mono and HDR has brought out the atmosphere of steam and all the dirt ,grime and of course the smells that went with this glorious age. Thanks for coming back and giving us a little insight into the way you went about processing them. Regards.

Mike.