A Wee Challenge ~ OFGSWWYT Pt.1

As many will attest to, if I'm in a mood, you can't get a word out of me, but if I'm in a "happy place" there's just no shutting me up. I'm in a happy place today!

Warning: Extreme Rambling Ahead!

When I woke this morning with the sun streaming through the windows (really must get those curtains up) all ideas of doing a Remember, Remember... blip were forgotten and I decided that today was a day for relaxing and recuperating. How better to achieve that than with a wander with the camera!

I've tried to explain how much of a joy it has been to rediscover my love of photography to so many glazed faces (hehehe) but if anyone can get it I'm sure it's you guys. As I wandered though Edinburgh again today people must have been thinking I was not right in the head because I'm sure I must have had a stupid grin on my face the whole time. Hahaha! I can't help it. I'm sure it'll wear off at some point, but for now...

I set myself a wee challenge today. For anyone wondering, the title stands for Oh For Goodness Sake What Were You Thinking (I knew it wouldn't fit)! The premise was simple. Back to basics. For the recent Low Light thread I've had to go back to using manual settings and I've rather enjoyed it, but I've been using all the tools my camera allows to help me. Today I decided to try and capture the "daring do" of times past, before the advent of LCD displays and program function settings, to see how much I'd learned afresh and anew since picking up the camera again. The rules were simple:

* Manual settings only
* 50mm primary lens only
* No LCD live preview

That left me with autofocus, TTL metering in the viewfinder and ISO setting as the only "modern" aids during shooting. Just like in the old days I wouldn't know what results I'd have until I got home. Oh, there was one other shooting rule. Every scene I chose, I was only allowed one shot. No second chances. Once that shutter was pressed and the shot was in the bag it was time to move on. It's amazing how much time it takes to set up when you're thinking about shutter speed, aperture, exposure, composition and film speed. It's also amazing how second nature setting changes becomes after a while.

Of course I'm not a complete idiot (yet) so there's no way I'm going to let you see an image straight out of the camera. Hahahaha! There were however some post-processing limitations I would apply for the challenge.

The images would be in mono. Heh, not really a limitation. I simply love SEP2 and what it can do, but you do have to think a little in tones and not colour when shooting. The two other restrictions were a little more challenging. All would be in landscape format and there would be no image cropping. I'm notorious for flaunting composition in the camera, knowing I have the pixels to do almost anything I want in post-process. This would be the hardest part of today's challenge for me and to be honest, the first rule I thought I'd break to blip tonight. But I didn't. What you see in all of the contenders is what came out of the camera.

So, with my iPod plugged in and only the camera round my neck and Gizmo (will a phone ever just be a phone again?) off I wandered (which according to Gizmo lasted 3 hours 42 minutes and covered 7.45 miles). At least my fish supper from earlier in the week is finally paid off in full!

The winner of the challenge is (obviously) above. It's funny but it was really hard selecting a shot. Normally you might have to choose between one or two different settings for a single composition you like but given the rules I set myself I found myself looking at 100 completely different images. After selecting the ten I wanted to process and selecting the individual processes I wanted to apply to them, to be honest I was really happy with them all. I'm not sure what makes this the winner. It was just the one that caught my eye most often.

Hope you all like it but if you are a real glutton for punishment, you can see all ten of the shortlisted contenders here. The controls at the top of the opening screen will let you move through all images. I'd love to know which (if any - hahahahaha) would have got your vote!

Heh, if you've made it this far, well done. I told you this was a ramble. I leave you with four moments that filled my heart with joy today!

* The ice cream parlour in Princes Street Gardens was doing a roaring trade.
* I was able to direct a lost couple through the maze of road constructions to get from one side of the city to the other.
* The number of poppies I saw being displayed. Over recent years I've been little disheartened by the lack of this. I'm a big believer in the Poppy Appeal. It is such a simple mark of respect for so many that have sacrificed so much, in the past and in the present.
* I finally found an incense stockist in town. A wee craft shop on the Grassmarket. OMG this place was a smoky heaven. Sticks and cones, by the packet or individually. And what range. The flat is going to smell like a harem by the time spring comes around. Love citrus scents so I settled for a pack each of Lemon and Green Apple just now...

Hahahaha, if you've made it this far give yourself a big pat on the back and fix yourself a stiff drink. Thanks so much for reading!