UKC

What is the best photo that you have taken, like ever?

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 The Lemming 29 Sep 2014

Care to share the best image that you have taken?
Post edited at 23:28
 Blue Straggler 29 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

"Live" as opposed to what exactly?
In reply to Blue Straggler:

'Live'? What are you referring to BS?
In reply to Blue Straggler:

It's one of these tantalising threads where someone obviously said something very interesting, but then deleted it.
OP The Lemming 29 Sep 2014
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

I made a typo in the OP title, no biggie.
 Blue Straggler 29 Sep 2014
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:
> 'Live'? What are you referring to BS?

Apparently it is now possible to edit thread titles. The "like" was originally "live". I am keenly aware of, and sympathetic to, The Lemming's dyslexia (and have OFTEN defended him re: that subject), but this one threw me. Of course there was no acknowledgement from him in direct response to my question because he markedly ignores all my posts including the helpful and kind ones (which is to say, 95% of them)

I'm not sure that the "like" helps his cause though
Post edited at 23:35
 Blue Straggler 29 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

> I made a typo in the OP title, no biggie.

It was a biggie because it could have referred to "live performance" or sports or something.
In reply to The Lemming:

I guessed that, but then I'm a very, very naughty ironic b***ger, aren't I?
In reply to Blue Straggler:

> Apparently it is now possible to edit thread titles. The "like" was originally "live". I am keenly aware of, and sympathetic to, The Lemming's dyslexia (and have OFTEN defended him re: that subject), but this one threw me. Of course there was no acknowledgement from him in direct response to my question because he markedly ignores all my posts including the helpful and kind ones (which is to say, 95% of them)

> I'm not sure that the "like" helps his cause though

Oh, ah, at last it makes sense!

Let's just say cheers to each other now!
OP The Lemming 29 Sep 2014
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

You sir are naughty, however I would especially be intreagued to see what you personally consider to be your finest captured image.


Post edited at 23:41
In reply to The Lemming:

> You sir are naughty, however I would especially be intreagued to see what you personally consider to be your finest captured image.

>

I have no such thing. I'm proud of a lot of pictures I've taken, mostly for the effort and planning involved, but not as some kind of 'finest work of art'. Bollocks, really, cp with most artistic enterprises. And nowhere compared with the other creative things I've done in my life, and am still persevering with.
OP The Lemming 30 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

As to myself, I still like the shot that l took of Striding Edge, I think back in 94 or 95. It was one of those rare magical moments when I looked back up the ridge in awful weather to glimpse the sun poking through.

It was taken with a simple Canon Snappy 35mm camera. The sad thing is, is that I have since lost all copies of the image including the negative and only have this scanned copy from a basic scanner.

I have taken thousands of photos but this one chance shot with a cheap point and click is possibly my finest image because of the memories it invokes.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/the1lemming/1425181070/
 sbc_10 30 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

Surely, all you need to do is look at the infallible rating system of the UKC photo folder for guidance. <coughs>...
In reply to The Lemming:

> Care to share the best image that you have taken?

Further point: when it comes to landscapes, I think the best pictures are always of special, fleeting moments of light (revealing 'nature as an artist') - but few of these will be more important or 'better' than any other. There may be dozens of them in one location over quite a short period of time (e.g a few days). They will each be special in their own way. The sort of pictures I like, such as those by Nicholas Livesey, of Snowdonia, amount to a kind of portrait through time of an area - a portfolio of sorts. (Which is what I tried to accomplish in my mountain landscape books.) But to get back to the original question, I suppose the 'best photos' will always be of important events involving people, or portraits. In the climbing world, the pictures I've been proudest of are of some of the pioneers (e.g. Brown, Birtwistle, Harding, Dawes, Syrett, Elliott).

Final point: I think one has to be very careful not to get over-precious about one's photographs. The subject plays a huge part in an interesting picture, as well as the person who presses the shutter release. Of course, if the shot has involved huge technical difficulties (such as in the old days when we used medium and large format cameras with slow film stocks, and when each frame cost a lot of money, as well as quite a lot of time and effort to set up) there was more to be admired in the medium itself.
 ChrisJD 30 Sep 2014
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

HIJACK - Sorry

Gordon - saw this the other day and thought you might be interested:

http://extension765.com/sdr/18-raiders
 planetmarshall 30 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

More for the subject than the photo, really.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/planetmarshall/7734395058/
 CacCarnBeag 30 Sep 2014
In reply to ChrisJD:


Thanks for sharing this. As a rule, cuts and editing rhythm are best judged without any sound.

I actually went onto the set of the Egyptian tomb with all the live snakes (seen around 1:00:00), while Spielberg was shooting it. It was pretty scary even though most of the snakes (about a 1000, I think) were harmless garter snakes. But there were about 6 boa-constrictors, and also a lot of plastic fakes.

I also saw the amazing plane at 1:17:00. The framework was constructed by Vickers, and then sent to Elstree, where it was covered in plywood and then painted to look like metal, complete with rivets (an amazing piece of work - it looked like metal until you touched it). The whole thing was then shipped out to Morocco for the desert scene. The spinning propellors, by the way, were done with two big sheets of circular perspex with propellors painted on to them.

In reply to ChrisJD:

PS. to last. The snake tomb was shot on the very same stage that Kubrick used for the Colorado Lounge in The Shining. The set and stage burnt down in Jan 1979 after Kubrick had finished using it. It was then rebuilt in the summer/autumn and was ready (for Spielberg) in Spring 1980. I think the snake scene was shot in about May/June. Once the studios were sold in the 1980s half of it was demolished, and the site of that particular stage (and four others), plus the dubbing theatre and much else besides, are now under Tescos Borehamwood. The snake tomb/Colorado Lounge stage was situated where the car park now is.
 Ciro 30 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

I'm not a particularly accomplished photographer, but this one always stood out for me - even if the table did get a bit over-exposed.

http://www.redbubble.com/people/ciarant/works/5556969-evening-birdsong-in-t...

 ChrisJD 30 Sep 2014
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Great stories / insights Gordon - thanks for sharing!
 Blue Straggler 30 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

I like that
 BStar 30 Sep 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

Strangely it's not got any mountains in as that is what I usually try and shoot, the atmosphere when taking this photo was incredible, something I will never forget.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-star/8218127290/
OP The Lemming 30 Sep 2014
In reply to BStar:

Fek me, that's awesome.
 Mike C 30 Sep 2014
 Robert Durran 30 Sep 2014
 planetmarshall 01 Oct 2014
 Dandan 01 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

I think it's this one, I randomly looked out of the window one night before I went to bed and it had started snowing, so I went for a wander with the camera. It's a pretty grotty subject really, but I just really like it, i'm not sure I could entirely explain why.
http://s15.photobucket.com/user/dandantrash/media/bridge-to-towers.jpg.html
 Fraser 01 Oct 2014
 Adam Long 01 Oct 2014
In reply to Fraser:

It looks fine to me. Transparency films (which I'd guess it was shot on) have a limited contrast range and therefore increase contrast. Given that you've got sunlit snow and shadows in the same shot that will increase saturation in the darker areas, though in a more subtle way than a digital boost would tend to.

The great frustration of shooting slides is getting the scans to look as good as the film does on a lightbox. With digital you haven't got that reference so folk tend to go overboard anyway.
 Robert Durran 01 Oct 2014
 Robert Durran 01 Oct 2014
In reply to Fraser:

> Looks a bit unrealistic to me - have you ramped up the saturation and contrast?!

Ha Ha!
 Adam Long 01 Oct 2014
In reply to Robert Durran:
I think the unusual aspect of your shot is the darkness of the clouds. That makes sense, as the clouds are in the shade and the camera has exposed for sunlit snow. No doubt the lens is introducing some vignetting too.

Gordon's shot is not comparable as the contrast is lower as it is right at the moment of sunrise. And I doubt the 'blad lenses vignetted much!
Post edited at 14:35
In reply to Robert Durran:

> Are you joking? Mine is a point and shoot slide scanned commercially by "Mr Scan". It is very faithful to the original slide and, indeed, the actuyal moment. Maybe you have proved the point I have been trying to make in this forum: with so much enhanced rubbish about, it is very hard to take a true moment of magic at face value without wondering if it is just tarted up.

No, wasn't joking. There just seemed to be something a bit strange about it. Can't put my finger on it. I take your word for it that it's a straight reproduction. Strangely enough, I don't think mine was enhanced much, if at all. Deliberately slightly underexposed: that's exactly how it came out on the Provia or Velvia I was using.
In reply to Adam Long:

Actually, it was sunset ... really cold I remember.
 Adam Long 01 Oct 2014
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Ah, bit of a presumptuous guess!

If anything I find the purple cast on your shot stranger than anything in Robert's. But then that's Fujifilm for you - one of the reasons I used to shoot more Kodak in 35mm. Not so much choice now!
In reply to Adam Long:

That purple cast is certainly strange ... mind you, it was a very lurid sunset. Makalu turned completely orange.
 Robert Durran 01 Oct 2014
In reply to Adam Long:
> I think the unusual aspect of your shot is the darkness of the clouds. That makes sense, as the clouds are in the shade and the camera has exposed for sunlit snow. No doubt the lens is introducing some vignetting too.

I took another shot a few minutes later when the mist had cleared completely. Some might prefer it; the exposure won't have been skewed by the clouds. I can't remember if I got it scanned or not. If so, I'll put it up for comparison. Kodachrome by the way.
Post edited at 15:12
 ChrisBrooke 01 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

Very hard to say really as most of the stuff I put on Flickr I'm quite happy with. This one, taken in the early morning at Chatsworth, https://www.flickr.com/photos/105585253@N07/10819228956/ stands out for me for its dream-like quality and the complete lucky chance (didn't notice at the time) of framing the hand-holding couple between the trees.
 Fraser 01 Oct 2014
In reply to ChrisBrooke:

Lovely shot. I like the two sheep far left too, echoing the walking couple.
 Fraser 01 Oct 2014
In reply to Adam Long:

> It looks fine to me.

I knew I should have added a smiley! I was joking and referencing another thread on the subject but at least Robert got it

 PontiusPirate 01 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

Deciding on the criteria of 'best', I'm going to struggle with, especially since some of the pictures I'm fondest of are on 35mm and have never been successfully scanned, and so are not available online.

In an attempt to avoid the question entirely, I'm going to present two recent shots that I was immediately happy with... as opposed the grudging acceptance I come to have with the majority of what I produce.

The first "Lower Good Greave" is part of a long-term project that I'm embarked upon: I saw the opportunity from the shot from about half a mile away and it turned out exactly like my original visualisation. In other words, a plan had come together!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/drupka/14702700178/

The second is the unapologetically 'Gursky-esque' "September Seascape" where, for the first time, I feel like I managed to capture the scale and atmosphere of what I was witnessing:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/drupka/9940418365/

PP.


Chalk 01 Oct 2014
In reply to Fraser:

It's a great pic, but I did have to laugh at that comment lol
 craig h 01 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

Going off Flickr this is the best photo I have ever taken, based on votes, views and favourites.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/21913923@N03/2909769449/

It's hard to pick what I think is my best, the above photo would be in my top 10. It's a scanned 35mm and only really tweaked in some old free editing tool by making it black and white and upping the contrast a bit. One of those photos I know I could play about with a bit more in Photoshop now, but happy with my original attempt.
 Robert Durran 02 Oct 2014
 Robert Durran 02 Oct 2014
In reply to Fraser:

> I knew I should have added a smiley! I was joking and referencing another thread on the subject but at least Robert got it

You shouldn't even joke about these things. Threads have been known to have been pulled for the crime of criticising oversatuation of photographs........

In reply to The Lemming:

Good thread.

I'm no great photographer but I love taking photos, mainly as a sort of visual diary.

This is probably my favourite shot. It sums up the essence of that route: cold, commitment and hard work.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwon9pwkC-k/T_wXBNyGC8I/AAAAAAAAAkE/_pDuzgBR8ic/s...
In reply to Tom Ripley Mountain Guide:

That really is a gorgeous shot, with a huge sense of scale and space and pristine beauty. Plus it happens to be a brilliant composition with all those lines radiating in towards the climber. A classic. i.e. 6 stars.
 ayuplass 05 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

this shot has attracted the most attention and comments https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayuplass70/13969402202/ but it felt 'too easy' when I too it as its a bit of cliche

I prefer this one https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayuplass70/14159383123/ which I took on a wander while trying to combat jetlag after a super trip. It won a competition and got me 2 nights in a 4 star B&B so it has lovely memories and associations too
 frqnt 05 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

Whilst not strictly a climbing photo, I'm pretty happy with this; http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2Y8KAKC5J8/U23R8r_0hJI/AAAAAAAABfs/G1gU2v2Ch4M/s...

Any feedback appreciated!
 Robert Durran 05 Oct 2014
In reply to frqnt:

> (In reply to The Lemming)
>
> Whilst not strictly a climbing photo, I'm pretty happy with this; http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u2Y8KAKC5J8/U23R8r_0hJI/AAAAAAAABfs/G1gU2v2Ch4M/s...
>
> Any feedback appreciated!

Cool, but what is is? Is it one of those mad Patagonian parrots?
Post edited at 23:15
 frqnt 05 Oct 2014
In reply to Robert Durran:
They're Kea's, the New Zealand alpine parrot; gnarly wee things, they'll pick a decent car's trim apart and leave it in pieces.

Taken up French Ridge for those who know.
 y2keable 07 Oct 2014
Not the "best" I've ever taken but probably my favourite:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/shutterrust/6217094861/in/set-721576275921921...
 frqnt 07 Oct 2014
In reply to y2keable:

Holdin' it down with 35mm - would be good to know what film you're using on your uploads.
 y2keable 08 Oct 2014
In reply to frqnt:

Flickr has changed, when I uploaded my pictures, I tagged them with info on the camera, lens and film that was used. The tags would look something like "(Nikon F100)(Nikkor 85mm f/1.8)(Velvia 100)" but now this information doesn't seem to be displayed.

The photo I just linked was shot using Portra 400 with a 50 1.4 lens.

Cheers
Jay
 Toerag 08 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

I like this one - was a spur of the moment experiment on my way home from work one night

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g69u3xboa91oyew/_MSP2576d.jpg?dl=0
 tehmarks 08 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

I don't know about 'best ever', but I'm quite fond of this photo I took last week:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/tehmarks/15463336982/
 Toerag 09 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

Probably this one from a winters day on The Aonach Eagach.
http://wainwrightclimbing.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/the-scottish-alps.html

Sam
 Jonathan Bean 16 Oct 2014
In reply to The Lemming:

This is probably mine. http://www.jonathanbean.photography/sunset-at-st-bees-lake-district/

After 5 hours of driving to find dry rock to boulder on, ended up at St Bees beach at sunset and got this shot.

Best climbing shot, the first image on this page of Will Atkinson on Requiem at Dumbarton.

http://www.jonathanbean.photography/requiem-dumbarton-rock/
 Charlie Noakes 16 Oct 2014
In reply to Jonathan Bean:

Beautiful website Jonathan and the Requiem shot is a brilliant, thanks for sharing.
 Jonathan Bean 17 Oct 2014
In reply to Charlie Noakes:

You're welcome Charlie. Thanks.
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Thanks you for your kind words Gordon. I should get it framed really.
 franksnb 19 Oct 2014
 George Fisher 20 Oct 2014
Removed User 20 Oct 2014

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