Rural Postbox, missed the last post then!

Rural Postbox, missed the last post then!, originally uploaded by Rusty Marvin (Working away, catch up soon).

P1540646 - 60 pence for a First Class letter, blimey.
This is a Royal Mail postbox in a rural setting, the front view is the same for those mounted in walls once you leave the centre of town, we only have a few Pillar box types which are normally found outside a Post Office or where a Post Office used to be.
The price of a 1st (First class) letter has increased by some 30% biggest price rise for 37 years Second class has increased by 39%
We've had it pretty good up until now, but paying through taxes to subsidised the postal service.

SOOC
DMC G1 + Helios 44M
Tripod

Scavenger Challenge
18. What do mailboxes/postboxes look like in your area? Novel or plain, show us!

Interesting that in the UK we would probably term the above as a mailbox or post box where as in the U.S you guys have your mail boxes and we have letter boxes :)

Experiment - On Canvas - P1470153 - Drying Fern

Experiment - On Canvas - P1470153 - Drying Fern, originally uploaded by Rusty Marvin (feedback welcome).

P1470153 - Experiment because one of two things or both. So a personal development assignment.
Main reason for the photograph was a plan to get texture into the background using SOOC rather than post processing. The chosen texture comes from a white canvas backboard for oil painting.
The series also included using strobist lighting and developing my skills in that area to.

If you have time any pointers or comments would be useful I realise that the composition is important but quite keen for any feedback on lighting, bad and good, focus (and focus that could be improved by the lighting), sharpness or loss of detail Feel free to trash, bash em and add notes etc

SOOC
DMC G1 + Helios 44M Fstop 8.0 distance one metre
Tripod
ND 2 filter
Strobist 11 o'clock high
Light box single light to the right controlled with white polystyrene to create a beam in front of the canvas

This one in the light box
This one at the original size

The Electronic Ignition - Cooking on Gas

The Electronic Ignition - Cooking on Gas, originally uploaded by Rusty Marvin (feedback welcome).

P1480073 - There was I looking at computers and various gadgets around the house, then remembering it asks for your favourite gadget it had to relate to food!
So here is the start of the food warming process, lighting the gas hob to create something for one of my favourite past times, cooking.

Took a few as the e-shutter and the arch were not always in sync, so this one I liked, below is one crop and the original below that.

B Square crop and some tweaks on shadows and - 3 on exposure
DMC G1 + Helios 44M + 20mm Helios extension
Tripod

Do It Daily @ Today's Posting
Electronic gadgets pervade our world, make a photograph of your favorite gadget today., post it then Tag it with #TP120

Spring with Onion on canvas!

Spring with Onion on canvas!, originally uploaded by Rusty Marvin (feedback welcome).

P1460987 - Been thinking about doing this for a while and yes you have seen the onion before!
The onion is on a sandstone slab, with a white canvas background, don't ask me why, but that's I had worked it out and then spend an hour or more trying to get the shot I wanted, WIP then:)

Cropped SOOC
DMC G1 + Helios 44M
Tripod + light box light and torch from the right, mirror bounce back from left, ND Grad 2 filter, yes all on the kitchen stove :)

Scavenger Challenge
14. Show how the seasons are beginning to turn in your area.

Drainer and Kettle

Drainer and Kettle, originally uploaded by Rusty Marvin (feedback welcome).

P1460282 - Thought both might be fun

Do It Daily @ Today's Posting
Make a photograph featuring a metal or metallic object or surface., post it then Tag it with #TP118

Consoling tearful Skill Bill

Consoling tearful Skill Bill, originally uploaded by Rusty Marvin (feedback welcome).

P1450070 - It had been a hard day for Skill Bill, he had never been photographed before and now people are saying all sorts of things about him. He clearly didn't understand that mainly people liked him. Blandman did try explain that Skill Bill wasn't an egg yolk and that people just said the colour of your skin was similar to an egg yolk, Jobliee-Light did try and put some light on the situation but his version of the phrase didn't quite have the right meaning, as Skill Bill sat on his perspex box crying and Blandman tried to reason with him. But you could see it was all a bit wooden.

Scavenger Challenge
16. Express a strong emotion in a black-and-white portrait.

SOOC - B&W film mode
DMC G1 + Helios 44M
Tripod (Single light from Jobliee-Light sweet wrappers light dampers on lowest light)