Chat Thread Weekly Competition 18-24 Nov 2013 Christmas Cards.

[Oldboy]

Does anyone else print their own Christmas cards by the way?

Use to when I had the use of a £250,000 Xerox colour laser printed. 

[Reinardina]

Does anyone else print their own Christmas cards by the way?

Use to when I had the use of a £250,000 Xerox colour laser printed. 

Come down in the world, have you?

[jinky]

Paul, it may be a well known 'trick,' but I don't know it.

So, could you please explain, how to make a DIY bokeh shaper, and how to use it?

Thanks.

Reinardina - there`s an old blog I did of it here: http://photographybypauldishman.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/circles-of-confusion.html
One of my most popular blogs ever that one and even got some comments that were not spam!

That was with my old D80 but the newer ones were with my D7000. I find I get a large vignette with my full frame D7000 - I no doubt need a larger  hole / cut out for it to work.  I use it covering the lens with the lebs wide open to maximise the bokeh and light coming in. Keep meaning to experiment with smaller apertures to see when the effect goes but the filter kit keeps getting buried in my spare gear pack and comes out flatter everytime. The hardest thing is cutting the shapes into the card for the effects. A simple method:

Buy black card to use for the round "frame" and the actual cut out shapes.
Take said card into Hobbycraft
Cut out as many shapes as you can using their steel template cutters (selling at ridiculous prices) before an assistant / security ask you what you are doing
Explain that you are testing that they work
Explain the same to your solicitor and the judge

I didn`t need the last 2

[DigiDiva]

Probably nothing from me...Tenerife, though Wintertime, was 24 degrees! N0 chance of a Christmas card type image. nless I have some play time later today, I won't manage anything

[Reinardina]

Thanks Paul, much appreciated.
Wanted to leave a comment on your blog, but had to jump through too many hoops ID wise, so left it.

[jinky]

If you don`t have the hoops you get spammed so better that way

[Reinardina]

Probably nothing from me...Tenerife, though Wintertime, was 24 degrees! N0 chance of a Christmas card type image. nless I have some play time later today, I won't manage anything

There must have been Christmassy things, even on Tenerife. Or maybe it was too early?
I once spent some time in Singapore, just before Christmas, and everywhere there were decorations and Christmas trees and muzak.

Or, you can still go out there, and photograph the decorations in your home town, or your own decorations.
Anyway good luck and I hope you had a good holiday.

[Reinardina]

If you don`t have the hoops you get spammed so better that way

Ah, I see. But my thanks and appreciation on CC count too, I hope.

[kerbside]

Probably nothing from me...Tenerife, though Wintertime, was 24 degrees! N0 chance of a Christmas card type image. nless I have some play time later today, I won't manage anything

Chris, lived 6 years in Australia and quite a few Christmas cards there are beach themed. 

[ABERS]

You would have got very short odds at the bookies if you had laid a bet that there would be images of decorations, nativity scenes, robins etc. etc. When you look at packs of cards in the stores there are many cards now that use things other than those abovementioned.

Just put Merry Xmas on any image and it becomes a Christmas Card.

Surely going out and photographing other people's work to meet the brief is almost akin to copying eggs balanced on forks.

[Reinardina]

You would have got very short odds at the bookies if you had laid a bet that there would be images of decorations, nativity scenes, robins etc. etc. When you look at packs of cards in the stores there are many cards now that use things other than those abovementioned.

Just put Merry Xmas on any image and it becomes a Christmas Card.

Surely going out and photographing other people's work to meet the brief is almost akin to copying eggs balanced on forks.

You're giving me ideas. Again.

[Reinardina]

Xmas card new style. (Inspired by Alan's remark.)

It has the X factor, and the utensils that are, with glasses, most often used at this time of year.

Sadly I took the shot some time ago, so cannot use it for the comp, and I'll stick with my tarted up nativity scene.

[DigiDiva]

I feel Im being teased (in a nice way....)

I like traditional things at Christmas. I do have a few ideas, so might get one in later.

[DigiDiva]

Season's greetings One and All

[DigiDiva]

Hubby can't believe what I have  done to our fireplace.................In November.......