FILM - Roll #1 Analysis (2nd attempt)

Well, here we go again. Below are the shots from On A Roll, "Fall in My Backyard" attempt #2. I have included grades and thoughts from my previous posts (in blue.) The comments below them (in green) are my observations after seeing the developed film. In order to get these up quickly I copied the film with a Nikon P 7000 digital camera. The actual film appears slightly different from the photos below.

I am starting a new roll, this roll did not meet up to what I ultimately wanted. I would love to hear any comments you might have after seeing this second attempt.

SHOT LOG (Fall in My Backyard) attempt #2

 Nikon F5, Fuji Velvia 100

1) Fall at Soapstone Falls - (H)

Tishomingo County, MS

November 4, 2011 - 10:24 am

Cloudy, 54 degrees

17-35mm, 1 sec.@f22, Tripod

Grade A

Nice, beautiful colors.

Grade A

Turned out as desired.

2) White-tailed Deer in Fall - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 7, 2011 - 8:43 am

Clear, 63 degrees

400mm, 1/20@f3.5, Tripod  

Grade B+

Could be too much contrast. Deer positions should be pleasing along with golden leaves.


Grade B+


I liked the shot, just a little soft.

3) Grasshopper on Fall Leaf  - (V)

Madison County, MS

November 8, 2011 -  7:12 am

Partly Cloudy,  61 degrees

60mm, 1/13@f13, Tripod  

Grade A+

Beautiful colors, dew, warm light.


Grade A


Came out nice, as desired.

4) Great Egret & Cypress - (V) ?

Madison County, MS

Novenber8 2011 -   9:34 am

Partly Cloudy,  71 degrees

500mm, 1/400@f4, Hand Held 

Grade A

Tried to catch the egret taking off. Position in air will make or break this shot.


Grade B


The  position of wings as he took off are not in a pleasing position.

5) Fungi - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 8, 2011 - 10:04 am

Partly Cloudy, 69 degrees

60mm, 1/40@f6, Tripod

Grade B+

Interesting light and forms. Tried to shoot from a position slightly beneath the fungi to get gill patterns.


Grade A


I liked the way the yellow leaves fell on the fungi.

6) Alligator Resting in Leaves - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 8, 2011 - 10:30 am

Partly Cloudy, 71 degrees

500mm, 1/160@f4, Tripod  

Grade B+

Just finding this guy resting with a fallen leaf on his body was exciting. Light may be a problem.


Grade A


I liked this one, cool shot.

7) Green Treefrog on Leaf  - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 8, 2011 - 11:42 am

Partly Cloudy, 76 degrees

60mm, 1/30@f10, Tripod  

Grade B

Composition was an issue since I was trying to place the frog as part of the scene and not the main subject.


Grade B+


The composition and colors pleased me.

8) Turtles on Log - (H) ?

Madison County, MS

Novenber 8 2011 - 12:31 pm

Partly Cloudy,  78 degrees

500mm, 1/1000@f4, Hand Held

Grade C

This was taken so fast I have no idea. The turtles bailed on me quickly.


Grade D


Bad decision.

9) Sumac - (V)

Madison County, MS

November 8, 2011 - 1:04 pm 

Partly Cloudy, 75 degrees

60mm, 1/500@f3.2, Tripod

Grade A-

Powerful colors will make this. A little simple however.


Grade B-


Colors did jump but a little disappointed.

10) Golden Silk Spider - (V)

Madison County, MS

November 9, 2011 - 10:22 am

Clear, 60 degrees

180mm, 1/250@f8, Tripod  

Grade A+

I like this one. It should be different with spider, web and out of focus color in the background. It took awhile to get the camera in the right position for the shot.


Grade B


Not quite as impactful as anticipated.

11) Swamp in Fall - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 9, 2011 - 11:05 am

Clear,  60 degrees

17-35mm, 1/5@f22, Tripod  

Grade B+

Good color, reflections and mood should make this a pleasing landscape.


Grade B


An odd light is cast over open water area, don't like it.

12) Ducks in Flight at Dusk - (H) ?

Madison County, MS

Novenber 10, 2011 - 5:05 pm

Clear,  56 degrees

500mm, 1/800@f4, Tripod 

Grade B

Don't know about this one. Colors should be OK but it will depend on formation of flock as well as wing positions.


Grade B


Not bad for a group in flight, just not "the one."

13) Full Moon - (H) ?

Madison County, MS

November 10, 2011 - 5:17 pm

Clear, 55 degrees

500mm, 1/40@f4, Tripod

Grade C

Got a feeling this will be blurry from movement of camera. Exposure should be OK.


Grade A-


Came out nice, not blurry at all.

14) Leaves & Frost - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 11,  2011 -  6:25  am

Clear, 36 degrees

60mm,  13 sec.@f32, Tripod  

Grade A


Nice, beautiful colors and frost on leaf edges.


Grade A


Came out nice, as desired.

15) Foggy Sunrise - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 11,  2011 - 6:34 am

Clear, 36 degrees

180mm, 1/1250@f6.3, Hand Held

Grade A

As long as color, contrast, exposure and light rays all come together this shot should be very powerful. (That pretty much sums up all shots, doesn't it?)


Grade B


Came out nice, I was pleased.

16) Cardinal in Fall Leaves - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 13,  2011 - 2:54 pm

Cloudy,  78 degrees

400mm, 1/40@f3.5, Tripod

Grade A+

This seemingly simple shot took two days to capture. The colors were perfect for a female cardinal to fit into the composition. I was tempted many times to take a shot of another bird, it seemed I would never see a cardinal land in the right spot. As with all shots like this, it depends on the birds position the moment the shutter opened as to whether or not this will be a pleasing photograph or not.


Grade B-


Disappointed, body position of bird not pleasing, the colors were great. After two days of waiting you would think I would have done better. My old nemesis "frustration" showed up.

17) Redheads in Flight  - (H)  

Madison County, MS

Novenber 13, 2011 - 4:21 pm

Clear,  77 degrees

500mm, 1/640@f4, Hand Held

Grade C+

Hard to know, this will depend again on flock position and sharp focus.


Grade B-


Don't see redheads around here much. Focus was sharp, flock position, not so much.

18) Bur-marigold (Bidens laevis) in Fall - (V) 

Madison County, MS

November 14, 2011 - 2:53 pm

Partly Cloudy, 77 degrees

60mm, 1/50@f11, Tripod

Grade C-

Tight close-up but may be too simple to be interesting?


Grade B-


Turned out to be better than I remembered.

19) Fall Tallow - (V)

Madison County, MS

November 14,  2011 -  3:58 pm

Overcast, 80 degrees

180mm,  1/40@f5.6, Tripod  

Grade B+

Nice, beautiful colors.


Grade C-


Did not care much for this image, depth-of-field was a problem.

20) Trees and Clouds at Dusk  - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 14,  2011 - 4:50m

Partly Cloudy, 76 degrees

180mm, 1/400@f8, Hand Held

Grade A

Tree silhouette and cloud composition at dusk should make this a pleasing sunset.


Grade B-


Pleasing, yes...impactful, not really.

21) Canada Geese in Fog - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 18, 2011 -  6:22 am

Clear,  33 degrees

500mm, 1/100@f4, Tripod

Grade B

Swimming away from me, I was trying to get the small ripples created by the swimming geese to form the composition. Don't know.


Grade C-


Not really happy with this shot.

22) Plum & Leaf with Frost - (V)

Madison County, MS

November 18, 2011 -  6:47 am

Clear,  33 degrees

60mm, 1/15@f7.1, Tripod

Grade A

Somewhat shallow depth-of-field should make this interesting.


Grade A+


I think this is my favorite shot on the roll, the shallow focus made the frosty edges "pop."

23) Deer in Frost - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 18, 2011 -  7:10 am

Clear,  34 degrees

500mm, 1/1000@f4, Tripod

Grade A+

I set up near a deer crossing and a doe stepped out right where I hoped she would. The light from frost on the ground should give the shot life.


Grade A


Came out as desired, body position could be a little better.

24) Gray Squirrel Warming - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 18,  2011 - 8:33 am

Clear,  44 degrees

500mm, 1/80@f4, Tripod

Grade C

This was a tough one. I wanted the backlight to highlight the squirrel's tail, maybe.


Grade B-


Accomplished what I was after, but not quite right.

25) Hooded Mergansers in Flight  - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 19,  2011 - 7:15 am

Clear,  50 degrees

500mm, 1/250@f4, Tripod

Grade B

Positions and sharp focus again.


Grade F


Mergansers are totally out of focus, which is too bad because I love the shot.

26) Groundsel & Clouds - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 19,  2011 - 12:20 pm

Cloudy,  71 degrees

17-35mm, 1/60@f13, Hand Held

Grade B

Pretty simple landscape shot. Looking for a beautiful blue sky with white clouds to make it a pleasing image.


Grade C


Boring. Cloud formations were bad.

27) Downy Woodpecker  - (V)

Madison County, MS

November 19,  2011 - 2:17 pm

Cloudy,  73  degrees

500mm, 1/50@f4, Tripod

Grade C

Really have no idea about this one. Difficult composition and light.


Grade D or B?


The woodpecker (blur in middle) took off as the shutter opened and created an interesting blur. Probably would be acceptable in a book presentation, can't decide. This is one of the things that happens in wildlife photography but can't be seen until the film returns.

28) Tree Silhouette - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 19,  2011 -   4:28 pm

Clear,  73 degrees

180mm, 1/200@f16, Hand Held

Grade B+

Interesting lines and color should make this a very graphically interesting composition.


Grade B+


I like the graphic impact.

29) Tree Roots  - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 20,  2011 -  8:20  am

Cloudy, 66 degrees

60mm, 1.3 sec@f22, Tripod

Grade B+

I am counting on the color of leaves and ground as well as the interesting lines the tree roots made to complete this attempt.


Grade C-


Not happy with the results. Colors did not come through as I had envisioned.

30) Cicada Skins  - (V)

Madison County, MS

November 20,  2011 -  10:49  am

Cloudy, 72 degrees

60mm, 1/4@f22, Tripod

Grade C+

Thought it was an interesting find, may not translate.


Grade C+


Came out as I suspected, but not interesting enough.

31) Red-tailed Hawk in WIllow  - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 20,  2011 -  12:10 pm

Cloudy, 73 degrees

500mm w/2xTC, 1/160@f8, Tripod

Grade B

This was just a difficult shot because of the very long lens set up, who knows?


Grade B+


It is hard to see here, but it came out very interesting.

32) Holly Berries  - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 20,  2011 -  12:42 pm

Cloudy, 77 degrees

60mm, 1/10@f11, Tripod

Grade B+

Colors of the season was what I was thinking here.


Grade D


"Colors of the season" is NO reason to take a shot .

33) White-tailed Deer Buck - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 20,  2011 -  2:50 pm

Cloudy, 76 degrees

500mm, 1/250@f4, Tripod

Grade A

Nice buck that I had been trying to get on film but had constantly eluded me. Heard him move in a thicket he had been frequenting so I positioned myself for a departure. Got it.  Now, what position was his body, legs, etc. in when the shutter opened?


Grade C+


Well, first of all this is not the buck I had been seeing, this is a six point. Otherwise, it is OK but nothing special.

34) Creek Reflections - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 20,  2011 -  3:11 pm

Cloudy,  75 degrees

180mm, 1/15@f10, Tripod

Grade A+

Think I am going to like this one.


Grade B


I like it, but not that much.

35) Blackbirds in Flight  - (H)

Madison County, MS

November 20,  2011 - 4:53 pm

Partly Cloudy,  76 degrees

500mm w/2xTC, 1/200@f8, Tripod

Grade D+

What can I say, #35 again. Sorry to say, I think the light was too low to capture this.


Grade D-


Came out better than expected as far as focus, but obviously I was forcing the shot to finish the roll. Naughty, naughty.

On A Roll...again!