The Red Lanterns

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Well I'm about halfway through the first cut of the China Pix with about 200 decent photos in the bag so far (of China, that is--I'm not including the 750 photos of Clara ;~) I figure I'm on track for a second cut of 100-150 photos that are really worthwhile. There are some interesting sets though like this one out of which only one or two will make the final cut. It was an interesting opportunity but I don't feel like I got the "Oh, WOW" shot I was hoping for. </p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZnchhdG/0/XL/i-ZnchhdG-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-SjZNsB3/0/XL/i-SjZNsB3-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-26k7sbN/0/XL/i-26k7sbN-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-tGXCvVb/0/XL/i-tGXCvVb-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p><img src="http://dadipentak.smugmug.com/photos/i-Pbv2x6Q/0/XL/i-Pbv2x6Q-XL.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[andrewg_ny]

<p>Looks like there was a lot of interest to point the camera at on this trip.</p>

<p>Sometimes oh-wow is hard to come by when you're travelling on a schedule, maybe lighting doesn't really cooperate. And 'interesting subject' doesn't always translate to a great image, again especially if time is limited and you can't explore the subject enough. Among these, I think the one with the lantern technician is the most interesting, though compositionally I'd probably like to lose some of the empty space on the left.</p>

<p> </p>

[jeremy_corbin]

<p>Dave, the final shot with the single lantern on the ground is my favorite. As in.... When do I get to buy a print?</p>

[michael_elenko]

Hi Dave,

What a great trip you must have had.

 

 

 

I, too, like the photo of the man on the bicycle, simply because his shirt color matches the lanterns. How cool is that!

 

 

 

A friend here imports a container of those lanterns (or some that loo, just like it) for resale every year. His wife is a

very talented fine artist who hangs several outside her studio. And it all looks artful. So the lanterns are becoming

somewhat of a commercial postcard for a few local shooters.

 

 

Consider performing a healthy dose of negative clarity on the lanterns to offset them a little more. Then you can work

the remaining elements of the whole picture.

 

 

ME

[shots worth sharing]

<p>You're certainly right Andrew I've been saying I need to go back and re-shoot this one or that one when conditions are more suitable but part of the fun is seeing what you can grab on the fly (and I've never been one to over-think my photography.) I agree with your suggestion about the composition on that shot. It'll require an unconventional "free-hand" crop (which I tend to avoid) but it does need that. </p>

<p>That's my pick too, Jeremiah--thanks! </p>

[ukhov]

<p>Great photos.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Thanks, Yury and Michael! I'll play with that negative clarity suggestion when I get to the second cut. </p>

[hagar]

<p>Dave, you go all the way to China... and all we get are some lanterns? Sheesh :-)<br>

Hurry up and post some more of those great shots that you are hiding :-)<br>

I do like the man on the bike.. as well as the single lantern shot. I would play around with the cropping of both shots some more personally.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Patience, Haig--it doesn't come naturally but I'm trying to be disciplined and methodical with these photos. Otherwise, I'll make a complete hash of things. Anyway, by way of analogy, I think it's one thing to see an animal in the zoo or pet store and another to see it wild in it's native habitat (but I confess I did photograph the Panda at the Beijing zoo.;~) </p>

[MattB.Net]

<p>Very nice. The first and third are my favorites. Looking forward to seeing more from this trip!</p>

[travis_truman]

<p>Nice work. The 2nd and 4th really speak to me. The branches in the second provide great leading lines. My only critique on that one would be the right side feels to open. My eye starts at top left, following the branches to bottom right and then just kind of peters out.</p>

[shots worth sharing]

<p>Thanks for the commentary Travis! I'm glad you see what I saw in that shot and your critique is dead on. Again, my inclination to stick to conventional aspect ratios is at work here (I may have to get over that) as well as a desire to emphasize the horizontal in that image. If my pp were more advanced, I might experiment with that crooked 'bracket-like contour on the right (but I suspect that would be a dead end in terms of composition.) </p>