"Velina"

In this style/form of photography, Ulita is quite accomplished, and I would only say keep up your work. You may wish to try creating highlights that are less blown out than the principal one here, but I acknowledge that that may well be your intention in adding drama to your scene.

I wish to know, however, from the Elves, or Elve, who chooses the type of images we see constantly in the POW forum, when we may see a more diversified aesthetic in the choice of images, perhaps to see some which are powerful in a more subtle manner. There are also some areas of photography that are essentialy unrepresented, one example being street photography. But I for one would really appreciate seeing a broader range of aesthetic in photography than what we have in recent months been privileged to view.

Arthur is right. At this point, it's ridiculous. Unfortunately, this is not the place to air grievances with the Elves, who deserve it. So, I started a thread HERE for those of us who are fed up with the lack of diversity in the Photo of the Week choices to let the seemingly missing administration know what we think of what's happening in this particular all but abandoned forum.

I suppose that light shafts are always interesting but I am not sure there is much to really look at here beyond these. I think it is a pretty banal landscape even with that decoration but I totally understand its attraction to many who are beginning to work in landscape or who don't do so often. There really isn't much of a subject or anything to really take us anywhere else. I don't have any issue with the "blown" highlights at this size and since there isn't a larger size.....??? I think small areas of extreme highlights (actually, these are pretty far from blown out) in an image like this can be ok and even help establish the sense of harsh or bright light.

This image seems pretty "straight" to me, without a lot of fuss or post but I just don't think it probably needs any work as there just isn't much there of interest after the initial "pretty" of the light shafts. It seems more like one of those exercises to render light shafts that we do honing our skills, then we are off to create something more substantial.

(I agree with the others and it really isn't fair to Ulita, but we need more variety...)

John A expressed the thought I had when I initially looked at Ulita's POW earlier this morning. If photography is primarily about light and composition, I thought this photograph had addressed light (although even that might have some shortcomings if a viewer doesn't care for really bright spots) but not composition. I've said in the past that sometimes the entire image can be the subject, but I just don't find this grouping of vegetation to have anything that captures my attention or holds my interest. Certainly that's very subjective, and that's just my personal assessment. At first glance, the light holds hope, especially with the sun rays which many people find aesthetically appealing, but that very quickly fades in the nondescript landscape.

Not only boring but a recuring them again and again!

This is like a illustration out of a computer game. Where are the goblins? The shaft of light appear to do a strange thing. The third or fourth one down appears to change dirrection in the middle of the forest. I didn't know light could do that.

Let me begin by quoting the elves: "Before writing a contribution to this thread, please consider our reason for having this forum: to help people learn about photography."
To that end, this POW has nothing to do with photography and everything to do with poorly implemented graphic artist skills. Enough with the graphic images on steroids!
Let's see some real photography in the POW forum; else I think I'm going to start feeling like a POW!

I will add my endorsement to the gist of Stephen Penland's thoughts.
I feel a tingling bit of discomfort in 'heaping it on' to Velina, which to me is just not a real captivating image. Captivating or charming as compared to so many others that come our way in this type subject of pastoral imagery. I add that my discomfort is I just cannot find in it a center of interest , that is a central subject of interest to focus on here. I wish otherwise because it is not totally lacking in attributes. It has mood and color, yes, and light and shade, all useful ingredients, but is mood enough without a defined subject or subjects, a main course if you will I mean. I think not; lighting and mood in a pastoral scene is hardly enough to be a winning main course for the eye feasting by themselves, a main course that is. (And I am sure that off the cuff generalization can be disputed.) So be my guest, ye nature photographers, I am here to learn too.

it could use a rabbit...

This image may have started it's life as an interesting photograph that captured some beautiful crepuscular rays in a difficult setting, but was then manipulated into what would more be described as an illustration. That, of course, is a personal opinion because this looks like so many of the illustrations I grew up viewing in religious pamphlets... sun rays being the symbolic image of God. Nothing wrong with that and I don't mean this to be derogatory, just an observation.

However, in keeping with the theme established early in discussion, I don't see how the POW can possibly "help people learn about photography" since we can't communicate with Ms. Zlatkova nor do I expect to have any explanation of technique from her. Ms. Zlatkova has not posted on PNet since August 16, 2008 and her one and only comment occurred on December 1, 2006.

There are multitudes of very talented, active photographers on PNet with portfolios full of discussion worthy photographs who I am sure would love to interact and discuss their selection as POW. I don't understand the recent proclivity of the Elves in selecting inactive member photos for discussion.

Mike

good post ML M...why not choose a POW from members who are still active...there are plenty of choices...i've found myself wondering about the recent POW's but without input from the photographer, I believe we are missing something vital...

Another enchanted fairyland forest? Where are the fairies and unicorns? I wish I could say something positive here, but I can't. This type of work has become generic and boring, and is not even representative of the photographer's better work. Thumbs down on this one.

the image did receive high ratings (6.11)...apparently the majority gave it high praise...what would that say about the majority or more importantly about this site...

David, one thing it might possibly mean is that the elves use those evaluations in selecting possible POWs. Most of the POWS come with high praise of the "majority". Many photograph posters ask for a critique, but not a rating.

Arthur, maybe there should be a selection of potential POW's, let's say 5 made by the moderators, that can be voted upon and selected for the following weeks POW...you could even tabulate ratings 1-7 on various categories, aesthetics, originality and a few others giving an aggregate score, the highest of which becomes the POW and open to discussion...there are obvious problems to that kind of setup but why not make the POW selection more interesting and engaging...just a thought...

This is a nice conventional nature photograph. There is nothing wrong with it. It is nice. This is the sort of photograph that Mitt Romney would hang in his living room. This frankly not an interesting photograph and far below much of this excellent artist's work. Look at her N file. It is brilliant.

If their goal is to grow their membership, opinions and tastes like ours are in the minority. They need to appeal to a broader audience.
Steve, this is exactly the problem why so many good /special photographers left PN. LOOKNIG for better kind of photography.!

I don't know what is the direction of PN with the new relplacement of Josh.If your thoughts are right, lets look for more good ones to leave PN...I can give you a much longer list of good ones that already left quite some years ago....

I don't find much interest here. The light shafts terminate at the base of half a tree. They are over exposed as well. There are many different elements but no true, strong subject

I like it! Though it is too solitary, and I am not much in the mood for taking pictures of solitary places any more, neither to look at them. I guess I never was.
In this one there is something not about life, really.
Kristina

Ditto to what ML M said above. I have spoken to that issue before here on PN.

It would be a much more worthwhile discussion if Ulita could interact and respond to comments presented on the image. Would it be possible for the Elves to contact the photographer prior to selecting their image for discussion? This would serve two purposes....to see if the photographer is 1) willing to have their image displayed and 2) willing to interact with the other members, including what could potentially be criticism directed their way.

What's missing is a subject. No noun in the sentence full of adjectives. The rest is well done.
Is that not worthy of discussion?
I'm glad that the blowhards have moved to their own controlled zone and have decided not to taint the POW with self-important bloat. Thanx guys. Have fun.

John, I like your analogy of no noun in a sentence full of adjectives; that's very descriptive.

With words like "blowhards," "taint," and "self-important bloat," you're perpetuating that weekly happening, the one you criticize, quite well.

The image was posted six or seven years ago. Maybe it was something new then, maybe it was unique. But it isn't new or unique now.

Jim, it is quite striking how general sentiment changes over the years. We're in the middle of a rapidly changing technological transition, and it's fascinating to see how attitudes change along with the technology. All of this is preserved in photographs, and one only has to look at the history of POW selections to see how the photos and corresponding attitudes have changed. Sure, there have been significant events in the past that opened new avenues in photography, but nothing, IMO, like the digital revolution. It's a special time for photographers and photography.

there are also trends here on pn...i remember about 8 years ago when reflections of every sort were "in" and now not so much or when Andrezj Dragan created dramatic portraits and attempts to copy his style was a bit of a rage...i see more and more digital artistry but we have lost several key contributors...a lot has changed...