Simple path (1979)

Thanks.

great contrasts!!!!

This photo is very captivating... And I agree, nice contrasts!

Great exposure and B&W composition, contrasts and tones are also very impessive. All my compliments and regards. Maurizio

Isn't it funny how so often imperfections bring out the sheer loveliness of something? The crack in the path brings another element into this beautiful scene. I'd love to stroll through the lushness.

I agree with Donna that the crack adds depth and reality to this otherwise lush and inviting scene. Of course, these days, most of us would Photoshop the crack out. But, don't you dare. Great photo.

Thanks mates for the comments. As per your saying Jeff about Photoshop...well, I never take out or put something that belongs or not belongs to the capture.;-)

I hope you know I was joking, Artur. I know you are a purist. I'm tiring of perfect pictures that bear no resemblance to anything real (my own included).

Of course I knew you were joking Jeff. And let me say that you are a bit harsh with your own work, my friend. ;-)

Artur, That's very kind of you to say. I don't feel like I'm being self-critical. I'm just wishing I had more skill in doing the shots I'd like to do. But perhaps you're right. Some of us focus on beauty, others focus only on the cracks in the sidewalk. As your picture suggests, both are required to be balanced and accurate. Okay, enough psycho-babble.... Thanks. And again, inspiring shot.

Jeff, I don't think your point is psychobabble. I relate very much to what you are saying. I think your suggested idea of balance in what photos represent and bring to us is an important consideration, one of the reasons this photo of Artur's is so appealing. It explores a side of life that is not perfect, not glorious, not necessarily spiritual or "inspired." It is just real. And often that is enough if handled well by a good photographer as is the case here. Through simplicity and understatement, this achieves a universal "something" to which many of us can relate. It's not sumptuous colors or dramatic cloud formations that reach us here. It's honesty and genuineness. We are being led here on a "small," not a grand, journey, a very private and personal journey along this path of textured foliage walls, past the central subject of the crack to who-knows-where? I'm quite content to explore this place and time for a while. I'm glad Artur invited us all along. This, to me, is an intimate photo.

Many thanks Fred for your lines and all for the comments. Once I told Jeff, that when "converting" in 2001 , all my humble analogue photographic knowledge and my way of being in photography to digital, I was a little confused as the possibilities digital offer us, are imense...in a way. Very soon I realized that no matter the possibilities are, I had to stick to my feelings, sensitivity and to the same way I started photography 35 years ago: a way of communicate with others through photography, a simple way of doing it. Photography has no secrets and unwise are the ones that think it has.Photography is a simple way of sharing moods, visions, and to freeze in time something that do catch up our attention. Photography is "personal", in my way of living it, I do not dare to say that "x" photographer is better than "y" photographer, as we are all different in our approach through photography. What I can say is that, the same photographer can offer me different images for which I can like some, and dislike others, but the photographer is the same.What I can evaluate or not, besides my personal taste, is the technique used for a determined capture, not only in terms of compo, but also in terms of "development". In terms of compo, again, is a question of personal taste, in terms of development well..it is more difficult. I like to obtain images as I obtained when doing analogues, with no heavy post-processing or " stupid " post processing that has nothing to do with the image I captured with the camera. And that's what I do with digital imaging: is like something like converting the WYSIWYG concept ( what you see is what you get ) (used in various applications to edit internet pages and content,as you know ) to WYSIWIS in photography: What You See is What I Saw. And that's the way I'll stick allways...because is the only way how I want to continue in my photographic life. However...I am not against my fellowmates that do heavy postprocessing on images, if it is not transformed in "stupid" post processing and if it is...well done, with quality. Interestingly or not, the above image, taken in 1979 in London, never saw the day until now. When digitalizing it some days ago, I looked at it and asked myself: "why the hell I have never enlarged this one? ". Beats me but...probably now, I am more aware for some kind of images I have made long time ago. However and besides I like it very much - otherwise I would never shared it - I never imagined that it could "touch" all of you. And that, makes me very happy because and although I make photography in a very selfish way - I do photography for myself - it is always rewarding when we can "touch" others, especially when those others, are photographers like myself . And besides the fact that anyone can buy a camera, not anyone was born to be a photographer. All of you were meant to be. Many thanks again, and it is a pleasure to share with all of you. Artur