Ellie

Helen,

This is just another photo of a kitty, and unfortunately nothing more. It is sharp, and properly exposed, but does that justify publishing it for a critique?

The background is messy and too vivid, the cat takes up too much area of the image to make a balanced portrait (it seams bloated as it is now), or too little if you wanted to focus on the cat's eyes or nose (in that case filling up the frame so that no background is left might be a good idea).

Hi Adam

Thank you for taking the time to critique my photograph. I appreciate the comments and I can see what you mean about the background.

I don't agree that just because it's a picture of a cat that I shouldn't have posted it for critique - if the only photos that could be published were completely original, then there would be a wealth of interesting photos out there that we would never see. Through posting it as well, I have had your great comments, which (as a beginner) are invaluable to me and I will definitely learn from them!

I have had a look at your portfolio and I think it's stunning - if I could photograph like that then I wouldn't be posting this photo, so I do see where you're coming from. If you have the time and / or inclination I would be seriously grateful if you could look at some other pictures in my portfolio and give me an honest opinion about how you think I could improve.

With thanks and very warm regards Helen

Helen, but you _do_ take very good pictures. The "Pink House", "Amaryllis and Sulphur Stream", "Tree" are images I would be very happy to show in my portfolio as mine :).

It's just that, in my opinion, you suffer from the inability to select. The kitty is probably your pet, and we do have an inclination to look in a different way at our pets, just as we do at our children. We love them, and love is blinding, you know. Love is not good for photography.

If your portfolio was mine, I would limit it to one best picture of the cat (I like the one with nose detail, where Ellie takes most of the image), and similarly with other subjects (the autumn leaves, London, etc.). On the other hand, how do I know I am right.

Thanks Adam - I'm very flattered you like my pictures. You're absolutely spot on that Ellie is my pet and I think you're right in your statement that love is no good for photography - definitely too subjective!

I suppose I ought to have a prune of my photos on here, but time management has never been my strong point and it's one of those many tasks I never quite get round to...

Thank you for taking the time to look at my photos - it is much appreciated.

Kind Regards

Helen