Self

I like this, Michael. The high contrast and desaturated tones make for an unsettling atmosphere, as does the composition. I like how the right corners are cut off by wire or horizon, and how the hand fills the bottom left corner. I also like that the "z" lines from hand to fence to shadow/horizon drag the eye around the big empty dark spot in the middle of the image. The light on the barbed wire is good as well. Best, Jeremy.

Jeremy

Thanks for the comments, I think you reflect my thoughts on the image. Personally on a technical note I am a bit bothered that the hand is out of focus whereas the fence isn't- not really intended and a bit of carelessness on my part.

I think the tone would be quite different if you'd had the hand in focus, or if its highlights weren't blown - more restful than unsettling. And I do like the wire as is.

Hi Michael, I stumbled across your portfolio after a recent post you made in the site feedback forum.

 

Having committed a few of the sins you talked about there, I thought I'd peruse your portfolio, and what a good decision that was. You're work has a definite 'style' to it, I think the term muted may help to describe it (I'm not yet skilled enough in photography to really put my finger on the correct word). As the previous commenter, I think the out of focus hand actually strengthens this photo, and the tones and colours are quite excellent.

 

Being a Canon owner I can't help but notice what appears to be a fundamental difference in the colour qualities of Nikon images over Canon ones, that's not to say either is superior - perhaps its just my imagination at work, I'm not sure, but I'd love to be able to emulate this 'feel' without selling up ;)

Ben, I really don't think you should sell your camera. I had a beautiful set of minolta film cameras and lenses until last year, which I decided to sell as I felt very frustrated with my photography and needed to fund my purchase of the D70. Selling up was arguably the worst decision I have ever made. The moral is that you will do much better working with the equipment you have so you really get to know it and use at its best to get the results you want.

I was joking about selling up Michael :D