Arches k

Passageways under railroad in Fredericksburg. Nothing was altered in

this shot, except a tiny sliver cropped off in order to make it

formatted to 8x10. Would love to know what people think. Be honest,

it won't hurt my feelings. I learn from your comments, even though I

won't always agree, they help. thanks.

Sorry to dissappoint you Jennifer, but I think this is one of your best shots to date!

Well I loved it, but Ive seen so many arch shots, that I thought people would think it was boring. I was trying to keep from doing the arch inside an arch shot... wow... thanks. Maybe this one will get the second slot in the contest ... thanks.

There was some thought put into this picture. I enjoy the way you lined up one side of the arches so perfect. Excellent!

I was terrified of making this look like all the other arch shots I had been so harsh on....LOL. I didn't want them coming back to me and saying.... LOOOK... you did the same thing you told us not to do...LOL.

Nicely seen! I like your choice of angle and the way you have included the strong shadow on the left.

i agree with thomas. wonderful image. draws you right in. well done.

Jennifer- this is really nice, composition and lighting are very pleasing to the eye.

I got caught by this one. Very good compisition, light, and somehow different than usual.

Ditto to the above...plus I think it has a mystical dreamlike element to it.

Love it! The color contrast between the warm yellow street lamps and the cool blue shadows adds a touch of drama and enhances the sense of depth created by the receeding archways. --jim

Jennifer - I agree, now this is what an arches shot should be all about! Fantastic work, superb lighting and shadow mix.

As you said, another arche, and you tought it was boring. But especially you must know by now (I never saw such a lot of comments and intention you have on other work, what is great by the way) this is not another boring arche.

I think it is beautifull. A totaly different look, in composition and colors

You guys have aged my work by about ten years since I really started participating with my new camera this year. It is because of you that I my work has matured and I want you to know that. Most people pay thousands of dollars to go to school and sit in a class and be taught, and with lack of money, ( and really nice equipment) you have allowed me to achieve more in the last few months than I think I ever would have otherwise. I must say that critiquing others with all the points, and all the thought I could muster is what has helped me improve, so I hope that you will all go out and do the same for other photographers online, because it isn't just the one that is being critiqued that gets help, it is also the one doing the critiquing. Don't be surprised if some get angry because you were honest, in the long run, everyone wins. thanks so much. Jen.

Beautifully abstract yet mysterious. Superb.

... when you least expect it.... fame!

I think it's more like... .( finally a decent shot..)... hee hee. I think the comments are saying that they can see improvement, and that for me is a great step.

Jennifer, this is certainly one of your best. Nicely seen with very interesting colors and shadows!

I usually have so much fun in ps that i never submit an image without playing with it, but I was really tired, I had been up all night the night I took this, so when I got home, I glanced at it, took off part of a side to format it for 8x10 because my printer has to have that format in order to print the enlargements the way I like them, and I just submitted it without messing with the color or anything...LOL. I liked it when I saw it, but my fear again was that I would have too much of a traditional archway shot and that everyone would go.... BORING.... lol. I guess it pays to try it out and see, huh? Makes me wonder if I should have just left some of my images alone instead of throwing them into ps. lol

Beautifully executed. Well done!

Very nice Jennifer. It just goes to show you don't have to have classic achitecture to produce interesting arch images. The hues are lovely - very soothing. There is just one thing I have a slight reservation about and that's the step in the wall in the right foreground. It distracts me a little and I wonder if you tried any other crops - such as vertical, or square, or just closer. It's not a big deal, and I suggest it only as a possible alternative rather than an improvement.

This image reminds me of some of the pre surrealist paintings in the 20's...maybe De Chirico?Superb form and substance with just enough pale yellows to knock me on my ass Jennifer.The transition from rich blacks to highlites is very well executed.My only nits would be the abscence of thirds and the right side foreground seems a little soft?Still compelling!

Pleased to see the absence of thirds, shows that you don't need to follow a formula to get a bloody great image! It has an moody air of mystery and intrigue "The Catacombs". You could play with this place Jennifer, introduce an animal or person. You have nailed the correct composition.

Super picture.... love it.

Actually I didn't even know what the rule of thirds was until a few months ago...LOL, and even now that I know what it is, Im not always using it. I love lines, and I love how they make my eye dance, so most often I look for places where my eyes feel like they are dancing, and I try to put in the frame the area that they dance, without putting in areas that "stop" them. I know that probably makes no sense... but I think the nc folder is one of the best examples of what Im talking about. This shot was like a symphony with several acts to me... the lead in being on the right... and the middle area directed my eye back and forth like watching a tennis match... without my eye ever going out of bounds. That's sort of how I see pictures... as guidance for the eye.