BLUE VS GREEN

?

Fine composition. Good idea, good shot. Regards...

Can't thank you enough. If it weren't for you, the silence on these last two posts would be deafening. It's not a bird. It's not a bug. It's not a nude. I'm screwed. Oh well, maybe tomorrow things will pick up.

I think the blue's won on this one, the green has receded from the the influence of the blue. Good perspective, though the left most barrel may be just a bit too close to the edge.

Dave, You're doing great stuff, and it's more appreciated than I think you realize. The other day you told me to stop looking and start posting. It is advice, as you now know, that I would gladly follow immediately. But looking intensely is always a good thing. I'm reminded of a passage from Kurt Vonnegut's final book. In it he quoted a painter friend whom he'd asked how one can tell a good picture from a bad one. His friend responded: "Look at a million pictures, and you can never be mistaken." Regards, Joe

Thanks for looking and commenting. I think you may have a very valid point about the edge.

Joe, you are right about some of what you say. I am really fortunate in that I have a group of people on Pnet who seemingly appreciate what I do, and whose work I enjoy viewing and thinking about. You've been around enough to know who those folks are. My major complaint tonight was the fact that a photo gets thrown out there to thousands and thousands of people that may never have seen one of my images or know what a nutcase I am. And it would be nice if maybe just ten said something. Anything!

 

As for my admonishment to you, I said that, because I have tried really hard to cultivate a circle of trusted, respected and intelligent photographers here on Pnet, and the whole basis is back and forth. I don't feel comfortable with my not being able to provide you with feedback, when you have been so generous with yours. I try not to be just a taker. I find such people offensive. And, besides, I enjoy your work and want to see more of it. That's pretty selfish I guess.

 

Thanks again, I appreciate your comments greatly. The quote was good and relevant too.

Dave, I fully appreciate your feelings about the give and take that marks a true circle of friends. But you are hardly just a taker. I've valued your feedback greatly since I began posting, and I look forward to reading it again when I'm back in the game, so to speak. In the meantime, I'm enjoying your post-trip explorations very much. You're doing damned good stuff. In fact, I've been inspired by your new direction. Joe

A blue that just dropped in from another solar system, I presume, and brought along its own shadow. Really, quite a shot.

Thanks. I suspect you might have had an influence in this one. I'll only give you credit if it is royally panned.

speaking of being on a V8 roll, you are on one, too. The danger of using an u-u-wide lens is making a photo where, maybe except for the main subject, everything is so small it's hard to see, or the photo is filled with big void, emptiness. The photos I've seen so far have none of that. This is a great composition. The rich blue barrels and other objects contrast the brownish ground nicely. The shadow of the barrels stretching towards you is nice, like offering a hand, and in a way partitions the photo into "us", the barrels, and "them" the other objects on the right that stay respectfully away, yet not too far to become too small and insignificant. The tree line and the sky are a nice backdrop. Even though the clouds are overblown, they actually help the barrels to stand out. How far were you from the barrels, and what focus length did you use? Cheers, Micheal

Glad you like it. I was about four feet from the barrels. Just far enough away to get the shadow. Taken at 10mm F8. What I most liked about it besides the V8 blue, was the way the barrels appeared to be pulling to the left and the trees to the right. Like a husband and wife pissed off at each other. The other blue objects were not too important, but they do add interest to an area that would be pretty blah. As for the sky, the sun was directly behind the barrels and I can't believe there is no lens flare. I need to get a polarizer for this lens.

be careful with a polarizer. On wide lenses they produce uneven polarization, so you get dark-light-dark sky; it doesn't look very good. On u-u-w lenses that effect would be even worse. How come a filter fits on this lens? Isn't the front element bulging? Well, if you took a photo that is symbolic of a dysfunctional marriage, it's time you took a photo of a functional one, as well. Cheers, Micheal

Exactly what I faulted you for on your yellow sign photo, I'd be curious to see here. I wonder how a little more greenish yellow saturation in the trees would feel, offsetting the intensity of the blue. This is my favorite of your recent submissions because I just think I feel you present here, pleased with the thought of this photo and enjoying it so much. The bit of whimsy comes through and it feels nice. There's just enough drama, yet also joy, in the sky to provide a very suitable backdrop here.

David,quite an unusual find. I like the composition and caption. You can always count me as your fan.

I like the color mix...as for the light and composition I personaly feel much less impact than the previous one I commented (American Pastime)...I think it's due to the foreground barrels...it takes a huge importance visually but due to the back light/shadow their aesthetical interest is much diluted...

Thanks very much. It is great to have someone with your knowledge and skills looking at my image.

Thanks for the comment. You are right, the barrels are a huge counterweight to overcome in this image, and perhaps that was not accomplished. Also, I think my point of view could have been expressed better without the blue objects along the tree line. I think it might have been much more visually barren without those objects, but might have reduced the number of elements to the bare essentials. And there is something to be said for that.

Once again, you've managed to capture something that would probably go by unnoticed by the unaware, a subject that Joe Average deems not worth photographing. The very wide angle adds up to the drama, but then I'm a sucker for ultra wide angle shots. Composition is strong and original - great work!

 

Oh, and as has been pointed out before: be careful with polarizing filters on ultra wide angle lenses; they will pronounce the natural effect of the sky banding; by nature, the sky is darkest in an angle of 90' towards the sun. Since the angle of view of UW lenses is so wide, you'll easily see this darker band running across your image. Aside from this, filters on an UW lens, especially the 'normal' (not thin) ones will vignette at the widest zoom settings.

 

Best regards,

Frank

Thanks for th comment and the advice. I guess I shall not plan on doing a polarizer with the new toy.

i first thought this was a shooting range. then i saw the see-saw, so i guess it is a playground. kind of bizarre. love the image though. kind of tired tonight. sorry i'm notmore articulate.

Truth of the matter is that this is adjacent to the shooting range where the other image you just commented upon was located. The town police use the shooting range and this place is a police dog training ground. They make the dogs jump over things and go through things and do lots of stuff. That's what all that blue stuff, including the doggie teeter totter is for. Get some rest. Tired photographers don't do good work.

Hi David,

 

This one held my interest for quite some time while I tried to figure out what I liked about it and then articulate those feelings. I like the way the "in your face" foreground barrels grabbed my attention right away before I was left to explore the remainder of the image trying to figure out why all these different shaped but matching color objects seemed to be randomly dumped.

 

Lots of geometry and repetition involved here also. The strongest of which being one large triangle of the barrels comprised of big and little circles and repeating triangles separating the barrels. This could be an interesting image in itself. A little more detail in the sky maybe and a bit more space between the barrels and the left edge, but neither is a big deal. I also want to thank you for recently commenting on several of my images, old and new.

 

regards,

 

 

Thanks so much for the detailed commentary. Obviously you did take the time to look at it. That's all anyone can ask.

Dave, this damned shot stayed in my mind so long I had to come back and upgrade the rating. It's special. Warm regards, Joe