windjammer

Enjoyed your submission of this image to the 'No Words' Solitude thread -- I thought it fit beautifully. I was so looking forward to that 'discussion' but was, in fact, saddened that most of the submissions had the same theme -- a single person, and not necessarily alone, either. Take care,

Dear Mr. Botta,

 

Thank you for sharing a beautiful and moving statement with us. I feel your title sums up this work elegantly -- 'together.' Together, two people go through life 'onward and upward.' Togtether, they climb over those giant steps, those hurdles of life. Together, they journey.

 

Thanks again,

Hello, Mr. Graham,

 

Yes, it is a natural, unretouched or photchopped shot. The minerals do fluoresce naturally when exposed to short-wave ultraviolet radiation, (essentially a specialized blacklight).

 

I collected this specimen from the Sterling Hill Zinc mine in Ogdensburg, New Jersey. The area there (including the a nearby mine in Franklin) in unique mineralogically for the diversity and concentration of fluorescent minerals found there. There are over 300 species found there (exceeding any other location) with over 30 of those species unique to the locale.

 

The red in the above specimen is merely a variety of calcite, while the green is a zinc ore called willemite. The black specks are dots of another zinc ore, franklinite, named after franklin, the type locality.

 

If you'd like some more information on those unique and interesting mines, check their websites:

 

http://www.sterlinghill.org/

 

http://www.franklinmineralmuseum.com/whatshere.htm

 

Thanks for your comments and interest!

 

Frank

So many view sunsets as cheesy, as mere documentation of a scene given too them rather than the creation of a work of art. Indeed, this is true in many cases. Not so here. This sunset shot lets me smell the saltwater. Perfect blur on the spray, great tonality, lovely saturated black tones. Also appreciate your thoughtful framing. Very nice all around -- even like your sig.

Just very, very nice. Considering the overall symmetry, I'd crop the left slightly to preserve that effect throughout the image. Technically beautiful tone and exposure.

Unusual choice of DOF, executed very well. Nice color contrast.

This is my first attempt in the still life genre, as well as my

first 'tweaked' shot (apart from standard photo tweaks) out of my

usual landscape and nature interests -- the muse apparently came by

and I tried to create the concept I saw. Will appreciate any comments.

 

Thanks,

Frank

Just not thrilled.

I've recently gained much appreciation for those who give of themsleves, and so I am sensitive to the tenderness in this image. If I could be so crude as to introject a technical comment, the image would be stronger for me if it was rather cropped on the top and just a hair off the left.

 

My regards,

Frank

I smiled and chuckled -- that is a compliment. Love the 'comfort' of the child with the dog and vice versa. Like the highlights in hair and fur. Like the softness. Would like to see it larger, though.

 

Keep shootin'

Frank

Nice dichotomy in this image. As for making it better, I'd crop the just the left to put the monk off center, but still leave some of the temple(?) that I see on the right for environmental background.

Wow. Gulls aren't my favorite variety of bird, I must say, but you've done a fine job on this one. Nice cropping, tack sharp, good color, nice exposure. In agreement with my colleague just above -- it really is a great portrait of a seagull. He seems alert in an almost whimsical way. Thanks for sharing.

Beautiful. I could only ask that the ice-less area was more smooth, but in a natural photo this is often unavoidable. Could you enlighten us as to what (or who) a Skajaquada is?

Thank you all for your well-thought comments!

 

P.S. JS Burnie, the opposite view is of a street and a roadcut/embankment -- not thrilling, but thanks for your interest.

To me, it is as if the church is a bastion, warding off the dark maelstrom outside.

This is too nice to critique. It is almost (dare I say it) unreal. I love the black of the underexposed foregroung conifers -- matches well with your black frame.

You captured that very well. Thank you.

Saw this while driving, and was struck by the golden light and the contrast inherent. Had to stop to try and capture it.

To you, does this photo succeed? How do you feel about it?

 

Thank you.

Please view the 'large' version to see the detail.

Thanks, Mr. Botta. That seems like a beautiful memorial and very patriotic. I must say that I like this shot best of the series, but the rest help complete the picture.

 

Take care,

Frank

 

Certainly not a 1/1, but that does occur commonly here. Again, like the others, until I saw the 'large' size I was thinking 1/1. But now...7/9 Can you tell us any more about the memorial?

As you say, it's all about that nice tonal graduation. The only caveat in my critique of this image is that the diagonal line (wing?) at upper right --just a touch distracting, I am left wondering what it is.

 

The lack of color adds to the feel of desolation under a sun whose warmth is not felt; whose power is seemingly diminshed by the bleak landscape. Lovely texture on the snow, too.

 

This shot is very elegant and delicate as well. Sharp, but yet it has a nice soft feel. Some might call it unoriginal; I'd call it classic and well-executed.

Very, very nice. To me, I see two people, who, together, can enjoy the world.