hanna_cowpe

I think you are too close to the flower and it needs more focus. Try stepping back a little and also think about shooting in more even light, such as bright overcast weather or when the sun is low and weak. This will eliminate the strong shadows which create confusion in the shape and form.

Jeff, when an image evokes a longing to be present at the scene you have accomplished much of the aim of a photograph. I think this porch represents our yearning for comfortable memories in a quiet place of refuge. It struck me, when viewing your recent images, what a contrast this is to your bedside table 'essay' and perhaps underlines my point.

Thankyou to all of you for your response. It is always appreciated.

Peter, this is a wonderful image. All the elements are just right, with the large rock in the foreground starting the viewer up the river and the sun's reflection guiding us between the rocks toward the trees. The shutter speed has stopped the flow at a nice texture without losing all sense of turbulance. The tonal perspective in the trees bring good depth and the sky has a nice amount of detail and sun to enhance the image. It's raw nature in all its grandeur.

How fortuitous that it landed on a white flower providing an ideal background. I guess those eyes work well to frighten off predators. Nice capture.

Marta, this is a great fun portrait of a child in summer.

Very nice detail and colour in the centre. The out of focus foreground piece is detracting as is the hot spot at top right. A slight rotation to the left and a tight crop would eliminate those elements I think. Just a thought.

This has lovely colour and good textural detail in the grass and sky. The solitary splash of red works well, but the very central location isn't my preferance. Perhaps cropping from the left to a narrower rectangle would be an alternative. Nice shot, nonetheless.

This is great - a real wall hanger. The bright colours are beautifully enhanced by the snow which has blotted out alot of the areas which would normally be grey. I rather like the haphazard pattern of the streets and buildings which keep the eye moving round and round the picture. It's a well chosen composition shot under the right conditions.

This has great rhythm and colour. The railing leads the eye nicely to the red building at the end. The various architectural features and the brick wall provide some nice textural detail.

Images with paths leading into the mist are calm and intriguing. I would like to see more of the trees in the distance and I think a few steps to the left would have placed them more centrally between the trees in the foreground. It would also, I think, give the viewer the feeling of standing at the bottom of the road rather than next to it. This isn't necessarily a better view, just an alternative one.

Anatoli, the light and colour is lovely and makes this picture work. There is a nice diagonal line from the pile of felled trees on the left across the shadows to the bottom right. I find the bare road area at bottom left a little disappointing. I agree a crop would eliminate that but it would also cut into the diagonal line. Perhaps a lesser crop than suggested, down the left and across the bottom would minimize the loss. However it is still a very pleasant image.

This has lovely depth, sharpness and lighting. I would consider cropping out the lily pads as the glare is detracting from the bloom.

Thanks and enjoy.

Well observed and very well photographed. It's an eye catching image with wonderful graphic appeal.

Henri, this is a nicely balanced image in tone, texture and composition. And your choice of b&w accentuates those features. The small area of light at the end of the stream draws the eye from the detailed foreground into the distance and then connects with the sun breaking through the sombre sky. It is a lovely image which must be viewed in the larger version.

I think viewers often wish to see what LOOKS right rather than what IS right. I have no issue with the sky being lighter on the left. You can see by the lighter, sunnier grass on the left side of the field that that is where the sun is. The well lit clump in the left foreground is evidence of that. I like the strong contrast in the foreground. The light and shadows play well against the subdued distant view, and the solitary tree balances the furrows on the right. It's a very pleasant summer view Henri.

Andrea, I like this scene. It's very much representative of my view of BC. The tone casts a warm and cozy feeling. Alas, this year that seems like a pipedream. I hope flooding isn't an issue again.

I like the elements of the image very much. The colours, textures, light and depth are all very pleasing. I wonder about the composition though. The piece of steel on the right is a stand-alone possibility with its range of colours and markings. Giving equal space to the piece on the left, with its dominant shadow, has detracted from the right side. I like the inclusion of the two vertical sections and the wood for material contrast, but personally I would prefer a crop from the left, say, to a square. There are numerous possibilities here and no doubt you have other versions. It's an interesting collage with aesthetic appeal.

I like the contrail. I think it was created by the angel.

Compositionally, I think the sand works, as well as providing a textural contrast to the still water with its seamless transition to the sky. But emotionally I want to be standing at the edge of the shore comtemplating the tranquility, not being distracted by the shore. Without the sand, I like the post, which works as a re-enforcement of the solitude, or representative of the lone viewer. I do like the image as is, in connection with the rest of the series in your scrapbook.

 

It's good to see you posting again.

Jim, she might seem unattractive to you but I bet the peacocks don't think so. Thanks for the thoughtful critique. Glad you like it.

Christos, the simplicity of the composition and the limited colour palette help to convey a feeling of peace and solitude that this man is enjoying. It has a nice balance of shapes and lines and the various textures add depth. It is a very pleasant image.

Aaron, thankyou, and I see you have a POW so I'll be stopping by to have a look.

Brad, you may be right about bringing out the yellow. This kind of shot seems to work best when lit from behind, hence the subdued colour. I shot this with a 50mm macro set at 2.8 using manual focus. Moving toward and away from the subject until the focus hits on an acceptable spot is the way I do it. I do this handheld because I find a tripod is a pain and reduces the creative aspect. But with such a shallow depth of focus it is easy to lose the sharpness on the desired spot. This one could have been sharper.

 

Thankyou for your response, and thankyou Roger and Jaoao.