stever

A wonderful photo, Rosihan. It brings back memories from about 10 years ago, when my son had these toys all over the place. Your photo gives a strong and good feeling about the young boy who sleeps in this bed :-)

 

I would love to see this redone with a little more sharpness and contrast.

 

best regards,

SteveR

Hello Loft - I've seen this sort of photo before, but you've done it very well, interestingly, by backing off a bit and putting the people in a larger context. The magazines make a great foundation for the photo, and your placement of the people is very good.

 

My only complaint is that I wish there were a little more sharpness and contrast.

 

Also, I think the composition could benefit if you are able to clone out the rectangular frame in the cobblestone at the bottom.

 

Very, very good!

 

Best regards,

SteveR

Hello Kirill,

You have captured that "magic light" near sunset (or maybe shortly after sunrise?) Your photo glows very attractively as a result. I like the way you included the top of the iron fence -- the sharp tips and some of the railing also catch the "magic light." The composition is very good, with excellent placement of the window and the lamp shadow, as well as the lamp reflection adding a point of interest.

I was once again trying to get good saturated color in the flag. Also, the rider was in what remained of sunlight, while the kids in foreground were in shade.

I like the "spotlight" effect on the rider, but is it overall too dark?

Taken at the annual Professional Rodeo in Steamboat Springs, CO, using old screw-mount SLR and hand-held selenium meter. For events like this, I'm beginning to see the practicality of more modern equipment! :-)

Very beautiful, even sensual photograph! I have no idea what it is or how you took it, but I like it very much. The various shades of blue are very effective.

Does this work for you? Any thoughts as to other ways to shoot this sort of thing?

I'm looking forward to your comments - whether positive or negative.

SteveR

Does anyone like a sqaure crop of this photo? That's one thing I've been wondering about. Thanks.

Hi Linda,

The windows in this building are all textured glass with one central clear glass panel. This particular window is in a nondescript classroom where I had been going for 8 months or so each week for a meeting. The actual view outside is nothing special, either. But one evening in the summer, I actually saw the view through the window like this instead of mentally superimposing the scene I knew to be outside. It was there all the time, I just never really saw it! I came early the following week with my camera, adjusted the exposure to put the window and lace curtain in silhouette, and that was it :-)

Even after 2 or 3 steps, you can see more clearly! ;-)

Thank you for your kind words about this photo!

Hi Margaret,

Your whole portfolio is stunning, but I'm especially attracted by your harbor and boats photos. I've been shooting the harbor area of Annapolis over the past 3 months, and I'm learning a lot from your photos.

This photo is breathtaking - the elements that make it for me are the beautiful reflections of the pilings and the color contrast between the light-colored hull and the deep blue, blue, blue water.

I laughed when I read your answer about moving any further to the right - I know exactly what you mean! ;-)

Best regards,

SteveR

I rather like the blackness of the deep shadow areas. It looks to me like a very thick "S" curve behind the tiny waterfall, and its shape complements the curve of the falling water.

The colorful leaves are exactly the right touch to finish off this fine picture.

I look forward to seeing your comments, whether positive or negative.

This is a section of textured tile that is used to indicate the curb at a pedestrian crosswalk. The tactile nature of the surface is useful for visually impaired people to be able to tell where the street begins.

I noticed this "bump tile" the other day, taking a walk at lunchtime, and remembered to bring my camera to work the next day for this photo. Getting this photo seemed almost too easy and simple. I do like it, but do you think it's too simple?

Thanks!

SteveR

Bill,

Your whole portfolio is excellent. I usually zero in on boldy-colored photos, but this one of yours really grabbed me.

Like the memorial itself, your composition is understated, elegant, and beautiful. You have perfectly captured the contemplative mood surrounding the Wall.

I've seen a lot of photos of the wall, but I don't think I've ever seen one of someone gazing at the monument from above it, like this.

From a purely technical viewpoint, your conversion of the color image to B&W is especially successful. I would have thought that this had been shot on B&W film until I looked more closely at the photo information.

Jim,

Palm trees, beautiful lighting, reflections, all nicely composed ... what's not to like here? :-)

The sunset(?) lighting is very unusual.

Linda, you portfolio is extraordinary. This photo is beautiful, sad, mysterious.

I do like the composition, and although it's possible that a little more DOF would be good, I rather like it as it is. The face of the older woman in the center is sharp, and that draws me into the photo. Her burden is very obvious. We know her and understand something of what she's been through. The younger woman behind is turned slightly away, lending an air of mystery. Then I notice the completely veiled woman leading, and that makes the mystery deeper. Who is she? What is she feeling?

Wow, this picture has it all! Great framing, color contrasts, and human interests. The beautiful young girl has a wonderful expression that you caught.

Thank you all for your very kind comments.

Bill, here are some other views of the plane I took that day and a week earlier. I'm afraid they don't look their best - it's a screen capture of all 3 photos - I didn't know how else to get all 3 of them in one comment. As to the "Patriotic Plane" photo -- turns out that one of the pilots who rents this one is an Air Force F-16 pilot, and she was about to return from Iraq -- the owner of the plane left the 2 bouquets as a welcome-home :-) Bill, you're right - I should go back to Lee Airport - very close to me - and work this subject some more. I also have posted another airplane photo from the same little field.

Jim, when I bought this Canon A40 last year, I didn't dream that I could use it for "serious" photography. But it's proven to be quite decent, and I too was surprised at how well Canon has handled a measly 2 MP. I do use sharpening and play with contrast in PaintShop Pro. I can't get decent 8x10's with everything that comes out of this camera, but shots like this one do print well at 8x10 (on my Canon i850 printer.)

Thank you Dat! On the other hand, I wish I could do the more formal studio work that you do! I encourage everyone to look at your portfolio - great use of lighting, shapes, patterns, etc.

I find that I can often get good photos from reflections. In my case, I often pop over to Annapolis, only 5 miles away, but any pond, lake, or even a fountain or birdbath has potential. You might try going out on a sunny day just for the express purpose to experiment with reflections - I guarantee you'll have fun.

Hi Jerry,

A beautiful photo - I normally go on and on about why I like a photo in terms of color, composition, etc, but in this case, I find it hard to explain. Whatever the case, you saw the original scene and isolated a very beautiful section to share with us. Thanks! - SteveR

Excellent photo and a very unusual way to do a self-portrait.

Nice contrast between pastel wallpaper and shiny plate. The "piggy nose" plug adds a nice touch of humor

... And being that this is from Canada/le Canada, I'm happy to see that the plate is bilingual :-)Best regards,SteveR

Hi Travis,

I think this photo does just fine.

My great-aunt Ester and great Uncle Moniek used to live in a place just like this in Jamaica, Queens. As a kid, they were so wonderful to me and I used to love to visit them, but the apartment building and surroundings always seems gloomy and a bit spooky.

This photo brings me that same feeling - and they lived there more than 30 years ago!

What did you feel when you took this?

Thanks!

SteveR

Hi Travis,

I like this photo very much and also agree with most of the previous comments.

Yes, the color shift is interesting and very pleasing - very unusual.

I think this is very close to a great shot but missing something, hard to put my finger on it.

I think it's the placement of the statue, mainly its pedestal relative to the rest (the silhouette is great, by the way - a no-detail part to play against the very detailed background). Maybe a wide angle would allow you to try different variations, one or more of which would be exactly "it!"

Do you live close enough to DC to go back and try some more? If so, I definitely encourage you to do it. In fact I may just join you :-) (I live in Annapolis)

Best regards,SteveR

Steve,

The color and cheerfulness is wonderful.

But I feel as if there is just too much going on here for my eyes to focus on. I keep jumping from the tree on the right to the blossoms on the big tree to the red door to the tree on the left..

But this church has such nice details - I would try closing in on the portal with the bright red door - the bright sunlit red and darker shadows would probably be very interesting. Also, try closing in on the very nice windows - maybe work in some of the stone wall into the shot of one window or part of a window. I'll be the stained glass is beautiful from the inside, too - again, get really close and isolate beautiful details.

You have a lot to work with here - good shooting!!Best regards,SteveR

A really nice photo! No, I don't think the position and action of the model is distracting - it is a nice dynamic contrast to the very static background. Her position is perfect, I think. It draws my eye in to the photo and they up the stairway. The textureless black top she is wearing, a very small piece of the composition, is an effective counterpoint to the large mass of textured light stone.

I used a small piece of white card held against my monitor to mask off the cobblestone strip at the bottom. There's really nothing wrong with it the way it is, but I did like it better with the cobblestone cropped out. Try it and see if you like it too.

Best regards,

SteveR

Joe,

Thanks for sharing this with us

I can't think of a thing wrong with this photo, and there are so many things right with it.

I agree with Len - the T-Shirt expresses her personality, and I don't think it clashes with the background.

The green of the background and in the T-shirt also set of her nice red hair very well.

If only I could take photos of my family that are this good! Something for me to learn by observing here and work on.

Best regards,SteveR

This composition is wonderful in so many ways:

• the slightly bumpy mass of the rock going from upper right to lower left...
• echoed partially by the very straight climbing rope...
• perfect placement of the climber, IMO
• solid black mass of the rock contrasted with and balanced by the light textured skly

OK, now I have to put you on my "watch list." Thanks for sharing this one!Best regards,SteveR