dominiquedodge

I'd really like to know what these are. They look a bit like dead bamboo stems.

 

The subject has good potential, especially with the spiders web, but I find the photo overexposed in parts. Greater DOF would have been better I think, so all the tips are sharp.

A neat idea PT - and thanks for including some bilingual signs!

 

The original photo is strong and the yellow on blue really stands out. Aesthetically I actually prefer it too the montage but, of course, your idea of so many No's is a good one and that idea needed the crowding in of all the other signs.

 

Since you had/have the opportunity to move things around I would place the wall edge a bit lower in the frame. It might be nice also to see some signs bleeding off the edges of the frame or overlapping each other. You did well to keep the yellow P very bright - perhaps the other yellow signs (kept transparent as you have) could be placed higher up on a diagonal.

 

All in all, a great idea, very true. But more work could improve the layout IMO. Ideally it would be better if no two signs were the same, but seeing as this was all in one hour, this is quite a collection.

 

 

PS On the interpretation of the theme I'd like to add my own feelings: where I live (city of 300 000) there are plenty of signs like this, but in 13 years I have never seen a traffic policeman and virtually never seen someone get a parking ticket! Yellow line parking, double and triple parking on main roads are just part of life here. Drive down a one-way if you fancy - while using your mobile phone and smoking ... but don't cross on a pedestrian crossing (if you can find one) even if the light is green for pedestrians, without checking all around. If you wish to service your car while parking on the pavement - no one will bother you, even if pedestrians have to walk onto busy roads to get round ... the list goes on ... A bit of "law and order" seems like sanity, from where I write (and I'm sure it's worse in some parts of the world).

Mandar's version is much stronger IMO, because all the "problems" seem to have gone and one is left with a clearer view of the foggy windows ...

 

I think the lower half of the left half has more potential than the whole : in that area you have wall vs glass, but also fogged up glass vs view-of-the-outside (in several of the panes).

 

If you could fix all the distractions (tilt, pipes at top, black thing bottom edge) then, but only then IMO, would the whole scene hold potential.

 

Did you get any other shots PT?

The idea is very clever PT - wonderful thinking!

 

I agree with what others have said but the negative space doesn't bother me. Perhaps a simple frame (one thin black line) would help to hold the two sides together. Other than that I'd prefer the hair to match better left and right, if possible, same for clothing collar and tilt of face (the dark version seems to be angled slightly higher).

A great addition to the folder, well done for the aesthetics and theme fit in more ways than one.

 

It's intriguing to say the least! I like the sloping line that links left and right.

 

Since a lot has been said already the following are only nit picks or thinking aloud : 1) if you crop top and left you get more separation effect between the two faces (perhaps stronger theme fit?) 2)the upper half of the blue face appears a tiny bit bright (perhaps increase the contrast in that area?).

Thanks for showing the other version. I'll say it once again, I like the added dimensions of whatever's going on in the bottom zone - Photoshop and all(although it now appears a bit too bright and washed out, since you were trying to make sure we can all see it).

Simple and fresh. Very nicely composed with the shadows adding to the sense of closeness (intimacy?) with the small flower.

 

You're certainly getting a lot out of your camera - well done.

 

(PS I have a Canon A95).

Sharpness, exposure, colours all technically very well done. Particularly tricky exposure white on white with such bright sun. Bravo (did you use a reflector?).

 

My only comment concerns the composition, although good I feel a bit more height (space at top) would be better if the surrounding allowed that.

Pleasant street scene. But I'm puzzled about the significance of the dolphin in the theme fit: perhaps half these people are eating dolphin-friendly-tuna sandwiches and the other half not? IMO the theme fit would be strong enough without the dolphin.

 

The curved pavement and shadows make this interesting but I think if PT had the opportunity to shoot unobserved a better composition might have been possible. Lamp post and shadow rectangles at the top are distracting.

 

I like the way the curved pavement edge reminds us of the surface of the sea.

Nice punchy colours and good sharpness. I'll be thinking about this the next time I'm tempted to eat there!!

 

You could crop half of the K and get a less centered composition still leaving enough for viewers to identify with the scene.

The theme fit is fine and the headlessness is certainly an added bonus. I love the way the light falls on the folds of the dresss and the almost lack of colour.

 

It would be nice, as others have said, to have a bit more at the bottom.

 

I was thinking that you could/should crop closer (remove the frame altogether) but having tried, now i think it should stay (but be straightened up a bit). The whole thing looks like one of those 1" deep picture frames with little figurines inside. If the edge (white frame of the window) were the same width all round that effect might be even stronger.

 

 

When I first commented I was looking at the firsts version, I which the bottom zone looked dark but not black and one could see (what looked like) a multitude of prisms and triangles. It reminded me of the famous glassy pyramid at the Louvre in Paris, and/or a kaliedescope with lots of triangles.

 

I really like that version (despite what might have been obvious Photoshop work) it gave the impression of someone diving into an enigmatic cristal of dark light (and the triangles echoed the ceiling windows). Could PT reupload the original, perhaps brightening it so those with darker monitors see, for discussion.

 

I like this version too, but having seen more in the other one I find it hard to accept "less".

 

Great subject and well spotted opportunity. I like the way we see multiple triangles all pointing down. Sinking into a black hole, where nothing emerges ?

The only thing I could add is that I'd prefer identical bowls (white?) - I think the choice would be more straightforward that way.

 

Easy choice BTY! (even for righthanders).

I find it very funny! He is leaning forward so much, and you have caught the leg action very well.

 

Well done to have got this. Certainly strong enough theme fit IMO.

 

You could shift the emphasis a bit more to the right by cropping off two of the three posts on the left. I'm not sure about including or not the traffic light post on the right. I like the static-ness of the man with hat, and feel that might be emphasised more if the post wasn't there.

 

Thanks for the laugh.

 

Be thankful that there's 1) a pavement 2) a crossing (red or green)!

 

crop

A terrific idea for either or both folders. But, as said so-so technically.

 

The upward stalk might lend itself better to a portrait format. The backdrop is not very attractive and the plate a (big) distraction.

 

The apple looks a bit more cut than bitten into, which made me wonder if you couldn't include the eater (at least the hand) to make it more realistic/dynamic.

 

An idea that is worthy of more work IMO.

 

PS You could always go for drastic crop.

First impression: great. Back to comment later when I've got my feet back on the ground.

 

PS Could look good upside down too.

The plant photo is both more interesting in it's subject and better executed IMO. I like the composition and the green snaking up adds to "High" - as the plant is growing up and up (remeber Jack and the Beanstalk). I also like the bold way you have the point at the top.

A great idea and although at first it took me a while to see what it is, the $ is visible enough for identification.

 

I'd prefer the coin in the foreground of the frame (shallow DOF in the foreground, rather than in the background). That way it would occupy more of the frame as suggested by Seven.

The overhead sign, just as it is with arrows pointing into the frame, is excellent. Along with the road markings we are sent on a high speed journey down this road. Good use of the selective motion blur to blur the things that are near more than the distant. I wonder how many shots were taken to get this good one?

 

Great light, as mentioned by everyone. All in all PT has put skill in getting this from a fairly mundane subject.

 

I can't think of any improvements, except perhaps if that snazzy red car was much closer ...

 

Hope PT wears a seat belt!

 

pS was the camera mounted on a special tripod on your dashboard?

I love simple views like this. Fantastic composition.

Adding the motion blur has made this more interesting than a straight forward shot of the same fan. Although it's the white frame that's most visibly blurred (the part of the fan that doesnt usually move!) the effect is good. I'd be tempted to either crop square or darken the corners (add more blue to them) so that the effect carries on right to the corners of the frame.

 

Could be a wheel or some dangerous machine too.

 

Attached square crop.

Two improve/remove the greenish cast you could add a touch of red and/or yellow in Colour Balance, and/or use the Cuvres white point to click on the lightest part of the image. A warmer look would also make the chocolate more appetising, but maybe that's what you chocoholic would like to avoid ! :-)

 

PS I forgot to say that it's good to see a less direct "high" theme fit (the rest of us seem to be stuck on high, as in high location wise).

I can see their point of view.