davidmalcolmson

This dates from the late 1960s. A group of business people having a

discussion. I would welcome your comments on this image. Many thanks.

A shot I took at Speakers' Corner in London around 1970. I couldn't

help but notice the connection between the play of hands and the flag

in the background.Your comments will be welcome.

This image taken in 1964 has remained unprinted since that time. I

discovered the medium format neg in my 'archive' and scanned it.The

negative is in great condition after all these years and the print

looks very fresh.

In those days every self-respecting Scottish lad had to have a sling,

something a lot less lethal than what's favoured these days - the most

damage it could do was smash the glass in some gardener's greenhouse.

Do you think the diagonal tilting adds to the dynamism of the image?

A little unfair to bring the Penn portrait into this forum : the present image suffers by comparison. There's a problem with the present portrait that I have been trying to articulate since I first saw it. The trouble as I see it is that the lady's personality reveals itself in spite of the treatment, instead of being revealed by it. It strikes me that the treatment is too heavy and ponderous to do justice to the sitter. This set-up might have been OK for a strong masculine portrait, but certainly not for this lady.

For me this image veers too much towards graphic art. I suspect this is because it has a contrived quality where the lighting is concerned. A bit too much digital manipulation for its own good. Pleasant as the result is I cannot rid my mind of countless similar (painted) images in weekend craft markets and car boot sales. I think it would have benefited vastly from a simpler treatment.

Eye-catching because of the dramatic lighting and composition. The figures appear to be suspended in space - there's no sense of the ground being under their feet. Some sense of background, anything to give environmental clues would have added to the impact of this, things like trees, walls or rocks.In the absence of some context of place this looks like an interesting exercise in lighting. It would be good if you could shoot this again among trees or rocks or old ruins. In spite of my criticisms I liked this and I look forward to seeing more of your work.

I loved this, Janet. Larger than life fun. How did you manage it? Great work. Thanks for sharing. David.

Frank, I doubt if Michiel would understand 'Birdy' at his tender age. That does not prevent this from being a powerful image. It encapsulates a certain quality of adolescence of which the protagonist is unaware, but one that a sensitive viewer is attuned to - a sense of awakened but yet unrecognised potentialities as well as present vulnerabilities. Really fine image. David

It is unprecedented for the elves to give us three such fine black and white images in a row. The present offering is very effective indeed even if its virtues are old-fashioned - this wouldn't have looked out of place in the 1960s or '70s -. a marvellous documentary shot which displays fine technical control. The light is particularly eye-catching. The atmosphere is almost palpable. Perhaps 'timeless' is the appropriate epithet for this classic image. Congratulations, Karl-Einar, on a well-deserved POW. David M.

Surely this is the Vittorio Emanuele Monument in Rome? I've seen it in real life and on numerous postcards . This image is a good document of the monument and would make a decent postcard in it own right. The depth of blue in the sky looks rather exaggerated. Best wishes, David

Pascale,

I hope you are still enjoying your photography. I know from experience that there is a big challenge in conveying, via the camera, a scene that we find impressive as we stand there looking at it. I feel this image fails to convey how it stirred you. To tell the truth it is a little bit dull and lacking in real photographic interest. I think a photographer makes real progress when he or she realises that light is the key to effective images.Light is the life blood of photography. It reveals, moulds and sculpts the textures of everything we see. Light seems to be at its most interesting for the landscape photographer in the early morning or late afternoon - it's to do with the quality of the shadows it casts in a scene as well as the colour temperature. You were right to query whether this image had enough contrast - it doesn't. Although the sky on the horizon is blue I suspect the sun had gone behind a cloud with the result that the scene has become rather flatly lit. The tilting horizon is a basic error that I'm sure you won't repeat - it makes this viewer feel slightly sea-sick! It's usually better for the comosition of a lanscape if the frame isn't equally divided betwwen the sky and the foreground. Far better if either of these elements takes a third of the height of the frame. Light is very important in portaiture as well. I think your people shots would have more vitality if you really understood the value of good lighting.

I hope that my comments haven't discouraged you. That certainly wasn't the intention. I just want to help you to get more out of your photography. The great thing is that, once you've mastered the technique, you can concentrate on looking out for scenes or situations that will provide a satisfying image for you and all the people who see it. Best wishes. David.

A breath of real life. A remarkable image. I agree with the others that the tonal range lacks zip. Congratulations on your well-earned POW, Vlad.

I like the tonality here, the rendition of the skin is very goood.The blurred background is appropriate here.I just wonder if a vertical framing would have been more suited to the subject.

A fine nature shot. The blurred background fixes our attention on the animal. I imagine this must have been quite a difficult shot to capture.

There's a gentle melancholy here which I find very appealing. Beautiful, subtle colour tonality. Lucky man to have access to such lovely countryside. Best wishes, David M.

I love the tonality of this as well as the mysterious mood. Nicely done!

I can see what you were aiming for here - contrast between the solid stillness of the rocks and the ever moving sea.I feel that an over-long exposure has removed any sense of fluidity from the water - here it is has become an amorphous mass with no suggestion of movement. I would also be inclined to remove some of the redundant space in the lower part of the image.I hope you will excuse me for being so critical - there are others of your interesting images that I prefer to this.

Very attractive tonal palette, Jose. I particularly like the treatment of the sky. i really enjoyed seeing this photo. best wishes. David.

So many elements of a fine shot are present here that it is a great shame that the bulk of the figure in the foreground lets it down. A different camera angle might have made the composition less prosaic. Nevertheless the background, the light and the textures are very good. Best wishes, David

I can see why you were attracted to this scene. Not only the shapes but the way the light falls on them exercises a certain fascination.I wish the structure in the distant background would disappear! It's a distraction that one can do little to avoid. Best wishes. David

I love your child portraits, Dilber.The emotions are so spontaneous and you are so skilled in capturing their expression. Children are less adept at concealing their true emotions and that is something that has to be valued in an adult world of dissembling and insincerity.Best wishes,David

Dilber, when I saw this at first I thought it was an architectural model.It is even more interesting as it is 'the real thing'.A. Seckin is a fine architect, I'd like to know more about his work.Your composition is very nicely visualised, and the tones are very pleasing. Best wishes. David.

Were you attracted by the geometry or the people dwarfed by their environment, or both? This is very good.Best wishes. David

I was moved by this image of hardship and desloation.This lady is so vulnerable and there is nothing the viewer can do to give her comfort.You have captured this with great technical skill. Best wishes. David

Misha, she looks like the Jungle Queen on steroids.You have this disturbing abiltity to allow your models to present themselves (unconsciously)in an unflattering light. The low ceiling adds to the oppressiveness of this image - you get the impression that if she stood up she would collide with it. Best wishes. David