ransford

This poppy has done well by you and you by it. I think I like this one the best because it seems the most abstract. It falls somewhere between a macro and a portrait and is very successful in doing so.

I am good, thanks for asking, although I'm about to go and have a tooth extracted.

Frankly, Pnina, I'm still struggling to determine what my style and vision are, if, in fact, I have a vision. It is as if I have part of my brain discovering the good image while the rest of my brain is just playing. Maybe that's the simply the way I am. I wish I had more direction, but maybe I am basically erratic and eclectic. I know I dislike art that insists on having a "message."

One of the aspects of your art that I admire is that you are constantly looking for new subjects and new ways of looking at the world. I know I am stuck on flowers, but I like them as abstractions, colors and forms and the way they deal with light.

I hope you are well. You certainly are productive. And say a prayer that the right man gets elected president here.

Another theatrical masterpiece. This is remarkable in having the center of the photograph undefined. This usually doesn't work well, but here that space suddenly provides the viewer the opportunity to interpret the path from foreground to background, largely because of the contrast between the two figures....one whose action is quite clear while the other is obscure. I am forced to create my own version of their relationship. I've seen this in many of your photos and you do this so successfully that I always have to pause and get involved in your photos. I do not mean this as a criticism of your narrative photographs; you are equally skilled there and elsewhere.

This was featured when I turned on Photo.net this morning. This image is remarkably reminiscent of a Gothic cathedral and illustrates the spiritual wonder inspired by the tall vaults and the sun coming through the windows. The thought did not occur to me immediately, but struck me when looked at the very end of the pier. I could almost see an altar there. All of this is incidental, of course, to the fact that this is simply a superb photo.

Interesting to compare the two photos. I begin to see what you mean by blurring the focus in the first image. I like both and cannot comfortably pick one over the other.

Don't remember seeing this before (it's been a long time since I visited your site). But you are clearly the master of the bigger-than-life poster next to a very live humanity. This is a superb example of your special approach. As I looked at it I thought of a movie poster I special ordered of Sally Potter's "the Tango Lesson." (a great movie, by the way, if you love tango). Check it out at http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_poster/tango_lesson_the_1997.htm (click to make large).

regards, Ransford

The ratings thus far (3) are poor, probably because most photographers would like a better focus, depth of field. Nonetheless, I was attracted by the shape of the butterfly, in part created by the leaf that hides its body. Some sharpening might compensate for the lack of focus and I personally would try cropping a bit of the right to make the butterfly less centered...he is, after all, an irregular (and very interesting) shape. Still...I get a good feeling from this image.

I actually laughed as I was drawn into this, thinking, "dazzlingly clever." And I chuckled at the "distortion" comment, too...how irrelevant!

It's been awhile since I looked at your work, my friend.

Glorious texture, very interesting perspective (drawn right into FLAT). I don't think I've commented on your photos since I looked at you Parisian winter. Quite a contrast, sad and happy.

I was really proud of my yellow iris until I saw this. Unbelievable treatment of the detail, including a masterful treatment of the background. I'm very envious.

Thanks for your comments. After working on so many flower photos, I realize the advantage of drastic digital alteration: Once you no longer feel tied to authenticity, you can go in whatever direction the image or your imagination takes you. For instance, once I went black here, I felt compelled to go yellow. I also added something that was not originally there because I felt the composition asked for it.

Besides the essential activity of looking and clicking, I think there are two principal ways of growing: experimenting, and inspecting the work of others. Fortunately in the digital age both are easier to engage in than ever before.

While I like a great many of your abstractions, this image really struck me. A fantastic way to record a sunset. Slight lack of symmetry didn't even come to my attention until I read some comments. Seem trivial. The image reminds me of some of the most stunning science fiction illustration. In part I think this is due to the unusual nature of both the natural and artificial lighting. In part it is due to the 'futuristic' architecture. At the same time is it realistic, i.e., an honest streetscape.

I would happily hang this in my house (I have a yellow staircase where it would fit quite well.

Effective use of focus (blur, whatever), especially with the subtlety of the color.

For me a very satisfying composition of form and color...the object of abstract art and perhaps the object of visual art in general, especially in light of the lessons of the 20th century. I take issue with Jennifer's questioning whether this is photography, not that categorization is particularly relevant, except for the fact that the creator of images ordinarily seeks a forum for his or her products. It seems to me that this image started with one or more photographs, which is all that I need to accept it as photography. If, instead, it started with something other than photography that was altered in Photoshop or its equivalent, that qualifies, too. Query: when someone puts objects on photopaper and exposes the paper and then develops it, don't we have a photograph? If we use a scanner instead of a camera, don't we have a photograph?

Finally, does it really matter? Isn't the purpose of photo.net to make available the broadest possible forum for images?

I don't think you should try to explain this. It says so much and yet is so mysterious. It is an intense visual poem. Each time I am tempted to intrepret an element in the photo, I jump back and just enjoy it. Something Pnina saw that I'm grateful she shared.

Although your crocus are lovely, I think these photos of imperfect flowers are more interesting. In this one the leaves and stems take precedence over the blossoms. This gives the photos more character, more depth. Unfortunately this photo is a bit out of focus. Do you have image stabilization in your camera? I threw out a lot of poorly focused photos until I got image stabilization (I still have many poorly focused). I'm getting an additional camera to do more macro photography, so I guess I'll be using my neglected tripod. (Must stop being so lazy and get serious for a change)

I don't think there are black camelias, but as I was playing with this

camelia, I kept seeing Georgia O'Keeffe (e.g., 'Black pansy & forget-me-

nots') flowers so I headed in that direction. What do you think?

I am delighted that you have taken time to look through many of my pictures. You are one of the handful of people whose comments I treasure.

Mariellen. I may be guilty of deception here. This is an image I played with in the past. When I went back to look at it (to give you the blue background), I found the original had mostly yellow in the background, which I changed to blue to clarify the foreground and then decided yellow would be better. I may have been influenced by a recent trip to Mexico where I was entranced by strong colors.

Good to here from you

Ransford

Marco, I've enjoyed visiting your friends, family and all the windows and mirrors you've passed. I like this image, catching someone talking with her voice and her body. I like the subject in shade and the dresses in the background in the light.

BTW, I like your new self portrait. You look more like a friend of Garibaldi than a San Francisco banker (and that is good). And it is nice to be of an age where you don't have to shave every day (like a banker).

I enjoyed Mel's smile in a recent photo. She sure has a nice smile!

Ransford

comments welcome

comments welcome

I like most of your lotus photos, but this one particularly struck me. The configuration of the leaves, emphasized by their lighting is very seductive to the eye. This looks like a studio image, but the lotus is such an amazning flower...it often seems to me to be posing for a photo, waiting for the right photographer...maybe for you.

A wonderfull picture that is particularly impressive because it presents an original view of a lotus flower.

Not much to say about this other than that it is spectacular. The placement of the bird is brilliant