jeremy freeland

I have to say that I agree with Tom. The lighting's not that great - looks like too much flash, and the image is dominated by the grey blur of the table rim in the lower right of the frame. The eye has to get past this to get to the main subject. I'm not convinced that the askew angle does much for the composition either. I think the theme fit is there, but it's not compelling enough to rescue the shot.

Pretty enjoyably puzzled by this one. I guess I can see 'difficulty' in the tension between the bubbles in the upper portion, that presumably want to rise up (to the top of the frame), and the coloured drops, that are, at the bottom at least, being pulled downwards; though the coloured sections seems to be contained from rising upward by the glass(?) barrier upper mid-frame. Nope, I'm totally confused/bemused. Guess there's some harmony in the roundness of all bubbles, and the balance they seem to have found within their various constraints. I'd love to know more about it. Like the composition, and the lighting.

I see a very strong theme fit, but a pretty uninteresting image. We're not close enough to anyone to get any human interest, and the composition isn't that special. I guess I'd suggest getting closer to people so that there are distinct foreground and background elements to the shot, or if PT's happier keeping their distance, then finding some geometry for the composition.

 

Best, Jeremy

I'm sorry to say that this doesn't really do it for me. I like the notion of the US/Mexican border for the temptation theme, but I'm not seeing much more than a shot of the border in the distance. It's the classic shot that relies on its title or an explanation to tell its story. Ideally, the shot should do that by itself.

 

More specifically, there's not much compositional interest to the shot, nor is there any engaging human interest, which I'd think would be important for this theme - at least for the subject PT's chosen to bring out the theme. Really, the only interesting element in the shot is the dog - what's he looking at? - but his gaze takes the viewer's attention away from the border.

 

I do like the idea of the border as temptation, but if I was going to shoot here, I'd try to get some of the emotion of the people trying or wanting to cross or, given camera sensitivities around federal installations, go for a stronger composition with fewer and more distinct elements, and more interesting light.

This is a very fine shot, and I agree with Atlee that it would look great big. I really like the understated development of the metallic tones - looks like it should be a 'pure abstract' but the centre rock and horizon line are just the right reminder that it's a landscape / seascape.

In the nicest way, I think Ryan's suggested crop would be deadly dull.

 

There's a nice, and I think ambitious, tonal transition between the lower right corner and upper left corner. I like how the grey / blue cloud forms lies in the middle of this. I also like the use of the rocks in the lower right foreground to anchor the composition and how their shadows set the scene for the tonal transition. But I wonder if the transition isn't too extreme - the clouds on the upper left are very bright white (though I know my monitor isn't great with highlights so, could be me), and the colours on the hillside seem maybe a little washed out. But I do enjoy the contrast between the very bright and sunlit upper section, and the cooler shadows of the lower right corner.

 

Hope this helps. Best, Jeremy.

Definitely qualifies for the theme. I agree that the crop looks a little untidy, especially along the right lower edge but, and it's a significant but, I think a key part of the image is its suggestiveness. None of the elements in the frame is complete - they're all cut off or implied, so there's some mystery to the shot. I like the use of shadow to create this effect.

 

When I look at the image, it's clear that I'm only getting part of the story; so much for the 2D instant of time in which the shot was taken; all of incompleteness drives me on to ask: 'what happened next?'

 

I don't think the technical inadequacies are any more than that. The key issue, to me at least, is that the shot works - it communicates its message, and it's fun.

Beautiful surf wave. All three capture the experience of a river in flood really nicely. The shutter drag you've selected works very nicely.

Very nice Terry. Glad to have come upon your stuff.

Looks like an overpass, and a well captured and atmospheric one at that.

Speaking of the Clash, and our youfffull nostalgia, check out Andy Rosen's images - he used to shoot punk and new wave bands for the music press back in the day.

Ditto Sarah - really nice.

Thanks David. It's hard not to come back for shots like this. And I have been a little preoccupied with light and shadows lately - never pays to forget the quality of the light in a shot - something I've been guilty of more than I'd like over the last few years. Carsten, not unexpectedly, is better versed in it than I.

I think the inverting makes for a good, dramatic image, but I'd like to see the same shot taken at night. I like how the window visible through the shutters and the camera have the same tones - brings out the notion of eye. Thematically, I find myself wondering what goes on behind the windows, where the occupants seem to feel the need to know what goes on outside.

Very nice. Wouldn't change a thing. I think the pink corner adds interest - it suggests an oval shape that echoes the eye of the needle. Like how the needle comes out of the lower left corner - pulls the eye in nicely.

Great concept, really enjoyable composition. I like the use of all that black. Only nits would be a little more shadow detail on the hand, slightly muted highlights on the book, and more sharpness in the book and hand.

Like the overexposure and blur as contributing to the drowsy atmosphere. As a frequent narcoleptic driver, I find the long perspective down the highway and the difficulty of focusing on any one point exactly like the sleepy feeling on the road. But I'm less convinced by the green in the sign - doesn't contribute anything, and seems to overstate the point. I like the blown highlights of the bonnet/hood, especially how they almost merge with the center/centre lines in the road. Greenery aside, nice.

I like the shadow and the anonymity of the figures. Having the faces hidden makes it easier, imho, for the viewer to identify with the subjects. Although the hand shadow has some threat possibilities, I don't get any real sense of threat from the body language. If anything, the woman's pose looks more relaxed than anything. Not sure that the shot makes it as 'danger' in the 'come hither / temptation' department either. The highlights on the shirt are a a little bright for my taste also.

Nice theme fit and I agree a tighter crop and more contrast could be more interesting. I like the effect of the distortion on the squares and petals in the reflected chocolate bar brings the point home, and has a sort of :-0 effect.

I agree with Carsten about the composition - really nicely put together. I wouldn't go any lighter. I'm finding that some of these shots are having the surprising effect of making me think 'my eyes coudn't see that' because the light in the distance would cause them to 'underexpose' the foreground. It makes the images striking and interesting - genuinely creative - but I'd be wary of overdoing it. That having been said, I think this one gets it just right. Really is a good shot, David

Late to the party, so I'll just echo Wilson, and agree with Pnina's thin white line on the frame. It's got lots of enjoyable elements - the light, for a start, the shadow and the defined shadow of the hand, the splash of yellow to anchor the shot, opposing angles with the paving stones, shadow lines and frame and, most important to my mind, good atmosphere and a sense of mystery.

Great tones. I agree with Leigh that it oozes atmosphere. Lines and tonal transition in the composition are not too shabby either. Best, Jeremy

Another great shot, and I echo the comments above - woudn't change a thing. Particularly like the delicate light and colours on the trees at the head of the channel. Best, Jeremy

David - this is a super shot. I like the low, level horizon and consequent emphasis on the tones and light of the sky. Really nice light capture.

Pnina - I think you do a nice job with the shadows and light here, and I like the grey tones throughout the image. But I think it's the expression you've captured on the woman's face that's the strongest part of the image - it's an insightful portrait more than it is a nude study. Composition's nice too, with the curve up through to the left hand corner of the frame.

 

Best, Jeremy

Nice omposition and DOF. You've got some great stuff in your folder.