erol_a.

very cool... are those the natural colors or is it photoshop work? It looks almost like something undersea, very surreal.

Wilson, I like the halo effect - burning in frame edges is a very useful technique, and many images are well served by a very obvious halo such the one you've used here, whereas others do better to have a more subtle effect that serves not as an aesthetic aspect on its own, but to highlight the main subject. I think your photo is the latter - do you burn using the burn tool on you image, or do you use adjustment layers?

 

you may want to consider layers if you're not doing it already - I just learned it recently and it's made a great difference. Hold Apple - Shift - N to make a new layer (dunno the windows way) and set the mode to "soft light" and check the "fill image with 50% grey" box. Then, with the new layer selected, use the pen/paintbrush tool set to between 15 and 25 opacity - black to dodge, white to burn, all done on the adjustment later only. When satisfied, merge the layers. I at least get a much cleaner and more natural look that way (though I still use the d/b tool on the image layer here and again.)

 

I like the shapes in the image as well, there's a definite motion to it very appropriate to the subject.

I like this image - the use of color and shape is very tasteful and elegant. The figure at play makes the image, I'd love to have seen a version with her and/or the ball with something of a motion blur as well - though your version here works very well!

Applause, Tony, for your images and your words. Your work is real documentary, both aesthetically engaging and purposeful.

Ethereal and haunting - this image begs for a story. Very memorable work here.

Joseph, this is indeed a strong start. Your use of lighting is effective and dramatic without being overbearing, In composition, I'd have shifted the subject *slightly* to the right of the frame to let the hand share the centreline with the face a bit more. Strong image.

as per last suggestion...

The blur and blown out highlights work really well here for me - the image is very energetic and a little frantic in a good way; it's exciting. Her pose and movement further the sense of motion here; you definately tripped the shutter at the right moment. Nice work.

This really is a powerful image. All the elements - the haphazard frame, old camera, abandoned soda cups, "wonder wheel"; they all surround the man's expression quite well and create a definite mood.

I love the painted quality- great exposure to translate those lower midtones.

The stretched shadow gives the impression of standing upright on strong legs- excellent thematic use of shadow to convey the meaning of the shot. Your work is inspirational, photographically and otherwise.

Nachtwey was the first thing I thought seeing this image, as well. Not a bad comparison to be drawn against!

There's been a lot of debate here lately about nudes and travel work getting unfair bunps in the rating game, which I largely agree with. This image though stands on its own, it's a great capture of a memorable face, gorgeous tones, and as a photograph really is an illustration, not just a snapshot.

Disagree with A.- maybe it has been done, most likely it has, but I've never seen it among the hundres of other Eiffel Tower shots I've seen. Thus, it stands apart for this viewer, and I like it. Well seen.

Was this in the wild? Excellent avian expression- it carries an almost "studio" quality. A lucky strike well executed on your side- impressive!

Gorgeous. Just the right expression- it and the posture remind me of Gothic/Byzantine Madonna and Child sacred art.

The composition makes great use of the lines and tones. This sort of work never comes very naturally to me, and I admire you're doing it so effectively.

Absolutely majestic. I've been sending a link to your portfolio to friends up and down the east coast; your work is beautiful. I've admired your images here for a while, but your China portfolios have raised the bar again. Excellent.

Leping, I'm not usually very interested in landscape photography but your work is amazing. It's almost hard for me to believe it's real; you're a talented photographer with a great sense of composition and technical prowess- wonderful artistry in all of your work here.

Tony, another fantastic portrait. Your understanding and relationship to your subjects is always finely translated into your work, here so to an even higher degree than usual. Wonderful visual storytelling; thanks for sharing with us all.

Beautiful painterly qualities- I would also like to see a more panoramic crop, but it is effective like this as well.

Here I really like the bold colour. Cool idea, and well executed too.

Second all the above.

My favorite of all your work i've seen. The simplicity is refreshing. Very nice.

A great face, but maybe not appropriate to so tight a crop... it's a little too intimate! I think the original version could stand to be croppe din a little tighter to cut out some background, but I don't think any effectiveness is gained in this case by drawing in so much.,