aphanius

Thanks a lot, Michal, for your gentle and clever advice. Probably you're right about noise reduction, though I can't remember exactly if it was Neat Image (an old friend of mine) or another type of filter. Let me add that warm tones were oversaturated intentionally in order to avoid a typical "foggy" scene with soft tones and poor contrast.

 

About B/W conversion, can't see the difference or advantatge/disadvantatge betwen colored or desaturated scene. Same about noise. I mean I usually underexpose my shots, so noise it's an undesirable artifact to fight against. Some advice or suggestion for "aesthetic noise" and "B/W fashion" understanding?

 

About foreground, you're definetely right. Unfortunately, this shot was taken from a road, and closer foreground (cropped from current scene) was asphalt and metallic fence.

 

Regards :)

 

Excellent shot, Robert, but too small to see details. Better more than 600 px on larger side.

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LOL! In fact, Juan, this shot has been taken in a garbage treatment plant, an absolutely stinking place. Luckily, my macro shots "smell better". Thanks for commenting ;)

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Absolutely neat! Fine exposure and nice tones. Maybe some compositional "stress" should be added, just to break this static pose.

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I attach my personal rendition of Mr. Kalmykov's work, with HIGHKEY levels treatment. Regardig with current POW, technically better, and ARTISTICALLY... hhmmm... ﾿worst, equal, better?

 

P.S.: I remark Marketa's high technical skill, but (you know) in gymnastics a 9.9 easily wins a 9.8 (both technical and artistic merits do account).

True, Leslie, and all doors are closed except one... Thanks for commenting ;)

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I suggest this image for next POW, technically better than current:

 

http://gallery.photo.net/photo/3539487-sm.jpg

 

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by Maxim Kalmykov

Nice election, elves, soft tones and smart composition. Is this a high key or a charcoal rendition?

Strong noise on the background and not properly focused. Otherwise, not easy to shoot without appropiate equipment.

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Harsh image. Certainly, for my taste is too explicit, too harsh. If you were aiming to hit viewer sensibility, yes, you did it. However, the same message could have been displayed in another way, less cruel. Technically good, aesthetically inopportune. No rate for this.

What shocks me about this shot is illumination: soft tones and balanced exposure. Well done :)

Intimist scenario, fine exposure and cute composition. Nice work!

Nice saturation and smart composition. However, a bit oversharpened for my taste (thin white halos visible on distant rocks).

Nice drop series :)

YES. Just correct levels and enhance saturation slightly. Beautiful enough without too much PSing ;)

Nice concept. Too much centered for my taste, agree with David Falk's suggestion or even off-centering subject far away with current composition.

Better in stereo (where available), lol. Nice pic ;)

Nice shot. Two suggestions: 1. more light on fish tail 2. clone out some spots and noise on black background. Otherwise, excellent 7/6

Yo tambien quiero rendir un merecido tributo a estos seres de carne sabrosa y tupido pelaje.

Esta es una foto de las que situan muy bien al observador dentro del contexto deseado, acorde con el titulo. Mi sugerencia no es conceptual, sino tecnica, y consiste en quitar algo de peso dentro de la composicion (hacer al calvo mas bajito). Como propuesta personal, y para acentuar el matiz minimalista de la composicion, he retocado el fondo de la pared para llevarlo a un blanco puro, ademas de un aumento de la saturacion en el "primer plano". Adjunto mi esbozo-version. Saludos.