erikadams

Hi Stephan-

The 3/3 anonymous rating problem irks me, too, so much that I no longer submit my photos for rating, just critique. It means a smaller audience, but so be it. I too would wonder why anyone would rate this 3/3, but it's not about that. It's just someone with their equivalent of graffiti spray paint, trying to do damage wherever they can.

 

As far as this photo goes, great moment captured with the cheetah's paw up to trip the calf. The cat must have really been going. Wish I could see this with my own eyes some day. Thanks for sharing.

Rarindra achieves such sublime control of light, that his photos all have a painterly quality. Many of his photos are back-lit. It's a good lesson in lighting, IMHO. I really like the lighting in this one - a warm glow, perhaps from a gold reflector? I can only guess that Rarindra is very quick with setting up his lighting, because so many of his photos, like this one, contain a sense of spontaneity.

One of my favorites. Wonderful lighting. Is it Summer Glau?

I'm a big fan of Dmitry's work. His photos show great care and planning, and his choice of classic vehicles enhances the photos (I finally noticed the inclusion of the Alfa Romeo in the "Romeo and Juliet" series - I'm a little slow on the uptake). Each of his photos tells a story, except for this one, as John A points out. While this portrait is expertly lit, showing an unbelievably soft complexion, it doesn't grab my interest like his other work does. So for me, this week's POW just offers a good excuse for me to visit Dmitry's portfolio again.

I don't think it's over-saturated, just a little too red (on my monitor). This picture is your best of the falls, in my opinion. It has nice shadows and good depth, and it clearly shows how the earth just drops away, with the water pouring in from all sides. Very nicely done.

A great image. I love the back-lighting.

One of my favorites of yours. Great vantage point and great moment captured - one going over the top, one on the way, and a third still on the ground.

Nice job on the lighting. Must've needed some gel filters on your flashes, to match the fluorescent ambient light, I'm guessing? Beautifully conceived and carried out. This is my favorite of all the photos in your surreal folder.

"Staging" event in Madison West High School S.L.I. rocket launch. See accompanying photo in same folder for actual size of this two-stage rocket. Expended first stage can be seen at lower left in photo; the second stage is about one second into its burn and can be seen at top right. The second stage climbed to 5000 feet. Ektachrome 100VS.

Nice still life. Looks like you used light from a window? Very soft.

One of your best. Nice framing by the autumn colors.

Nice perspective. I'm wishing for a bit more DOF, but still quite good. The red seats are a nice feature.

Very nice. I've seen this kind of view before, and I think you captured the atmosphere very well.

Sometimes it's rewarding to look a little further into the rated photos, to find an underrated gem like this. Everything about it is good: the diagonal at lower right, paralleling the course of the canoe, the crisp shapes in the background with the rising mountains, providing depth, and even how the head of the canoeist fits into the reflection from the mountain. The fact that he is wearing a hat helped a lot, as it provides contrast against the dark water. I think it's a 6/6, but I'm going to rate 7/7 to offset the moronic 4's that you received. Now off to see your portfolio...

Nice use of the softbox. I can see you had it up pretty close. The lighting is just perfect. I would agree about cropping the bottom.

Everybody keep in mind that it's a photograph of a miniature tricycle, not a full-sized one. That explains why it looks like a macro photograph - it is! See Christopher's folder that contains this photo and you'll see another photo of the same trike, together with a doll.

Oh my, what a photo. Congratulations.

I really like this one. The lighting is perfect, the background provides good depth without being distracting, and who doesn't like elephants? Nice photo for square format, too. Best regards.

I love the depth and the sharpness in this one. Even the sky looks crisp. Approximately what angular sweep is represented in this photo? I've tried stiched-together panoramics with my wide angle lens, but there's too much distortion. This one turned out wonderfully, as did all your other panoramics, all with wide angles. Nice work.

Not sure what I think of this one. It's a photo of a doll's tricycle, apparently intended to look full-sized, because of the selection of the background. It has the appearance of a photo of a miniature, resembling photos of miniature soldiers, or model trains, that I have seen, plus blurring of the background in post-processing (for a comparison between this background and true bokeh, see the photo in the same folder of this tricycle with a doll, both photos having used the same lens). The choice of subject matter is intended to convey a sense of....??? If it were a real tricycle, I would say loss of a child, or loss of childhood, or passage of time. Does this photo represent loss of a doll? Maybe I'm too concrete, but it's not speaking to me.
The composition has an unplanned look, and it reminds me of a lot of antique photos I've seen. The post-processing seems intended to produce an antique look, so that all works together. The photo just needs better subject matter, and a better story. Christopher is undoubtedly a good story teller. See his suitcase and train tracks ("childhood") folder.

I love the feel of this one, Jana. I have no idea how you did it, but enjoy it just the same.

best regards, Erik

Wonderfully moody. Sometimes, a small moon like this doesn't work because there's too much going on, but you have created a nicely harmonious image here.

Very original. I like the graphic art quality. What is also interesting is how "spiky" you have made the windmills look, by long lens compression. Well seen.

Wonderful abstract, an very creative to make this into a triptych. This would look good on a wall.

It seems like the subject is not the windfarm here. My eye is drawn more to the layers of clouds, and then I see later that there's a windfarm. I have to say that I like the layers.