lupine

I'm with you, Lenora. I like the long shadows in the foreground and the source of the light in the background as well as the buildings showing the viewer what the street actually looked like. Certainly cropping everything but the silhouette is another option but not the one I chose for this particular image. That would make it another image completely. In addition, I tend to rarely crop my images. I would say 99% of my images are what I see in the viewfinder. If I don't see it through the lens, I usually don't take the photograph. Thanks so much for you comment.

Thank you, D. Munteanu: I too couldn't resist. As I mention in my description, it is a rather cliche shot but there was the little fellow and, well, he was begging to be photographed. I agree about the focus though I wish I could have gotten both the lead and the lady bug in focus. I can't seem to recall but I think it was a very shallow depth of field and I don't think I had the appropriate lens. Ooops! Excuses :-) I seem to recall the spots on his back being rather soft but I don't think the rest of him was that soft. But as you said, for what it is, it's alright. Thank you for the comment. I visited your site very quickly but I plan on going back to give it the time it deserves and leave a comment on what appears to be some wonderful work, Best to you...

A Black and White conversion from a color shot. The rest is explained in the heading.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

Nice shot, Alin! How many attempts before you got the "one?" Did she suffer any neck injuries by the end of the day? One of the reasons I fell in love with photography as a young boy was when I took a photo of a faucet and by mistake, caught a drop of water frozen in mid air. I had no idea when I took the photo because I couldn't see it. The thought of freezing time caught my imagination. This is a great example of that ability that photography gives us. Just imagine, no one else will ever in the history of time capture this exact image. The water droplets will never line up the same, the clouds will never be in the exact same spot, the strands of hair unique to this split second in time. And you captured it. Okay, I'll stop now. Great shot!

Pete: Thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated. I think I've mentioned the story above but it's worth mentioning again: I have no clue who he is. He disappeared as fast as he appeared. I was simply looking through my viewfinder to take the shot when he stepped in. I was amazed. I snapped the photo. Next thing I know, a fireman is tapping me on the shoulder telling me we all have to get back and I look up and he's gone. My friend says he's the "Angel of Death." Creepy! Fortunately, no one was home when the house exploded.

Wonderful abstract image as well as a great graphic. Another of those "what's the story" photos I love. Who are they? Why are they up there? Where are they going? I don't need to know the answers, just that the photo makes me ask is wonderful. By the way: As a freshman in high school, I made a model of the Sydney Harbor Bridge for my drafting class! Very proud of that! Had to brag :-) Great shot, Geri.

What a great shot! It seems like one of those pictures one would put on line and ask for a caption. Good eye and preparedness on your part to be ready to grab the photo. Now, let me think about a caption...

Hi Geri: It's been some time since I stopped by to see your work again. Greetings. I admire this shot a great deal. I love the panoramic aspect of it. The image seems to draw our attention from right to left, in a sense following the pedestrians and the railing. The lamp post and the seagull intruding into the sky is wonderful as well. Photographs that make me ask a question are a favorite or mine, and this makes me wonder, where are they going? What's just off camera on the left? What's the temperature? I can smell the salt air in this image. Another wonderful, amazing, astonishing thing about photography: You will be the only person in history to ever take this precise photo! The clouds will never line up like this again, those people will never be in those exact spots, nor the sea gull, the waves, etc. Pretty darn amazing. Funny, isn't it? To some, this will merely be a picture of some people walking on the boardwalk. How sad for them...

Love the blue tint on the white post, rail and tire. In addition, the glow of the pink sky on the foreground water. My only comment would be possibly trying to not center the horizon so much top and bottom. If possible, maybe allow more at the top or bottom. But nonetheless, a wonderful image.

Hi Kim: I'm visiting some of the photographers I'd marked as favorites and came across you. I don't recall if this was in your collection when I left the comment on the other silhouette image. This one is beautiful as well. Good composition and color. Were there others in the series? Continued success in your shooting.

Appreciate that comment, Florian. I did have two curators who put the show together and they more or less selected all the pieces. This one, which is one of my favorites, ended up in. I had to walk away and let them make the final decisions as I am far too close to all the images. I could never have made up my mind. But I agree, this one was sort of out of place but it did get a great response. Ironically, everyone thinks it's a self portrait. It resembles me but it is not me.

I'll help get the message out to the Universe for you as well! Let's get you somewhere exotic so you can capture those images. But in the meantime, there are images to be had all around us wherever we are. Your portfolio is proof of that.

As always, comments welcome and appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Hi Laurie: If you can imagine: It is about 10:30 at night. It's China, it is incredibly humid, and I mean humid. I was soaking through my shirt. I had been walking around for at least three hours with my camera taking pictures. It was about my eighth day in China. I had finally begun to "fit in." I decided to let my "Jersey" attitude take over because on my second day there, some shady characters posing as, now get this, Interpol Agents, I think tried to get close enough to me to steal my camera. Luckily, I have a leather strap that attaches the camera to my wrist and I think they saw it and when I asked to see their identification again, they sped off in their car. From that point on, I acted like I was a journalist who was stationed in China and not a tourist. Amazing what attitude can do. My fifteen years of performing improvisation helped as well. The stand smelled of fresh produce, fruit, humidity, and sadly, probably pollution. But it still was very exciting. I was very thrilled about being able to create this photo. I knew that I would have to do some work to capture the details in the shadows which I did in post production digital darkroom work. There is no shortage of photographs to be taken in China. Around every corner is an image waiting to be captured. I don't know if you've seen my China series, I'm proud of that work. They were featured in my first gallery show last year. Thanks for stopping by and your wonderful comment.

Merry Christmas, Chuck! With regard to China, it was a combination trip in that: I was there to see some of the factories that we were working with. Several years ago, I was doing more product design and we were manufacturing in China. I wanted to see first hand the condition of the factories we were working with to make certain I felt comfortable with how they were treating their employees, etc. Though there in so OSHA and unions, etc., I felt as comfortable as I could under the circumstances. Though I joke about "I didn't see children chained to desks," it is a serious matter. I decided it was an opportunity I couldn't waste so I put in extra time to stay and shoot. I didn't think I'd have a chance to shoot while working but I ended up shooting the entire time I was there AND the extra days. It was amazing, though with what I know now, I would be more prepared for another trip. I was fortunate in that I got to travel to many places in China that were a bit off the beaten path. Flew around many smaller towns and cities so it wasn't so commercialized like the big cities. I think that shows in the work. So believe it or not, that's the short version. I am sad about the traffic; it was so nice to communicate with various photographers from all around the world. Even the response to other comments has been down; it's not just about my work. It seemed in the early days, most people would return the courtesy if you visited or commented on their site or image, that also seems to be down. Good luck with the writing! I hope you find your path. In many ways, I wish I could be more focused; I distract and get bored very easily. I hope you get a chance to view the link, I think you'll enjoy it. Thanks for the chat and I hope this New Year will be healthy and happy for you and your endeavors. All the best, Chuck! Paul

Good to hear from you, Charlie: It seems like traffic has died down quite a bit on PhotoNet, or is it just at my site? I know I've been distracted a bit lately from my photography. In addition to shooting and editing much more video, I had the good fortune of having luck with some of my writing getting some attention. Then the writers strike hit and everything is at a standstill. In answer to your question regarding what camera, I am still shooting with the Canon 20D. I would love to upgrade to the latest greatest but I hear they don't just give those things away, they want you to pay for them and that presents a problem. You may have noticed I did spend some time a few months back shooting some studio work which I've always wanted to do. Had a great time and look forward to doing some more. I have a pretty cool video of a piece I did with some of my images. If you're interested, I'll supply the link here. Please do give it some time to load, I did it high rez because I wanted the quality to stand up. Have a great Holiday and thanks for the comment and staying in touch. I took a quick look at your site and I still really relate and love your work. Paul - Here is the link: http://web.mac.com/lupineproductions1/iWeb/Lupine%20Video/I%20Love%20Paris%20Video.html

Kent B. was kind enough to provide this quote for another version of this image which I accidently deleted:

 

Kent B, January 08, 2007; 08:40 A.M.

A very isolated and intimate shot placing us literally in the rain. There's something about slowing time down that allows us too to slow down and appreciate the smaller joys around us.

 

Thanks for flagging me on your newest posts. It's fun to see some of your scanned work.

Jerry: An interesting shot of an interesting structure! Love the colors playing off each other. It would be interesting to shoot this at different times of the day. I would love to see the setting sun casting shadows as well as the color temperature of the sunset lighting up the white and possibly clouds in the background. A thought for the future: I tend to make this suggestion often as it works for me. Take a closer look at your subject. For example: If you step in tighter, there are so many more interesting shapes within this image. The pipes against the sky! The spheres at the end of the tanks! The bolts holding the pipes together. I find myself spending hours walking around structures like this. I'd love to do a night exposure of this with available light or light is with bursts of flash while leaving the shutter open with the camera on a tripod. Nonetheless, an interesting photo.

Jerry: What I love about this image is that I'm not certain if I'm looking into the water or looking up into the sky! Obviously it's the water but for a moment, one questions the image. Great tones and very good composition.

Comments welcome and appreciated.

JH: I do love this one! It's very close to a syle I love and shoot. Love the composition. I may try some different croppings and play around with that. Possibly cut out the bottom of the boat, maybe just below the "26." By the same token, I love the "mossy" growth in the water. I almost wish there was direct sunlight on the image. Not only to enhance the colors of the boat, the red, white and blue, but also to light up the water, that wonderful murky green and possibly the algae type growth. Nonetheless, love the image as is. I don't know if you can go back at different times of the day, it may be worth it if you can. Great shot.

JH: I'd have to agree regarding the composition. Very nicely composed. I love the three very distinct horizontal spaces. I also love the fact that almost everything is straight lines and then we have the soft curves of the clouds. At first, I thought we were looking through a window and viewing something going on and in a sense we are in that the picture is a window into another time. One thing occured to me and it may not have been possible and that was to move to one side more and cause the angles to be even more extreme. Of course, I don't know what was off camera and that may not have allowed that shot. You may have other compositions and this may have been the best. Fascinating shot as is.

You're always worth the wait, Kent! Thank you so much for the kind words. They come at a good time. I appreciate and agree on your thoughts above with respect to the digital, purist, manipulation, etc., thing. I couldn't agree more that no matter what, an image is manipulated in one form or another. Someday, hopefully soon, it won't be an issue. Once more, thank you!

Hello, old friend! So nice to hear from you, really! I am in Northern California with my lovely angel of a wife, Terry. We are on the road for a week or so visiting friends and family. Hoping all is well with you. Yes, I too still look forward with great anticipation to getting together. And thanks for the comment. I also do like the hands, they work for me, particulary the gentleness, curvature and grace of the left hand and pinky. And I also agree the photo can be cropped. As always, I guess it's a personal choice. See you soon.

I guess my Middle Eastern ancsestory has come glaring through. I am Greek Armenian, born in Saudi Arabia, I've lived in Beirut, Lebenon and Cairo, Egypt but I grew in in New Jersey. Whew... Thanks, Frits!