gerrymorgan

Rebellion succinctly expressed in a single photo -- nicely done!

I like this photo a lot, Ron. It's a beautifully balanced composition, and I like the way some of the main elements continue out of the frame (the cup, the biscuits at top-left, and the jar that might be brown sugar at top-right). It gives the impression of presenting just part of a bigger picture, and it makes me feel curious about what is outside the frame. I like photos with mystery and it's great that you've managed that in a photo of coffee and biscuits.

I also really love the smoothly out-of-focus area at the top of the photo. Whatever lens you used has wonderfully smooth bokeh. A Sigma, perhaps? And you have really nailed the selective focus.

 

There are three things that, in a perfect world, I would change. The white part of the jam centre of the foreground biscuit distracts me, as does the grey loopy thing hanging down from the sugar jar at the top, if sugar it is. And finally, I think I might prefer not to see the corner of the napkin at bottom-left. It might be better, to my eye, if the corner had been just out of frame.

 

But those are just details. You found a great composition and I really love your photo.

 

You did a great job with this shot, Carlos. I love the arc of the flowers, the selective focus on the bottom three, the gradient from green to black background, the stalk coming in from the bottom right, the contrast of the bright yellow against the darker background. I also like how the curve of the bottom stalk continues with the arc of the flowers.

I also like that the colours, while vivid, are natural and not over-processed. I can imagine that some people might suggest a slight crop from the top but I like the sense of space. Also, this layout would be perfect for a magazine cover.

 

 

I like this photo a lot. To my eye it tells a very simple and powerful story. The car has a lot of character, and has probably covered many miles. Its 1961 plate tells us that it has been around for a while, the bar above the bumper lends it a certain ruggedness, and the added "eyelids" above the headlamps make it seem more human. The empty roof rack says "load me up and take me on a trip!" If the car is mechanically as sound as its bodywork, it is easily capable of more adventures. The question is whether the man, who is perhaps only casually looking at the car (is he more interested in the car or the cup of coffee?), is similarly ready for new experiences.

 

I like the selective focus on the the car's "eyes", with the man slightly blurred in the background. And the darkish clouds that add to the sense of adventure. I'm less keen on the vignette, which I presume is a natural effect from the Holga, because the headlamps both end up being in the vignetted area, and they are what bring the car to life. If the photo were mine I would perhaps experiment with dodging the headlamps very slightly to put a little more light in the car's eyes.

 

Anyway, great photo, Steve. You noticed (or created) a great moment and made it into a really striking image.

 

Very nice composition. I agree with Tomasz that it's slightly underexposed. But the clouds at top-right will probably blow out quite quickly if you adjust the exposure without masking the adjustment in that area. In a perfect world, you might also fix the vignette at top-left. But even without any changes at all, it's still a very nice photo. It makes me want to visit the Tatra mountains!

I like this photo a lot. It conveys the joy she must be feeling at photographing her friends. And I prefer your original crop. Putting her at the right of the frame with her camera in the middle (as you have) provides space for her to point her camera into. Also, if the eye drifts away from the subject and towards the left, the rightward gaze of the woman in the white top brings us back again to the subject and her wonderful old Polaroid camera.

A very nice urban landscape. I like the juxtaposition of the colours (the rusty red and the green), and of the straight lines and curves. I very much like your choice of framing.

common sense controls which do not now exist and were abandoned first a little under Clinton and later big-time under Bush

John, would it not be fair to say that this trend started under Reagan, and continued under his successors?

 

Well seen, John, and nicely done! In addition to what you, and others, have already said, I like the passenger at the right, who is looking the camera directly in the eye. He's quite a contrast to the main subjects, who are lost in a world of their own. And the missing ad at the top of the frame reveals a very industrial-looking gauge. It adds to the dilapidated feeling of the old railway carriage, and adds to the sense of timelessness. I agree that this is one of your best.

I very much like this composition, and the patchwork of tones. The bicycle is a very strong foreground subject and leads the eye nicely into the arcade. The wide angle has distorted the tyre of the bike but I don't find that disturbing.

What bothers me slightly is the light area around and behind the bicycle wheel. The lightness of that area attracts my eye too much. This is a strong enough image that I think it would have been worth spending the time to make the burning-in in that area consistent with the work you did on the pillar against which the bike is leaning.

Two turkey vultures fighting over the carcass of a jackrabbit. Taken

near Tucson, Arizona. Typically, only one bird feeds at a time. Two

birds engage in a brief tussle (like this) to establish who is

dominant, then the winner gets to eat. Unless a third bird has already

started feeding while the others are fighting.

 

The light specks near the carcass are the flies that were buzzing

around it.

I'm very pleased to see one of John's photos chosen as photo of the week. John has a gift for 1) seeing photogenic situations, 2) having a camera with him when he sees them, and 3) making a successful and interesting photo of the scene.
The diagonal perspective here is a good way for the photographer to avoid getting his own shadow in the scene, and I think it also makes for an interesting composition. I like how position of the wall evenly divides the human subjects between their legs, elongated by the angle of the sun, and their more normally-sized torsos.
So, "chapeau", John... or at least the dramatic silhouette of a chapeau!

This is a really stunning image. The animals are gorgeous and I love the various shades of brown in the photo.

I very much like the tones in this photo -- both on the man's skin and on the metal weighing scales. You have done a great job either on the digital black-and-white conversion or on the developing and scanning.

I also like how the photo tells the story of what is happening. At first, it seemed odd to me to see a man sitting on weighing scales in a way that reminded me of how one might weigh vegetables in a market. That made me want to look at the photo some more, to find out what's really happening. Then I saw the exercise weights at the bottom of the photo and it all made sense.

He has a wonderful look of calm concentration on his face.

Congratulations on a really good photo!

Grayham, that's gorgeous! It was already a fantastic photo but now the blade of grass no longer draws my eye away from the lion. This is really a wonderful photo -- congratulations again!

Thank you, John. Your photos are often thought-provoking, which is a considerable achievement. I must remember to view your gallery on this site more often -- it's always a rewarding experience.

Flann O'Brien, in 'The Third Policeman', writes about people becoming part of their bicycles, and vice versa.

A good bicycle is a great companion, there is a great charm about it.

'How would you know a man has a lot of bicycle in his veins?'

[...]

'If he walks too slowly or stops in the middle of the road, he will fall down in a heap and will have to be lifted and set in motion again by some extraneous party'.

I've sometimes felt the same way about my suitcase, especially when travelling frequently, and especially now that suitcases have wheels. Perhaps these people are feeling the same way about their absent luggage. I too have felt a certain separation anxiety if it has ever explored the world on its own. These people are responding by sitting on a luggage transporter, behaving like luggage, setting an example for their errant suitcase, hoping to tempt it back.

Behind them, a pair of smart carte signs cruelly mock their plight. The signs seems to say, "Look, this is how our carts should be, each laden with a white suitcase", all the time knowing that these people want nothing more than to fill the empty platform of the first cart in the line, but cannot.

I hope their cases returned to them very quickly. And I'm pleased you were there to capture this wonderful moment, John.

 

Everyone in the photo seems to be taking this surreal moment in their stride. But, I suppose, if you can take a bike on the train, why not a pony? Anyway, this was well seen, John, and it's great that you were so quick on the draw with your camera.

Yes, indeed, John, a tip of the hat is what I intended. And I'm sorry to hear about your passport. I have suffered the same experience myself and know that it is no fun.

Great photo, John, and a great title. I have nothing to add that has not already been said, except "chapeau!".

Thank you, Tony!

Such beautiful light -- well worth getting soaked for!

Nice portrait, Samir!

Very good. I like how the two arrows converge (nails and magnets). I see he is wearing a hard hat against phototerrorists (can't be too careful!)

 

Such a dramatic landscape -- almost like a seascape in fact. To me, the extreme contrast of the foreground overpowers the mountains in the distance. So I kind of agree with Marvin's comment above, except that for me it is not that there is too much foreground, but just a distracting foreground.