wood

Thanks for your comments.  I'll give them a try.

Thanks for your insightful comments.  As usual your critiques are helpful and well considered.

Thanks to you both for your comments.

Thanks for your comments.  Just the feedback I was looking for.

I was attempting to create a 1940s cinema look with this B&W

conversion, but am also wondering if this seems too busy and

cluttered. Opinions?

My apologies if I violated the forum's protocol. I simply reacted viscerally to comments I considered to be disrepectful to the photographer. Stating an opinion that a photograph lacks something technically or artistically is common in the POW (which I do read regularly), but to state that an image is not a serious type of photography and then to refer to it as cartoonish is another. I fully realize that we are all entitled to our opinions but in this case I was motivated to state my reaction in this outspoken manner as I felt that the comments were uncalled for. Again, I think this photo is an outstanding piece of work and if I have stepped over the line with my comments, I do apoligize.

To me this photo represents how the beauty in nature can be captured in the most simple of subjects. The craft is shown by the seeing, timing, composition, and dof utilized by the photographer. I suggest that those detractors who are not inspired by this type of image, or do not consider it a serious effort, have their noses so far in the air I'm surprised they can see their keyboards to type. The fact that some find it necessary to diminish work like this because it is a subject they themselves are not interested in, I find small minded and self-agrandizing. And I agree with Stephen Penland's comments above.

Excellent composition and treatment of colors.  Is this at the Japanese Gardens in Portland?

I follow your work semi-regularly and must comment that this is one of your best pieces.  Very well seen and captured.  Hell of a storm.

I agree with Jose and would add that if you had taken a few steps to the left and positioned the closer rock in the lower right and the further rock in the upper left, it would have created a feeling of the smaller rock pointing to the larger one in the distance and help to draw the viewer's eyes into the image.  A small suggestion for fine photo.

Yes, this is exactly the kind of critique I was hoping for.  Thank you for your honesty and your time.  And thanks for the compliments on my portfolio.

I find this a little too busy and hard to find your main subject.  The criss-crossing stems and numerous buds are distracting.  My eyes don't know where to focus.  I still can't find the second bee in the flower.

Slightly brightened . . . Thanks, Alberta.

Does it need brightening? Stacked two exposures and used the hand

HDR method taught by Harold Davis. Black & white conversion with

Silver Efex Pro 2.

You've captured a nice atomsphere with this shot, but my preference would be to have tilted the camera down a little to eliminate some of the ceiling and include more of the furniture in the room. 

Well seen and captured.  I also like the shadow at the top.  It adds a little more depth to the image.  Perhaps cropping or cloning out the tiny bit of dark matter at the very bottom might be an improvement. A very nice abstract in nature.

I love the concept but have a couple of suggestions.  IMO the ground is too thin in the frame of the photo.  It needs a little more to give it a sense of foundation.  Also, the left side needs a little more room for the turbine blade to fit comfortably in the frame.  There is also a faint dark spot near the lower blade that might be real but also might be a sensor dust spot.  These are all minor diistractions for a well conceived and executed photo.  Nice work.

Thanks for your opinion and compliments.  Best regards,

Robert

Nice details and the tonal range is excellent.  I like what you did with the sky.  The only thiing thatwould be an improvement, but not possible from this point of view, is to not have the trees in the lower left obscuring the cityscape.  Regardless, I still like this very much.

The DOF works quite nicely in this shot.  The closer set of wings are sharp while the back set are not, giving a nice sense of depth.  IMO F8 seems to have been the right choice.  I also like how the colors in the dragonfly and the plant seem to match.  Beautiful capture.

Mike, thanks for your comments.  I have used this setup with mixed success, more due to the insect's behaviour than anything else.  Trying to capture one in mid-flight is the real challenge.