dave_dube

Blurred backdrops are good at times but can be like a bald sky at others.

Just wondering what you guys think.

Well, one could suggest that it's the warm lights/lighting but, I'm thinking that the main awesomeness are the angles and curves (all of them).

This is one impressive image to say the least.

Back in 2007 I posted this image for critique, the original image is still posted.  A mistake I made in the original image is the placement of my dog.  Some strange way I had placed my dog in the shadow area near the porch.  How that happened, I'm clueless.

Most of this is a painting with photos of myself and my dog placed into the painting.  Corel Painter and Photoshop were used.

So, I took the time and re-did it, glad I did as my dog has since passed.

You can see the original photo and comments here: http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6575258

Pretty good capture but I feel the reflection should have some detail visible.  The shadow area under the head is a little too dark and would benefit from the shadows being opened.

Maybe a bump in the blacks would help the black on the back as this guy seems to be nearing the end of its journey.

Just to explain in the event this is viewed again. 

There are 2 actual 'photos', one of myself taken on a bench so that I could place it into the photo and on the chair.  The other is my dog and I should have placed her under the light of the window but, I didn't.  Maybe I should re-work it?

Still one of my favorite's too Kim.  I've been away for several years in another photo community, it's great seeing your work holding up to the test of time.

Hi Andrea,

Love the pastel tone and the reduced contrast.  The other players in this great image, for me, is the pewter color of the seeds and light gray against the cranberry tone of the background.

One last thought, I agree with Roger about the names.  What I think works well is having it be part of the image with a very low opacity.  I've only started doing it that way myself.

Awesome photo Andrea!

If you look carefully, you can see 2 teens on the rocks below. Terrific

country swimming spot from mountain snow melt.

Found the different levels of background enjoyable along with the setting

color of the sunset.

Not having the time to read all of the comments, I've selected a few that seem to discuss my thoughts.
I personally would have liked one of the girls to be truly 'in focus'. For me, that's the most uneasy viewing aspect. As I attempt to grab on to an emotional feel in the photo, without one of the girls being sharp, I can't fill in my own story for the photo. I need a starting point and I don't have one.

Does it bug me or enhance the effect. There are several things that stand out for me, 1) the softeness 2) the stars and 3) the embossing effect.
Since I notice them immediatly, then that tells me they don't work well ~ for me.

Hi Dennis, over my years in digital photography and photoshop, I've become very skeptical of photos and photos like this on.

Prior to reading your explaination, I was all ready to pick it apart.  Why, well I've seen an eagle hunt a seagull and know that the eagle's posture in this photo is for fishing and not hunting.  If he was truly after the gull, he would have been gliding,diving in, not flapping in.

Great capture and great lighting on the eagle.  Ah, the days before 10fps, how did we manage.

Hi Andrea ~ Terrific capture, love the exposure and composition.  The ability to bring out the shell detail, color and tone is really great.

Well Done!

Wow ~ don't tell me that after all those years of me bugging you about borders you've stopped:}}

Nice artsy photo and great exposure.  Now, you just need an image faintly appearing in the sky.

Dave

Hi Gary, great photo ~ outstanding exposuse. 

I'm sure the kids didn't build it...This version does have more dynamic light but the other is much better composed, IMO.

So Jim, I've been away from PN for a couple years except to post a photo now and again.  My first time in a couple of years going to the critique forum and there you are.

Still looking for another Nikon Cool Scan?  All the best, Dave

It's amazing how aggressive these play sessions look and sound but

they don't actually bite each other.

I wanted to capture a photo that showed both of them with snarled teeth.

What a perspective ~ Great Job!

Cappy is his name, in this photo he is 12 wks old.  I grunged him a little for effect.