davidlong

Thanks for your thoughts.

Thank you all for your kind comments. I wish that I could claim anything more than dumb luck in making this photo. I've been to the location at various times, and had even taken some pictures from the same spot earlier in the day. This one was made when I was hiking back home in the afternoon. As I passed by the lake, some clouds obscured the sun, and suddenly the light was magic. I managed only a few bracketed shots before the clouds passed. When I got home and downloaded the pictures, I was just astounded to discover what I had caught.

Thanks for any comments

Thanks for any comments

Thanks for any comments

All opinions appreciated

This is a very interesting portrait. After considering it for a while, I'd say you did a very good job of implying this person's story, at least to the extent that any photograph can. It's very unusual to have a portrait where only the bottom half of the face is revealed, but where the face is a critical element of the picture.

Very clever, well-lit, and an excellent job all around. In general, your glass works are outstanding. "Ho, hum. Another day, another masterpiece :-)"

I like the idea too. Besides the over-exposed face, the other thing that bothers me is the shadow of the hand and arm; because of its position, it looks something like a misshapen claw.

A wonderful photo of what looks like a very nice place; well done. Makes me wish spring would hurry up! By the way, if you're a garden lover and ever happen to be near the greater Philadelphia area, check out Longwood Gardens. It's huge, and it's magnificent.

This gives me the same impression as Jean Guichard's famous "wave" photographs, despite the very different composition. In both cases, we have a small human-related element (the lighthouse keeper in Guichard's photo, the lighthouse here) surrounded by nature and seemingly about to be overwhelmed. The fact that this manages to favorably invoke such a well-known image testifies, I think, to its strength.

 

In addition to the obvious capture of a dramatic moment, the photo makes effective use of a range of tones, with classic high-to-low contrast to suggest depth and to draw the viewer into the scene. The wave acts as a nice backstop, a barrier which holds the eye at the lighthouse.

 

I don't believe that this has been extensively processed (to the point of being unreal), or that it is anything other than what it appears to be.

A wonderful photo. The B&W doesn't strike me as that great; it's OK, but I'm curious what the color version looked like. The composition is very suggestive, strongly bordered by the wheelchair and body, and open on the bubble side. The hint of a smile on her face is such a tiny element, but it makes the whole picture work.

Great setting, arrangement, colors, and tone. I love the general feel of the picture. I can go with the mother's face not being visible, as she is focused entirely on her baby, but I think you lost it a bit with the baby's face being hidden.

The photo certainly invite symbolic interpretation, but that interpretation is, I believe, best left up to the individual. I think the most wonderful element of this photo is the strong contrast of soft enveloping fog with bitingly hard stone. The other critical element is the figure, and to me the person poses a more subtle question: coming or going? On first viewing, I thought "going", and that's what I imagine was really happening. But due to the fog, the actual tones and positioning are consistent with either interpretation, and I can visually flip it back and forth. Perhaps the effect would be lost in a larger print, but as it is, it's a nice twist.

The perspective and the long claws create an fairly unusual koala image--it certainly doesn't reinforce the cute-and-cuddly reputation. It's a worthwhile image for that alone. Good tone and texture as well. A little more DOF to make the nearest claws a little sharper would help I think.

I like it. It creates a slightly creepy "step into my parlor" sort of impression. Light and salvation await above, but what must you go through to reach them?

Beautiful tone, colors, and position, a great head-on view, and the eyes really jump out at you. A real winner!

Definitely not your everyday sort of photograph. It strikes you like a punch in the stomach on first sight. Since I imagine that that's what you were going for, you succeeded in spades. It calls to mind a scene from Golding's "Lord of the Flies"; if you've read the book, you probably know which one. I think it could benefit from a little lifting of the shadows, and (for this size) a small bit of sharpening, but in any case, the impact is undeniable.

Both this one and the "!" photo are amazing. I'm astounded at what nature sometimes presents to us. "f/8 and be there" indeed; well done!

I came across this on the front page. It definitely deserves it! Very delicate color and a hypnotic abstract composition makes for an arresting image. The flower pot anchors it all perfectly. "Beautifully done" is an understatement!

Very nice. I love mist, and I love this. The little bit of gold holds center stage wonderfully in a forest of giants.

 

(Curiously, when I was flipping through the critique forum, I noticed this and for some reason immediately thought "that's from an E-1". What are the chances?)

Beautifully (un)lit, with just the right blend of elements to suggest the flavor of the dance. I love the texture on the woman's back and man's hand there. The pose is wonderful as well, with the woman turned away.

 

The surrounding blackness gives a great sense of intimacy. Definitely don't crop it.

 

I think the lost highlight on the top of the woman's right arm is slightly distracting; it's not too noticable at first, but nags me a bit after studying the picture for a while. This is only a minor detail however.

 

Overall, very elegant and very well done!

 

Fantastic! Modern art on the sidewalk. A photo that manages to be rigidly geometric and totally free and spontaneous at the same time.

Unique, perfectly lit, great tone and texture, and a quintessential example of a body abstract. Well done!

I like it! The proportions are bold, really emphasizing her pregnancy. Nice lighting and tones, and she has a great expression to top it all off.