aplumpton

Thanks Fred. It confirms the sharpness of the foreground but also provides a better effect than when seen smaller. The front and side details are interesting. Not sure myself whether it would be improved as a vertical format as I think that the the surrounding yet symmetrically placed orchard on either side has an effect in placing the tree within the centre and adding contrasting environmental subject matter. The tree has somewhat round branches outline that if anything might even argue for a square image format but one not too closely cropped to the tree. The wide aspect chosen sort of makes it like an environmental portrait of the tree rather than a close face portrait common to a vertical format close portrait (All this is quite subjective on my part).

An image that exudes energy and motion, even though the subject itself has been immobile for millennia.

Jon, the water, trees and sky have been transformed by your fertile observation and imagination. I like the calming effect this photo has when viewing it.

Jon, I wish I could see this larger, but already at this size your photo has a special ambiance. It a very fine photo.

While the "long-stones" or menhirs lead us through and off the image to the left (and so substantiate in away their mystery), there is a tall object in the distance that furthers the question of these stones and this place. The clouds are also not sharply outlined but diffused, adding to the enigma and effect. I thought of the Avebury circle when I saw your photo, but this is a more natural setting. I wonder if you tried raising the light very slightly on the grass and on the stones, while leaving the sky as saturated or deep as it is. But the present effect is great and too much light might be unwelcome.

Hi Pierre,

Wonderful portrait of a relaxed and happy gentleman in which you have portrayed those qualities with admirable intensity.

Hi Pierre,

You have a point. My muse (Mrs P) also agrees.

My imagination has perhaps run away with me, but I see a character with Daniel Boone hat and trailing pony tail walking quickly (two upper legs in bottom 1/4 of image, and leaning about 15 degrees to the vertcal and with right arm and hand holding a school case or other light grey object between his arm or right hand and his body.

Maybe its time that I changed my glasses?

End of, are you not confusing lower light intensity with softness? If you look at the small twigs on the foreground (unfortunately we cannot click on a larger size) you will note that they are really quite sharp. The advantage of the photo being a POW is for me the fact that we do not use light painting often enough and this one at least affords that possibility. Thanks to End of for noting that. The difference in tones of the tree and orchard or vineyard may be intentional here, but often the light painting is done with a light of greatly differing color temperature to that of the ambient light and matching color temperatures is difficult to achieve in those situations where that is desired. Despite the dramatic effect of dissimilar color balance between subject matter in the photo I feel that one downside is that it yields an effect that is a more "decorative" than revealing of something about the subject, although I freely acknowledge that such an approach can please many viewers.

Dear Jon, Massimo, Alf and Bela,

Thank you for your generous comments.  I did play around with the formatting, but decided that the negative area below the stairwayhad some positive effect and sort of suggested a stairway not attached to the ground.  The photo is a digital copy of the darkroom print I made on B&W paper using a 35mm color slide in my enlarger. The black is actually the white painted steel of a reservoir for liquid materials.  A reversal print from a so-called reversal film.

Hi Barry, thanks for commenting. They were clearly having fun and I think that they were from Belgium which explains the costumes. I loved the ethereal nature of the old Kodak IR film, its halos and soft dreamlike textures, interrupted only by the occasional excessive contrast that one had to more or less accept. Good effects can be obtained with PS treatment of digital files, but I don't think the halo effect (due to the film backing or coating (or absence of it, I don't remember)) can be reproduced easily electronically.

Dear Supriyo and Jack, 

I am glad the ambience comes through. The old saws and rustic wooden skis on the walls as well as the old photographs also go with the little café and we had a most enjoyable stop-over there, lunch and spitited music with some very typical and amiable members of this rural community. Have to go back sometime. 

Hello Alf, Thank you very much for your critique. The little tree in the distance and the fence tend to emphasize yet also counter the central placement of the shed.  I agree about the sky but that was all that was when I visited this somewhat remote community (St-Alexis-des-Monts, about 140 km or 85 miles north east of Montreal). I think I could try rendering the image slightly colder to complement the sky, rather than making the white balance using the grey of the shed. 

Massimo, bravo for this well perceived and made portrait. The nature of her smile and regard is riveting and likely speaks to her personality, these also being complemented by the soft B&W tones, the choice of soft scarf and her hair appearance and lighting. I am sure all who know her personally would love to possess this gentle portrait of a friend.  Elsewhere your photos of young people in love are both successful and notably Italian.

Arthur Plumpton (Accidentally, and for a brief time, posted anonymously)

Gerald, you have captured perfectly I think the texture, shadows and light. I think it was Minor White who said that achieving a fine photograph is a work whereby your first attempt is not just accepted but the basis of further development of approach and result to further explore the subject. The subject matter is promising and i would encourage you to return to it (if it is nearby) for other views, for the tonality of the abandoned but resistant bricks and the invasion of nature on the roof.

Minimalist image with a strong content. Gerald, the rest of your series on crosses is also of interest, but I was particularly attracted to this one as in my homeland roadside crosses are equally strong symbols of cultural identity and beliefs, often isolated in their environment.

A very delightful image. The flower seem to be smiling at the viewer and the composition and contrast with the unopened one is what also makes this such a good photo. Something to look at first thing in the morning at breakfast to put one in an undeniably  positive mood.

I second the comment of Jon. The triangular composition is appealing, as is the leaf of the foreground flower diagonally placed. The background is perfect (the green variations are very natural appearing). I am a poor photographer of flowers, but I appreciate the beauty of them and successful photos. Do you think it possible to remove the small spot on the bottom leaf (If you use an image treatment instrument eke Photoshop Elements it is easy to paint or clone it out)? It is a very small detail and distracts only a little bit, whereas the smaller spot on the focussed flower does not. Thanks for showing a photo that would grace any wall.

Very fine image. The light is both a principal subject and source of light for this interesting composition (which wouldn't have happened without it) of the linear and the curved. Of course, the 3rd partner is you and your good eye for this detail and an ability to fragment an overall image into an ordered array. 

Summer in Quebec is not as long as in many regions of North America and the locals enjoy every opportunity of outside concerts that are popular everywhere in the province. I like your fine mix of sunset and ambient light, the beautiful river or lake and sky and the energy of the crowd. Your white balance is appropriate and I can find only one slight fault - did you saturate the colours a lot and how might the image appear if they had a somewhat less candy-like appearance?

Rural expressions of pleasure are timeless. Just a record of a summer

afternoon visit to Gagetown, N.B. Thanks for your critique.

There is much going on in this beautiful photo. The expression of the lady is delightful and the magic of the moment is amplified by the stunning composition, the similar appearing but distant person walking with (apparently) a similar contented arms folded posture and blond hair, as well as the lines and objects that appear in the rest of the scene, as so well noted by other viewers of your photo. There is just enough of the latter to reinforce the emotion of the scene and likely that of the photographer. A memorable image and thank you for showing it! Funny, I once lived in London and I feel that your photo fits my memories of that timeless place. 

Reprocessed initially uploaded photo to enhance the IR effect. Thank you

for your evaluation.