aplumpton

Original photo reprocessed for improved clarity. Thank you for looking and

commenting.

What is here and what is not is something that interests me in my

photography. Your critiques of the image are welcome.

Hello Pierre,

A delightful image, beautifully conceived/composed, and one that goes beyond any title, although your chosen title is as imaginative as your work (and the impromptu one of Jack equally amusing yet underlying an appreciation of your art)! The atmosphere of your photo (colors, light, fantasy) is great. 

Sergio, I enjoy your art in B&W and this image is a very fine example.

In the way of constructive critique, the small shadow of a building in the bottom left corner is a bit intrusive in my opinion to the overall image effect. The intrigue of the image is that it is a daytime shot that tends to mimic a night scene, in view of the darkened sky (IR type post exposure treatment?). That tension is perhaps what makes the photo interesting (the sun being off scene and upper left), but have you thought of alternatively painting out the clouds to the left to provide an overall dark sky? That would transform it more completely to a simulated night image, yet the viewer might be puzzled about the source of such a bright light. Ciao.

Fred, thank you for commenting and especially for noticing the shadows created by trees and poles that are to the right of the chosen frame, the soft versus hard shadows, their contribution with the low angle of light to the texture, and the man walking through the frame. The latter appeared to me to be essential to the composition (fortunately he wasn't walking too fast and I could place him where he is) and to the the ethos of the place, the winter and the acceptance of the latter by the people of this small (population about 490) community. Without him and his trailing shadow (dagger-like, I like your observation), I think the image would be less appealing.

I may have mentioned it somewhere, but I think anyone who sees this must visit your portfolio and your photo series of the farm in New England that you visit and that provides you continued inspiration, while allowing viewers impressive images of the place and its residents.  Something I look forward in going back to see again.

A delightful photo, one that warrants a smile and good feeling every time I look at it. As always, your exploration of the city (or cities) succeeds in finding beauty and surprise that often are unnoticed by others. If I am not mistaken the pot of the plant houses little containers in which baby plants are germinating or sprouting. The shrub and title are perfect company to the uplifting popular art, and all I think are best seen enlarged. 

Supriyo may well be right that the image raises our curiosity and that the person is approachable and effectionate and that his squinting is fighting tears, but these do not seem to me to be possibilities strongly suggested by the portrait. Looking at his eyes in an analytical manner (I trust that Mehmet will accept this curiosity on my part) in the following treated copy does not seem to give any more indication than that of someone looking at something outside the frame with the difficulty of doing so when looking towards the sun. That is what appears to me to be a reasonable interpretation, even though my imagination may want to fight that reason.

Mehmet is indeed an excellent photographer and hits the mark particularly in his Human Landscapes portfolio where it is well worth visiting. This is one that demonstrates his perceptive spirit. I think the images of that portfolio are less usual and more revealing of him and more original than the portraits, however well done the latter my be.

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=10956358

My first impression is like Robin's. The lack of eye detail restricts the impact, unless there would be other environmental subject matter present that might create an emotional or symbolic reason for that exclusion of visual information (like other elements within the picture frame that might speak to that).

I would love to see in future a description by one of the 15 elves as to his or her reaction to a selected image, much like the explanations often presented by one or more of the photo competition judges of photo salons for their selection or rejection of a photo. One might at that point have a starting point for the choice made. Or alternatively, and perhaps better, that one of the elves provides an epilogue after the discussion that provided their reasoning, as it is apparently recognized by Photo.Net that the selected image is not chosen as best image of the photographer but one that elicits discussion.

My complements to Mehmet for a fine Karsh-like tonality to his image, and I wonder, if he uses Photoshop or other image treatment, whether he thought of opening up the shadows in the eyes region to some degree? A little detail might better support the very good observation by Fred of the light slit between his fingers as giving some basis for the perception of this instant by Mehmet. Otherwise, the photo does not tell me very much.

Sometimes a river in winter holds its little morning surprises. Has anyone

here experienced this melt-freeze spectacle?

Hi Benjamin and Jon. Thank you for viewing my photo. I was attracted to the beautiful color of the antique wood door and the presence of the early morning sun and patterns.

Hi Pierre. Thank you. It was an effective 16mm lens on a rangefinder camera and I owe some credit to Cosina for having made a nice little right angle finder to allow a low angle, even though visualizing with an RF camera at close range can be hit or miss. The persons had just arrived in this vacation spot and were seeking sun and warmth.

Gregory, Verena and Svetlana. Thank you for your comments. I noticed the traces at ground level and climbed the lookout tower for a more comprehensive view. Happily, it was late afternoon and the sun angle had its part to play.

Maurizio, thank you. I have to give credit for that to the lovely tonality of the Konica IR film, something I am trying to replicate with my digital camera. 

The winter stroller is not alone in enjoying this park. He is perhaps not

ready yet to use one of the picnic tables. Critiques welcome.

Just a simple "portrait" of an old door in early morning light. Thank you for

your critique.

A photo that communicates well. The diagonals heighten its message, as well as do the partial inscriptions that remain.

This one and your Gravestone Study are the two that I find the most original in your series of fine cemetery images. The distinct and less distinct areas of the image and the contrast between the cross + sculptures and the lower key elements of the scene adds another dimension to the photo. The central subject works beautifully and would not do so I think if placed to the side. Continue your black and white work, including landscapes, as your perception in B&W is more successful in my humble opinion than in color (which is good, but I think not as good as this).

I would prefer not a blank background as suggested, but one that better complied with the perceived mood of the bather. This one is in contrast to that mood for me and I agree with the statement that the black triangles (as well as the overpowering vertical elements) are distracting. But I think the photographer had little choice of options, although this background may well have been something he was looking for. I am happy that some may like the background as it is, which again shows the multiple effects an image can have on viewers.

I like the basic idea of the image. She is shown in a very relaxing situation we all experience when our body is buoyed up by the water and we isolate ourselves from everything else. Did the photographer intentionally seek out the background for this photo? Perhaps he had no other choice but for me it is very distracting and incompatible with his good idea, diminishing the effect of calm and pleasure one senses is being felt by the bather.

Hello John,

A non conformist cross and a non conformist perception! The pathos of the worn wooden cross and its no longer horizontal member, mimicked by the cloud formation, is contrasted in the photo frame by the imposition of the non conformist cross over the view of the more formal cemetery markers behind, the view of which is effectively partly blocked. Tony's contrast boost makes this all more punchy but I think in this case that the softer grey tomes are important in not overly forcing the evident differences of the crosses. Nice observation and decision on composition.

Hello Pavel,

The original photo and this provide a very well balanced composition, from the dirt roadway and the far and near vegetation right up to the clouds and sky. Usually the eye will look at a framed image starting at the top but here I was immediately anchored to the far off tree and then navigated the image in a somewhat circular rather than a downward from the top diagonal manner.

On the plus side, I think the tones are very beautiful and must be quite impressive in the original photo as well. However, do you think that the Photoshop (or similar) creation of a painterly effect is successful, or do you, like me, wonder if the artifacts created by the post processing are a bit too "mechanical" or overall too similar in effect or appearance?

Thanks Dieter. I read 2015 rather than 2005. Not a good omen for my observational capabilities in art and photography!