dseltzer

Cherlyn, I've come back to this and your other two "Pilgrim" shots, and I've read your detailed and educational backgrounds and descriptions on each. I knew I wanted to say something, to let you know I've seen this work, that I'm continuing to visit your gallery, but I went away speechless each time. It took me awhile to sort out what these make me feel, and I think Pnina gets very close in terms of my western acculturated mind not being used to or even exposed much to this kind of practice. I have read about various religious rituals that include inflicting pain, or I should say doing things to the body that I would expect to hurt. Anyway, it is difficult for me to actually see images of it, especially this one that looks like the man is in pain. I guess he was for a brief time, then back into his trance?

 

All that said, what I've come to is the idea that what you're doing here, and with the other two companion pictures, is showing us something we need to see and need to at least accept and respect, whether we understand or not. You're doing something important and courageous with these images, and testament to that is how difficult I've found it to look at them, yet I'm drawn back because they are so very powerful.

 

On this one, in particular, the power is all the more amplified by your use of selective color (as Pnina already said), and all three in this series are certainly up to your usual fine level of craft. Thank you for making it possible for me to see a part of human life I'd likely not seek, and probably never see without your help.

I'm never sure what to do about framing. I feel like there should be one to help present a picture, but there are so very many ways to do it, and I really have no particular investment in that part. What pleases me is what you've said about the image, itself, and I'm very glad you like how I did this. Warm regards...

Thanks for stopping by, Pnina. I'm especially glad you like how the flower is placed in the frame... I gave a lot of attention to that.

Some verrrrrry serious gardening going on here! And your perspective is wonderful, as usual. This looks like it's probably several shots stitched together, yes? Very well done, however you did it.

Stately is a great word. One of my first thoughts looking at this was that the birds look like finely dressed statesmen, or some sort of dignitaries, contemplating an discussing very important matters.

Marvelous capture! Looks like there are lights inside his eyes. Your treatment of this is really great. FWIW, from his iridescence, I'm wondering if this may be a Grackle... they are in the Blackbird family.

This is a great shot to begin with, and I love what you've done with the post processing. It ends up looking like a fine painting.

I love this picture, Hanna. I'm all the more impressed since I just posted a couple purple Columbine pics... pleased with them, but nothing quite like this. You've captured the simple beauty and delicacy of this unusual and beautiful flower. Bravo!

This is quite a lovely picture. I'm sure you had to be quite patient to wait for the boats to be lined up like this, but it was worth it!

Wonderful capture, timing, light, and I love how you've used vignetting on this. Just beautiful!

Wow! Thanks, Carsten! I'm really glad this image holds your attention so well. Your very positive comments give me much encouragement!

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Jeff. Glad you like this!

There are so many things that can be said about this image, and there have been some interesting comments... and I very much agree with what I think Pnina is saying. To me, there are two essential variations here, one is the creation of a landscape abstract, and the other is what I think of as "the Bowbrick variation on photography." Masterfully done, as always!

I kept looking at your upload, then Shawn's, then yours, and I just couldn't see the difference. Then I read your next comment and realized I wasn't looking at the original upload. Whew! I was afraid I was losing it! Y'know, Gord, it's challenging enough to feel at all sure of what I'm seeing without you playing tricks, uh, that's more tricks, I guess :)

 

Forest fire, Olympus, fore and aft... er glow, whatever, it's a visually very appealing image, with a nice sense of mystery to it.

Not a prescription, you know, just a suggestion. It's funny I entirely overlooked the sizing, but that might also be relative, depending on screen size and resolution. I like the new crop. It seems to me the heron stands out better.

Thanks for looking, Joe, and thanks for the compliment! Warm regards...

So I don't forget to say it, I like this picture a lot, and I join in in saying it certainly does what you felt and intended. That much I can see.

 

As I wrote to you on "searching," I don't understand the PN compression thing. And as for being "along for the ride," well, that's me, for sure. I mean, I wouldn't have picked up the processing Jeff Long saw, and I'm still not certain I get just what he's referring to. You, Micki, are being way overly humble when you say you don't understand f-stop. You so obviously know so much about what you're doing, not only in-camera, but so much so with post processing. Feeling as very green as I am in regard to PS techniques, I'm always trying to learn how things are done. The depth of that program is so daunting. I'm most curious to know what you did with this image, though I am sensitive to how little time you have, so I'll certainly understand if don't respond, or if you do with, "Go read a book," or "Take a course," or something like that. Actually, if there is a particular reference or two you could point me to, I'd appreciate it.

 

All that aside, I hope you know how very impressive and inspiring your work is to me.

Micki, this does look much better on your site. And I gotta tell you how impressed I am with your site, too! WOW! Your level of industry and energy never ceases to impress and amaze me!

 

I see comments about the compression that PN does, but I've never really understood it. Can you tell me what's up with that, why, how, etc.? And why is it necessary, when it's obvious you can put up the same image on your site and have it look as you want?

 

Getting back to this, I'm glad you said what she's doing. I was having trouble figuring out if she was looking, waiting, longing... what? I think this is an unusual and lovely wedding picture, and I'll bet the bride is very pleased with it.

Joe, this is a very powerfully compelling image and very moving. She is so deep into her beer... actually, her thoughts, and the hand on her neck and the very slightly wrinkled brow say she's very troubled about something, like she might be trying to make a difficult life decision. Your capture so clearly shows the dark place she's in, and how alone. If I were there, I'm sure I'd want to go up to her and ask, "What's troubling you? Do you want to talk?"

 

Warm regards, my friend.

Your eye is terrific, as usual, and this one's another fine example of your mastery over b/w toning. A very powerful image with the angels, lighting and contrast of man-made geometry against the soft clouds... also fascinating and delightful that the cloud pattern so perfectly compliments the geometry of the structure. This one is just spot on in every way!

I like this one. It's nice a crisp, and good contrasting lighting between the bird and the water. The position of the bird in the frame isn't quite to my taste... I think I'd be inclined to crop out about half the distances at the bottom and left, and maybe a bit off the right to make a tighter crop overall, and to put the bird's head at the upper right thirds intersection. I think this might be more powerful that way, but you know what they say about opinions ;)

Composition, light, b/w, all working together to make a fine image. Well done, Dave.

I like this image a lot, and I think your idea for the DoF is very good. My nit on this one is the bit of camera movement (can see it in the elongation of some of the pollen grains) and a very slight bit of off focus of the lower petal. Still, all that said, I think this is well seen and a lovely picture.

I'm glad I don't have to chose a favorite of your Magnolia pictures! This one is so lovely and passionate, like the others, but in yet a different way. I very much like the strong contrast between the very bright, actually blown out petal (it works here) and the very subtle illumination of the pistils and stamens. They look like they're in a cup and about to spill over the edge. I can see how you would possibly want them to be a bit brighter (maybe a touch of dodging would work?) but I really don't think they need any change. The depth and detail are there, and the lighting helps, IMO, to underscore the complexity of the flower. A beautifully rendered image.

This is just lusciously rich and soft and sensitive and beautiful. It's very obvious that this flower was "a joy to capture."

 

I am curious about the light, which looks natural... and wonderful. Is it all natural? Would you be willing to share your camera settings for this one?