rsg

Marvelous!

RSG

spectcular! I particularly like the intense blue of her eyes.

Wow!

RSG

this reminds me of Medieval "Danse Macabre" woodcuts from Germany. Great work!

RSG

The note about not saying they shouldn't do this got me curious . . . where did that come from?

She looks like she's having fun with the shoot. The documentary character eludes me, but then, I'd probably "get it" if I looked at the rest of the portfolio.

Looks like some cool tat work - very colorful.

Sounds like a fun project too. I look forward to seeing how it evolves.

RSG

Wow - spectacular and unique.

I, for one, find the hand a decisively excellent element.

Nice.

Sieht mir wie naehe von Zugspitze aus - wunderschoen!

RSG

Pure, unadultered, genius!

This is magnificent!

RSG

One of the best I've seen - although yes, it does look hellishly painful . . . what a model!

RSG

Funniest

Tagline

Ever!

RSG

I like it - just wonder if I'd like it more if it was cropped a little tighter and her feet/legs weren't part of the shot. . .

But I like it overall.

RSG

I tend to agree with the other two about the cropping. . . and the sunbeam just kind of distracts me. I'm wondering, too, if the composition of her figure might be better with the left foot over the right instead of as shown.

My first thought, however, was that this would be pretty nice in BW and a seamless background. Her facial expression I don't find problematic (the half-closed eyes I'm not wild about). Seems that deadpan expressions are standard model face. Beautiful model for sure.

RSG

On the other hand, I'd say he's got a good start with architectural photography!

RSG

I actually like the green cast - to me it gives it a depth and character.

Very strong and beautiful/intense image. A model of lighting excellence which I will use as reference for my own efforts in the field!

Great work.

RSG

plus, a question.

What sort of paint do you like for bodypainting? Also, the gems - excellent touch. Some nice design work here.

Not to mention the beautiful model!

RSG

Altus, Arkansas. A broader view of the same church the transept of

which I posted previous. The trick, again, was to balance the strong

light contrasts, which was a little easier because I simply exposed

for some of the side walls. The sanctuary is a little dark and the

window light a little blown out, but I'm not entirely displeased.

Much of the old German Romanesque approach to decoration/art is

apparent in this rural Arkansas church. It survived the aesthetic

blood-letting of the 1960's and 70's mostly (I am told) because the

Benedictine monks who pastored this parish were too tight to spend

money on stripping the paintings and furniture. Even the altar rail

survived.

Restoration in the 1990's brought a lot of the old stencil work back

to its original brilliance. Inscriptions are all in Latin and

German. It was a mesmerizing and deeply spiritual place.

RSG

Maybe I'll head back to Arkansas and do a series on the wineries ;-).

Seriously, some of them are exceptional. If you ever go that way let me know and I'll send you a list.

I'm liking that HDR thing. May be exactly the sort of thing I've been looking for to create the type of images I've always admired. And will definitely send on any successes in that regard!

Many thanks again

RSG

The camera (Nikon D70) was basically handheld. I say basically because I steadied things on a pew. At the time, I was shooting in auto mode with an AF Nikkor 28-108mm D lens. Focal length was c. 28mm which translates roughly to 42mm allowing for the typical DX increase (1.5x). Aperture was f3.5 and shutter was 1/50sec. Center weighted balancing, but I seem to recall that I centered on the window, "locked" the exposure based on that, then reframed with the window off centered.

If I went back, I'd probably go all manual and work with exposures a bit more. At the time, I was kind of in "documentation mode" and not thinking in the artistic vein particularly since this was a chance discovery and did not have a lot of time to spend in the place.

Definitely want to go back. They apparently have some very good wine in Arkansas ;))

RSG

Another in my series on Catholic churches in Arkansas, this time in

the far northern part of the State. It's remarkable what one will

find when one begins to ask simple questions. In the course of my

wanderings, almost every place I stopped West of Little Rock

recommended stopping at St. Elizabeth's in Eureka Springs.

The town itself has its charm, but is pretty overrun by the tourist

trade. Even this small, stone church has succumbed to the lure of

tourist dollars as is evident by the very prominent promotion of

their gift shop. In spite of this, there was still a spiritual air

about the place, particularly with the intensity of the Fall colors

in the trees.

As for technical merit, IMO this is a rather bucolic shot, but also

seemed to capture the light and peace of the early Fall afternoon in

tension with the seductive sublties of the dominant tourist trade.

RSG

Late one November afternoon a couple years ago, I was intriqued by

billboards promoting wineries along I-40 in rural Arkansas. Some

miles south of the interstate, I came upon a most remarkable old

Catholic church built by the German Christians who settled the area

some 130 years ago. Its German and Latin inscriptions still intact

and with unique Beronese wall murals, the environment was like

stepping into a different world. To me, this shot captured the

mystery and light of the place, the day, and the experience.

Intrigued that such a place existed in Arkansas (where there are

remarkably few Catholics) I subsequently went on a quest for these

places of worship and discovered - remarkably - a large number of

very moving (and sometimes kitschy) sacred spaces.

On the other hand, I'd like some feedback from the Collective on what

might make the image (and others) better, etc.

Thanks!

RSG

The amazing sharpness of focus and detail is breathtaking! I'm guessing this is a large (or at least medium) format camera? I see I need to dust off my old Calumet 4x5.

just amazing work.

RSG

Actually, I like the photo too, but have a different perspective on it. For me, the contrast between figure and stone is what makes this image strong. The juxtapostion of the textures, angularity v. curvaceousness, animate and inanimate is marvelous. Also, I think that in color the tonality would be lost.

Sehr schoen! Herzliche Dank!

RSG

I'll confirm the opinion on Art Deco/Riefenstahl. Reminds me of scenes from her film "Olymia" - majestic and beautiful at the same time.

Excellent as always

RSG

I'll have the beef.

Happy T-day to any and all.

RSG

I'll say this: you're model selection has definitely improved. This is a very erotic image, although the crown of thorns and cross distract from the sensuality of the pose/lighting. Since she's manifestly not in any kind of torment (almost the opposite) you could loose the cross nonsense and have a really excellent nude. Turn her palms down, keep the pose - maybe even modify the bikini bottom (not sure about that).

If you pulled her hair back you could also crop at the torso and have a very effective image. The only drawback with that would be the rather harsh light across her breasts - its kind of burned out there. Softer light with less harsh shadow under her left breast.

Would love to see more and better use of this model - she's excellent!

RSG

Juha's comment was extremely enlightening. It will be very helpful in my own work!

Thanks

RSG