espector

Tomasz,

Well I just noticed that this is a film image, not digital!  So you may ignore my previous comments as they apply to digital processing.  It's still a lovely image, either way, and I've greatly enjoyed looking at it.

I love this kind of B&W that takes advantage of the different shades of green in the foliage (and I love leaves, too), so this one attracted me immediately!  The composition is pleasing, as is the sense of depth. 

I'm wondering, though, if you might even be able to do a bit more with this image, to take your original idea even further.  I think you could accentuate the silveryness of the leaves even more by doing a couple of things.  One possibility would be to bring down the midtones in the lower 3/4 of the image (keeping the darkest areas in the upper 1/4 pretty much as is).  This might set off the lighter leaves a little better, make them more prominent against the only slightly darker leaves with which they're now competing.  A selective Multiply layer (with a fairly low opacity) for just those 2 or 3 lightest/frontmost leaves would make their vein structure more prominent and add to the silvery effect.  And finally, just a tiny bit of warm toning might give even more of a silvery effect.  I hope you don't mind these suggestions, and I know one person's vision of things is not always another's!  Here is what I was thinking of (and if you object in any way to my having worked with/displayed your image I will immediately remove it):

http://spector.smugmug.com/Before-and-After/Before-and-After/i-g5z7P7W/0/M/leavesbeforeandafter-M.jpg

Elisabeth

Interested in any comments or opinions on this one. It's certainly

not a typical photo for me in terms of style or equipment used...

The tones are just beautiful; I especially like the way the sky and clouds create a sort of soft, silvery sheen that echoes that of the building.  You have some wonderful (almost menacing) dark tones, too, that offset the light, shimmery ones; great how you've managed a nice level of detail in those darker areas.  The composition is pleasing, especially on an abstract level (shapes and lines/light and dark areas).  There was potential in this scene for a certain amount of competition or chaos among the different elements, but you've placed everything perfectly so that each part maintains its sense of self and works with rather than against the other parts.  The couple is a very welcome element for that sense of scale others have mentioned, and I like the way they are sort of lost in thought or conversation, oblivious to the menacing creature hovering just above them!  A very pleasing image, all the way around.

Thank you, John, Bob and Theo.  :-)

What a fascinating photo!  I've come back to look at it twice now.  On the technical side, it is so beautifully precise in its geometry (no distractions there--love the attention to symmetry and edges).  The fairly flat lighting works extremely well here, too, and the colors are lovely.  But it's the life contained within this little tableau that I find most fascinating--so many individual people to study, each doing their own thing.  My favorites are the children venturing into the fountain, and also the fellow at the bottom with the white dog (which looks like a very large cat in its outline, LOL).  I think this is quite a memorable and well-executed image.

Thank you, Theo!  This is a special picture for me in lots of ways...

Thanks very much for the comments, George and Doug.  His hair had a little help from gravity--the title is a hint. :-) 

All views, comments and critiques are very much appreciated!

Thank you very much, everyone, for taking the time to look and for providing your thoughtful feedback!  Carlos--I don't speak Spanish, but I understood your words perfectly using Google Translator.  :-)    Thanks for your comments, too, David, Diane, Kyne and Pierre.  J. Kilgo, I really appreciate the honest critique!  Sorry the facial tones look blown; I see skin details on mine but agree that those lightest tones could probably be pulled down just a bit.  Grayham, thanks for your thoughts, too.  The lens in this case was the ZD 50-200 (non SWD) at f/5.0, 1/320s.

I always enjoy a good B&W botanical!  This one has a very pleasing composition and range of tones.  I think you've controlled the depth of field very well here; I'm glad to see the bottom-most leaf still in focus, especially since it is such a dominant part of the overall compo.  The water drops are lovely, and I like the bright whites you've achieved on the edges of the leaves.  I normally like monochromatic images to be just a little on the warm side, but the cool toning here works nicely.  I enjoyed this one a lot.

Thanks for taking the time to look and critique.

Well, now *that's* a portrait, IMO. :-)

 

First, I'm very partial to profiles. Second, I just love the 2-D feeling with the flat light and the almost physical connection between the subject and the background. Colors are outstanding--somewhere between real and surreal, with a very painterly feeling that in no way leaves me feeling manipulated. Most of all, I love the way you have captured something of this young woman's personality--the view of her tattoo, her hair and makeup choices which have extra prominence due to your color work, and that amazing scrunched up facial expression. One of the most enjoyable portraits I've seen in a long while. Glancing at your portfolio, I see I have many more to pore over--can't wait!

I'm enjoying so many things about this image, which works on so many levels. When I relax my gaze, this flattens into a beautiful 2-D study of geometry and color and light and dark. Then I re-focus and am pulled right into the 3-dimensional "reality" of the scene. Those amazing reds and yellows are offset so nicely by the hint of blue-green in the water and the far side of the grate. What a satisfying and beautiful image.

Trying out a recently-acquired Olympus OM-1n with no working light

meter to enjoy the fun of an all-manual camera. :-) I've shot only

one roll of B&W so far, but it's been a nice break from my usual routine.

 

Thanks for looking. Any and all critiques/comments are very welcomed.

Wonderful use of color; love the way the bright primary colors are occupying just a small corner next to the expanse of natural greens and browns. This has such a wonderful balance between warm and cool-toned areas, and the abstract shapes themselves are very pleasing. Textures are great, too. To my eye, this has many characteristics of a good painting; very glad you chose this wider view rather than going for a close crop. If I had one small wish it would be to have the man and the dog both looking into the image, but that is a minor matter for me.

First Photo.net post; thank you for looking and commenting!