MrAndMrsIzzy

Amen! Which Is exactly why I keep mine to between 700 and 800 pixels on the longest side (keeps the necessity of scrolling to very little or none).

Or it could simply be that whatever we come up with in terms of specifics just doesn't quite make it, so we opt for something simple and straightforward like "it's a classic, reminiscent of ". In the case of my critique it was the gritty depression era and dustbowl images. Considering the equipment they had to work with, the photographers who captured those images really knew their craft. That's not to say that todays photographers are any less talented or knowledgeable with todays equipment than the master photographers of those times. I just can't help wondering how many of todays images (digital or film), would stand the test of time as have those. As for my referring to Novajones image simply as a "classic" rather than going into any detail (which I'm not particularly well qualified to do) means that I think that image is perfectly able to stand right up there with them.

Like JC, I'm not into in-depth critiquing. Suffice to say that this image is a classic. Reminds me of gritty images from the depression and dust-bowl years.

BTW correction (memory was off by 20 or so years). The tv programs I referred to in my first reply were from the 80's not the 60's, and the movies title was "Something Wicked This Way Comes" nor Something Evil This Way Comes.

Thanks for the compliment, and yes it was IMPRESSIVE. Massive too I might add and dark as hell inside. You can't tell from the pic, but that door was no slouch either. Wouldn't be at all surprised if it tipped the scale at somewhere in the neighborhood of half-a-ton (give or take a couple of ounces). Photo-ops all over the place.

OK! Tried several different constructs, this one worked the best. Not quite as sinister or threatening as the original but fun to work with and good practice. Procedure was pretty straight-forward. Crop the tree plus border image from the original and save it as a separate image. Select the bird to isolate it from its background. Copy and paste it as a separate layer on top of the tree and lower its opacity to 50 or 55% (didn't write it down but think I went with 50). Set the curves separately to "Linear Contrast". Sharpened both (also separately). Brought the brightness of the bottom layer (tree) up to 25. Flattened and saved it as a jpg for posting.

Spent a week or so wandering around Oaxaca (Mexico) back in 2005 (that's what I'm to in the keywording project). Tlacolula (think that's how it's spelled) is a town in the vicinity, and this image was captured at a church in that town. Given the difference in light values I didn't think my editing would result in an image suitable for framing but I decided to give it a try. The result is better than I thought it would be. There was a purple halo running down the left side of the doorway, but thanks to Inoneeye (told me how to keep the mouse going in a straight line) I was able to get rid of most of it.

Well. I was going to try a critique but lacking Sam's eloquence as well as well as Inoneeye's reply to it, I've simply decided to go with the initial thought that came to me upon seeing the post. The sinister looking glow on those tree limbs produced by the lightening like halo's (don't know what else to call them) as well as the feeling of impending horror (not sure if that's the right word but it'll do) produced by the contrast (I think) in the image of the bird, not withstanding. Back in the early 60's (as near as I can remember) there was a tv program called (if I remember correctly). "Tales From The Dark Side", or something like that and a made for tv movie called (again if I remember correctly) "Something Evil This Way Comes". Seeing these images, immediately brought those two programs to mind. Would you mind if I copied them and tried superimposing one on the other to form a composite.....Izzy

Thank you !.....Izzy

Not sure if this question belongs here or somewhere else but I figured it wouldn't hurt. Question! Using the clone stamp (or any other tool for that matter) in PS\CC. How do you keep the mouse going in a straight line?

Devil's Herd I won't go into the gory details (so to speak) as to why I cropped it this way. Aside from that, all those dots are partially grain and partially the result of the mother of all dust devils. It literally turned day into night. The critters are Cape Buffalo and the image was captured somewhere on the Zambian side of The Zambezi River and one of the few flash pics I've taken that I consider successful. I lightened it a little before posting so you could see it better.

Strike! Captured this image in 1999. Broad daylight. 400 speed film. Probably somewhere between 10 and 15 feet away (give or take a couple of inches). Sighted in, holding focus, finger on the shutter, and waiting. Was sure I'd gotten the forward lunge till I saw the pic and realized it was the recovery.

Bet they won't do that again!!!!!

Yes! It Does!!

Doesn't make you a bad person!

Ok! Aside from the non-vertical verticals noted by Dave, the pic falls into what I'd call the classic bridge + fog category. The off center positioning of the NY tower. The fog covering the top and gradually fading down to the roadway. The diagonal line of said roadway leading the eye across to the Jersey side. The barely visible tower at that end and the fog itself coming down lower at that end than the near end (I know! That's the way fog works. Doesn't make it a bad picture). Classic bridge + fog.! As for the GG being the worlds most beautiful. That depends on your point of view!

Hmmm! Before I go into critique mode, why are you talking about the GG when the pic is of the GW?

Hmmm! #2 = definite improvement over #1. Different angle, position, and view. Guessing if that tree a little off center to the right were a little more off center to the right might've made for a better composition but think not much could've been done about that without messing up the position of the fallen gate. Atmosphere is still there, maybe even upped a little.

Hmmm! Maybe not!

Agreed! Except I'd have probably cropped up a little from the bottom.

I'm in agreement wit JD and Michael as far as emphasizing the icicles and deemphasizing the background. I'd have probably cropped a hefty chunk off the left side of the frame and maybe a little from the bottom too, but that's me!

Actually as it appears on the screen, it's more than a bit overexposed. It does however print out a bit darker. In any case this is one that I will go back to tweak a little once I've finished keywording 2002.

Moving right along with the keywording and editing project, up to 2002 now. Back in April of that year we went driving around Southern Arizona for 2 or 3 weeks and one of the stops was Buenos Aires NWR, where we found this tree leaning over what I don't remember was either a small lake or a big pond. In either case we liked the way it looked and took the pic. Not exactly a 2 or 3 hundred dollar gallery masterpiece, but a nice image to mat, frame, and hang on the living room wall. Comments, critiques welcome.

Yes! :)

Well that's one way of looking at it! Don't know if you noticed though but the cross traffic has a red light.