tonmestrom

Anders thanks. No, it's not Paris. I shot this in Barcelona a few weeks ago.

Bulent yes, I guess it would. I like my meats though but this is a sight that we hardly see anymore in the Netherlands.

Jack surreal, that is an interesting qualification. It made me look at this photo in another way so thanks for that

Marjolein yes, it feels balanced for me as well much because of the reasons you give and no, I didn't ask him. They were very proud of being photographed. I gave them my card so I could sent them some photos (I've made a whole series of these guys) but haven't heard anything yet. Make no mistake, these are quite heavy and this little guy carried all of them on his back inside. Bedankt

Carlos thanks for that comparison, I quite like it and no, I'm not going to spoil it for you.

Wieslaw that's exactly what I felt because while it was all friendly enough it felt quite like a clash in more way than one.

Jeff yes, it was that, more than anything else that attracted me to it or better yet I was hoping to get a shot like this. Sometimes you're just lucky.

Meir although that seems to be a problem in some European countries, or so some people try to tell me, that was not what this was about.

Rueda gracias

Jack despite of what I told Meir there is some truth to what you observe. But as you know with any kind of demonstration, especially with these cultural backgrounds, emotions sometimes get the better of people. This however was a very kind lady who merely got caught up in her own chanting.

Fred thanks. The partial movement/slow shutter technique is something I sometimes use in a photo because if you get it right it fits nicely in with the dynamics of the situation. Disjointed is a interesting and fairly spot-on observation. Truth be told in situations like this you take what you can get.

Robert, that is an inspiring and motivating comment especially since I know you mean it but even more so because I know what you are capable of yourself so thank you for that.

this one has me laughing out loud even as I'm writing this. I think I would have guessed this one one of yours without seeing you name. Great photo Gordon.

I really love the abstraction here as much as I love the composition. That intense look as opposed to the negative space in this photo could hardly been better. You've got yourself a tremendous photo here Gordon. One to envy; a lot.

;-)))

I also think that vertical line in your photo adds a lot

I very much agree about the quality of this portrait as such. It would have looked like a fairly common corporate portrait apart from his appealing expression which tells us he's very much at ease which shows. However, I do see some technical problems that I think are worth mentioning. First of all it seems to lack density but since it's all there I think you just took it too far in PP. Secondly if you look at the left side of his face it looks overexposed from where I'm sitting and frankly I see no need for that. All in all I think you've got a very good portrait here but one worth revisiting.

absolutely. let me just add that of all the good things in this portrait it's the expression most of all that turns it into a very good portrait. Also the hands and the way they are positioned do wonders in this composition.

What I like most of all is the abstract feel of this one. It's a bold juxtaposition but a very appealing one. That piercing gaze is quite enigmatic and draws a lot of attention. I wonder if that reflection beside his right eye  isn't a bit too distracting though?

I think it's a strong photo Anders.

Frankly I like it just as is. It's a portrait that excels at what it should and that is create a feel of innocent and appealing intimacy. Besides, as far as I can tell the eyes are tack sharp. It's a wonderfull portrait Meir and one which most photographers would be proud off to have in their portfolio. I know I would.

yes, that's what makes it so exceedingly difficult at times. It's something we all struggle with I think and of course, I also see it in my own work regularly. As for the rest, I'm hardly a master Wieslaw but the main reason I pointed it out was because by now I know what you're capable off and therefore there's no doubt in my mind that you could to a better job here. Whether you want to revisit this one is of course a different matter.

Fred G. told me once that one has to be fairly comfortable to state what you don't like and of course he's right. On the other hand I never mind if people tell me if they don't like (part of) any of my photos as long as they explain why. I know you feel the same way.

it's true that the symbolism/metaphor is abundantly clear but at the same time it's also true that you've photographed a cliche. As such there is nothing wrong with that because if done well any cliche can be photographed beyond its average self. Frankly, given your nomal standards, that's what I would have expexted here but to be honest I don't think you did. First of all your composition looks way too cluttered for me, especially on the right, and a far cry from what you normally present us with. Would a different crop help? Perhaps, maybe something to try.

The second thing I don't like here is your post work. I've come to expect much more from you and certainly in this photo I think it's instrumental. If done right one would hardly notice it, as it is it kind of spoils the overall effect for me. Given that it all seems to be there I think you could do better with this photo.

thanks Tim. Yes, all is well. Just a bit busy that's all.

it seems that whenever we stray we tend to end up in somewhat the same direction ;-)

Anyway the word serene comes to mind when looking at this. Both the refelction on the table and the wall turn this into a very appeling photo which lifts it way above what otherwise would merely be a technical shot. Having said that technically it's handled very well whcih is what it sets off to be a very appealing and succesfull photo. I like this one very much Carlos.

thanks Yalçın

Gord, thanks

no Meir, often not in this case however fairly easy. Thanks for stopping by

first off I've been off and on PN considerably less than before. Part of that is a busy time, both personal and at work, and traveling every now and then. Just last week I got back from a stay in Barcelona and am now right in the middle of planning another trip to Valencia. And no I'm not complaining here ;-)

Despite my absence here I'm very appreciative that you are still following what I do. For those of you that wonder if I've switched to another field. No, I haven't. The truth is that while most of what I do is shoot out there I stray in other fields as well as I suspect most of us do. Photo's as the one above I like to shoot for a great many reasons but I hardly post them here, that's all.

As to this photo well, I'm rather fond of what most would call a "classical" approach to subject both from a subject point of view as from a technical point of view. Fred, I'm very pleased (although not in the least but surprised) that you picked out the background in particular as that is a very important part of this photo for me. Would it not be there I myself would merely look upon this as a technical exercise and most likely would have binned it. Anders thanks as well, both for your initial comment as getting back after Fred's.

Carlos, it seems to me that both of us have a nostalgic streak that shows in both our work. I guess we're both romantics at heart ;-) Glad to hear from you again btw after our little adventure over yonder.

Bulent, Jeff, thanks and yes for better or worse I am a stickler where tonality is concerned.

Amy, thanks as well. I'm glad it appeals to you.

Wieslaw I think both juxtaposition and even more importantly composition are instrumental in what we do. You own work is a great example of that. Thanks.

No Marjolein it's not Arnhem, it's Bokrijk in fact. Thanks very much. I hope all is going well at your end.

Again, thanks to all of you. Rest assured, my next upload will be out in the open again ;-)

I rather suspect she was more flirting with my camera than with me Gordon ;-(

thanks Catherine. It would have been fairly easy to remove but I only very seldom do that.

boringly mundaine and straightforward it is what it is and for me that is pretty uninteresting and poorly exposed. Some people above have commented upon the beautiful light. Well, there is a beam of light for sure but frankly there is nothing that I can see the photographer has done to make the most of it. Far from it in fact it's lacking an achingly amount of contrast. I see neither an abstraction let alone an abstract. But with a subject like this in such lighting conditions it would perhaps be better to emphasize the lineair elements/

Quite frankly I can't understand that when someone has the ability to create something like this
(from a technical point of view alone) he would upload something like the one above

thanks Bulent. Yes, she was more than willing.

thanks Axel. It was great fun.

I know Fred. It got me thinking about one of your recent threads in the Philosophy forum which I read with great pleasure. To be honest sometimes you see a scene like this and you react both with an amount of instinct and purpose.

comments like yours can be, and often are, instrumental in leaning back and re-evaluating ones own work whether I agree with it or not. This I find of great value so thanks again.

thanks Samme. I'm not sure if this has to do with the difference between men and women because just like most men I like women wearing high heels ;-)))