Wouter Willemse

As Wolfgang mentions, the two different expressions are brilliant; two different characters and personalities by the looks of it. It leaves me wanting to see what they saw, share in either the exitement, and/or the more observant interest.

Images as these just seem to fade into view, and then stick there; the muted tones avoiding it from being shouty and overly present, the composition to lure you in and keep you there. Another gem, this one.

Wet street photography is so much nicer than plain steet photography... I fully agree with Jack; the reflections and silver-bright tones of the wet just have that atmosphere and look that can make uneventful scenes look marvellous, let alone scenes that already "suffer" from being interesting and composed well, as this one.

The little things that put a smile on that can last the day... :-)

Probably my brain is too boiled or messed up, but somehow it seems a scene from the movie "The Matrix", despite being less noir and so far a lot less violent. But there is something about the posture of these three that instantly made me think about it.

Even when I try to surpress this connection, there is something about this photo that makes it an overture; the scene set and next.... It raises an expectation, without really revealing what to expect.

Don't know how I managed to not comment on this one yet... maybe I saw it on the social media and did the simple thing to express appreciation. But this photo deserves a bit more than that.

I can see the references to friendliness, the tender green tones certainly set a very pleasant atmosphere, not threatening in any way. But the highly selective focus (spot on by the way) also focus firmly on the eyes - it's almost like a game "who blinks first, lost".... there is a certain intensity and directness in the gaze that is captivating, but also slightly unsettling.

(I know way too little about snakes, coming from very snakeless areas, so by virtue of their 'bad reputation', I might very well be biased here!)

Near perfect reflection, and a great sense of tranquility and serenity.

With all respect to your image, I cannot help to compliment the artist who made this - it looks awesome!

A touch of chaos, a touch of rhythm and structure, a bit extending out of the frame and a bit self contained - a photo that leaves plenty of room for the fantasy and imagination to play around with it. Lovely :-)

Amazing tenderness and timing; loving and caring without getting too sweet and mushy, clear without getting too obvious.

The title is exactly right. It's a big step for mankind, and we're front row to witness it.

I guess the low amount of reactions this image is getting says more about photo.net and its lack of activity than it says about this photo.

Because this photo is spot on. With an amazing (but not very friendly looking!) sky as a big, big cherry on the pie.

I've got a hrd time choosing between Luca's "Yes" and Jack's reaction. But, well, what they said indeed, exactly. Amazing how you manage to make the supermundane exciting and different, always a lovely discovery.

There is certainly a lot of humour to this shot, but it's a bit a two edged sword, and I think the photo very subtly makes that point well - the two girls in the background, walking away.

While my first reaction was a big smile, just seconds after I couldn't help thinking that the kids probably like this man a bit less for blocking their fun. And well, it's fair to say there is a sad undertone to it - why do you end up sleeping there. Are the girls going away maybe a sign for those reason? The photo to me does seem to imply so.... humour, but with a darkish edge, a sad undertone and a touch more depth than the first laughter seems to imply.

To me, maybe more than dreamy, it's a mysterious atmosphere. The swan, seemingly out of place and context, the stones making sense, and a solid ground, and the tree revealing the "weird" angle under which we're observing; the highlight on the tree like an indicator where to go. Alice falling down the wrong tunnel, to encounter the wrong animal - is it wonderland or not? Maybe a future photo will reveal that.

Unlike others who replied, I have no immediate connections, except that your selective focus and the ray of light puts out one superstar amongst the crowd; the one that has its 15 minutes of fame (or more, who knows how popular he'll get?). The 5 dimmed in the background do make the perfect backdrop, they almost feel like lurking to jump forwards to get their moment in the spotlights.

Peculiar sure is the right word :-)

The work looks like something I would appreciate in its 'natural' habitat (bright light gallery) probably, but moving it out of that context sure has a more dramatic and bigger effect. I especially like how you constrained it to really only the small bit on the left.

I like that quote, Jack; the same sweet-and-sour I intended before, but it better captures the smile that follows that thought. Thanks!

An image like a whirlwind, really a feast for the senses and imagination!

Great, the dark sky works very well and as a thumbnail it easiy gives the impression of being a large city skyline - lovely play with the senses and shapes!

A satellite photo from immense distance, rivers, clouds and trees....

Sorry, misread you there.... yes, agree on that point, maybe brightening it up locally would indeed lend a bit more presence.

I like it, and quite a lot.

While I can see Fred's idea of having the central person with the umbrella closer, I personally feel it's fine, as the shadow he casts forward for me is as much part of the presence. This image is all about light, and you managed to capture it well, balanced with a certain tenderness that isn't common in large-city-photography, but it works very well here. There is a sense of intimacy and engagement as a result, which to me sets it apart from many photos in a similar setting.

Change the context a bit, move a bit to the left, and everything changes... lovely quirky view where 99% of the photographers would have aimed for the long exposure of the ferry wheel, and all 99% of them would have gotten something which makes me pondering a lot less than this one does.

Nice atmospheric and honest-straightforward photo, the kind of simplicity I like.

For a second, I thought you made it a selective colour photo, and then some details crept up in colour.... Not that I'd mind if the image was intentionally made a selective coloured one - it would reveal an intent on your behalf, and that's all fine - but to realise that this is what the surroundings of 'happy bear' are like.... that's a sweet and sour realisation. What seems a funny nice bright spot, but gimmicky, suddenly is a lonely nice bright spot only....

There is a touch of sadness in this happy one that seems to run through your recent photos a lot. Also a certain distance, not only 'compositionally - in this case the rusty bar seperating us from the bikes - but to my perception also emotionally. Observing the world around you from a little distance, and seeing just that bit too much mass-produced, industrial, uninspired emptiness between it all. With the occassional happy bear to keep things bearable.