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I love the aesthetics of subtle colour and focus range in this photo, but also it brought my attention to the whole album. Each picture is truly a story and I absolutely appreciate that Ellen has an affinity with these little critters, not just to get an aesthetic picture but also to communicate some insight into the world of the ladybird and how they traverse every obstacle to get to where they are going.

I'm with Jim on reading this photo from right to left, and also noting the stretching, reaching act of the ladybird, yet hanging on just in case. There is tension in this beautiful shot.

It made me smile and I think it achieves what photography does best; bringing the viewer into the subject or object's world ... watching how it interacts with it's environment. When you capture a moment in time that's otherwise lost forever, well that's recording a historic moment whether human or ladybird!

This is the better photo in your albums. Beautiful in subject of human/stone; with great detail and structure in the frame. The warm colour and shape of the cello in contrast to the greenery top right makes this photo come alive. Your best photo imo.

Sorry to be different to the praisers, but this is an appalling piece of imagery. Even as a processed piece the light isn't consistent, the composition is fore/middle/back but the sizes are not proportional. Please tell me this is a joke? A piss-take of the photoshoppers 'Art'? And I use that word very loosely!

Congratulations Chris, this photo always did strike me as something quite out of the ordinary. I enjoy infinite pleasure every time I view it. I just wish I had been there. Thanks for the other two versions, and although wonderful captures in their own right I think you posted the best of the three. I just love all the elements and placements in the frame, it feels right and that's that. The rock in the foreground lit up lends so much to the depth. A winner for sure :)

Great idea and composition, as well as texture in the orange and skin of the model. I wonder how you converted to B&W? Did you use channels in PS? It just looks like the red channel has been overdone, and perhaps the green channel could have enhanced the tones. From this angle, it is always a good idea, and more flattering for the model, if you keep the tip of the nose inside the edge of the face (so she would need to turn ever so slightly toward you, or your cam could move a little around). The photo could also benefit from some cleaning up of specks etc. It's all small improvements, but the expression of the model and the concept is fab.

The HDR has been applied in a modest way and not overdone. It's a lovely composition with the foreground, reflection and building in the golden sunlight. The red objects top right detract a little from the composition, as does the underwater debris and the specular highlight on the water (top left of the reflection). There seems some lens distortion on the top third too but this is a really good attempt and you certainly see opportunities and frame them well. Your landscape folder shows so much potential!

Hi Michal. How did you light this shot? It's very fresh and clean but perhaps too much bare space in the chest area. I think the eye and hair would be great to frame in closer. Maybe a tighter crop?

Thanks Randy for posting the original image. I think it is far better than the edited version. So much more real and believable and I feel I can be there (almost, because obviously I wasn't there). The composition now gives me a different view, that it would have made a fantastic panoramic, slicing off the excess (and blown) topper most part of the sky (the sun is hardly ever in the right place when you observe a superb scene as this). Also cropping equally the excess foreground of water. What a superb panoramic this original shot would make from the natural exposure. The prints would fly!

If Randy would not object to posting the original capture I would be very keen to view. I adore the content, composition, light and cultural ambience, and would not crop. However for me it is definitely overprocessed in terms of saturation, and way too much sharpening. The sharpening on this web res view almost cuts my eyes! This distracts from my enjoyment and makes me yearn to view the natural shot. I would only say this for an intrigueing photo, which I believe this would be (or is), without the over processed treatment. Nice shot Randy and well done.

Great natural light, even in the background and how you chose to place the model within it.

Every now and again I look to your portfolio for inspiration and I always find it.

The colours and light are amazing! Any HDR treatment in the post process?

Just wishing I was there. How serene and peaceful, and probably very cold for you on the shoot.

Great to see your work still here Don. I'm loving these incredible colours - can't believe the beauty of the natural world!

This photo really grabs me. It's like I just met him and he is talking to me! Very photorealist, but not a painting. Wonderful treatment of a wonderful human subject.

I am truly enthralled by this photograph and inspired too! If you share your techniques anywhere I would be most interested! Well done, this is craftsmanship at it's best.

I agree with everything Erik has mentioned. Added to which, I think the crop and cam height/angle are much improved in this shot and really help frame the face in a more flattering way. The other shot also seems to have overdone that 'shadow/highlight' tool and it loses the punch in tonal range. What a beautiful portrait ... well done Aaron, that's fast learning!!

It's a dramatic photo and one I find appealing. I especially like the sliver of light catching her jaw on the left (our left) which strongly defines her face amidst the shadows.

 

I would be very interested in details of the lighting set-up. The hotness on the forehead and chin could have been controlled using softboxes - or if you used them already, then moving them a little further away from her.

 

Although I noticed the eyes are different, I found it part of the girl's character. Some people do have one eye open wider than the other, or one pupil larger than the other. I find it intriguing that psychologically we equate 'aesthetic perfection' with symmetry. It's a proven statistic, regardless of the fact nobody is perfectly symmetrical!

 

Great job, particularly as you classify yourself 'amateur'. I look forward to seeing you become 'Pro'. The only difference between the two I might add, is the 'Pro' lives on income earned primarily from photographic work - more of a business definition rather than being based on a learned skill, natural talent or any high level of proficiency.

Re exposure, that is ... sky/water/background ...

I wouldn't expose more, or crop. For one the extra exposure would blow the sky (mind I'm viewing on a mac) and the crop would take away the space which the animals are running into and I would not like to constrain them.

 

Thanks elves for bringing my attention to a really exhilarating portfolio .... and I don't think I ever saw a bigger Canon fan :)

I'm glad you didn't go for high contrast (which I am not a big fan of) and I don't think it takes much to observe that I bet this web verison does sabsolutely no justice to a full size print. I can't help wondering what the natural colours are ..... but I really love the composition, shapes and texture. This photo lends an element of satisfaction to me ... a real 'ah' factor as it just shows how perfect natural elements can be. It gives me a wonderful sense of 'wholeness'.

You have many great skies in your folders, however this is my favourite. Very powerful.

I played with this filter once when it first came out and I literally took a few minutes on one picture. It has been one of the most consistent seller of prints. If the buyer wants to pay for it then great I'll bank the money. But isn't this another reflection - that of mass populus 'aaah' rather than a discerning eye for art or photography?

 

David, your portfolio displays many well composed/exposed photos. I really think the more natural ones are wonderful examples of what can be achieved in-cam.

 

One of the most dificult tasks is to keep a select portfolio. Trim it down and keep only the best. I have recently deleted photos from my hard drive which were very popular over time, but they made me cringe whenever I looked at them!

 

My flood filter best-seller is still out there somewhere ... and I continue to cringe ;)

As a flower-lover and a photographer, as well as one who has also experimented with the wilting, dying, shriveled, with dew or rain and post-frost approaches, as well as under glass too, I have to say that this result far excels any I have achieved. The colour, freshness, sharpness, concept and composition are all so totally pleasing that I am not in any mood to advise any 'improvement'. I just enjoy it as it is.

 

A keeper for sure, and one I would not hesitate to hang on my wall with pride.

Everyone keeps mentioning 'parody' but what is it a parody of?

 

When I first saw the picture I assumed they were 'the devil' stood in front of church. If this is a social documentary portrait of real goths making a statement then I really like it. However, if it is a couple of hired models being placed just so by the photographer then perhaps I'm not so keen.