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Thanks to Bill Angel who pointed me to your folder. I am wholly and totally engrossed by your portfolio. For the moment I am sitting looking at each picture for a long time, and still no words come. I can only say at this point, that your pictures move me very deeply indeed. Content, technique and style are all extremely strong.

I will try to verbalise specific responses to certain pictures later. For now, I still sit mesmerized, moved emotionally, intriqued, and amazed. Part of me empathises/relates with your representations, and though I can locate the part of me, and identify which part of your pictures it is associating with, I cannot read your specific stories. Perhaps we are not to know. I can respect that. More later....

Interesting and pleasing colour combination, and the shapes remind me of ink in water. The main cloud is well placed in the frame for aesthetic purposes, and the translucency of the liquid [or smoke] is fascinating. The layering effect is superb.

Bill this is an interesting shot. Definitely a technique worth exploring further imo. You may be able to get a whole collection together for a series. It reminds me of the cat's cradle schoolgirls would make from string on their fingers! Also reminiscent of nightclub laser lights. I would really like to view a larger uncompressed file - or a print would be even better. The detail must be quite exquisite.

You might also be interested in checking out Stefan Engstrom's folder if you get some time... http://www.photo.net/shared/community-member?user_id=696329

Wow, can't help drawing on associations in this series, particularly here. It brings to mind visuals of body part piercings....

What an incredible portfolio. Would make a thought provoking collection in an exhibition gallery.

Very enjoyable photo. In fact I loved this whole folder.

Coyote, that's an outstanding collection of photos you pointed us to with the yahoo link. I always loved your aspen shots, and have admired your work from afar many times. Congrats on this memorable capture, and on a wonderful portfolio. What an adventure you share with your viewers.

So sensitive, so relaxed, and so natural.... the viewer can easily read the photographer's communication, of the child's close connection to the [anonymous] mother, and the focus of the picture - the forthcoming relationship between daughter and sibling. This picture holds a glimpse of the future for both children.

I do think the picture would benefit from a more subtle tone of sepia though. It appears rather saturated and greenish. Just a thought.

Fabulous macro. I love flowers and bugs, and although we seem to have an enormous amount due to the latest technology making it easier, I have to say this is one of the more memorable. Beautiful shot!

Great foresight to underexpose by half a stop, but in hindsight perhaps a whole stop would be better for detail in the flower. Having said that, it's too late when the fly has flown! And in any event, there is no over-exposure issue to address. Just my preference for a tad darker ;)

Interesting that you chose to desaturate. I think it adds to the image by allowing the colour to be subtle but remaining beautiful and earthy, without being so strong as to drown the focus on the intricate detail of the frost and structure of leaf/grass. My aesthetic rating was based on this wise decision.

I see you rotated the image from the original shot. It works very well. Quite dynamic at that angle and especially with the passionate poses. I like the anonymity of the models with their faces hidden in the dark. Wonderful light too - excellent work.

I hazard a guess this is a prime example where the monitor cannot possibly convey what you get to appreciate from a hard copy print. I bet the detail is delicious. The exposure looks fine to my eye, and the light is just the right quality for this type of shot. I like how some of the stalks are slanting toward the right, over some of the more vertical grasses. Finally, possibly of interest to you Marshall, I prefer this landscape format to the other one in portrait.

Oooh how do handsome men stay handsome in their older years, when women just look plain old and inevitably tired?

Having said that, this guy scares me! Something about his gaze that burns straight through you. Wouldn't want him as an enemy that's for sure.

A striking portrait imo Tony, particularly taking into consideration that he was on the move.

I like the shallow dof in many of your pics Bob, and the colours are from a gorgeously earthy and muted pallette. The angle of the violin makes for an interesting composition, particularly combined with that shallow plane of focus. The lines of the sheet music are pointing in towards the instrument, and I think this works well too. It's a shame the edges of the paper are visible [top centre] where the darker bgrd peeps through, and I think I would lift the brightness if it were my own picture, but aside from that there's not much to grumble about for me.

re the frame; I am guessing you do this in order to represent the image as it might be matted? Seems logical and looks ok to me, but perhaps the white could be smaller just for monitor viewing, and the black line could be ever so much thinner [eg 1 or 2 pixel]?

re your process and flying by the seat of your pants; you may not realise how this qualifies you as a completely authentic artist, actively 'creating' as opposed to just making pretty pictures according to a set of established rules!

According to A Dictionary of Psychology, creativity is defined as:

"The production of ideas and objects that are both novel or original and worthwhile or appropriate, that is, useful, attractive, meaningful, or correct. According to researchers, in order to qualify as creative, a process of production must in addition be heuristic or open-ended rather than algorithmic".

Pass that dictionary of 'dictionary explanations' over here Bob....

Well observed little abstract here Phil. Difficult to compose subjects like this, but you have done well. I'm not sure if it is top heavy due to the darker area at the top, but the placement of the patterned icicles and stone look fine. One thing, I do wish you offered more pic and less border [mainly because your pictures contain lots of yummy detail] but I guess that's just me being greedy.

I love the way the light enters this little shed, and the structure with props here and there, is so quaint - somebody really cherishes their boat! Really nice exposure [no contrast needed according to my monitor], and the angle of the boat tempts the viewer to step in. However, Phil has a point about those mooring posts. Not only are they central, but they seem to obstruct the relation between viewer/boat. Otherwise reminds me of hazy lazy summer days.... nice one John.

A cold beer Peter? Jeez, I'm sending out a Publisher with a crate of champagne! Thanks so much Tony. Another page saved to disk, and another tutorial to enjoy. Cheers!

Regarding wetting your knickers over the Subaru, you're right. Even as a female photographer I have got all excited over trying to reveal detail in the shadows looking up the chassis of Landrover! Are we weird obsessive compulsives, some kind of geeks, or what?

Thanks for the diagram Tony. The relative positions are a bit easier for me to perceive now. I was also wondering how you made a 'digital' version of a double exposure. How did you merge the two exposures in order to preserve the highlights and dark tones?

360º view and that's narrow?? Ho hum.... righto Jan. Seems like some people have nothing better to do than deliberately go out of their way to get under another's skin. Shame, I am positive it was totally wasted effort ... I can hear Tony bellowing with laughter from the other side of the world.

Tony I am embarassed to say that it was only on the second visit to this particular pano, that I realised the car on the left was actually driving toward the house, rather than away - as the vehicle leaving the frame 'told' my mind's eye. I love the 360º pano's which flummox me like this!

I'd love to view the mural sized print of this one Tony. "8 feet across by 12 inches tall" - how/where did you manage that size print? I love that vehicle, although small in relative size to the house, it seems to balance the whole scene, aswell as contribute possible stories.

I came here to ask you a favour actually, as I was looking for your very detailed write-up about the process of panoramic stitching. I know it is somewhere in your portfolio, but scrolling through your history of posts led me to get completely lost [immersed along the way I hasten to add].

Would you be so kind as to direct me to the panostitching article/page please? Many thanks.

ps have you had the opportunity to try Photoshop CS [aka 8] yet? It has a neat shadow/highlight tool I rather enjoy playing with. The first time I used it I thought "I know who else might like playing with this!"

I said: Yes for me the figure leaving the frame works quite well as there are several lines on the left hand side which are subtly directed toward the person.

Of course as the poster above observes, the driving sleet aswell!! :)

Very illustrative Maria, like an etching. Yes for me the figure leaving the frame works quite well as there are several lines on the left hand side which are subtly directed toward the person. What is he doing? Trying to move a trolley, or rifling through the garbage? I do hope it's not the latter.

Sorry I didn't have time to read the previous posts.

Congrats on a very strong image.

Thanks for the info link John. Interesting that it had been set on fire, and that might explain the majority of holes leaving a skeletal structure.

What a beast there, standing up to the ravages of the elements. I suppose one day it will disintegrate into segments judging by the gaping holes. Do you have any historical info on the story of this wreck John?

The shot doesn't look too contrasty to me. The contrast is needed imo, for the reflections on the water, and for definition of the cloud. If it was too contrasty I would assume detail would be lost in the darks of the wreck, but they're not, hence my opinion that it is fine.

The darker corners of sea/sky add a lot to the picture as a frame, with the eye drawn to the light emanating from behind the wreck. Gives the old beast a kind of regal halo.

I look forward to more shots from this location if you have any. Perhaps some different angles, from the hull for example.

Thanks Cecil. A lovely result indeed.

A touch of class. Beautiful light, texture, compostion of geometric arrangement, exposure. It's all there for me. Is that another person a little further down, or a sculpture?

No crits from this corner, although I agree with the point above that something on the left would improve the balance.