Dance Recital from 2019. I did not look through all the images I took there. Looking through some of the unprocessed images I decided to process the one below today.
Andrew
May 3, 2023
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[/quote]That's brilliant shot. I like the fog and gymnastics aspect of the dance. One of them is very gifted to be in the air, almost suspended!!!
It must have been a Great night I reckon .
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This is a very sharp photo. Viewed at 1:1 the definition is still spot on. The period architecture really stands out. I guess the extra contrast in b&w helps that. Capturing the old ship motoring up river, over to the left and not dominating the picture, fits in perfectly. I can ignore the cars. I really like it.
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Ad Infinitum
(Also posted in Abstracts)
Rich
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It's the smile.
Rich
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I like the abstract composition.
Rich
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I claim no credit for that.
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I like all the patterns and the repeating shadows. B&W was a good choice to bring this to the forefront; color would have hidden it.
Do you consider the power/cable boxes on the first building and the trash can at the last one distractions that disturb the patterns or objects to break the monotony? Personally, I like the break in the monotony but would prefer a repeat of the cable boxes in place of the trash can.
Nice catch!!
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I love all the offset lines and odd shapes of the blocks!! The rough texture of the water goes nicely with the texture of the blocks and color of the water blends in well; a nice earthy color palette.
Would you consider this a better photo if you were to remove the white flying bird because of the following:
-It throws off the line the birds are on. ( the birds aren't exactly in line but are close)
-It breaks the pattern of gray bird, white bird, gray bird.
-It is the only bird flying
-An even number of objects is less pleasing compostionallyWould you consider the balance instead? 2 standing birds, wings closed on the left and 2 open winged birds on the right.
My personal thoughts: The 2 birds on the right do add more weight to the right but they are not enough to balance that side with the large blocks on the left. I would opt for removing the flying bird. I don't think the 2 birds are enough to tell the story of birds battling for perches when there are 2 other calm birds present. Removing the flying bird would change the story to be that of birds resting in their favorite location. Mr Open winged heron could be stretching or drying his wings as opposed to warding off an enemy.
I would like to hear what your thoughts on what I see.
Please take my comments as what I see in your photo.
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This image hosts an interesting optical illusion because of the intensity of the shadows, whether innate in the image or enhanced in post (doesn't matter). The shadows have become dimension-less and thus appear detached from their hosts and seem to come forward in the image plane. At first glance I imagined them to be a row of umbrellas or rockets ready for launch. The end result is that the image turns into a visual abstract, which is likely your compositional intent. I don't have a frame of reference for such a thing so I don't really know how to critique it, but I do know how to enjoy it.
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Very glad the result appeals to you, Minnie. I confess I didn't see the optical illusion until I was finished. Then the umbrellas jumped out at me! It was a lot of work to get this look in pp, including doing some cloning on the messy roofs of far background. It became a lesson in patience, along with the rest. I appreciate your input!
Many thanks to ChrisOly and to Rich42 for your compliments!
Thanks so much for your in-depth feedback, Dodie. It was fun for me to really see that scene for the first time, despite its being there every day I walked! That recognition of potential was due to the lighting of the moment and that I was on the lookout for "shadows" as an assignment in an other forum.
The scene was far less contrasty than appears here, and I spent a lot of time removing distractions to make it more extreme black and white. I had to leave in the objects your discerning eye discovered because I couldn't figure out a way to get rid of them without cloning the horizontal lines of the garage siding. I wasn't up to that task, I'm afraid 😀 Thanks again!
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It's fascinating to read reactions from a variety of backgrounds and interests. I'm inferring from the comments so far, including yours, that this is a commercial shoot? I love the point of view and composition, but without context, I'm confused about the photo's purpose, i.e. what is it selling? 😁
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I wasn't sure of your interest in this scene until I read the title. I "blame" that on my inexperience with constructive criticism. With the crop below, I can better see the lines, including the contrasts between earth and white sky - which is reflected in the water also. For the scene itself, the gray day feels appropriate with the flooded area and leafless trees. A very interesting landscape!
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Paula, I'm so happy that your dam birds are back, and that I get to enjoy them also! In this image, I wouldn't hesitate to add a face and beak to the GBH on upper left. Its absence is a little unsettling 😀
I tried cropping out some of the left side, but I kind of prefer a horizontal flip (see below). It's hard to express why I feel that way - something about access and balance, and the steps leading up and out in the direction we read and often view photos (left to right). I also would love to see more water action, though that is likely related to the many previous images you've captured at this unique and endlessly fascinating venue!
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Before I could think about commenting I had to see some of your previous Perch Wars. It took a bit of digging but I found Highwater Acrobatics and Dambirds in a winter dance. Now I have a bit of context.
Perhaps you feel a fail because your lens is not quite up to 20 feet further back, so you couldn't crop down to the two protagonists and maintain enough clarity? The content is more important to me.
I am intrigued by the different shapes of the stone / concrete. It is like they have put it together from different sized pieces and filled in the gaps. There is even a circular column in one of the other pics, and behind that an oblique block. There is a story to be told there about the construction. That is a lot of water flowing in the background. It all adds to a level of immensity. Add to that the shades of the masonry and similar coloured water and you have a backdrop to showcase your birds.
The four birds are spread out and that defines the pic. If you had your pics in a series, this one could be the first, setting the scene for the others.
I see a country family gathering. Grandma is up the top keeping an eye on proceedings. Aunt Berel in the middle is wondering when lunch might be served. And the grandkids are running amok down below -
I spent five or six years in the aughts as the photographer for the Carmel Bach Festival. I could pretty much do whatever I wanted as long as I didn't disrupt the performances -- what I would have given for an a1 or Z9! I would also do publicity photos for the players. This was one such image. Karina used it for her publicity, and the festival did as well.
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Captivating! I'm reminded of a term used in another forum: channel. I hadn't heard the term previously, but apparently it's one compositional tool of opening the scene to exploration (not quite the same as leading line, I guess).
So with that space - especially its turquoise color - I'm effortlessly drawn in. The various out of focus areas seem to add depth, but as will often happen for me on this forum going forward, I feel a bit out of my own depth in attempting to express myself 😂
With this subject matter, I much prefer these softer areas to an ultra-sharp, extreme depth of field. A very welcoming, happy image!
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I like the idea of this because I'm often drawn to sleek and simple lines and repeating patterns. This doesn't engage me as much as I'd hoped, though. I think it's because of the difference in height and size of the poles, due to their distance from each other.
What is the fuzzy material hanging from the right side light pole (and on top of it)? Last question: can you direct me to the Abstract Section, please? 😄 Many thanks for your time!
