• Members 861 posts
    Oct. 27, 2023, 1:14 a.m.

    Drop some money on a used lensbaby of your choice. You will never be bored with one at your disposal.

  • Members 676 posts
    Oct. 27, 2023, 1:29 a.m.

    I looked at the many variations of those lenses over the years but so far none has made it's way to my toy box ... and I suspect won't .. but thanks for the thought ...

    WhyNot

  • Members 822 posts
    Oct. 27, 2023, 2:45 p.m.

    Although I am well known to not be a big fan of flowers and other similar images, I must say that I really really like this one.
    It is pretty grand, in composition AND in processing.
    For all the reasons already stated above here.

    This offering reminds me of Edward Weston, and as far as B&W still life of vegetation goes, that is a BIG compliment.

  • Members 822 posts
    Oct. 27, 2023, 2:47 p.m.

    I also own a very simple and cheap lensbaby.
    I've not used it a lot (probably really not as often as I should).
    But you can have real fun with them.

    They get the creative juices flowing, maybe even much more so than the latest and greatest in lens design with autofocus, special bokeh blades and IS.

    You should really give it a try.

  • Members 822 posts
    Oct. 27, 2023, 2:48 p.m.

    I also like the experimentation on display.
    For some reason, the colour shifts result in a (for me) sinister look, like something from a feverish nightmare.

  • Members 676 posts
    Oct. 27, 2023, 2:57 p.m.

    Thank you .... I actually had Halloween in the back of my mind as I did this .. but it is continued play with some tools I rarely use but have been recently exploring to see how they might contribute to an interesting story .. And, your advise about the Lensbabies will have me looking at them anew ...... but when not in one of these dead periods I usually stay busy .. for me ...

  • Members 861 posts
    Oct. 27, 2023, 3:21 p.m.

    "and together we're gonna wait around to die"
    dsc00385_$33_72dpi_web.jpg

    dsc00385_$33_72dpi_web.jpg

    JPG, 1.0 MB, uploaded by OpenCube on Oct. 27, 2023.

  • Oct. 27, 2023, 4:13 p.m.

    YES! The details are wonderful. One could straighten up the LHS, and maybe sharpen a little in Topaz Sharpen AI. But I find the content fascinating. I would leave more dark clouds in view. (I also have problems with cranes all over the place in my city!)

    David

  • Members 1517 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 3:18 a.m.

    An idyllic location. The view will be appreciated, certainly by the visitors.

  • Members 1517 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 3:25 a.m.

    At first glance, it's the autumn colours that catch the eye. It's the repetition of pyramid shapes, some inverted, and one on its side, that make the shot different. A nice framing balance between the benches, top left and the reeds, bottom right as well.

  • Members 1517 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 3:54 a.m.

    One of those "the more I look at it the more I like it" images.
    B&W was a good choice because of the importance of the lines. I very much like the angle you have chosen for the bloom, the fitting of this form to the globe and then the fitting of the globe to the square. The solarization edges lift the curves that make the shot.

  • Members 1517 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 4:07 a.m.

    100% agreement Roel. This plane is surprisingly large. Trying to take shots, I was hemmed in and couldn't get an angle that I felt did it justice. The story of the flight, the near misses, the ingenuity and casual bravery of the crew reads like Indiana Jones. They took many photos as well. The plane and the story are in a new adjunct to the Adelaide Airport. Not many people realize it is there. I took the shots on a busy night but I had this gem all to myself. It should have been placed centrally so that anyone arriving/departing in Adelaide couldn't miss it.

  • Members 1517 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 7:04 a.m.

    The ball of sun, the strong ray that runs from it and the horizon line are the key elements here. I feel that the lower house is distracting from them. If it was cropped out, Ithink it would feel unbalanced with too much sky so I'd consider taking an equal amount off the top. Thjis would strengthen the horizontal lines and make the slash of the sun ray even more prominent in the overall composition.

  • Members 1517 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 7:14 a.m.

    Let's keep this going as a conversation. I agree with minniev and I'd leave all the lines and poles in. Beyond the edge, another world, clear (well, as far as we can tell here) beckons. A prominent sign suggests that he should turn aside. The man's up right stance, with a small hint of a step makes me think he has made his choice and wont be looking back.
    I can see this as a "motivational" picture, complete with an appropriate phrase, hanging on a wall in a public space.

  • Members 861 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 1:14 p.m.

    This stumbled out thanks to various suggestions.

    dsc00350_$33_72dpi_web_1.jpg

    dsc00350_$33_72dpi_web_1.jpg

    JPG, 292.0 KB, uploaded by OpenCube on Oct. 28, 2023.

  • Members 44 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 3:32 p.m.
  • Members 44 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 4:37 p.m.
    Hi Mike
    Thanks for your comment. By the way, no solarization PP was used in this image. I also need to give you some clarity on your question from last week. I couldn't answer your question because the photo was taken at a very sad moment. Sometimes people leave this life at a very unexpected moment. I think I should leave it at that.
    LouFoto
    
  • Members 1662 posts
    Oct. 28, 2023, 8:26 p.m.

    Wonderful - I like it!