* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #827 / Revived #047 on 2024 02 21 *

I agree with all that, and then some.

The execution of the transition between red ink and red wire has been done perfectly.
You truly are a master of this kind of evocative photography with some in-camera special FX.

But the idea is beautiful in itself too, with that swirl of ink (suspended in the air) making a subtle heart shape.
So this letter surely must be a love letter.

And that makes me turn to your (non-)title.
Some Stupid Title.
Either you have a very active subconscious, or you are a genius of suggestive wordplay.
"And then I go and spoil it all, by saying/writing something stupid like I love you."

Thanks Minnie & Mike.

As usual, I have to fess that it wasn't planned.

I was just leaving my favourite dam where I get all my dragons in flight when I noticed the swarm catching the late afternoon light. I was able to see a few in focus using peaking but I didn't realise my shutter was going to be so slow and get so much movement. After reviewing a shot for exposure I saw what was happening so took a whole lot more.
One of the beauties of experience is that it opens up ideas for the future...

I know this website sometimes shows and sometimes doesn't show, exif. I see it now under the pic but here it is in case it disappears again...
ISO100 108mm (35mm eq. 600mm) 1/8s 𝑓/4.0

Luck favours those who come prepared and have an open mind for opportunities that arise from challenging situations.
Amen.

Yeah well speaking of challenging situations, for every 10 in that swarm there is one buzzing around me along with an assortment of mosquitoes and march flies (maybe horse flies in other countries). And the midges seem to like the black of the lens so there is always a few hanging around there which can be pretty distracting when trying to focus on something else... I take a few for the team... 😳

What do you mean by detail filters? Not a phase I'm aware of.

Nostalgia ... Intersting... Not sure if your interested or have altready found this but this site suggests a formula to simulate vericolor with Fuji Digiital

WhyNot

Vericolor Link

Great capture .. nicely done .. I would like the figure a bit more to the right or looking right but in these spontaneous moments placement is not often possible .... Placement here tends to make me spend more time with the dancers in the mural ...

WhyNot

A nice "street" portrait ... looks like a step back into the mid 20th century ... I saw him back there!! .. sitting on that same stool! ....

WhyNot

Interesting picture and idea ... I might like the people in focus for this view and for your idea a longer view with the dragon more centered but I know that in the moment it is rare to have time or the thought to do that ... but a good picture and idea ...

WhyNot

Thank you all for your kind comments and critiques .... This is one of several performers from this event that I may bring. This is a farmer's market that we visit one day a week during the summer months. Each week they have different or sometimes a repeat performer. The musical selections are those of the performer ... No deep meaning for me here just a recording from my visit ..

WhyNot

Minnie and Roel,

Thanks very much for looking and commenting.

Rich

I like this portrait of a man confidently at ease in his surroundings (although there is a slight danger of him sliding out of the frame, because the image does not seem to be perfectly vertical - looking at the gap in the counter a bit behind him).

Here is a man who is a regular customer but acting like he owns the place.
He seems more than willing to burst into story.

There are perspective lines rushing towards a vanishing point and they make him look like an even bigger presence than he actually is.
Black and white is effective in creating timelessness here.

Agree.
The silhouetting is also very effective in making this an image about the art more than about the viewer (as a young person).
Abstraction of the viewer (as person) is effective in putting emphasis on the viewing and interaction (as action).

I really like this series, but also the choices of the botanical garden direction.
Botanical gardens are interesting in their own right for people with an appreciation of plants, seasons, pruning techniques etc.
Creating this kind of display broadens the appeal for a wider target audience.

For my taste, the people could even be more blurred.
And I believe this image would also work well in monochrome.

"The Great Idea Man"

Yes, that is a good point.

I like how the girl is dancing with them, but in her own way. She is not facing them and reacting to them and not copying the movements, she has been inspired to dance and appears to be doing her own thing. She is straight legged, with a dainty kick, as opposed to the more aggressive bent-legged stomp of the dancers. The dancers are masked with paint, so it is especially important that the girl is masked by shadows, as a visible face would immediately become a very powerful eye-magnet, and probably make her the main subject, thus changing the story of the image, as pointed out by Roel.

I find this generalisation of the girl and the fact that she has been inspired by the dancers’ make this a success, both for the dancers and the artist of the installation, and also of the photographer.

Pete

Yes, the growing sculptures are spectacular. I can see why you picked out the dragon, although I really like the mammoth too, with its unkempt, shaggy, plain green coat blending with its surroundings, it is almost the opposite of the intricate, manicured patterns and complex shape of the dragon.

Pete