* Wednesday C&C "No Theme" Thread #868 / Revived #088 on 2024 12 04 *

I Can Make You A Star.
The inverted heart shape is appropriate for my cynical title suggestion. Lots of fine detail and that's always a plus with insect photography. The hint of stalk, bottom right, is just right to give visual balance to the right hand side of the image which otherwise would have lacked information.

That would be one option.

An easier option is to use Transform in Ps on the rotated image and lift up the bottom right hand corner with a suitable anchor point. No need to fill in anything.

I have only ever seen one monitor that was way different to the majority and not correctable from the settings - and I sure that was from a component failure within. Sure there are differences across the range but most colours are fairly close with brightness and saturation being the major differences - not that much to imply that the difference affects one's perception of a pp'ed image. You have your choices - stick to them - no need to defend them. We all have our favourite blends.

For some people it might affect their perception and for some it might not. It depends on the colours in the image on how large the difference is between what I see on my monitor and what the viewer sees on theirs.

I have seen significant differences especially when people use uncalibrated and unprofiled monitors. Even those that claim to profile their screens, in my experience very few actually check the quality of the profile using a 3D viewer.

People commenting on colours doesn't mean much to me because I can't see how big a difference there is between what I see on my screen and what they see on theirs.

This photo is a little masterclass in how an image without an identifiable subject point and many areas to be explored, can all be drawn together.
There are foreground birds. mid ground birds and a different set of birds in the sky. Add the lake and far hills. They all might have been competing but they don't.
First there is a unifying colour right across the image. Then there is the setting sun highlight. Imprtantly it and its reflectionare placed so they unify most of the elements. The repeating swan shapes in the foreground take the eye along the lake edge where it connects smoothly to the far side return.
Special mention to the larger bird in flight on the left and the diagonal line it adds to the top left corner to tie in the lower birds with the upper birds.
It's an exceptionally clever composition.

The snow brings a quite different feel to our weekly walks. Most of these shots seem to be taken closer up to features than we usually get with your sweeping images from this part of the world. I'm guessing that the snow/rock colour and texture contrast is hard to resist when closer to the features.
Adding snow creates exposure issues and choices. In the last two I feel that a bit too much shadow detail has been lost. Alternatively in 5, maybe make it a study in pattern and high contrast by cropping down from the top to just above the top of the posts. This would make the S line of the posts the clear point of the shot. As it is, I don't feel the dark area at the top is helping the S bend shapes.
My favourite is 2 with the V of the birch trees framing the cliff and the portrait format of the image. It might be a fraction bright overall but that's OK. Snow patches on a sunny day are like that.

I like the composition including the swans, especially the 4 in line at the bottom. They remind me of the camel train on Cable Beach, Broome.

But unfortunately on my screen the beach has next to no "character" and detracts from the image a little for me.

This version works better for me with a little pop/punch added to the sunset in the background as well.

Anyway, as always, just some food for thought 😊

Is it just my Australian background or do others see a pair of faces here too? There's a lot of similarity to some cartoon characters used by one of our ice cream manufacturers. They always had big eyes and laughing faces. The upward tilt to each edge of the two buildings (or the slight sink in the middle of each building) gives an upturn to the outer edges of the sets of doors that become smiles. Maybe remove the tall nrrow pole on the left but it isn't important to do so. It links up quite well with the white door and window frames.
I feel like it's a fun picture.

I enjoyed the title.
It's essential to view both of them large to appreciate the characters. At smaller size both look a little dark. At larger size while we feel the time of day, all the details are easily seen. Given the subject, feeling the time of day is preferable to over brightening.
All the characters, including the faithful watchdawg, have the quiet, slightly tense, anticipation of the true fisherman.
The star of 2 is a little small in the overall image and those radiating grasses behind plus the log plus a touch of vignette do a superb job of making sure he is the subject.
A beautiful part of the world as well.

Sensational scene with the boathouse reminding me of the Ettamogah Pub near Albury, NSW, Australia.

But the boathouse is screaming out to me that it wants to stand out much more in the scene.

Fwiw, this version works better for me. The boathouse now has more "character" and stands out much more. YMMV.

Just some food for thought.

I prefer either 1 or 2 to 3. I agree with Rich that it is a decision for you rather than a committee.
How you are using the shots, to me, is a factor. Which is "best" would depend on whether you wanted a stand alone shot of the jaguar or wanted to include it in a series. In a series, 1 might be the best, if you wanted to convey something of the cat in its surroundings, the cat's ability to blend in would then be more important.
The light adjustment in 2 and 3 shift more of the emphasis onto the cat. I'd see them as better for stand alone images rather than the in the environment feel of 1 within a possible series about jaguars.
Between 2 and 3, I prefer 2. In 3 the lighting is far too obviously adjusted. This is a nature shot. 2 gives more attention to the cat but still feels natural.

Nice scene, lighting and reflection in the water but the boat's stern being chopped off spoils it a bit or me.

The overall lighting is too flat for my taste and for me the "subject" is way too small in the scene to pull it off.

Dan, if you read this, I'm not trying to be rude. Promise. If it is what I suggest, I'm being sympathetic.
One of my sons is an enthusiastic photographer. Over and over, much of what he does looks very much like the colour combinations that Dan posts. My son is colour blind and it particularly is evident when there is lots of green in the image. He tried dealing with it by over popping areas and by adding jarring colour to make areas stand out, especially when he's dealing with greens. He spent a lot of money on a large monitor and trying to counter his issue with the best possible calibration he could get. It didn't help. He now works almost entirely in B&W and he's an excellent photographer.
The images where I find Dan's colour additions different to the norm are almost always where there are large green areas around a subject. I think if so, he's aware of it which is why over and over he is at pains to stress that it is what he sees on his perfectly calibrated monitor. It probably is.

I didn't think of the Ettamogah Pub near Albury but that is exactly right.

So what?

Especially on forums like this I have no idea if people's monitors are properly calibrated and profiled or not or what their eye-sight is like. The last time I checked about 6 months ago my eyesight was quite good and I am not colour blind. Maybe you are colour blind to some extent like you say your son is and are not aware of it.

I consider feedback from everywhere my images are viewable, not just from a relatively small number of contributors here on dprevived.

There is no point in me adjusting colours in my images because of anyone's opinions based on what they see on their monitors because it will more than likely put off those who like my images and their colours as they are.

It took a lot of looking and relooking at this one. Not an animal I've had contact with but I can see why when it turned up roadside you'd reach for the camera.
While you have recorded the event, I don't think your subject gve you much help. He chose a spot where the light and barrier cut him in half. A close up of the impressive horns and the wicked eye would work but it would be a quite different shot that would lose our understanding that this takes place on the road. Going back further to build the road encounter aspect would diminish the horns and eye. The devil and the deep blue.

It was the first thing that came to mind for me.

OK. And no, I know I'm not colour blind. Because it's in the family, transmitted from my wife's side. I'm aware of it and I have been tested.