I agree with Mike on the second photo, but I think the bokeh balls in the first form more of a chain with the lightbulb itself, which makes an interesting secondary subject in itself, so I wouldn’t crop that one.
In any case, cropped or uncropped, they are very nice catches.
Another great series. There are subtle differences between each one, but I couldn’t say which was my favourite. In any case you made good use of some fine ingredients - a full moon, reflections and some attractive clouds in the sky.
I recently tried to photograph the blood moon, but that was pretty disastrous. There was a large bank of cloud obscuring the horizon and by the time it climbed over that it was no longer red and I was fed up, which is not a good combination. I was also standing on a windy railway bridge instead of sitting in a bar like you. That must have been my problem. Must do it differently next time.
Yep, I agree with that, so I’ll take the easy option and add myself to Mike’s comment.
Butterfly in flight and eating
Butterflies are incredibly fast and unpredictable when flying, so well done for catching one in flight! The background is nicely blurred, leaving just the flower and the butterfly sharp. all this makes it quite an unusual butterfly photo.
The second is also unusual. Instead of presenting the butterfly in its entirety, as in a butterfly identification book, it is in its environment amongst the plants and almost blending in. But only almost and seems to have a defiant expression on its face as it sips a cocktail in the nectar bar.
These are two enjoyable and unusual butterfly photos.
Thank you Pete.
A GENERAL REPLY
Sorry for being late to the party but we have just arrived home from Italy yesterday and a mountain of work was waiting.
While in Italy, I had other things to do than look at my phone or computer.
I have noticed that there have been good comments on most images.
So I will probably limit myself to some additions where I think I have something worthwhile to add.
This will follow tonight.
Tomorrow we will already start the new thread.
Hypnotism? Exerting cultlike control. Deep set eyes. Beard.
Completely different butterfly images but the same variety. Neither have the usual spread wings shape. I like the curving proboscis in the second.
The pinks and greens have a fresh Spring time feel as well. Nature is astir.
Pete's comment on 1 got me looking at it again. Changed my mind. The greater dof on the wire in 1 makes a difference and brings the foreground and background together. Now I'd leave it as Fireplace shows it.
Nearly missed Pete's shots. Internet communication here goes on and off.
A post where knowing the story is important.
The second shot feels much more potent to me than the first. The man feels far more engaged. He's another anonymous being but reading these is important to him. This is no casual scan of the market.He's made an out of hours trip to get to the board. Placing him off centresuggests the posts go on and on to his right.
Good luck mate.
Without the story, this could have been interpreted as a message board of people seeking news about missing relatives after a disaster (a natural one like an earthquake, flood, tornado or tsunami, or a man-made disaster like war, civil war, revolution gone mad, political disappearances). People desperately hoping for news about loved ones and hoping other passersby can help them.
But then we learn it is the analog alternative for Tinder (with some oldfashioned match-making thrown in).
The first one is visually clearer (we see more of the notices, and that they are two-sided, and we see more of the interested viewers).
But the second image is still stronger, because of the anonimity of the viewer and the fact that he is using a phone to light the notices.
He is not using a phone to swipe left or right, but to bring light in his romantic darkness.
I was intrigued by the variety of reactions that this image triggers.
Maybe the interpretation is in the eye of the beholder.
Do we really see this as a gesture of "don't photograph me"?
Could be.
That interpretation makes more sense than a warm greeting.
The face turns away and down slightly: it is not a face that engages the viewer/photographer.
But I tend to lean towards more spiritual interpretations.
An exorcism is maybe a bit strong, but a blessing, or a subtleJedi-like wqaving gesture to alter the viewer's mind.
"These are not the droids you are looking for."
This could be a really cool square image, but the verticality also has its benefits.
It makes the two people (perfectly separated from each other and from any object around them) navigate a canyon of urban life.
I agree with Mike and also think this is the more interesting shot. It would be much more pleasant with a different colored light like the one coming from a candle or (old) streetlight... and yet the harsh cellphone light and lack of counterweight to the dark and cold surroundings captures the underlying thing for what it is: An alternate form of the harsh world of modern online-dating apps which even the most enthusiastic people about them now detest for the most part. Height, car, flat? Yeah, of course... that's a great way of getting to know the character of another human being...
Great capture of a sad truth though!
Thank you Mike. Actually it is autumn in my neck of the woods. 😁
Thanks for the comments Roel & Mike, but you both missed something. The searcher with the light is actually a woman, scanning the mens‘ credentials on blue paper 😉
