|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 31 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Hi Ella
Just returning a favor. Your color image is lovely and does capture the seasonal feeling. However the monochrome, at least for me, is the more striking image. Monochrome is all about tones and structure. You certainly have the structure down perfectly but like others have said, there needs to be a tonal separation between the drape and the pinecones.
Happy Holidays. Hope you can add to the season with a photo of Camelback Mountain near Phoenix. Camels are seasonal right? |
Dec 14th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 31
|
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Thanks Adi
Not my favorite bridge. It is a tough subject because of its length. If you chop of part it just looks weird. I made it pano to emphasize the length. There is no more foreground as I'm standing on the road to get this much. You will see more of this bridge as I'm working to photograph it in all seasons and weather. Kind of a portfolio on the bridge.
I do get the cup of tea analogy. Sometimes I feel the same way about various images. We don't have to like everything. |
Dec 28th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Thanks for the comment. As I noted above this is a hard subject top photograph. A big part of the problem is the length of the darn bridge and the lack or access, you really only have one side to work with and there is a lot of ground clutter at each end. The challenge is to make something out of not much. Light is about the best friend a photographer has to work with. BUt I do like this bridge. |
Dec 28th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Thanks Michael
This is a hard bridge to photograph just because of the length. It is 140 feet long and the longest covered bridge in North Carolina. The windmill just spins but pumps nothing and was added in the 1980s. Thanks for the comment. |
Dec 14th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Hey I'm a former Illini. Grew up in Chicago. Thanks for visiting and commenting. The first time I saw this bridge I, like you, thought of the by-gone ages of the old covered bridges. This one was rebuilt after a fire using the original plans, but with a twist. Look close, the roof is metal. |
Dec 14th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
While I like the rugged feel of the geography I feel conflicted as to the subject. There is the bright mountain on the right that draws my attention, but there is also the village tucked into the lower corner. The village has a couple of red roofs tops, wish they were all red roofs. For me the image would be stronger if the left was cropped inward at least as far as the first bright bush in the foreground. |
Dec 13th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Mingo, in spite of the horrible stair case, is one of my favorite falls in the Smokies. The falls has many moods based on the flow of water. This time the runoff creek at the base appears as a lacy extension of the falls, almost like a spreading of tree like roots at the base. So between the logs and the running water at the bottom there are some wonderful leading lines taking the eye up through the image. The only thing I would suggest removing the blue from the water. My preference is white water on falls, not blue. |
Dec 13th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Over the last few years I have come to appreciate the fall color when it is just past peak. The leaves have greater range of tones and thus greater character. To me that is the beauty of the scene. It all about the contrast between the blacks and the golds. I also like the way, at least to my eyes, the entire tree, leaves and all seem to be isolated. |
Dec 13th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Thanks Stephen
I agree with your assessment of the image. Personally I like the shadows as they add some character to the scene. I also like the trees that do not have "peak" and "perfect" color. It allows the leaves that hint of character a well.
For me the bridge is hard to photograph just because it is soooo long. It almost demands a pano type shot.
If it snows I'll really try to get there even thought it is a 12 hour drive, Other than that, yes I'll visit the bridge when I'm visiting relatives. I believe my next shot will be my best. Besides I just like being out with my camera.
Thanks for commenting |
Dec 10th |
| 36 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
OK. Immediate first impresions result in the opinion you should take the image you posted in group 83 and post it here. The image in group 83 is really stunning. I suggest everyone take a look at it.
The images,both this one and the one in group 83 remind me of Blue Cypress Lake here in Florida except our trees are much thicker. I feel the color strikes an interesting mood but personally I'm not a fan of the "bans" of color. But that is a maker's choice. |
Dec 8th |
6 comments - 3 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Hi Michael
Most important, thanks for the comment. I also like separation between subject and background and I always think about the "natural" look. This is not a complaint just a question. Are you saying that THIS background looks unnatural, and maybe too dark? I'm asking for a reference point. I didn't darken it nor did I lighten the subject. The background was partly shaded so I left it as is showed up in the camera. I did lighten up the whole scene because it ws a bit underexposed, but the adjustment was global. d So I want to know if to you this looks wrong. That way I can keep this in mind for the future. Thanks for pointing it out. |
Dec 22nd |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Hey, the Florida Panther Hockey team is missing some of their sticks. Mayne this is where they have gone to. :-) |
Dec 22nd |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
This looks like a Great Blue Heron just starting to show its breeding plumage. The bird looks sharp enough but I really feel the composition could be adjusted. While the bird is facing the camera it is walking toward the right so based on the original you provided I would suggest cropping from the left and using the extra material on the right to provide space for the bird to walk into. Perhaps you could also tone down the blues just a tad for a more natural look. |
Dec 13th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
I've sent an inquiry to IT to find out where the description came from, but have not heard back as yet. Wonder where this came from. |
Dec 13th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Right you are Cindy. I have no idea where that came from. I'll have to check with the tech people to find out what happened. |
Dec 13th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Thanks. You are right about where I am with this shot. It all worked and it is not bad, but it won't make my top ten shots of the year list. I figured out how wet feathers looks soft several years ago and am even more aware of it as time goes by. So many details. |
Dec 11th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
This is an excellent action shot of these two big furry critters. I really like this. I would recommend opening the shadows in that big black hole on the left. it does not have to match the rest of the foliage, just open enough to provide some detail. A radial gradient in Lightroom would likely to the job in a few seconds. |
Dec 8th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Overall this is an interesting image as it includes interaction between species. While you used technology to add space I still find both the bird and the bee to be too close to the edges of the frame. What bothers me is looking at the original it is a square and clearly your original RAW file is not square so where are the missing pixels? There had to be more image on at least one edge and using some of that would have given more space for either the bird or the bee.
The other thing I see the the over sharpened feathers of the bird. They positively look crunchy. That sharpening should, in my opinion be back off a bit. That is a very common look when Topaz is used. |
Dec 8th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
This is a nice reflection shot and the bird's color nicely separated it from the background. Personally I would prefer a bit more space on the left but that is a maker's choice. I would also bring down a exposure just a tad or a smidge as it look a bit on the bright side. But that is just my preference. |
Dec 8th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Thanks Bud. I'm not a fan of high ISO bird pictures. Yes, you can get the shot with the new cameras and the ISO reduction software but there are limits.
One thing I have noted over the years is that the fine feathers on birds long necks and legs tend to look soft when they are really wet. Then add the high ISO and the softness from denoise and I do not like the results. For me this bird is too soft. Give me better light any day. |
Dec 8th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Reply |
Thanks David. I agree with the amount of blur although for me as long as the subject is well separated from the background I'm satisfied. My hope was to get more of a "in flight" shot but the bird was just hoping in and out of the foliage and never really took flight.
I get you point about a faster shutter speed but I was already pushing the ISO pretty high, using a fast shutter and a higher aperture (not a great trifecta). The light was clearly quite low. I know I can use all the denoise options to clean of the picture, but I just do not like how denoise softens the image. This photo will not end up among my favorites. It is acceptable but not wonderful |
Dec 8th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Cormorants are famous for this activity and it does allow for great photo opportunities. It is amazing. Every now and then I see one miss the catch after the flip and the fish gets away. I especially like the arc of water drops creating a leading line. |
Dec 8th |
| 67 |
Dec 24 |
Comment |
Since this is a completely new bird for most of us I'm glad you gave us a two for one deal. I like the perched, posed bird so we can see what it looks like and then the open winged version show us some detail. As a photo of record I think it is perfect. But for me it just seems to busy with all the clear foliage and the left bird sort of facing away.
Still if I had been there I'd have taken the shot as I would want a this photo for one of those been there, done that moments. Thanks for posting. |
Dec 8th |
7 comments - 6 replies for Group 67
|
14 comments - 9 replies Total
|
