|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 2 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Your very unique framing and border make this interesting. See also Group 5 this month where Richard Siersma also shot the Golden Temple. |
Aug 13th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 2
|
| 3 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This is a fine church image.
I just want to mention the "mirroring" technique for architectural shots where you can't get everything in. Strictly speaking, it is not called for here, because you are shooting the side aisle, and my mirrored image is not true to the actual church. But I am mentioning the technique because so often one can't quite fit in an entire church interior, and in other cases this technique might be useful. |
Aug 27th |
 |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 3
|
| 5 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This is a fine image, and thank you for your story of how you went there. One of the great things about these Digital Dialogues (aside from the images per se) are the stories of getting the shots, and about the places.
If you did 1000 vertical feet per hour, you are in great shape. I have not hiked such elevation changes since I was young, and not at high altitude even then. |
Aug 27th |
| 5 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
So much fun to see this image--went there in 1988. See also this month in Group 2 where Huang Phan also shot the Golden Temple. |
Aug 13th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 5
|
| 8 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
I love his motley. |
Aug 26th |
| 8 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Of course, Snehendu, please write to me at sflevitas@gmail.com. I am greatly looking forward to chatting more with you.
--Steve |
Aug 26th |
| 8 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Snehendu,
Yes, all of those things are of interest to both of us. My wife is a teacher and had connections to education programs at the Smithsonian Institution here in Washington DC. We have attended symposia on Tagore and on Sufism. I have a copy of Gitanjali, translated by William Radice, a gift to me from Mr. Radice. For the Sufism symposium, my wife successfully encouraged the Turkish Embassy to bring a group of Sufis to perform their prayer/dance ritual at one of the National Museums--see the attached image. |
Aug 25th |
 |
| 8 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Your singer is clearly enraptured, much like Sufis in their rituals, which I have seen many times in the company of my Turkish wife. I appreciate your mention of Tagore in your bio. Thank you for taking us to Bengal. |
Aug 25th |
1 comment - 3 replies for Group 8
|
| 9 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Wonderful shot of an interesting place, but no story about the place. So here is a link to the story of the place:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/high-trestle-trail-bridge |
Aug 25th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 9
|
| 11 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Lovely shot, in both color and monochrome.
Your story of getting the shot is wonderful. Nice going. |
Aug 24th |
| 11 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
I love such interior architectural shots empty of people and without a "focal point" in the distance. Like this, I find them tranquil and mysteriously interesting.
One suggestion, along the lines of what Jim said, consider shooting a little off center. I think it works in the same way Allen suggested. |
Aug 24th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 11
|
| 17 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
I have nothing to add to the discussion of this great personal image.
I also admire your work with the fill light that you mentioned, as it provides good portrait lighting on Max's face. |
Aug 24th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 17
|
| 24 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This is a tremendous job on this image.
Does everyone know that zebras have never been successfully or widely domesticated, so this picture has deep comic irony.
I also love that the zebras are going over a zebra crossing. |
Aug 24th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 24
|
| 25 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Audrey, this is a good travel/documentation shot, but your story makes it great. One of the pleasures of these Digital Dialogues is the story-telling of how the shot was got, or about the place. Thanks. |
Aug 24th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 25
|
| 31 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Peter, I banged around the internet and found https://skyandtelescope.org/interactive-sky-chart/
which allowed me to fully enter your date, time, location, and direction facing.
Looks like it might have been Saturn. |
Aug 22nd |
| 31 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
OK, I will attempt to research. Were you looking straight north towards that questionable star/planet? |
Aug 22nd |
| 31 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Wonderful shot.
About that light on the horizon. If you can reconstruct the exact time of this shot, I am fairly hoping there is a sky map program that can tell you what it was--as I am thinking it might be a planet. |
Aug 21st |
1 comment - 2 replies for Group 31
|
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Yes, your crop is a fine alternative, and the brightening is a big plus. Thanks. |
Aug 28th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Gosh, I neglected this shot for 12 years because I thought it was just a personal memory. It is that, of course. But I am so encouraged by what you and everyone else has to say about it. Thanks. |
Aug 19th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Thanks, Tom. This just goes to show once again that I have no idea what works, and I am consistent in this. I appreciate your discussion of why this works, and will try to remember that. |
Aug 16th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Thank you, Diana, I understand, appreciate, and agree with the discussion. |
Aug 13th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Two points, attached is my slightly "brighter" version of your (Diana's) version. Just my eyeball preference.
But second, and I am asking Diana to instruct on this point. When I use PS, there are separate adjustments for "brightness" and "contrast." I like Diana's "contrast," but I altered her version to make it "brighter." Diana, please comment. |
Aug 12th |
 |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Yes, I prefer the darker version, but (picky, picky, picky) I would prefer it about 66% of what you did. |
Aug 12th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Thank you, Ata, you are so positive. That is a good observation about the age of the crowd. |
Aug 10th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
A nice shot with a good sky, but the composition feels a bit crowded. Would it have worked if you stood back a bit? |
Aug 9th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Yes, love the way the tree contains the old barn, and stops the eye's natural movement from left to right. |
Aug 9th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
I very much like the tufts of vegetation in the foreground, but the entire image is just a bit too bright to my taste (on my monitor). |
Aug 9th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Interesting shot. I am fascinated by advertising as an art form, both pictures and videos. On this one, a sense of scale might have helped--is that a human-size ladder running up the side? |
Aug 9th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
The color version is very interesting.
I like very much that I can see the imperfections in the highly magnified details. |
Aug 9th |
| 32 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This is a really compelling portrait, but I think the door framing is not useful. How about just cropping down to the woman? I think the interior, and especially the plastic basket inside, should be darkened until almost black. |
Aug 9th |
 |
6 comments - 7 replies for Group 32
|
| 36 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Well, I never...
How distinctive to be recognized in one of Larry's captivating narratives!
This is a wonderful shot, with the ripples, and yes, ever so difficult to get the horizontals and verticals just right.
I have been away on family vacation, so am replying late. We were at the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, and while there were no bears, horses, or alligators, there were 70 MPH winds and a small nearby cliff collapse from wave action at its base. The cliffs were 20 million years old (hard packed mud--not yet made into sedimentary rock), with several veins of ancient seabed clearly visible.
I do hope we meet up sometime, Larry, and I would love to join you on a photo shoot to the outside of a gated community!? |
Aug 11th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 36
|
| 37 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Just a comment on the background: Van Gogh's Woman in a Red Dress is in the National Gallery in Washington, DC. |
Aug 11th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 37
|
| 39 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
It's like seeing an old friend, this image of a well-known place.
Great job. |
Aug 11th |
| 39 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Facades like this are fascinating to shoot, and this one is very interesting. If you go back, can you shoot at a different time when the light slants across the front of the building casting diagonal shadows? |
Aug 11th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 39
|
| 40 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This is a fine shot. Historically, here is a shot of a "Power House Mechanic" by Lewis Hine, for comparison. |
Aug 20th |
 |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 40
|
| 42 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
I love architectural shots totally empty of people, and I prefer NOT to have a "focal point" at the end of a long hall. So I like everything about this shot.
This obviously has some vertical perspective (it has considerable horizontal perspective, so vertical is no exception). I generally prefer the vertical perspective to remain as shot, because it gives a sense of "soaring upwards," but in the case of a one or two-story structure, some folks (and especially professional architectural photographers) prefer to alter the vertical perspective. Here is a compromise approach, with a little of the vertical perspective remaining. Note: I do not prefer my suggestion, just am mentioning it for discussion. |
Aug 20th |
 |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 42
|
| 45 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Great shot. See also this month Group 67 where Madhusudhan Srinivasan also captured an image a bird eating a snake. |
Aug 13th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 45
|
| 47 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This reminds me a lot of Edward Weston's cabbage leaf shot. I think this image is beautiful, and the contrast with the bark texture wonderful. |
Aug 20th |
| 47 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This looks great in monochrome.
I just want to mention a useful technique for shooting in situations like this. If you cannot fit everything in, or if half the ceiling or subject is obscured, you can shoot just half and then mirror and combine halves in PS to create a finished image. Although not needed in your shot, you could have mirror 1/4 of the image to produce a finished image. |
Aug 20th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 47
|
| 48 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
I respectfully disagree with the crop, because--and this is highly personal admittedly--I feel that nature is very large and needs a lot of space in images of it. Directly as a result, the human element should be fairly small in natural images. Like I said, this is a personal view, influenced by my study of far eastern styles of painting. Just another view. |
Aug 11th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 48
|
| 50 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
I find the play of light and shadow on this scene the most interesting part of the shot. I tried a bit to emphasize this, but I don't think I was very successful. May I suggest, if you like the idea, to go back and shoot this again when you have advantageous splotches of light on the subject? |
Aug 20th |
 |
| 50 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
I very much like the patterns and light on this shot. I also adore shots of the underside of architecture. |
Aug 11th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 50
|
| 55 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Hello Dennis,
This is a fine idea, well-executed. I love portrait shots illuminated by indirect open window or doorway light. But your addition of the blinds is very clever. Not only does it diffuse the light, but it adds content to the concept of staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The blinds suggest a barrier between your wife and everyone else outside and elsewhere. Did you pose her hands--they are making very compelling gestures.
|
Aug 19th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 55
|
| 58 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Randy, I am glad it looks a bit better. I selected roughly the left 10%, the right 20%, and the bottom 25%, and applied a bit of sharpening. That's all. |
Aug 19th |
| 58 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Hi Randy,
Great view of Pandemonium. William Blake coined the term in his poem "Paradise Lost," and of course it is the name of the "city of all demons."
I felt something should be added, not quite as a focal point--that would defeat the pandemonium idea, which is excellent--but to enable a stronger engagement with the scene. So I would rather not say what I did in the attached version, but ask if you can notice any difference, and it you like it or not. Thanks.
By the way, I think Gloria's observation about the triptych composition is a brilliant compositional observation.
|
Aug 19th |
 |
1 comment - 1 reply for Group 58
|
| 67 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
How lucky to get this shot. See also this month where Don Mackenzie in Group 45 also captured a shot a a bird eating a snake. |
Aug 13th |
| 67 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Larry, what a wonderful story. Like everyone else, congratulations on refusing to take a mob to the nest site.
The cross species breeding is very interesting because it demonstrates that gene pools are much more varied than most people realize. Last I heard (in high school), a species was defined by 90% success in breeding, so lower percentages of breeding success define different species. That make for a lot of mixing. And this comes just as we have had recent scientific announcements about human past genetic mixing. |
Aug 10th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 67
|
| 74 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Ata, this is one of your best shots. Photographing someone you have known for so long is significant, and your and his stories are touching. Thanks. |
Aug 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 74
|
| 78 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Brenda, this is generally called "mirroring" an image, and there are lots of tutorials if you google "mirror image photoshop" or "copy and flip photoshop" or similar.
But I want to point out a practical use, not just the creative use. If you are in a tight space and can't step back for a full view, or if half a church nave is covered with construction, or if tourists are crawling all over one side of your subject, you can shoot one side only, and then create a finished image using a mirror copy.
Adrian Binney has a church ceiling shot in Group 47 this month that could be mirrored in quarters. |
Aug 20th |
| 78 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Great idea, well thought-out. I blew it up thirteen times with ctrl-+ to see that it IS a cake. Well done! |
Aug 19th |
| 78 |
Aug 20 |
Reply |
Hi Brenda,
Here are the basic steps. I used PS Elements.
1. Open a new blank PS document, with lots of space to receive two copies of your image. Later you can crop down to just the final image.
2. Crop your original image (if needed, as in this case) to just the portion of the image you want, and copy it into layer 1 of the new document.
3. Go back to the Step 2 image, flip it horizontally, and copy that to layer 2 of the new document.
4. Move the images to touch, crop the composite to get rid of excess empty space, and save as a JPEG if you want.
Lots more creativity is possible with copying, transforming, and pasting into a new document, and we have seen some fantastic stuff (much more than this basic technique) throughout the Digital Dialogues over the months and years. Some folks are fantastic with their imaginative transformations. |
Aug 18th |
| 78 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Hi Jim, this is a fine shot of a stunning interior.
I like to play with such angled shot, as with the attached. Just fun. |
Aug 18th |
 |
2 comments - 2 replies for Group 78
|
| 87 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Hello Graham, this is a fine overall shot, and great to see one of the places my wife and I and kids have visited.
I am not too sure about my suggestions--see what others think.
1. The open area at the end of the gare is too blown out to be saved, so I suggest cropping it out. In the version below, I used PS Element to "darken highlights" and "lighten shadows." Also I added a bit of sharpening. Then I cropped a tiny bit from the top and bottom (I can't account for my taste in this), and cropped out the blown out area. Please tell me if any of this helps.
2. I suggest radically different points of view to be creative and competitive, like crouching a few feet from the head of the engine, or shooting among the moving crowd at 1/4 second to deliberately capture the mood of a busy blurry moving crowd. I can't say I have been successful at this, nor how it would come out for you, but that's all I have from me--not an expert. |
Aug 17th |
 |
| 87 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
This is a great composition. I love shots of children from behind; perhaps because that makes it "any" child.
I belong to Group 32, a monochrome group, so here it is in monochrome, for discussion only if you are interested. |
Aug 10th |
 |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 87
|
| 93 |
Aug 20 |
Comment |
Good lighting positioning and footprint care, as you and others have said.
Did you consider if the top of the driftwood should be at the horizon line as it is? Did you have a choice to elevate your shooting angle and have the driftwood entirely backgrounded by the beach sand? Would you have wanted that for your composition? All questions--I am not suggesting any particular answer, but asking about your shooting location and your compositional choices. Thanks. |
Aug 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 93
|
40 comments - 15 replies Total
|
