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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thanks so much, Randy! I really appreciate your kind words-I'm glad the perspective caught your eye. |
Jun 26th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Douglas, Jim, this is such a captivating capture! The dress is absolutely stunning-so vibrant and full of detail, it truly gives her that fairy-tale, princess-like presence. The tiara is the perfect finishing touch, and her poised, downward gaze adds a quiet elegance and grace to the moment. I also love how her mother walks beside her with such pride-it really adds a touching emotional layer to the photo. Beautiful composition and a wonderful way to preserve such a special milestone! |
Jun 23rd |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Jim, I really appreciate your close look and your thoughtful analysis. The fact that you studied the image and felt it led your eyes "beyond the tower" is such a compliment! The leading lines from the water's edge were part of what drew me to that particular puddle. I was hoping the reflection would be sharp enough to blur the line between reality and illusion-and your comment tells me it did. Thank you so much! |
Jun 23rd |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Sabine, your comment made me smile! "Irritated and amazed" is exactly the reaction I hoped for-it means the illusion worked! ???? It is indeed just a reflection in a puddle of water. I took the image with my phone held upside down, nearly touching the ground. The trick was all in the angle and then in flipping the image during editing. I'm so glad it made you pause and think-thank you for your kind and honest feedback! |
Jun 23rd |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Yvonne, thank you! I'm thrilled that the image made you stop and think. You're absolutely right-it's the Eiffel Tower, but the scene is a reflection in a puddle. I flipped my iPhone upside down and got right at ground level to capture the image. There's no water flowing under the tower-just some clever perspective and a lucky puddle! So glad you enjoyed it and that it made you do a double take! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Sabine, thank you so much-your words really made my day! Yes, it is a reflection-but I didn't flip the image later. I flipped my iPhone upside down to take the picture from just above the puddle. The clean edges and angle helped maintain the illusion. I love that the image sparked both irritation and amazement-it tells me the illusion made you pause and think. That means a lot to me. Thanks again for your kind thoughts and support! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Jim, thank you! I really appreciate the time you took to study the image closely. I used the reflection in a puddle and flipped my iPhone upside down to take the shot from just above the water's surface. No post-processing flip, just careful shooting and a bit of cleanup to simplify the scene. I'm glad the leading lines led your eye toward the tower and beyond. That's exactly the journey I hoped the viewer would take! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thanks so much, Sylvia! I love that you were curious about what you were seeing. It's actually just a puddle of water! I flipped my iPhone upside down and got really close to the surface to capture the reflection. No post-flipping-just some cleanup to remove distractions. The empty setting helped sell the illusion, and I'm thrilled it sparked your imagination. Your kind words mean a lot! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thank you, Douglas! I'm so glad the image made you wonder-that was my goal. You're right-it is a reflection of the Eiffel Tower! I captured it by placing my iPhone upside down, right above a puddle of water. I didn't flip the image later; the camera orientation and angle did the trick. In post, I only cleaned up the distractions around the puddle to keep the illusion intact. I really appreciate your thoughtful observation! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Randy, this is such a beautiful capture of architectural detail. The repeating archways really create a wonderful sense of depth-from the main arch in the foreground, to the archway window display, and even the further archway opening that leads into another part of the gallery. These layers give the image such a welcoming, immersive quality. Looking at it, I truly felt like I was standing there myself, about to walk through the space and explore the gallery beyond.
The geometric interplay of shapes, enhanced by the posters and how the light falls across the scene, adds so much subtle interest. And your perspective adjustment worked perfectly-the lines feel just right and help highlight the elegance of the structure. A beautifully observed and composed moment! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Sylvia, what a beautiful image and memory! I love how it captures the kind of quiet, unexpected moments that make traveling in Japan so special. The Torii gate framed by the trees gives the scene a sense of calm reverence, and the Japanese writing signs on the right really enrich the image-I definitely wouldn't want to crop those out, as they add so much cultural depth and visual interest.
That said, I did find myself wanting to see the shrine straightened. I usually prefer compositions where the main subject isn't centered, but in this case, the slight tilt and off-center placement made me wish for a bit more space on the left-and a straighter alignment to anchor the image more firmly. Even with that, it's a lovely capture and such a meaningful memory. Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your journey!
|
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Jim, this is such a beautifully composed landscape! The lighthouse stands out so nicely against that rich, expansive blue sky-it really draws the eye. I especially like how it's positioned on the right; it creates a great balance in the composition and allows just a glimpse of the ocean on the left, which adds depth and context to the scene. It also works almost like a visual anchor or dividing line between the vivid blue sky and the warm grassy foreground.
Personally, I might suggest cropping a bit off the bottom so the grass takes up about a third of the frame, giving the sky more room to shine and emphasizing that peaceful, open feeling even more. Your HDR processing feels very natural here-vibrant without being overdone-and the vignette is a subtle, elegant touch. Really well done! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Yvonne, this is such a moving and thought-provoking image. When I first looked at it without reading the title or description, I was drawn to the vibrant stained glass on the left-its color and the way the light passes through it really captured my attention. It felt almost like a quiet beacon amidst the darker, somber tones of the rest of the scene.
Once I read the story behind it, the image took on a whole new depth. Knowing this was taken in Pope Leo XVI's boyhood church, just a day after the election of a new Pope, and in such a rare and fragile moment of access, adds a profound layer of significance. The two men on the right, quietly facing each other in the darkened sanctuary, feel symbolic-perhaps representing continuity, reverence, or hope amidst the church's desolation.
The light pouring through the broken roof and windows, as Sabine beautifully noted, really does invite deeper interpretation. Despite the decay, there's still a presence of warmth, humanity, and even grace in your composition. You handled the complex lighting so well-especially given the time constraints and the setting. A remarkable image and an important visual document of history. Thank you for sharing it. |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Douglas, this is such a captivating capture! The dress is absolutely stunning-so vibrant and full of detail, it truly gives her that fairy-tale, princess-like presence. The tiara is the perfect finishing touch, and her poised, downward gaze adds a quiet elegance and grace to the moment. I also love how her mother walks beside her with such pride-it really adds a touching emotional layer to the photo. And the backdrop is just beautiful-the lush green bushes with the sparing red roses add a perfect touch of natural contrast and romance to the scene. A truly memorable and well-composed portrait! |
Jun 19th |
| 9 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Thank you so much for sharing the story and inspiration behind this beautiful image, Sabine. The painterly effect you achieved through the horizontal panning is so striking-it really brings out the richness of the sunset's orange hues and contrasts them beautifully with the deep, wave-like forms at the bottom. It feels both abstract and serene, like a peaceful memory caught in motion. I can see why this is your favorite-it captures not just a view, but a whole mood. Absolutely stunning work! |
Jun 19th |
7 comments - 8 replies for Group 9
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7 comments - 8 replies Total
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