Thanks you.

Thank you, Linda. Coming from you, that is very high praise; I have seen much of your work. The eagle series is stunning.

I use Lightroom first then Silver Effex Pro 2 for the photos I take with my Nikon d800e. I have a third-hand Leica Monochrom I got on eBay that does wonderful work; I do minimal pp in Lightroom, then see what SEP2 might offer, if anything. Most of the time, Lightroom is enough.

If there is a particular photo you would want the specs on, let me know and I'll see what I can find.

Thanks again. Matt

Not really, but thanks. Feels good. Matt

Not really, but thanks.

Hi, I am a newbie here; joined at end of '16. I am interested in improving my b&w photos and would appreciate any reactions to the following. Thanks in advance. And Happy New Year. Matt

Vases on hotel window sill

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Western-themed restaurant

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Rock Harbor, Cape Cod

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Conch shell

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Rain puddles on glass picnic table

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Georgie and Caddie

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Thanks for the info on exposure etc. I like the light on the orange--it's diffuse soft and blends with the texture. The catch lights on the apples are too sharp and obvious for me, draw my eyes away from the rest of the composition. You have encouraged me to play.

Linda, How do I visit For Your Consideration?

That was a test to see whether I could engage in this discussion. Here goes.

RD, you have touched on a topic that I have been puzzling over for a few years without any conclusion. I guess I would call it the mixture of metaphors, or something akin to that. I have come across the word/synesthesia, the mixing of sense experience, where some people can "see" a sound or "smell" a color. I listen to music but hear only the sounds without seeing pictures, while others evidently can see a forest, (Beethoven) or hear a river (Moldau). So, with a photo, I puzzle in what sense it "tells" a story. For me, photos capture a moment in time, an event, a scene, while a story has a beginning, middle and end. A caption will add to the photo and ascribe a story to it; without it, we probably wouldn't know that the kiss celebrated the end of WWII, or that the child was running from napalm bombing.

These distinctions may seem pedantic or irrelevant, and I admit they might. What has prompted my rambling is that I have heard from many mentors that memorable photos express an emotion. I have been unable to express in words what I see in a photo or what attracts me to take a photo. Does anyone else feel this way?

Thanks. Matt

May I reply?

Linda, I prefer #2. Better range of tones, sweeter grays, minimal vignetting. I have no problem with the composition; the limp limbs pull the eye into the photo from the bottom left and right; the pod on the left stem anchors the eye there and subtly mirrors and balances the bird; the stem on the right keeps the eye in the frame and prevents it from wandering out of the frame, which it would do without that border. Very clever ricocheting back and forth between the stalks; pleasant tight framing with rich texture in the pod particularly. Well done. Matt

Linda, Your description of basic b&w elements is the best I have ever read. Thanks. Do you have examples of your work to share? Matt