Greetings John,

Marvelous shot! It appears that everyone has already said it all. WOW!!!

Best Regards,
Tom

I first learned quite a few years ago through online coaching from one of the UHH members and using a styrofoam head with a wig bought actually for a Halloween costume! I tried, and tried, and tried, but never got any praise for the shots I emailed to my teacher. Then, once I moved my shooting location to another room and with a minor change in lighting, I finally got an 'OK', then I progressed with different lights, learned more about lighting (very, very important), and then generally progressed. I took advantage of an opportunity to shoot with 7 other photographers on a couple different locations and different genres, and that was very educational and rewarding! I also purchased some instructional videos and once again received some personal instruction from a professional photographer.

After that, I attended several group studio shoots that cost me some money learning various lighting situations and shooting genres and poses. I also did a lot of research and online tutorial watching from professionals, which was all very helpful, but personal help from qualified photographers was the best. I would say the one very best piece of advice I received after the initial meetings was to practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, then even more practice!

I still make plenty of mistakes and I am still learning. When I stop learning, then I will probably be dead in the water, so to speak. Another thing to remember is to try to get some decent (no, very good to great glass) which is also quite important, and does make a difference. Also, learn how to Post Process and I also recommend shooting in RAW format all the time. There are obviously many different opinions on this, but I feel shooting in RAW format is Extremely Important.
Hopefully, something I have said will be beneficial to you.

Take my comments for what you deem you feel they are worth. I just love photography and have always loved it taking pictures of whatever I find and feel interesting. I have shot different genres and still enjoy learning as I mentioned previously. Have fun, take your time, learn thoroughly about aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, and all you can about lighting and all kinds of ways to diffuse the light. Try to create lighting that is appropriate for the kind of photo you are taking - the lighting should match the mood of the image as well as the coloring. Make sure the light flows evenly across a subjects face in portrait shots, head shots, and group shots when possible. Use hard light if that is what the image calls for and use soft light when that is required for other images. Create and blend and meld and use appropriate backgrounds and DOF. Think about what your objective is for a photo and then go from there. Have a lot of fun, make your mistakes, and hopefully learn from them.

Best Regards,
Tom

Jim,

The background you added for replacement looks like 'just that;' and really doesn't seem to fit or 'gel' with the real image you started out with, making it look like a somewhat 'fake' piece of the puzzle - Hmmmm?

Best Regards,
Tom

Dave,

Yes, the image is yours and you know what your objective is and what and how to adjust the various elements of the production. The points I made are obviously just part of my interpretation, and it is nice to know that it differs from yours. If they were the same, life would truly be boring since the outcome would be a very plain, simple, mundane, and monotonous state of affairs! Thanks Dave for your well done artistic interpretation of your combined images for your composite image.

Best Regards,
Tom

Hi Dave,

You know, the eyes move right to the brightest spot in an image. Hence, I would definitely tone down his ring on his camera left hand and also the upper right corner with the brighter semi-cirular run of bricks (I think), especially in the download. Great you have no reflection in his glasses, but I find the back wall somewhat grainy or noisy in the download as well?

I do like the composition, but I think you are capable of better processing in his beard and his facial texture. Also, as I look at the download more and more, I also believe it would be much better and less of a distraction if his on camera flash diffuser was a little less bright. Of course, these comments are personal opinions and just being honest, and may not be in agreement with your thoughts and desires for the image.

Best Regards,
Tom

Definitely an awkward shoot displaying an awkward, pose, awkward smile, and an overall uncomfortable situation for the model. Perhaps this will improve with some more practice and much more confidence by the model.

I understand that it was a first for both you and the model, so, no criticism on your shoot - just real comments because of your shooting situation. Get her comfortable, and you as well, and then start working on the lighting, and then thirdly the pose(s).

Best Regards,
Tom

Thank you very much Ron. It all sounds like both good and wise advice. Much appreciated. It has been a long time since I have had chemistry, so I am trying to absorb all you said.

Best Regards,
Tom

Thank you, Bill.

Tom

Bill,

Thank you for such an in-depth look at your setup. Yes, indeed, you certainly did have a 'production' developed for this flame shoot! Quite amazing and much more than just a snapshot! What is the liquid (alcohol?) in the glass setting on your stool on camera right? Thanks again.

Best Regards,
Tom

Linda,

I love the building and the different 'textures' of the brick and siding of the old building. However, I honestly can't say much for the vase(s)!

I also think the 2nd & 3rd images would be much more impressive and add soooo much more to the overall image(s) if there was some detail and blue color and contrast to the sky. I believe you could achieve that by selectively turning down the highlights slider and increase the Dehaze slider in ACR (especially if you took the picture in RAW format), or selectively turn down the brightness and adjust the contrast in PS. I really do like the brick building - Great!

Best Regards,
Tom

Douglass,

This is a great shot for the reason that it displays so much complete contrast between the straight stark well defined rigid texture/mood of the fire escape with the totally rounded curvature of the windows and trim around them. I would say the company that put in the fire escape probably just used the space it had available to make the building safer and probably up to code required by law.

Best Regards,
Tom

Hi Dave,

I have to admit that, it, being the way it is right now, the image just doesn't do anything for me. Perhaps it is too early for me to 'see' anything special in this image, but that is my honest opinion as of right now. Perhaps it would be a good one to keep for a composite, and would be a superb choice for one of your creative and innovative works of art! I'm sure you may eventually use it and this image will be an extremely valid component of a composite image!

Best Regards,
Tom

Good Morning Sandra,

First of all, I believe your use of the pastel colors, if not natural, are superb, and give the image a sense of peace and serenity which blends superbly with the soft focus of the image - excellent image, Sandra.

I guess for me it isn't so much the horizon balance, but the misty shoreline balance that catches my eye. I have no problem with your horizon placement, but that misty shoreline just seems like it is in the middle horizontal line such that everything above and below is basically 50-50%. I am merely wondering what it would look like if you cropped it from the bottom about an inch or so? Maybe something to play around with, or I could crop it and repost on your thread if you so desire.

I think if you cropped it from the top roughly an inch, the image would look too heavy in the amount of water that would 'appear' to be showing. Let me know your thoughts on my suggestion.

Best Regards,
Tom

Mike,

Thank you, also, for reading and responding to my inquiry about the flame in the glass. My search just didn't have the correct information I guess. That picture/shot is exactly what I was looking for and I actually sent a PM to the original photographer (Bill Nourse - got his name from the link dck22 sent in his reply) on UHH asking him some questions. Thank you again.

Best Regards,
Tom

dck,

Thank you sooooo much! This is exactly what I remember seeing, but could not for the life of me find it on UHH search. I guess I just wasn't putting in the correct search criteria. I appreciate it a great deal that you read and replied to my posted request. Thank you once again very, very much.

I actually sent the original photographer (Bill Nourse) a PM asking him a few questions, one of which was to see how he got the alcohol to stay on top of the soy sauce/water mixture so it would burn. It seems to me that it would just mix with the water, unless the densities of the two liquids are that much different, like oil and water. Perhaps soy sauce is quite oily - I have no idea! Thanks again.

Best Regards,
Tom