Critique my reflections, please.. These were shot in Wyoming in The Snowy Range west of Laramie. Shot with a Canon EOS 5 (AE2) and an EF 28-135 IS, circular polarizer, on Velvia Slide...

gessman Loc: Colorado

These were shot in Wyoming in The Snowy Range west of Laramie. Shot with a Canon EOS 5 (AE2) and an EF 28-135 IS, circular polarizer, on Velvia Slide film 50 iso and scanned in with a Nikon 2000 film scanner. I have no further exif data except to say that the shots were handheld and bracketed on a bright sunlit day

ooops! Sorry. I got that last one upside down...

gessman Loc: Colorado

C'mon now folks, give me some good solid critique. I see stuff wrong with these and I know there's stuff I'm not seeing so let me have it while you hone your instructive skills. I promise to "take it like a man." Thanks. I appreciate your help.

Marymercury Loc: Michigan

My sister in law would love to paint these scenes with oils. Portrait worthy to hang from any studio. Loved em.

TJ Loc: Austraila, Toowoomba.

gessman wrote:

C'mon now folks, give me some good solid critique. I see stuff wrong with these and I know there's stuff I'm not seeing so let me have it while you hone your instructive skills. I promise to "take it like a man." Thanks. I appreciate your help.

Umm one of them is upside down, hehehehehe.
Mate you know as well as i do that tectechnically i dont have a clue, my fav though is #2 ur reflection sharpness and fore ground are very pleasing to the eye.

Now i have a question for you i want a full size tripod that allows my camera to go as low as the ground almost, is there a spicif name for this type of tripod?

gessman Loc: Colorado

Marymercury wrote:

My sister in law would love to paint these scenes with oils. Portrait worthy to hang from any studio. Loved em.

Hi Mary. First, thank you. Second, that's one of the primary reasons for the existence of these pictures and my diversity of subject matter. My wife paints and she often gains a lot of her inspiration, if not subject matter, from my photos and it helps her remember scenes we've visited much later. Still, I would be happy to discuss the possible use of them with your s-i-l, just not in this forum. You can, if desired, send me a PM and we'll exchange email addresses. Thanks again.

gessman Loc: Colorado

tj wrote:

quote=gessman C'mon now folks, give me some good ... (show quote)

Thank you tj. I don't know if there is a specific name for such a tripod but I have one that I've had for probably 20 years now. It was made by SLIK. I haven't used it a lot but the legs spread and gets it real close to the ground. Mostly, when I want a real low perspective now, I just use a bean bag or whatever. Even at it's lowest, the SLIK often wouldn't get me as low as I wanted. I'd go to SLIK's site and ask customer service about one. Good luck with that.

gessman Loc: Colorado

gessman wrote:

quote=tj quote=gessman C'mon now folks, give me ... (show quote)

By the way tj, the model I have is a U212 so that'll help you focus on what to ask for - one like that the U212.

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

These are really great!
(Number 1 was a little too dark for my taste, but... the rest rock!)

Reflections are among my faves! Yours are awesome!
Remembering which end is up is often a sign that ya did it perfectly, imho! lol

gessman Loc: Colorado

tilde531 wrote:

These are really great!
(Number 1 was a little too dark for my taste, but... the rest rock!)

Reflections are among my faves! Yours are awesome!
Remembering which end is up is often a sign that ya did it perfectly, imho! lol

Thanks tilde. That first one is definitely dark in places and I could probably successfully lighten it with a mask but the somewhat graduated still blue water didn't want disturbing. When I look at that I almost see it as a study in dark and light. They're definitely in conflict in that scene. Part of if soothes you while the other part is making you tense - a lot like marriage.

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

gessman wrote:

When I look at that I almost see it as a study in dark and light. They're definitely in conflict in that scene. Part of if soothes you while the other part is making you tense - a lot like marriage.

Re: Your comment about marriage....Ohhh yesss! You've got THAT right! *snickers*

I wasn't suggesting that you change it at all, just so you know. In fact, I often challenge myself to do small studies in ____ (fill in the blank) and I think it's great just the way it is.
Just for my specific taste (and need for progressive lenses as it is lol) it is a bit dark... so I move my face closer to the screen! LOL ;)

When I go on a walk with camera, I never pre-set a theme of the day. I let the day unfold and the photos seem to create that theme for me as I go along.
Love when that happens.

gessman Loc: Colorado

[quote=tilde531]

gessman wrote:

...create that theme for me as I go along.
Love when that happens.

I, by contrast, have to purposely go somewhere to shoot. If I employed your technique, I'd waddle along forever forgetting I even have a camera with me and I'd come home empty handed. For me, it's a lot like fishing - you either go fishing or you take a boy fishing. Can't do both. I either go for a stroll or I go to take pictures.

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

gessman wrote:

I, by contrast, have to purposely go somewhere to shoot. If I employed your technique, I'd waddle along forever forgetting I even have a camera with me and I'd come home empty handed. For me, it's a lot like fishing - you either go fishing or you take a boy fishing. Can't do both. I either go for a stroll or I go to take pictures.

This is one of the myriad of things that fascinates me the most about photography... the psychology behind it.
The "Why's"....

I love that there are so many different approaches and so many fantastic results... all unique and beautiful in their own right!

Must be the Gemini in me *blush*

As I don't go fishing, I can't relate to your position, but I think I can understand it! I'd be the one to go with them BOTH while SOMEONE fishes... and I sit on the bank/boat and read a book.

Or snap pictures! ;)

gessman Loc: Colorado

tilde531 wrote:

quote=gessman I, by contrast, have to purposely g... (show quote)

You don't impress as being one who is merely a passenger. But I am amused at your view of yourself. You almost seem as though you'd present yourself as a "knitter in training" if you got a chance.

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

gessman wrote:

You don't impress as being one who is merely a passenger. But I am amused at your view of yourself. You almost seem as though you'd present yourself as a "knitter in training" if you got a chance.

You'd be disappointed then... as I am, and prefer to be... a passenger.
As for knitter-in-training"... I learned to knit in high-school and loved it LMAO ;)

(crochet, needlepoint, crewel, embroidery, sewing and most any other manner of "crone-ish" undertaking, too! I've enjoyed them all, and then put them away in favor of something "new".)

I know... it's not what you meant... but there ya have it.

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

gessman wrote:

You don't impress as being one who is merely a passenger. But I am amused at your view of yourself. You almost seem as though you'd present yourself as a "knitter in training" if you got a chance.

Just for the fun of it... would this be more in-keeping with your impression of me, Sir?
It IS a photo of me... but doesn't represent me in the way most think !