Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Yet another. I generally avoid centering the key element in an image, but in this case I intentionally placed this great example of a cholla laden with fruit chains in the heart of the frame. Comments welcome. Have at it. :-)

Cholla with Fruit

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Personally I never mind the main subject taking center stage. I tend to think the "would like to see it moved to the side" comment is often put in cover the fact the viewer has not got anything of interest or relevance to add.
Im sure you took this with the intention of getting sharp focus throughout and you achieved that for sure.
Theres a lot going on in that background with the coloured rocks the bright blue sky and the phallic like cacti and normally I would be inclined to think the background needs taking down a little.
In this case however it works just perfectly to my untrained eye. I hope a brighter soul than I comes along and tells me why that should be and on other images would be wrong.
Ticks all the boxes with me.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

This is a real beauty, and the composition, to me, is lovely. Maybe some would consider it static but it works this way. The shape of the cholla is almost precisely the shape of the huge geologic formation which frames it from behind. The saguaros themselves are marching along in the middle almost like music notes.Of course, like all your images, it is tack sharp exactly where it is supposed to be, with great definition that shows how those cholla glow in certain lighting. I really really like this.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Thank you Bill, Minnie, for your comments. I'm glad the composition seems to hold up. I just did a first print and see a bit of a magenta color cast that needs to be adjusted. It was interesting light in that the sun had just cleared the horizon, giving me a lot of blue, which is giving me some challenges getting the color balance where I want it.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I like this Jim.
I like the central composition, I like the strong thirds in the image, I like the colours and the echoed subject.
The Cholla is obviously central, but also has three strong elements in its placement .... the two outer of these are very close to the left and right thirds, and the central one is echoed by the peak behind it.
The field of siguarro(?) form a strong element on the top thirds line that works very well, as does all the vertical spikes.
I find the shadow under the Cholla to be .... a bit muddy, and lacking in contrast.
Before the next print I would be tempted to bring a little more light into those shadows, but to push their contrast ..... and/or ..... darken the sky a little to offset the dark down there.
I don't care for the software frame around it.
It is a strong enough image to stand on its own.
All in all, a very nice image Jim.

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

Great setting Jim. Isn't this called teddy bear cactus too?
Looks like you had a nice visit to Arizona.
The red mountains and saguaro in the back ground really set it off.
Love the sharp focus although I would prefer a download version so I could look at it closer.
The only thing I don't care for is the frame and I guess
we don't critique that. Haa.

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Thanks LH. I just did another print and went in first with my wacom pen and did some dodge and burns in that area. Also darkened the sky a bit and backed off the cyan some to get a bit more natural blue in the sky. It did improve things.

Just to clarify, because I make my prints for both sale and competitions, I always mat them. (I don't like to enter projected images). So, for me, I usually mock up a mat after I do an image in order to get a better feel for how it will finally look. I suppose I could leave them off when I post to this section.

Thanks again for your imput

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Thanks for your feedback, Redbeard. It is also referred to as jumping cactus, because if you get too close a section will jump right over, attach itself to you, and ask for a ride!

I know many would like to look at a downloadable version, but I prefer not to post any high res images. A small attempt to avoid making my sale-able images too easily accessible. I hope everyone understands.

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Whats the problem with a downloadable image that's no more than 800 dpi on its longest side and at 72dpi?
Not much good to an image thief but gives your viewers here a better chance to offer a valid critique

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Hi, Jim,
Didn't realize I'd by-passed this one.
I like the straight-forward central pride-of-place of the gorgeous fruiting cholla. it's well balanced horizontally and vertically.
This is, as is, a far-more-than-merely-acceptable image.

Desert dusk always, for me, poses a quandary: the degree of acceptable saturation. My personal preference is for more saturation than you've permitted here. Not a lot more, but enough to be noticed is what I'd prefer, but it's clearly your creative decision and thus unarguable! it's a question of just how flexible you might be in the matter.
Best regards,
Dave