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A Sense of Place: "Sharron Valley" at Merringo Gap.
Jan 19, 2016 14:18:48   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
This one is persoanal as it is the property where one of our sons, his wife and our grandaughter live.
It changes a fair bit with the seasons, and rainfall. It never snows however they do get frosts during the winter.

#1 from the front garden of the house. This is at the end of summer and they have had a bit of rain.

#2 Looking back towards the house. This is in winter (may) and they havn't had a lot of rain.

#3 One of the winter jobs is getting firewood. That is me (with the grey hair) and our two sons. My wife took the photograph.

#4 In spring after good rains. That's my wife and our grand daughter. Arnie is my son's dog and he is there to let the family know when there are snakes near the house. The road is the driveway to the front gate to the property and the yellow flowers are weeds.

From the front garden
From the front garden...
(Download)

The house in winter.
The house in winter....
(Download)

Getting firewood
Getting firewood...
(Download)

In spring
In spring...
(Download)

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Jan 19, 2016 14:35:20   #
R.G. Loc: Scotland
 
I think the trouble with trying to portray variety within a location is that consistency is lost and it doesn't look convincingly like the same place. The ones that work for me are those which show areas of brown vegetation, because they convey something of the aridness.

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Jan 19, 2016 14:43:43   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
Thanks.
Or show just one very specific location in different light and/or angles.

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Jan 19, 2016 14:47:42   #
R.G. Loc: Scotland
 
RichardTaylor wrote:
Thanks.
Or show just one very specific location in different light and/or angles.


That sounds about right. I think there would have to be a feeling of recognition between one shot and another.

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Jan 19, 2016 14:57:30   #
minniev Loc: MIssissippi
 
RichardTaylor wrote:
This one is persoanal as it is the property where one of our sons, his wife and our grandaughter live.
It changes a fair bit with the seasons, and rainfall. It never snows however they do get frosts during the winter.
.


HOW TO CRITIQUE: Think about your emotional response along with the usual technical considerations. Also, are the images connected in terms of subject and processing to form a series? Are they alike/different enough to be interesting as a group? Do the images tell a story? What suggestions do you have for the photographer?

I like that you included both wide angle sweeping vista and detailed shots with people to flesh out your story. All are captured sharply and with detail. The processing is all similar and the photos have enough in common though possibly a little too much, a problem I'm having with the set I'm about to submit so I relate!

I'd rather have seen more of the people from the front or side, where we could make out their characters a bit better.

I thought myself about assembling a set by season. For your set, I'd have included a progression in order of the seasons, with as many clear indicators of seasonal differences as possible but still with enough clues that it is the same location. Where I live, the differences are sometimes subtle and it feels like we have just two, hot and not so hot. With a sequence divided by season, I think you could exploit these seasonal differences more, and still include your far away and close up shots.

Thank you for sharing your country and your family with us!

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Jan 19, 2016 15:20:39   #
Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington
 
I looked at the images without reading your narrative because I wanted to see what spoke to me through the photos.

I found a hardworking family living in a rugged, rural area that appears to receive little rainfall, except in spring - when the colors briefly emerge and folks can relax and enjoy the sunshine.

I enjoyed this glimpse into your corner of the planet!

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Jan 19, 2016 15:43:09   #
ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore
 
RichardTaylor wrote:
This one is persoanal as it is the property where one of our sons, his wife and our grandaughter live.
It changes a fair bit with the seasons, and rainfall. It never snows however they do get frosts during the winter.

#1 from the front garden of the house. This is at the end of summer and they have had a bit of rain.

#2 Looking back towards the house. This is in winter (may) and they havn't had a lot of rain.

#3 One of the winter jobs is getting firewood. That is me (with the grey hair) and our two sons. My wife took the photograph.

#4 In spring after good rains. That's my wife and our grand daughter. Arnie is my son's dog and he is there to let the family know when there are snakes near the house. The road is the driveway to the front gate to the property and the yellow flowers are weeds.
This one is persoanal as it is the property where ... (show quote)


These shots definitely put the viewer in that place. It is interesting to read about the different times of year and to see how other people in other parts of the world live. I like them all.

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Jan 19, 2016 17:10:00   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
minniev wrote:
HOW TO CRITIQUE: Think about your emotional response along with the usual technical considerations. Also, are the images connected in terms of subject and processing to form a series? Are they alike/different enough to be interesting as a group? Do the images tell a story? What suggestions do you have for the photographer?

I like that you included both wide angle sweeping vista and detailed shots with people to flesh out your story. All are captured sharply and with detail. The processing is all similar and the photos have enough in common though possibly a little too much, a problem I'm having with the set I'm about to submit so I relate!

I'd rather have seen more of the people from the front or side, where we could make out their characters a bit better.

I thought myself about assembling a set by season. For your set, I'd have included a progression in order of the seasons, with as many clear indicators of seasonal differences as possible but still with enough clues that it is the same location. Where I live, the differences are sometimes subtle and it feels like we have just two, hot and not so hot. With a sequence divided by season, I think you could exploit these seasonal differences more, and still include your far away and close up shots.

Thank you for sharing your country and your family with us!
HOW TO CRITIQUE: Think about your emotional respon... (show quote)


Thanks very much - The processing is very consistent for most of my photography with an occassion excursion into a B&W. We do have a lot of family photographs, mostly around the house and inside the house.

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Jan 19, 2016 17:24:23   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
Linda From Maine wrote:
I looked at the images without reading your narrative because I wanted to see what spoke to me through the photos.

I found a hardworking family living in a rugged, rural area that appears to receive little rainfall, except in spring - when the colors briefly emerge and folks can relax and enjoy the sunshine.

I enjoyed this glimpse into your corner of the planet!


Thank Linda.
It is a fairly dry area, about 31" of rain per year. This farm is a grazing property (cattle and sheep) so not quite dependent on rainfall falling at the right time. Our children that live there are both chiropractors who work and own the business in a nearby town about 20 minutes drive away. They are renting the home and they love the country lifestyle. They have just purcased a block, 30 acres, about 1/2 way between where they live now and town and they inend to build on it.

Thew only downside os that they are about a 4 hour drive from home (Sydney, Australia) so we don't get to see them as often as we like.

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Jan 19, 2016 17:24:56   #
St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet
 
minniev wrote:
HOW TO CRITIQUE: Think about your emotional response along with the usual technical considerations. Also, are the images connected in terms of subject and processing to form a series? Are they alike/different enough to be interesting as a group? Do the images tell a story? What suggestions do you have for the photographer? ...

Always helpful to follow along, especially when we know what we're after! S-

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Jan 19, 2016 17:41:19   #
St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet
 
RichardTaylor wrote:
This one is persoanal as it is the property where one of our sons, his wife and our grandaughter live.
It changes a fair bit with the seasons, and rainfall. It never snows however they do get frosts during the winter.

#1 from the front garden of the house. This is at the end of summer and they have had a bit of rain.

#2 Looking back towards the house. This is in winter (may) and they havn't had a lot of rain.

#3 One of the winter jobs is getting firewood. That is me (with the grey hair) and our two sons. My wife took the photograph.

#4 In spring after good rains. That's my wife and our grand daughter. Arnie is my son's dog and he is there to let the family know when there are snakes near the house. The road is the driveway to the front gate to the property and the yellow flowers are weeds.
This one is persoanal as it is the property where ... (show quote)

From A Sense of Place: Let's Study and Share!
HOW TO CRITIQUE:

Think about your emotional response along with the usual technical considerations.
- Without an emotional connection to the place these feel more like personal memories, or vacation images. Still interesting though.

Also, are the images connected in terms of subject and processing to form a series?
- The story portrays a sense of place and gives enough to invite you in.

Are they alike/different enough to be interesting as a group?
- The images are similar enough and processed to match.

Do the images tell a story?
- The story seems to be one of struggle and survival, but also family and rebirth.

What suggestions do you have for the photographer?
- Remove the first image from the series and consider a front person viewpoint with future images to help tie the viewer to the people.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and for giving us a peak into your family's life! S-

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Jan 19, 2016 17:43:20   #
RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia
 
I will keep those suggestions in mind next time we visit. Proably latter in this month.

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