bebo1998 Loc: Baltimore MD area

Ms. Nightski: Thank you - glad you like! Here are others (dubious quality). If I would have known about this post, I would have included more of the environment, but, alas, ignorance was bliss!

excuse the quality

wowbmw Loc: Grant, Colorado

I[quote=Photographer Jim]So, the Rose Parade is on the TV, I am sitting around still in my slippers, as are the rest of the relatives, and I'm pondering some ideas and reactions that I have as a result of reading this thread. and this may be where I diverge a great deal from many. While I found much of the discussion to be interesting, I find myself wanting to yell out a warning. While graphic elements and patterns can create interest, juxtaposition can invite intellectual and emotional reaction by creating comparison or contrast, and while conscious incorporation of various environmental elements may help establish a sense of place and/time, when it comes to "strong composition" everything discussed here is ultimately trumped by how well one understands human visual perception and can control visual weights and balance within an image.
I think a little levity that pokes fun at the rules by photographers that are seeking to improve their skills is perfectly acceptable in my world. Humor can be an effective way of learning.

ediesaul

Thanks, Nighski! I love your photos and your analyses. Unfortunately, the camera I use now is a Panasonic Lumix 200 ( no extra lenses). I got it because I am new to photography (even tho' I am opinionated), and I thought this would be a good first camera to learn on. I am going to look for a photography course. I am, already...got the camera in October, 2014...a bit impatient with not being able to have different lenses. However, first things first. I am also new to pp. So, I have a lot to learn, and I am SO grateful for this site ad for people like you on it.

ediesaul

That second sunflower photo is a beauty.

ediesaul

Thanks very much, Sunnybuck. It is quite amazing that there are so few accidents in our national parks.

bebo1998 Loc: Baltimore MD area

Thanks, Edie - I have many shots over two seasons. Next time I am going to stand back and shoot all of the photogs (step ladders and all) trying to get their shots. It's quite a sight!

And PS - the second shot you posted (guy with tripod) looks like it is ready to take a dive into the canyon!

I always appreciate your various comments. Happy 2015 & stay well.

bebo1998 Loc: Baltimore MD area

That is so funny - I do paint some furniture and my nails, but ..............Thanks for the idea, though!

:lol:

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I'll throw this out there. What's obvious is that we can agree to disagree about what are the small important things as we see them in our own minds eyes as photographers.
As I've said a couple of times, it's not about rights or wrongs, but about awareness to open our eyes to see more or a broader scope in out work. :lol:
SS

(Download)

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

A travel shot. ;-)
SS

the wall

(Download)

bebo1998 Loc: Baltimore MD area

WOW!! beautiful SS

blackest Loc: Ireland

The second version of this shot has a feeling of solitude, the feel of the original more of a boys day out, town seems a few minutes away with the SUV

Nightski

You added some space? I didn't think there was enough space behind the fisherman for this to work .. if there was then I was wrong .. if there wasn't , then I would have never thought of adding more.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

O, I'll make a couple of comments here which actually remind me of a discussion I will mention in its own post.
Your pic #1 doesn't do anything for me, but the second(same for first) does have relevance her because of the mirror jutting into the frame. The mirror helps to make the story more rounded, and without it, for me, it would only be a shot to a dog lover.
But the mirror introduces juxtaposition and the fact that it has a small story of its own helps this pic along.
But my question to you is, was it just a happy accident or was it actually in your compositional decision making?
Either one is a training tool for you and for some of us as well. ;-)
SS

ediesaul

Thanks for showing us this second photo of the fisherman. I had to go back and forth to see why something about it made me uncomfortable. So, agreeing that we may disagree, here's my take:

- I do like the photo better without the car. We can concentrate on the fisherman and his lines.

- Without the car, I can clearly see that you pp-ed the sky to make it darker to the right of the fisherman. I don't particularly like the transition from dark to light blue. It's not subtle enough.

- What the darkness to the right of the fisherman does is focus our eyes from the fisherman and his lines and more to the beautiful blue sky and the sun. However, the sun and sky are not, I believe, the subjects of this photo.

- What I find interesting about this photo are the silhouettes of the fishing rod with its circles - the one closest to the man and the one most in focus - and the man.

- Thus (please don't kill me!), I am not interested in the fishing rod closest to the viewer and which is out of focus, and the pond, blue sky (altho' the color is pretty and adds to the ambiance of the photo), and the sun.

- Taking the car out makes me see the first photo more clearly - what I liked and didn't like; what the lighting was forcing me to look at.

- Thus, I might experiment a bit more to see if I could make the transition in the sky a more subtle change, delete the fishing rod closest to the viewer (and perhaps some of the others on the shore, but you would have to judge that), and see whether or not these amendments force our focus more on the man and his in-focus line. By all means, I would keep the beautiful colors and the sun.

I am ready for the slaughter!!!! I apologize for taking apart such a beautiful image when I myself could never have made it in the first place.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

In my view the first of these fishing images is far the stronger of the two, it feels complete. I like the car as it prevents the right side of the image trailing off into nothingness.

Graham