Friday, Sept 1, 2023

[Don]

Good morning and welcome to a new month!

I've done a little work on the 3 images from yesterday - can you see any improvements?  I'm pretty sure that I am going to use the fuzzy bud photo but haven't completely decided on which of the 'scapes to use. I welcome comments and CC. I need to decide so I can get them entered before the deadline, and get the prints ordered.  Thanks all.

I have named them Abandoned, New Growth and Coastal Sunset for the time being.

In other news, college football has started... my Alma Mater, UAB, won their first game 35 to 6 last night. Hope they keep it up.

[Rich]

I voted for the coastal sunset as your other one since you stated you will be using the new growth one. Excellent improvement on them all!

[damar]

Those look good, Don!
One suggestion on Abandoned would be to plumb up the front leading corner of the building.
(by a few degrees to the left.) It probably wouldn't affect the right, rear corner of the building in regards to the
edge of frame very much. The sky drama is really nice.

Coastal Sunset: I like that you brought out more details in the shadows. But does the sunset now compete with the 
hulls of the boats? It all depends on where you want the viewers eye to land.
I do really like the reflections on the water.

New growth...love the gray and yellow together. Nice fine details and excellent lighting.
They are all good photos!

I am slow typing this...
Hi Rich!

I have nothing new which is why I haven't posted much. Its just been too hot to be out walking around with cameras.
Yay September! (not that its going to cool off any time soon, but its hopeful!)


I'll dig something out of the archive. 
   

[Dave]

Don,

It's hard to evaluate these versions without seeing them side by side with the previous ones.

But if these were my photos (I wish), I'd consider..

Coastal Sunset:

Damar raised an interesting point about the sunset competing with the boats. Maybe they are equally strong, but to my eye the sunset is the clear COI, with the boats a strong secondary one, but I don't really see them as competing. If the sunset is your intended COI and you feel that the boats steal attention from that area, maybe very slightly darken the boats. I guess it depends on which you want to emphasize.

New Growth looks great to me. Yes, maybe the fluffy yellow parts are a bit soft, but I suspect they actually are soft when seen in real life.

With Abandoned: If the building is your COI it looks to me overwhelmed by the overly dark foreground and the strong value contrasts and color intensity in the sky area. If this was my image I'd try cutting back on the darkness of the foreground by 10% to 20%, and reducing the color intensity and value contrast of the sky a bit. I'd also try lightening the building a little so it would emerge as the clear COI.

I hope you're not offended by my thoughts. After all, who am I to to give suggestions to you?

Damar, that's a wonderful and kinda humorous image. Nicely spotted and very well shot.

I've added another image to my Member Gallery, and will continue over the weekend. But I've already forgotten what the limit is. (They say that as one ages the memory is the first thing to go, and I've forgotten what is the second.) 

[Don]

Thanks for the input folks. I adjusted the boats so that they were just a wee bit darker. Tried to straighten the building corner slightly. Lightened the building a bit and also the foreground, and worked on the sky somewhat.  I updated the photos above, but looking at Abandoned, I don't like what I have done to the sky closest to the building - the brightest area. That won't do at all.

I like the old car peeking from out of the bushes Patty. Yes, it has been Africa hot these past weeks, although it is moderating a bit now. I a little over a week DW and I will be camping in West Virginia and should be a lot cooler there. Hoping to find some old abandoned buildings up there as well as some landscapes.

[Rich]

Patty. love the car!! Excellent capture! Good critique.

Dave, good critique!

Don, shadow adjust looks good, some detail but doesn't fight for COI.

FYI, I got your post notification in 6 minutes none for the rest. I wonder if I viewed a new post right away the software doesn't send a notification because I have seen it already. Don't worry about it.

Hot here too, in the low 100's the next few days.

[Man From Ironbark]

They are all good images Don. Just wondering, are the furry buds from the pussy willow? My personal faves are the buds and the sunset. Not to say there's anything wrong with the one named abandoned.

Patty's hiding Ford has all sorts of signifigance. Love it.

[Don]

"They are all good images Don. Just wondering, are the furry buds from the pussy willow?'

Not sure, but it looks similar. This shot was taken in Iceland.

[damar]

Well hello all!
Don, did you settle on a photo pick yet?
Hi Rich, Dave and MFIB! good to see you and thanks for the comments.

[Don]

Patty, I am probably going to go with the boat sunset and the yellow bud. I wish I had more time before the deadline and I would get all 3 printed and compare the prints, but I only have until the 16th to get the entry postmarked. We are out of town from the 10th until the 18th so I have to get my entry mailed with the names of the entries.

I wasn't going to renew my annual membership to the local artists guild but decided last minute to enter the members exhibit. Maybe I'll get lucky and actually win something this year.