Pavement Artist
by e301

Comment:
Best In Show.

death becomes her
by whiteroom

Comment:
Hmmm... you already know what I think. Your documentary photographs of people are always revealing, yet never intrusive. You steal nothing away from your subjects. Puts you and Robert Go in a league of your own.

The pier
by puzzled

Comment:
That's beautiful. All that heavy and expensive new glass is worth the price!
There's a very musical quality about this photograph ... something to do with musical scales. It's mainly because of the progressively descending reflected posts, of course, but the effect is made even more musical by the top-left to bottom-right tonal gradient, and the total feel is very harmonious. Tone, scale and harmony; all very musical concepts that make your photograph so much more interesting than just a very pretty picture. The three softly curving horizontal reflections are also a nice counterpoint to the descending scale of the posts. It's a lovely, clever and absorbing photograph. Super Duper!

Headbutted
by aznym

Comment:

Originally posted by Digital Quixote: ... Remember rule of thirds ... bring the skull down a bit in the frame ... just a little ... 1/3 from the right, 1/3 from the top.

Oh, Good Grief!

Floored
by e301

Comment:

Originally posted by langdon: The architecture is nice and works well in duotone, but the man doesn't seem to serve a purpose towards the overall effect of the photograph.

Oh dear! Oh well, you're the boss.

Portrait on a Blustery Cape Cod Morning
by kirbic

Comment:

Originally posted by Bear_Music: Congrtats on a 6+ Kirbic; yours beat mine of you! And a long chuckle at all those who had this one pegged as a self-portrait :-)

Me! Me! I had it so pegged.

Projecting for the Trees
by seebrown

Comment:
Isn't that interesting ... I just knew that you'd get several comments from people who couldn't see the trees at all! (Just imagine how many of those who didn't bother to comment also saw no trees as well)

There are some totally awful monitors out there, and people are using them to vote and also to process their own photographs.

I strongly recommend that you start a forum thread that posts this shot and asks people to say what they can see. People need evidence of how bad their monitors really are, or they just won't believe it. Some still won't.

Oh, and congratulations again on this clever, adventurous photograph. Don't be dismayed that most didn't understand it. Alas, that would take a lot more that a new monitor!

Snowscape
by puzzled

Comment:
Whooowee! You've never shown us anything like this before. You know with my recent anarchic mood that I must love this, and I do. The light and the shadows are terrific, but it's the glancing blow on the plant that is best. Toujours l'audace!

Relaxed Country Life!
by usia

Comment:
Greetings, Tony, from the way down south chapter of the Critique Club.

This is likely to be my final critique, so I'm glad there's a drink in it for me.

It's a very good black & white, from a tonal range point of view (well, it's actually a duotone, I think). As for the subject, I have become less and less interested in set-up, staged and studio shots. They do, I will admit, showcase the photographer's technical skills very well, and your skills in this image are very impressive. It's just that I think such photographs tend to contain no real interest or stimulation beyond the superficial. Of course, that's just me, and most people do not feel the same way ... several commentators pointed out that this is good enough to be used as an ad for Wild Turkey, and they are quite right; it is!

As for the photograph's challenge-related qualities, I guess you're right, this scene could be symbolic of a laid-back, country way of life. I'm from the country, and I do like cards, naked women and whiskey, but I think quite a few city folks probably like 'em too. Nevertheless, I do get your point about "Country" being a certain kind of attitude.

I'm not going to critique this image any further, because I have nothing more to say about it; it's a very competent photograph which has no interest for me beyond that.

And just so you know where I'm coming from, here's an example from your own portfolio of the kind of stuff that I do like:

That is a fabulous candid portrait. I know he's looking directly at you, but is has no feel at all of being staged or posed. His dead, emotionless gaze unequivocally conveys the sensory exhaustion that attends the battle weary soldier of every era. I am of course aware that the Civil War is pretty much over now, and that this man is a participant in some re-enactment event, but the effect of the photograph is nonetheless authentic and moving.

And best of all, the photograph is all about him, and not about the photographer.

Cheers,
Paul Martin

Day Release
by mrmorris

Comment:
More of those bloody irritating English cricket fans? @#$% Ashes! You just enjoy your moment in the sun, Mark; you won't be there long enough to get a tan.