Hunting Grounds
by pointandshoot

Comment:
I can't tell what this is.

Forever Faithful
by KopyKat

Comment:
I like the idea and the composition. Not sure what I think of the faded stripes, though. I would probably like it better with a flag that was not faded. Nice, though.

Surreal Landscape
by Shaman

Comment:
Wow! This is a great pic!

Starbucks, Kuwait
by Melethia

Comment:

Originally posted by sevilduvarci: i like the way starbucks looks in arabic, much longer. i wonder, do they literally translate it to arabic?

They just transliterate (not translate) it using Arabic letters that spell out the sound "Starbucks Coffee." They do that with damn near anything. They don't translate "Star," "bucks" or even "coffee" and put them together to form the Arabic equivalent. I understand doing that with a word like "Starbucks" that has no real meaning in Arabic. I don't understand why they don't use the Arabic word for "coffee," though, which is "KaHwah."

Message edited by author 2007-08-19 08:25:06.

Marina
by Melethia

Comment:
I think I recognize this. Is this at a mall in Kuwait City? I haven't been there in a few years, but it sticks out in my memory.

To those below wondering about Starbucks, yes, there are Starbucks all over the Middle East (though not in Iraq). We have four of them that I can think of in Oman.

Ancient fortress in a bustling city
by BHuseman

Comment:
Wow! I love it! Really great clarity and sharpness. Love the car lights as well.

Sahalie Falls
by Grainey

Comment:
Thanks for the memories! I lived in Oregon about 15 years ago and sometimes visited Sahalie Falls. We even walked behind the water once or twice. I sure wish I was there now. It must be about time for the Oregon Country Fair, too. Nice pic.

Allure
by TOY

Comment:

Originally posted by Toyan: OK... "Personally, I oppose making cigarettes look sexy. That's how you get young people started on that awful habit": you are making such a big deal out of it. Seriously mate, there is not a single movie in which Nicolas Cage isn't smoking. He is American and he plays in American movies (Brad Pitt is also having fun with ciggies in many many of his movies). Here is where I want to get: The comon point between photography and cinema is ART. No matter what you do with it, the cigarette has always been an utmost important accessory until today, and it's a fact. Answer to your last question: Yes it is a real cigarette but there wasn't smoke coming out in this particular shot. I had her smoking probably 10 ciggies but I eventually chose that picture. Shame isn't it ;)

But I'm not making a big deal about it at all. I was just expressing my opinion in the tamest of ways and just wondering whether the difference of opinion broke down along international lines according to our respective societies' tolerance and intolerance for smoking and respect for the rights of non-smokers. And what do I care about Nicolas Cage, Brad Pitt or Hollywood in general? But, I definitely disagree with you about the cigarette being an utmost important accessory today. In France, perhaps, which is unfortunate because I love France. But it's certainly NOT universal -- but then, I care nothing for fashion accessories. In much of the U.S. today (including New York City) it's illegal to smoke in bars and restaurants. It started in California and is sweeping the country. Thank God! Luckily, Omanis don't smoke too much (except the occasional sheesha).

Oh, and by the way, most of the major tobacco corporations of the world are American as well -- a fact which shames me. They target children with their advertising, deny the dangers and addiction of smoking, and manipulate the amount of nicotine in the cigarette in order to get new customers. Merchants of death, I say!

I love your work though.

Message edited by author 2007-08-11 08:40:53.

Allure
by TOY

Comment:
Interesting difference of opinion re: the cigarette. I wonder if it breaks down along national lines. Europeans, especially French, still smoke like chimneys; whereas, in the U.S., the rights of non-smokers are defended more vigorously. Personally, I agree that the cigarette in this picture takes a sexy woman and makes her undesirable. (She would smell bad; and kissing her would be like licking an ashtray). Toyan: I think it's odd that you didn't mark the anti-cigarette comments as helpful, since it gives you insight into the range of reactions to your photo. They're not comments against you. Personally, I oppose making cigarettes look sexy. That's how you get young people started on that awful habit. And it feeds the stock prices of the big tobacco corporations who manipulate the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to create the addiction. Anyway, my final comment relates to the first thing I noticed in the pic: how come there's no smoke coming from the cigarette? Is it really lit? Just curious.

Fish story
by Brin

Comment:
What a gorgeous photo! How I would love to be that man fishing in that pond! You make me wish I lived in Iceland. I've had to add you to my list of favorite photographers. Keep up the great work!