(de)saturated, yet saturated
by JamesDowning

Comment by pixelpig:
The thrill of getting that perfect picture is the addiction of photography. The thrill of looking at a perfect picture belongs to the art afficionado. If you didn't get the appreciation you hoped for, & if that appreciation is important to you, then you have to think about your work in terms of the people who look at it. What excites them will probably not be the same things that excite you. So, my suggestion is to study up on the mechanics of sight, the way human vision works, the psychology of color & also the psychology of looking.

For me, the first instant I look at this, I recognize it. I have a problem staying interested in it long enough to vote on it. Looking at a documentary shot of Nature is a poor substitute for being there. Your memories of camping in that spot are stronger than any picture you could take of it. Try for a picture that has the impact of being there, that creates its own memory.

Usually, after I write stuff like this, I chicken out of hitting the Post button.

(de)saturated, yet saturated
by JamesDowning

Comment by JuliBoc:
Be happy with your personal achievement. The exposure is excellent for a difficult lighting situation, and the slow shutter speed did a great job of smoothing the water. The contrast is even very good for a minimal editing image. Keep in mind that you got a lot of 6s on this, which would indicate a technically good shot. However, for the viewer, there is nothing compelling to single this out from many other woodland/stream landscapes. To get a lot of votes over 6, you need something that grabs the viewers interest or emotion -- sun rays streaming through mist, a little fawn drinking from the stream, lovers picnicking beside the stream, a child crossing the stream on the slippery rocks, etc.

If I had taken this shot as well as you did, I would be very proud of my accomplishment.

(de)saturated, yet saturated
by JamesDowning

Comment by cutout:
i gave this one a 7
problem is ,i saw it to many times
similar shots have been shown here on dpc since time immemorial
there is no surprise
no,hey look at this
in other words not special
but that just me

Telling people what they want to hear, Telling people anything to make a sale
by JamesDowning

Comment by Melethia:
Seems almost a bit too opportunistic of a grab without much thought. Not that I don't do that - I do! But this one just doesn't quite have the story your title seems to want to tell. I see the loneliness of a shoe salesman, maybe.

As long as I'm with her, I don't care where the road leads
by JamesDowning

Comment by jomari:
Lovely shot. I love the sentiment expressed in the happy faces and title.

Keep your head down, but your spirit up
by JamesDowning

Comment by Melethia:
One of my favorites. A very good use of grunge/texture/motion to create energy - a feeling of movement, going somewhere. Nicely done.

Taste the Sun
by JamesDowning

Comment by cutout:
so creeeamy 8

Keep your head down, but your spirit up
by JamesDowning

Comment by jagar:
Love the ambiance here, moving forward, spirit strong.

As long as I'm with her, I don't care where the road leads
by JamesDowning

Comment by Melethia:
A bit lengthy on the title but I like the smiles! I also like that you can just see the ring on her finger (or at least I think I can.)

Looks Like I'll Be Late Again
by JamesDowning

Comment by snaffles:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I'm surprised this image hasn't been given a posty - it looks just like the kind of thing Don would go for! Ah well...personally I would have cropped a bit on the left to put the sun at a third. If a longer exposure had been possible, that would have blurred the vehicles on the left, adding a little blur and a sense of motion.

I like it because it does catch the mundanity of the morning commute. There is a universality to this shot which usually appeals. All I can think is that the blown sun/fog were seen as too glarey and thus put people off. And let's face it, DPC loves saturated colours or multitonal b/ws, relatively muted colours have a much tougher go of it. Even more so in a Free Study entry.

Overall a good effort, please keep on shooting and entering!

Feel free to PM me,

Susan