Four Tickets to Paradise
by bamaster

Comment by albright1:
So edgy! I love it!

Four Tickets to Paradise
by bamaster

Comment by Ryboflavin:
or a one way ticket to the grave

Four Tickets to Paradise
by bamaster

Comment by brandonarbini:
Advil?

Bowling Glory
by bamaster

Comment by Fibre Optix:
I think this photo should have done better. In the Motion challenge it would have kicked some butt. Top 10 atleast. But in the Blue challenge .........

Tanya
by bamaster

Comment by sjgleah:
Critique Club
#34

Composition/Content - I agree with your choice to have Tanya occupy the left third of the image and the cloth she's holding occupy the right two thirds. I don't always like subjects that fill the frame, but in this case I'll make an exception. I happen to like that she's staring into the lens. This sells the image to the viewer , I believe. Tanya's pregnancy adds to the image dramatically, although "motion" would've been captured even if she weren't pregnant. In other words, the pregnancy makes this a wonderful image independent of the challenge theme.

Background - unobtrusive... nice

Camera Work - When an image "works" for me, like this one does, I have trouble finding fault or identifying things i'd do differently. If I didn't "buy into it" I'd have plenty to propose, I suppose.

Digital Processing - Same as previous answer.

Opinion - I'm a fan of this image. Tanya's pregnancy adds to the image dramatically, although "motion" would've been captured even if she weren't pregnant. In other words, the pregnancy makes this a wonderful image independent of the challenge theme.

Tanya
by bamaster

Comment by Journey:
Your picture did quite well, so why all your ranting on the forums in the past week. Crybaby! ;) I'll be very honest, i neither care for imagery of pregnancy and breastfeeding and am neither terribly fond of bellydancing. I think that's where your 1s were coming from. I didn't vote but i would have never given it a 1 because it is an interesting picture.
Because Tanya is staring right into the lens, the subject of the image seems more the process of photography than the process of belly-dancing. I really can't make up my mind whether i like that stare-into-the-lens aspect or not.
When i contemplate this image my eye seems to be bothered by some compositional aspects, specifically what is supposed to be the main subject of the image, Tanya or the cloth with motion. This duality creates some confusion in my mind. SinceTanya and the pregnant belly are fairly close to the edge my eye has a tough time staying inside the picture. The cloth Tanya is holding seems another main subject as it occupies a large part of the image, and yes, it has the motion to meet the challenge :) but i find this far less beautiful and interesting than Tanya. There also seems to be a few "stainy" spots on the cloth ( from the camera not from the cloth, it seems)and they are a little distracting (nitpick).
Even though i don't care for the theme, as already stated above, this would be a very intriguing, dynamite image if it would give more focus and space to Tanya and much less to the cloth.
I didn't vote but would have given this an 8 if i had because i can see that you were working towards something really worthwhile.
Okay, i have said it. Now you can beat me up in the forums. Journey

Tanya
by bamaster

Comment by Marsha:
Gee, I thought this would do better. Sorry that it didn't.
Should have!! This needs to framed and hung on the wall of this lady's home. A magnificent capture of beauty, motherhood, and fun!

Tanya
by bamaster

Comment by Sonifo:
I love this shot! You shot a beautiful photo for the mother-to-be. I love the color tones and her eyes stand out so well. That is hard to do. The motion of the scarf is awesome. You did a fine job. And am sorry that you had to read the comment crab I mean lobsterclaws wrote. She needs to feel the love a child.

Tanya
by bamaster

Comment by GeneralE:
Nice job capturing both motion and stillness -- I suspect it was a tricky lighting and exposure job. Certainly puts a new spin on belly dancing!

Tanya
by bamaster

Comment by chrysalis:
Nice contrast of motion and stillness. Great.