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amy douglas
{K:425} 4/29/2003
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beautiful image, great composition. I do feel that the brush could be burned in. Also, I think you were a little hard on my "Ponte Neuf". I acheived the lighting that I sought after in my photograph. I am a student and as a teacher I would hope that in the future you could be a little more constructive in your critiques. I do think your work is beautiful however.
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j r
{K:4850} 4/28/2003
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Excellent photo.
congrats, James.
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pepita blu
{K:5935} 4/28/2003
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great work
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Ken Alexander
{K:3905} 1/2/2003
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James--I agree completely that "Not all images are of a singular subject surrounded by a frame such as sky or trees or old buildings or such." To me, a clear visual focus is just one of many generally (but not always) desirable traits for a photo. I think the slight busy-ness that I mentioned is a product of the foreground clutter on the ground (which you likely would not be allowed to remove, what with those watchful rangers.) And I see what you mean about forcing the viewer to look through the fence. Leaving about 1 cm of space between fence and buildings is just an alternative to consider, to help cancel the busying effect of the foreground clutter and to create more feeling of space. It would give a different feel, not necessarily better or worse.
I like the angle of the fence in the foreground.
Only a great photo can offer so many choices and variations.
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james mickelson
{K:7344} 1/2/2003
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Hi Sean. In the art of Japan and China, painters and landscapers have long used a foreground fence, gate, hedge, or even a mountain to make what's beyond more intersting than what's visible. They create tension and you want to look around, over, or even under the foreground to what is hidden beyond. Playboy used this quite effectively in their spicey nudes for years. "Just what is between her legs." As did the famous illustrator Vargas. Yes I could have set up the camera on the porch, thereby risking the wrath of the Ranger, and taken the shot from a higher vantage point. I chose to shoot from this low angle so that you would have to look over or through to the background buildings. It creates tension in the scene. Glad to see you at lunch and I hope to see you again soon. What happened to chat? Haven't been able to get in today.
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sean slavin
{K:3488} 1/2/2003
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i like it james. you're right, the clutter in the foreground and the fence do make me look up and over it to see the buildings beyond. there's a sense of dilapidation. the sepia works well. good to see you posting again. 8)
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james mickelson
{K:7344} 1/2/2003
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Not all images are of a singular subject surrounded by a frame such as sky or trees or old buildings or such. This is an example of a place being the subject. How all the elements in the scene work together to form a mood. A higher viewpoint would have rendered the near/far perspective less dramatic. The intent was to force the viewer to look through and over the fence. I am not very good at scanning and posting my images to the web. Believe me, there is sharp detail up the wazoo in the deepest shadows, details in the highest highlights, and nothing in this print is unsharp. When I make a print such as this the elements are sharp enough to cut your eyeballs. What I don't like here is the clutter in the foreground but it may add an aire of desolation to some viewers. This is about a shabby old abandoned ghost town slowly disintegrating. Had I wanted to I could have done much to isolate the fence so that it would be the focus of the image. I'm not good at titleing images so maybe the title misled you.
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Ken Alexander
{K:3905} 1/2/2003
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Quite nice, you've captured a mood, not just a fence and some buildings. Minor complaints: it's a little bit busy lacking a clear visual focus, the background isn't sharp, and a slightly higher angle would help separate the fence from the background.
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