Which one? (6 images)

[FootLoose]

Why do you need to choose, Paul? Are you conserving space on the hard drive? I would be happy with all of these.

Having said that though,
#1 is the standout for me. It reminds me of early mornings at a place I once worked.

#2 I like for the colours and the symmetry of the composition.

#6 i think is a good study of father and son doing man things together. Very evocative for me.

[pnodrog]

Number two. The simplicity and colour makes it stand out. The composition is more simple than the third and the varying colour of the sun is superior to the third. I like the curves and lines of the third, just prefer the study of the dead tree silhouettes and reflection.

The first is great. By itself with no need to choose a very appealing image. The reflection of the tree is a bit dark and the crop a bit tight to beat number 2.

Number 4 and 5 do not do much for me, I agree with Manfred.

Number 6 is interesting. Not as strong for me, then then that may be a preference for nature over people shots.

So: 2,1,3 and 6 in ranking

Trevor I see by the spell checker you can't spell colour either....

Thanks for your comments - a theme is emerging. But not enough samples to do a true statistical analysis.

The tree reflection (#1) photo needed to be straightened a bit and in doing so the margin at the top of the tree was reduced. I will probably use the original alignment and do some cloning of the sky to increase what is a tight margin before straitening. Thought I may get away with it but obviously not.

[pnodrog]

Paul, these are all very nice photographs, especially #1.


Bruce

Thanks Bruce

Difficult to pick just one.

#1 is OK but the tree is a fraction tight to the top edge.

#2 is excellent.

#3 is OK but perhaps getting a bit over complicated. Nice to see how the stumps reduce in size towards the right side though.

#4 has too much bland foreground for me.

#5 would have worked well apart from the out of focus grasses towards the sides.

#6 is very good.

Thanks Geoff - We all appear to be on a similar wavelength which is reassuring. I had not noticed the soft focus on the grass at the side. I was struggling for DOF so I stopped down and manually focused. Obviously not quite carefully enough. I will blame the low light level instead of the gear for a change.

[pnodrog]

I agree with Manfred that #1 is outstanding. It immediately grabbed me.

My next favourites are #3 and #6.

Congratulations on a good set of photos. I'll look forward to seeing more!

Bruce thanks for your nice comments . You will see more and you are definitely welcome to comment...

[pnodrog]

No 1 & 6 for me Paul. Did you take a landscape orientation of No 1?

Thanks Grahame. Unfortunately my wide angle lens was playing up (iris not closing properly or contacts dirty) and I was reluctant to use it so the landscape version taken at 28mm has the trees cropped and does not look as good. I did use the wide angle lens fully open later in my trip for some shots and it behaved OK at that setting.

[pnodrog]

Why do you need to choose, Paul? Are you conserving space on the hard drive? I would be happy with all of these.

Having said that though,
#1 is the standout for me. It reminds me of early mornings at a place I once worked.

#2 I like for the colours and the symmetry of the composition.

#6 i think is a good study of father and son doing man things together. Very evocative for me.

Greg thanks for the comments and I don't really have to choose. In fact I will probably review them in the future and may well prefer one that I have completely overlooked at this stage.

[Shanghai Steve]

No.2 for me. I love the colour, symmetry and the fact that the shadows are still shadows. For me the centred horizon is an integral part of the symmetrical composition.

[pnodrog]

No.2 for me. I love the colour, symmetry and the fact that the shadows are still shadows. For me the centred horizon is an integral part of the symmetrical composition.

Thanks xxx - sorry I can't buy you a drink...

[CaolIla]

My preferences

No 1 is nice, maybe a bit centered.
No 6 is beautiful. The persons are very well positioned right beside eachother without interfering.
No 3 is a keeper. It could be sold as wall-art.

[IzzieK]

I have not read any comments apart from DickyOz and I agree with him -- too hard to choose, they are all good and sharp and storical to me (I invented that word!!) And tell me, why do we have to choose? Can't you just tell me (us) your thoughts on why you took these shots..there must be some reason one way or the other...just a thought...

[pnodrog]

My preferences

No 1 is nice, maybe a bit centered.
No 6 is beautiful. The persons are very well positioned right beside eachother without interfering.
No 3 is a keeper. It could be sold as wall-art.

Thanks for giving me your preference Mats.

[pnodrog]

I have not read any comments apart from DickyOz and I agree with him -- too hard to choose, they are all good and sharp and storical to me (I invented that word!!) And tell me, why do we have to choose? Can't you just tell me (us) your thoughts on why you took these shots..there must be some reason one way or the other...just a thought...

Some years ago Elliott Erwitt a Magnum photographer I admire came to NZ and I attended a lecture he gave. During the question time at the end of the lecture someone asked him to explain a particular photograph. Elliott shrugged his shoulders and said that he just took the photographs and left it to others to explain them.

I suppose the reason I take photographs is just for the challenge of making the best image I can capture of a scene or situation and as a visual record I will sometimes share.

[IzzieK]

Hmmm...interesting. In some competitions, or perhaps most competition where you are not obliged to think, you submit the best image you think you want others to see and others to vote for it. In competitions like the Nikonians one, they ask you why you took the shot, what made you do it, what made you submit it, apart from including the settings of course. I was thinking along that way that is why I asked. To me it is always interesting what the photographer is thinking when he saw that shot and took it because there are submissions (here in CiC) that are really good but with a little flaw here and there that we, as the photographer, did not see it first before we submit a particular image. Then you as an audience saw that and mentioned it to the photographer, instead of taking it in stride and admitting he missed this and that, the sound of which, you can almost hear, trying to defend that flaw. I had stopped commenting to such, much less look at them. I admit I was once like that and my learning stopped. Until I saw what others are saying about my image, negatively or positively, did I learned to learn.

P.S. I have always followed your posts. I think they are very good and you are such a good sport. But then what do I really expect from a Kiwi? You are good at what you do...sometimes too good I am envious at your rich environment. Yes, that is it! I'm jealous!

Some years ago Elliott Erwitt a Magnum photographer I admire came to NZ and I attended a lecture he gave. During the question time at the end of the lecture someone asked him to explain a particular photograph. Elliott shrugged his shoulders and said that he just took the photographs and left it to others to explain them.

I suppose the reason I take photographs is just for the challenge of making the best image I can capture of a scene or situation and as a visual record I will sometimes share.

[Dave A]

#2 and #6 do it for me. I can image these two images on my wall.

Dave

[dennybeall]

#1, #2 and #6 would get my votes, if we were voting. With #1 the best of the bunch.

[Wavelength]

I am not going to do any selection because i can't do injustice to other images...They are all superb images; of course #1 has something more special about it; a bit more refined appeal......

[pnodrog]

Hmmm...interesting. In some competitions, or perhaps most competition where you are not obliged to think, you submit the best image you think you want others to see and others to vote for it. In competitions like the Nikonians one, they ask you why you took the shot, what made you do it, what made you submit it, apart from including the settings of course. I was thinking along that way that is why I asked. To me it is always interesting what the photographer is thinking when he saw that shot and took it because there are submissions (here in CiC) that are really good but with a little flaw here and there that we, as the photographer, did not see it first before we submit a particular image. Then you as an audience saw that and mentioned it to the photographer, instead of taking it in stride and admitting he missed this and that, the sound of which, you can almost hear, trying to defend that flaw. I had stopped commenting to such, much less look at them. I admit I was once like that and my learning stopped. Until I saw what others are saying about my image, negatively or positively, did I learned to learn.

P.S. I have always followed your posts. I think they are very good and you are such a good sport. But then what do I really expect from a Kiwi? You are good at what you do...sometimes too good I am envious at your rich environment. Yes, that is it! I'm jealous!

If asked "why I (you) took the shot, what made me (you) do it " I could always come up with answers but the answers will not change the quality of the photograph. However there certainly are photographs that the addition of a name/caption/explanation can add to the enjoyment of those looking at the photo.

"what made you submit it" I assume most people would submit a photograph to share it and seek affirmation/recognition/prize. They could give other reasons but the basic motivation would be the same.

It is pointless to defend a photograph especially one that has a "flaw". The flaw may not concern the photographer so they are free to enjoy it as much as they always did. However it is important for them if they wish to improve to be aware that the flaw is an obstacle to someone else's (not necessarily all) enjoyment of the photo. Actually the term flaw is judgmental and absolute. In this PC (not computers) age it is probably safer to use the broader and more neutral term "feature" which may or may not be of concern to other viewers.

It is interesting that some newer photographers can give good critique of other photographers images but seem oblivious to similar mistakes/problems with their own. Assessing your own photographs is the hardest skill to learn. Usually when I show a photograph of mine I like to think I am aware of it's technical strengths or short comings and I am mainly looking for comment/feedback on how it works aesthetically but now and again I get a comment on an aspect that I had overlooked and it helps me to develop as a photographer.


"I'm jealous!" I amvery glad you said this in private. My wife would be horrified to know I am writing to such a woman.. Thank you very much for your comments.

[pnodrog]

#2 and #6 do it for me. I can image these two images on my wall.

Dave

Thank you Dave. - For a small fee.......

[pnodrog]

#1, #2 and #6 would get my votes, if we were voting. With #1 the best of the bunch.

Thanks Denny #1 seems to be an almost universal favorite as I hoped it might be when I took it. It was the others I found harder to make up my mind about.

[pnodrog]

I am not going to do any selection because i can't do injustice to other images...They are all superb images; of course #1 has something more special about it; a bit more refined appeal......

Thank you Nandakumar. You are right. There is no need to need for images to compete, we should just enjoy each one for what it has to offer.