Texture

Another Mexican sunset, originally uploaded by tandikes.

If you look at this shot at a decent size, you'll see what I see - the incredible textures in the clouds. It's as though they're made of silk - smooth, flowing, and almost touchable.

Just a brilliant capture, as well as being beautiful.

More on macro and depth-of-field

Curly, Larry and Mo, originally uploaded by tandikes.

I think this is a stellar example of effective use of depth-of-field. There are a couple of key points:

* the flowers are in sharp focus (at least two of them)
* you can get a sense of what's in the background, but it's indistinct enough not to distract the eye

While this may not be the most artistic shot I've seen, and the flowers aren't "pretty", I think this is a lovely shot because of the effective way in which it draws the viewer to see exactly what the photographer intended.

How to present a beautiful woman

3, originally uploaded by Locar Chang.

There are both good and not-as-good aspects to this shot.

Good: she's a lovely woman; good use of depth-of-field so that we focus on the woman, not the background; focus is sharp and clear and color is good.

Not-so-good: the upper background, being almost the same color as the woman's hair, detracts from our focus; the lighting is a bit harsh, creating bright highlights on the planes of her cheeks and forehead; the object behind her right shoulder also distracts from the focus.

Given that this shot was apparently taken at some location, and we all find ourselves taking pictures when we don't have control over the environment, I think this is quite good.

I'm learning about how to make them better.

It's the subtle touches...

Cold creek, originally uploaded by bnzai9.

[Holiday distractions behind me, I'm back on track]

This is one of the rarest shots I've seen in a while. At first glance, it's yet-another-excellent-water-picture. Nice rocks, nice water, good perspective and composition.

Then I looked a bit longer and started to see the subtle bits of color on the rocks. You have to look at this one a bit larger to really get it.

The bits of light/color change this from y-a-e-w-p to a rare bit of beauty.

Wintery Sunday Morning

Wintery Sunday Morning, originally uploaded by deep_shot.

A lovely example of what can be done with minimal color, high contrast, and simple composition. I really like this one.

Intriguing Composition

On The Water, originally uploaded by Shaeree624.

This one engages me.

It sort of follows the rule of thirds. The depth of field is good, but nothing special. But there's something about the overall composition that just draws me in.

Partly, it's the peninsula that sticks out into the middle, juxtaposed with the bridge in the background. I enjoy natural elements contrasted with manmade elements.

The overall image is sharp, well focused, and the color is good. Not great, nothing to write home about, but very nice.

And it still engages me.

Bragging

Tiled Tiled Eye 01, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

When I get a comment like this one, I can't help but feel good about my own work.

This shot combines a background that I created piece by piece, a photograph of a woman's eye, and a bunch of work to get the clarity, detail, color, and overall composition just so.

At least one person thinks it worked. :-)

Just Look at This

Terre de Mystères, originally uploaded by Tiquetonne2067.

One hundred people might look at this same scene, and only one capture an image like this.

No analysis, just pure pleasure.

Look at this.

Working with Shadows and Light

Natural Bridge, originally uploaded by brentbat.

Here's another example of rare artistry (in spite of the artist's self-deprecation).

The subtle shadings from dark to light, the effectiveness of the shot in b&w, and the overall composition make this a standout shot.

I love the way the eye is first drawn to the brightness of the water and the reflection on the rocks along the right side. Then, as I continue to look, I find more and more detail in the "dark" side of the photo and realize how simple this seems and how complex it really is.

Action shots

street dance, originally uploaded by Dr.Yang-Toronto.

Sometimes I see "action" shots that could be posed/static. What I like about this shot is that you can clearly see that the photographer captured the dancer in motion - the space under his right arm, the shifting weight/balance on his left hand, and the position of the legs.

In spite of that - that this is an excellent action shot - it still has a feeling of stasis rather than movement. I wonder what he could have done to give it more of a sense of life and movement. Perhaps changing the depth of field, to make the background blur? Or expand the shot to include the background, while using a shallow depth of field?

Structure and Sun Flare

Boca Grande, originally uploaded by Sleepy_Grant.

I won't say that I love this photo. But there are some elements that I do really like, and can take lessons from.

The sun flare, partially hidden by the structure, plus the lens images make for some interesting content. And the sun juxtaposed with the very linear tower thing (whatever it is), makes for some interest.

This makes me wonder how I can learn from and use these kinds of elements to create something truly captivating.

Shifting the Visual Paradigm

On the road, originally uploaded by Márcia_Marton.

I like the way this shot shifts what we expect - the brightness is in the lower third of the short, while the upper third is dark.

The photographer manages to capture the trees silhouetted against the distant lightness, giving it a somewhat spooky feel.

And using a high speed to get the colors is clever and produces a unique feel to the shot.

Winter memory

Winter memory, originally uploaded by Pilou@ttitude.

There's a gentleness to this, a certain peace that makes me go "aaahhh".

I love the way the photographer has treated the color, the framing, and the composition. It's delightful the way it draws the eye into the center, and makes it feel welcoming.

Beautiful Color

Infini, originally uploaded by Tiquetonne2067.

Is it natural? Does it matter?

Sometimes the beauty of a piece defies analysis. I think that this is such a piece. The overall composition, flow, sense of movement, and color are tremendously appealing to me.

Cropping and Space

Bambi, originally uploaded by kikaytete.

I don't know whether this shot was cropped or not, but I suspect it was. The shot of the deer is lovely.

I've been doing a lot of reading lately, and one of the points a number of the authors make is that one should leave some space on the side in which the animal is facing/moving.

While this might seem counter to my comments about the (water buffalo?), that one was a static image, with the animal lying on the ground. This one is a shot of movement/motion/stillness between.

I think that it might have been more effective with some space on the left, creating that sense of anticipation and movement.

What do you think?

Reflections and the Rule of Thirds

Farewell India, originally uploaded by Stuck in Customs.

It's interesting to me that the glories of reflections frequently lead to a different composition.

I wonder if this image, which is lovely, would have been more effective if the reflection interface were the level of the bottom third, and there were more sky/space above.

Night Shots and Perspective

love the SAPPORO BEER also in winter!, originally uploaded by mamako7070.

Finding all of these elements in nature, and then capturing them, is art.

The light at the bottom that creates unusual upward shadows is great.

The vines covering the building, and the shift to Fall/Winter colors gives the image an almost furry feel.

The overall composition - the lighted windows high off the ground, underlit, covered in flora - makes this image almost spooky.

I think this is a beautiful piece of work.

Wildlife Framing and Composition

Interrupted, originally uploaded by i_am_bishop.

Photographer i_am_bishop took a series of wildlife shots. I particularly like this one because of the composition.

Rather than centering or coming straight on, this shot leaves room on the side, and captures the animal looking away. I find this more enjoyable than one of the more direct shots.

There's something about that extra space that makes me think "I wonder what going on/coming from over there?"

When The Light Appears

When The Light Appears, originally uploaded by thepres6.

It takes a certain dedication to the art to get up and find a location pre-dawn.

This shot captures the stillness of the water, the mist sitting on the ground, and the glory of the colors of the sky. The reflection of both the sun and the sky colors in the water creates a focus of light in the center, which draws me in.

Fine Focus and Composition

macro hairs, originally uploaded by adrians_art.

This composition is worth a second (and third and...) look.

First, there's the remarkable nature of these leaves, with the fine detail of the filaments. The color and focus are exceptional.

Then, there's the shapes themselves. After I'd looked at this for a moment, I noticed the shapes of the three leaves at the right (two sides, one tip), and the way that they focus the attention on the full leaf.

Anyone can take a macro picture. Not anyone can take one that is this pleasing to the eye.

Frozen Austin

Frozen Austin, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

This is another of my own shots, so I can share my learning experiences in transforming good shots to better shots.

The original of this shows more details in the background. I felt it distracted from the detail of the iced trees in the foreground. So I created a couple of layers, masked out the foreground trees, blurred the background, and did a little bit of accentuation of the foreground.

In print, as well as on the screen, I think it's a more compelling image than the original, as the background is blurred and faded a bit.

Stark and Compelling Contrast

, originally uploaded by S.L.Wong.

This shot, from S.L.Wong, grabs the eye. It seems to be stark and clear - the shapes of the horses, the bank of cloud, the foreground texture.

As I look at it, I find more and more subtlety: the transition of the cloud to the ground; the colors in the middle and far distance that shade into the foreground; the amazing quality of the sunlight on the horses.

This is another one that's definitely worth just sitting and looking at.

Morning in Paradise

Morning in Paradise, originally uploaded by Ar'alani.

Composition and color, along with an amazing eye for beauty.

Note the sky is one third of the image.

Note the color transition from warm to cool from right to left.

And the contrast between the still water and rocks.

This image was shot at sunrise, hence the still water and calmness.

Also note the perspective that draws the eye along the clouds through the center.

Beauty and Glory are Worldwide

♫ He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts Of Light Sometimes Grace The Corner Of Our Rooms, originally uploaded by Aleksandra Radonić.

Aleksandra - the photographer who captured this glorious shot - lives in Serbia. A reminder that skill, talent, and the beauty of people and nature is worldwide.

Aleksandra not only has a wonderful eye for nature, but has captured some wonderful portraits of people. And has created a fantasy or two.

This particular shot has so many wonderful elements: the light through the clouds; the lighting on the clouds; the sense of movement (is it coming towards you or going away?); the majesty of the clouds compared to the manmade objects below, and the perspective that creates.

Sometimes, you just have to look up.

Ultra-Real Reailty

DSC_0134, originally uploaded by ezio.zaia.

This one looks like it should be an illustration for The Wizard of Oz or something similar.

The color contrast, the brilliance of the flowers, and the overall texture give this an almost-too-real reality.

Check it out on black

Perspective and the Horizon

On the Road, originally uploaded by Roveclimb.

I was thinking about pictures like this this past weekend. I was walking my neighborhood, and looking for a street that would give me just the right shot.

I didn't find one.

But today, Roveclimb posted this picture, which fills the bill perfectly.

There's something that just draws me into this shot. The way the lines converge at the horizon, and the sense of motion from the clouds and the sides of the road, give this life.

Momentarily I feel like the universe is in front of me.

Rare Composition

10.23.07 (46), originally uploaded by Eric Vichich.

Maybe this isn't for everyone. But for me, it's beautiful. It combines two of the most beautiful things - an incredible sky and a pregnant woman.

The composition itself is noteworthy, in that it allows the viewer to focus either on the pregnant woman in the foreground or the glory of the sky and sea in the background.

The two components complement each other so well.

And then there's the look in Karen's eyes (I know her name because Eric, the photographer, identifed her in his notes as his wife). The connection between her and her baby, that almost incomprehensible relationship (at least to me, as a man) and to the glory of the world, is compelling.

Found Objects

fallen, originally uploaded by rolypoly_girl.

In this image, rolypoly_girl has captured something unique. The combination of the found object (feather), the low light, the color of the light and the angle of the shot make this a standout.

Note that the photographer had to get down to ground level to get this shot, and then crop it just so to create the effect.

I like the fact that you have to look at this for a moment to figure out what it is, and that even before I figured it out, it *felt* good.

Twin Reflection

Twin Reflection, originally uploaded by Paul Keith Photo.

I find the use of reflection to be fascinating. This one is a more straightforward use of reflection - the trees (whatever they are!) and their mirror images create a strange, compelling image.

I've also seen some shots where the reflection is really the focus of the image.

And then there are those where there is something floating on water, so that the reflection combines with that matter to create something new.

Cloudscape

Cloudscape, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

Back to one of my own. This one was taken in a normal format, and then I cropped it to create a "panorama". The greater width gives the image a particular kind of look. I also followed the rule of thirds, as you can see that the treeline covers about the bottom third, the hazy clouds roughly the top third.

I also did a little adjustment of the color/contrast curve, which is something I'm working on learning in Photoshop. The result is more vibrant colors and greater contrast.

Consistent Beauty

AdeleS delivers consistent beauty, style, and quality. Which is not to say that her photos are all alike. Far from it!

For instance, here's one of her latest - http://www.flickr.com/photos/adele2006/1742270776/

She protects her images, so I can't link to it here, and I don't blame her.

If you go to look at that one, what you'll see is that she combines a gift for presentation with a skill and talent for taking amazing photos. This one is a yellow flower. Doesn't sound so great? Take a look.

Her landscapes are also stunning. Like this one.

The colors are clear, the picture is sharp, and there's something magic about her consistent ability to find and capture amazing pictures.

What's the different between AdeleS and others? All I know is that it's humbling, inspiring, and motivating.

And I get to just look at the beauty.

Capturing Water

Water...fall...ing, originally uploaded by *nectar*.

This is one of my earliest favorites on Flickr, and remains one of my all time favorites. The way in which the photographer captured the water, the spray, and the rocks creates an amazing image.

The combination of textures, the sense of movement, and the overall composition create something that has a wonderful sense of both reality and surreality.

Note the way that the upper waterfall is mostly in the leftmost third of the image, the large rocks on the right another third, and the flow from top to bottom.

I haven't had an opportunity to focus on water in all its forms yet, and can't wait. This photo is an inspiration.

The Rule of Thirds

Storm clouds building, originally uploaded by fatoldsid.

This composition is an excellent example of the rule of thirds. Just from a gross perspective, note that it is approximately divided into thirds - ground, sky, clounds.

Then there's the lonely tree, which at first seems a bit lost, then draws the eye. It's worth viewing this in its large size for the full impact of it.

And then, there's the subtlety of the colors, as they blend from the middle region up into the clouds.

This is really a lovely piece.

Needing a Macro Lens

Corrillo, originally uploaded by kikaytete.

That's it - this is an example of why I MUST have a macro lens. Look at the detail, from the grass and the mushroom, to the water droplets hanging from the mushroom's skirt. The way the other mushrooms march off into the distance, becoming blurred, is a testament to this photographers use of depth of field to create something more than a clever snapshot.

Water on the Hillside

, originally uploaded by louistib.

I could spend all my time just looking at others' photos. This shot, by louistib, is magical. The texture of the water, the mist/spray, and the brilliance of the colors just draw me in. The overall composition - the water diagonally dividing the picture into thirds, and the proportions - is exceptional.

Ramo Occidentale

Ramo Occidentale, originally uploaded by Roveclimb.

Here's another lovely composition. I'm drawn by the curve of the water in the center, bracketed by the hills on the sides and the town in the foreground. I find the overall composition to be exciting because of the sense of movement that is generated by the shapes.

River Mankayam

River Mankayam, originally uploaded by Rahul Sadagopan.

The talent of some of the people who freely share their work on Flickr is amazing. This is one of a series (go view it on Flickr to see the others) by Rahul Sadagopan. I don't know Rahul, except through his work, and I'm impressed. Each picture that I see, that expresses some particular skill and/or talent, moves me to try harder and work on my own skills.

The composition of this piece, combining the rigidity of the stones in the foreground and middleground, the fluidity of the water, and the background greenery, makes for a rare treat. I like the way in which the water can almost be seen to move in the photo, and the subtle sense of the water slowly changing the rocks.

Across the Mountain of Cloud

Across the Mountain of Cloud, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

My most popular image to date on Flickr. Interesting that it's this mountainous cloud, rather than a sunset or digital art piece. I stood outside for about 45 minutes the other evening, taking pictures toward the sunset, then turned around and this cloud was there.

Little Girl Blue

Little Girl Blue, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

I found this marvelous photo of a cute little girl. I looked at it, and thought "what can I do that will have its own value without detracting from the original?"

So i created the effects and layers, put it all together, and feel pretty good about it.

Sunset in Flight Revisited

Sunset in Flight Revisited, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

Working with an existing image, I added the framing elements. I enjoy giving the eye and brain some extra stimulation, even though I love the original image untouched.

Alien Hand with Eye Sphere #1

Alien Hand with Eye Sphere #1, originally uploaded by DigiDragon.

Starting with my own art...

This was just fun: reating the hand, using the eye-sphere, and making it all look realistic.

I like making things that make people uncomfortable, from time to time.