Qork now on display at http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery.html includes: What a great gallery: as a set the images work. There is plenty of variety and almost no aspect of repetition. Are the individual shots any better or worse than weeks when the gallery as a whole is (IMO) weaker? Not necessarily, but as a set I've enoyed them. I'm still not up to a review - in the sense that Luis can deliver a review. Neither am I about to write poetry ... but for what it's worth here are some comments composed while looking at the individual images. D.L. Shipman - Betty's Rose Thumbnail: didn't entice. I like the full scale image, even the black backround, a lot. I like the muted colours of the rose far better than it would have looked in harsh sunlight. If there is an aspect of the image that pulls it down slightly, there is something too harsh about the light/refelections from the leaf, carefully pointing to the lower left corner as it is. What is that texture: it's like the diffracted specular highlights you see in macro shots ... Deen Hameed - Light On Water Thumbnail: no interest. Is that a fish? I can see why you took the picture, but I think that, like myself, you've failed to capture the essence of movement of the light patterns. That is, IMO what we see is moving and transient, but when we excise a single "frame" from the movie it does not hold the feeling John Lee - Leap! Thumbnail: yes, one of the first I opened. This puts me in mind of some of Eggleston's work (?). Nothing is really included, it's not technically well taken (for instance the focus is up near the blue hoze, but it has spontenaity- it speaks of a moment in time, of the child's scream. For me it's almost better having half the kiddie than the whole: was that your intent? If the kid was in the frame it would look posed ... I dunno, good shot, enjoyed it. beware of the child porno police ;o) Christopher Strevens - Dorking Cemetery Thumbnail: lept out asking "open me". One of the best shots Chris has posted to this forum for me. I know, selective desat (even hiding behind sepia) is becoming a cliche. but I think this works as an image. What is little chef? I mean. which country? Had this been macDonalds I would not even have opened the picture - some aspect of cultural imperialism should be torched!!! No, as the full image it's clasically composed. The red - well, its red. Shame really, red bores me in photos .... Greg Fraser - Siesta Thumb: Was this greg? Maybe, but it uses the corners *too* well ;o) WOW Greg, yes, this is my pick of this week's bunch and probably the one of your images I've liked the best. it's not quite as cleverly designed, from the viewpoint of the geometrical shapes, as some of your other work but the child fits in so perfectly. On the full scale shot I see your trademark of not quite hitting the corners, but thinking about it, I actually like those 20-ish pixels to the right of the boy/girl's shoulder. Chocolate? I hopw that's what it is and not what vervets like to dine on. Something is always left to question: I'm not convinced the chocolate is needed. Fantastic pic though. Jose Luis Vasconcellos - The day my father died I won't even pretend to talk about this in terms of composition. It's a meaningful shot for the author and a brave shot to share. The gallery, for me, is not just about looking at 12 pretty-pretties each week but a place to explore photography. What were the mits for? Blood pressure or arthritis? the inclusion of a paper strangely gives a sense of how the small but personal scene is part of the world. The death of a loved one who you knew contrasting with the death of someone who the publicity machines had conditioned milions to revere. Princess Diana ... a saint? I don't think so. Youth and looks get mistaken for goodness all to often in the image concious world of today. Is there anything wrong with death? It is a part of life most would prefer not to acknowlege. once you accept death, what is the point of consumerism, wealth, photography. Life really is only for today. Thanks for sharing this shot. David Small - Long May They Wave Thumb: Dark. I'm not sure this is what I would have identified as a "typical David Small shot". Could it be a Jeff Spirer shot? It's monochrome and dark with a graphic simplicity. The title - I thought the hand but did it mean the flag? What is the symbolism supposed to say? I don't want to go there for sure. Technically, sommat troubles me: what is that white diagonal line across the flag? I don't understand how it got there, it's like an extension of the chrome trim, but it's not obscured. Jeff Spirer - Homage to Don Manuel Thumb: grey This is consistent with one of Jeff's styles, lone individual on a sidewalk. The woman with her head bowed - is that why you chose the shot for your homage. It's not the strongest of the genre I've seen from jeff, but it's enjoyable in its own right. Angela Turnpaugh - Thumb: group of kids Full: Group of kids with camera shake. At least I think the softness is shake not defocus. I can't get in to this shot and am struggling to even explain what I see. The turquoise shirt (bottom left) did not need to be there. The bloke in the Ball State sweat pullf my eyes back away from the lads. Rob Miracle - Falling Falls Fall Thumb: nice landscape OK, it's pleasant but not grippingly exciting. Indeed, I live the water, reflections, fall colours but yes, as you noted, the sky lacks punch. The silhouetted tree top left *would* have served as a great foil for the sky but for one tiny detail, those few leaves that broke the tree line lost the separation on film of near vs far that we know should be there. That small point of contact I think has a huge impact and disproportionate effect on the success of the image. What do I know, I couldn't take a landscape shot if I tried. Thanks to all the contributors for putting together a set of thought-provoking set. This gallery is boring? Nah ... Bob
