Forumeers, Here are my thoughts about the PhotoForum members' gallery/exhibit space now on display at http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery.html. D.L. Shipman http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/shipman.html An interesting image of an interesting winged, fluttery insect. Per Ofverbeck: "Leek" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/ofverbeck.html I like this shot, but there is something slightly out of kilter for me. The subject and the simplicity is perfect. The background adds extremely well to simplicity that I find so appealing. This should be a calming image, and it is in many ways. But the balance is off for me. The lightest portion of the plant has the lightest background. That is probably okay, but it is the lack of background balance on the right side that seems to kind of upset the balance. The top of the leaves reach a bit too close to the edge of the photo to be soothing. The leaves not quite reaching the board at the top do about the same thing. Both of those elements seem to leave a bit of tension in the photograph that I find slightly uncomfortable. But that may have been the goal. This is a good image even with the unnecessary (to me) tension. Snapper Bob: "Mazda Rx8 (X-men)" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/earnest.html "Snapper Bob"? How about "Plan and Work Your Tail Off to Create the Perfect Image Bob"? Ya done good. (Which is Wyoming-speak for, "you did very well." It is the highest praise used by the natives of Wyoming. And although I am a transplant, I have tried to understand and adopt the local customs and language.) Bob Talbot: "Eternity" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/talbot.html This is my favorite of the week, despite the fact that I REALLY like r's photograph. In fact, it is probably the best image that Talbot has ever presented us, at least in my opinion. Oh shucks, it is one of the best images presented on the Forum since I have been viewing. I love images with a meaning, even if that meaning is internal only to me. There is balance and harmony here, much like I wanted to find in Ofverbeck's photo, but did not find. The blacks balance: smaller circle pulled from the edges vs. irregularly-shaped seemingly natural object. The banding colors of circular perfection from the heavens outline the irregular fractal shape of the earth. The colors radiate from heavenly blues (with a burst of white) to earthly greens. MUCH food for thought, here. And perfectly executed. Then there is the title. It fits. It fits like a glove on hand. While I don' t personally feel "Eternity" when I look at this image, what I do feel is very much akin to that feeling. For the second time this week: Ya done good. Guy Glorieux: "Ste-Ursule's Falls" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/glorieux.html And the stunning images just keep coming this week. While not perfect in the sense of the Bobs, this is another great image. It has feeling, even without the sound. Glorieux chose his composition well. The brown of the falls is so perfectly complimented by the brown of the ground under the tress jutting into the white of the water. And the white of the water is by the same token perfectly broken up and thus highlighted by that brown ground. But there is that annoying green lens flare. While it is not an overt part of the image, mood photographs are made by subtleness. But I really did like this photograph a lot. Rick Kessler: "Several nights before Christmas" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/kessler.html A seemingly technical masterpiece. It is too small to evaluate otherwise, but what an accomplishment, particularly if you had to keep everyone pretty still while you changed camera positions. Very impressive. Shawna Hanel: "Cars" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/hanel.html For me, this theme is becoming a bit hackneyed. While I haven't had time to review the submissions (or even read many of the messages) for the last month or two, I have tried to look at each week's offerings. I liked the start of Hanel's series, but you can only put so many toys or other pieces of plastic non-nature into the same patch of green grass and hold interest. At the beginning, there was an element of found beauty, much like what I really like in Fraser's work. But now, with repetition of theme, the element of discovery is gone. Emily L. Ferguson: "Myrrh??? But We need a shovel" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/ferguson.html Maybe a better title would be: Myrrh??? Brrrrr!!! Or maybe not. J While this is certainly a striking photograph, it disturbs me at the same time. All is calm, all is bright. But the Christ child is missing! Jesus is buried! And no one seems notice or care. C J R Strevens: "Junction Near Clapham Junction 2" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/strevens.html Interesting. Painterly. I kind of like it, but since last week's image has been removed, it looks to me like last week's image. WRGill: "Dawn at Point Sur, Big Sur, CA http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/gill.html Very blue. Dark. Depressing. But the most disturbing thing for me are the two juts of land on the right that my mind cannot complete. There seems to be sea between them, but I can' t conceptualize what is happening. The Gestalt has been broken. Basil Saif Farhan: "Emirates Towers Hotel" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/farhan.html Very blue. Dark. Depressing. But now there is hope. The circularity in the clouds, the white eye-like shape in the center, gives life - and hope - to this image that was missing in Gill's piece. Here the structures compliment each other in the photograph, much like I suspect the architect had planned. The cityscape seems natural and complete. I like this photo a lot. Farhan had possibly seen these structures many times before, but knew when he saw them this time, with these clouds, that this was a special moment. And he captured it well. Andrew Davidhazy: "Star trail fantasy" http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery/davidhazy.html I am impressed. How did you do it? That's not a straight 12-hour shot is it? This was such an excellent week of photographs. Thanks to everyone who submitted AND thanks to Andy and his intrepid staff that makes all of this possible. pax, rand
