Dear Colleagues,
My normal practice is to take each image in the gallery, print it, scan it at high resolution, print it again, photograph it, and get it printed to poster size before framing it, taking it to an art gallery and surreptitiously swapping it for something hanging on the walls there. This allows me to view it as the author intended. Only then can I give it the review it deserves.
However, this usually takes some time, much of which is explaining to the officials why I have a collection of their artwork stacked against a wall.
So I have decided to be rather more unconventional, and review them directly from my screen (which is the very highest quality, with a full 256 colors).
Naturally I spend most of my time on the photographer's statement -- the relative importance of the photographer's statement as compared to the image itself is so great as to be hardly worth mentioning.
ADavidhazy wrote:
The PhotoForum members' gallery/exhibit space was updated SEP 04 04. Authors with work now on display at http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/gallery.html include:I was initially rather unimpressed with this image. But after walking away to greet "She who must be obeyed" I came back and viewed it with renewed interest. On my screen I quite like it, but I'm unsure if I'd like it hanging on a wall in my home. That's an unsure, it's not a no :-) There's some mystery in this image -- are we behind a curtain about to be revealed, or is the action going on unseen behind the curtain? Going back to the thumbnail, I like the full size image better than the thumbnail -- that confirms to me that the softness is really a feature that adds to the image.
Pini Vollach - Eilat
Jeff Spirer - LaundryA dark and moody piece with very interesting lighting. As I return from chores set for me by the "Leader of the Opposition" though, I find myself less at ease with the angle from which it was taken. I am torn between thinking whether it adds tension to the image, or whether the image would be better without it. Yep, I really do like this one.
Deen Hameed - Agfa IsoletteAll photographers seem to take a photo of their equipment at some time. Perhaps it's because we have such impressive equipment! As my better half has now returned to bed, I have more time to study this image. One of the problems I've always had with close-up photography of things like this is that there's always dust on the object -- especially if its ever been used. You seem to have managed to successfully tackle that beast, with only two small spots of dust(?) on the image. The other things are wear and dirt. I mention them because they are major obstacles in the path of making any closeup of an object appear to be a closeup of something "new". You have succeeded.
Peeter Vissak -I was getting ready to make a comment about "yet another sunset" as I viewed the thumbnail. However, this image is about more than that.. Although my eye is constantly drawn to the sun, the rest of the image has many elements of interest. I'm not sure what I can say about this other than I would hang it on my wall.
Trevor Cunningham - Tourist TrapYes, an infra-red shot showing characteristic white foliage. I'm afraid I'm not taken with this image. Other than it's name, it could be an advertisement for The Village Trader. I see hints of structures in the background that look more interesting than this one.
WRGill -A nicely frozen action shot of the faceless rider. I am impressed by the saturated colors, and the fact that the rider is giving you a wave as he flies through the air. I'd be very happy if I'd taken the image, but as the rider I'd have been a little peeved at having nothing in the image to identify myself. As a generic image though, it works. I suppose it all depends on why the image was shot.
Jim Davis - Running DeerProbably a great shot with the equipment you have, but I find the background distracting. I guess faster glass would be the answer, but hey, it's not cheap. Somehow I think the southern aspect of a north (ok, northeast) bound deer is not the most pleasing. I find my eye continually drawn to the brightest part of the image -- which is where (allegedly) the sun don't shine. Still, this may say more about me than your image.
John Palcewski - ImagineThere I was, just walking along the street, minding my own business when some rabid woman pushes past with her obnoxious child and starts yelling at me for knocking her daughter with my shopping. I just looked back, mouth slightly agape at her as she continued on, barging her way through other hapless pedestrians. At least, that's what I imagine.
Tim Holmes - Lax ScrumIsn't lacrosse a game originally played with the heads of your opponents dead soldiers? Hardly a thing for youngsters I should think!
Unbob Unrosen - The old and the newI must thank the many who have emailed me about this image -- ok, the one who has. Oddly enough the message contained only my photographers statement and a "best regards". Clearly an indication that my statement says it all.
Actually I feel I have to compare my image with Jeff Spirer's. I really have to say I like the contrast in his work, it makes mine look flat and pretty uninteresting. I guess it comes down to the lighting -- his is so much better.
I must thank all contributors to this week's gallery.
A long (long, long, long) time ago I used to view the gallery regularly and comment. I haven't done so for some time. However I think I will start to do so again.
Best, UnBob
