The steel wool textures, gaping mouth and oversized eye definitely make me smile!
It did take me awhile to figure out what the circle/cylinder was in its mouth 😀
I might try reducing the opacity of the background object on the left, or cloning over with trees. Even with the impact of our star, it distracts a little.
Beautiful colors in your bountiful plant!
I've never really cared for artificial blur, but I understand your wanting to minimize the background's details. When I was looking for a closer crop that might still contain the feeling of the bounty and colors, I found a beetle on a stem!
My grand-daughter was determined to catch a baby frog and was looking for a fishing-net. We whistled in the wind and pretended we didn't have one, so she took a fly-swatter as a poor alternative and, amazingly, tempted the frog onto it and into the jar! Luckily, after gentle persuasion, she decided to set the little fellow free again.
Pete
This is a very nice scene and I like the composition. It looks lke a pictoresque area and good for a long or short hike. Maybe it is worth attempting to clone out the railings when you reach your PC, but they are so dark, they don't intrude much. A faster shutter speed may well improve the look of the water, but since there are still separate streaks, and it hasn't just turned to a pure white mush, then it is acceptable as it is.
Pete
This works very well. The bright reflections, with traces of a variety of colours, against a pure black background is delightful. The composition is good, with the brightest reflections on one of the thirds, ensures a nice balance and harmony. The fact that the subject is not instantly recognisable and requires study and fantasy from the viewer takes it to another level.
Excellent.
Pete
I like so many aspects of this photo.
A subject, which I will never see.
A beautiful natural setting, with all that glowing green moss on the fallen trees.
The logs providing leading lines to the ivory bear.
The branches creating a frame for the ebony bear.
The bears are linked by a log, as well as the bear's line of sight.
Ebony bear is dripping wet, whilst Ivory is dry,
Ebony appears to be ignoring a fish it caught on the rock behind it.
The title.
Another for your National Geographic submission 😉
Pete
Thank you Linda. I wanted the entire plant in picture because I like the texture of the bottom leafs.
The happy-ending story and the composition are high-impact for me. I was taught to respect wildlife from an early age. I'm not optimistic for the natural world given all we've destroyed and the economic and political realities, but it is inspiring to know there are pockets of hope.
I chuckled at "baby frog" as we always called them tadpoles, or perhaps more regional, polliwogs.
I respect your vision and I think the textured leaves are gorgeous. I'm trying to work out a puzzle that probably interests only me 😁 Emphasis on the leaves:
Minnie, thanks
I'd like to see your "version" of this image. There's no "correct" place to put the center of the coil in the composition. Mine is off-center horizontally. I wish it were more off center vertically also. But a perfectly centered version of this kind of image can be very striking.
I've provided "background" info for all my images. I like to do that. I hope the information makes the image more interesting. But I like to post them first "as is" to see how well they tell their story "all on their own."
Rich
Hi Rich, I'm Linda not Minnie 😁 We used to be called by each other's names in another forum quite frequently, so it's all good! Thanks for your comments about posting with or without backstory.
Here is my photo. It's the exterior bottom of a sisal-rope covered plant pot. have been using as a footstool for years; more recently my cat has been enjoying tearing it apart 😂
Wow - that's a magnificent shot! Love the composition, the tones and the look of the water. It all comes together really well.
Good question. I prefer 1 but it is a close call. Both establish the emptiness of the moment The better view of the older style buildings and the text on the facade in 1 gives more of a reminder of the humans that are absent. In 2, the longer dark line created by the base of the buildings against the sand picks up and extends the dark lines of the bench. The bench itself becomes an echo of the forms of the buildings.
With more consideration of the shape of the bench and the forms of the buildings, I now prefer 2.
Ha. My photographic life is full of similar moments of just missed chances, especially BIF. I envy your second opportunity here.
Your falcon did you proud. A splendid choice of perch to create the diagonal line and also show off the impressive talons. Just the right amount of dof to bring out the bird and still retain the setting.
Variations on a theme. Rectangles. The variations are subtle - gentle changes in sharpness and colour plus the intriguing little raised patches. The tilt of the whole scene is a great touch. I enjoyed your title as well.
Thanks Mike,
That is a nice explanation of the whole story. I would feel comfortable with the guides, even if the hairs on the back of my neck were standing up at 15-20 metres...
That scenery would get my hiking boots out as well.
As you say, the light in the last picture makes the image. The "peaks" on the foreground sunlit bushlink it to the mid ground pine trees and then the mountains behind. Well worth the walk.
The fallen limb with the highlight end is inspired. It makes this image special. A line is added that echoes the line of the falls; it links via the foam trails in the river and knits everything together. A bit of rugged outdoorsiness is added as well.
In the top corners. They look like grapevine leaves? Is this so? Whatever, they add some framing as well.
