I am more drawn to the black and white image of the trees and grass.
Your other images are luminscent, beautiful, well crafted but I want more than that...
For myself, and it is all about personal taste and where we are in our artistic journey, I find great photographs have 'psychological' depth, say take the work of Paul Hill.
The trees and grass image says more than it simply portrays, is very clever and touches ones soul. There is beautiful form and contrasts of texture but it is the atmosphere of the image that grabs me.
Of course I have not achieved this myself, my efforts at present are working on mastering composition and light , the next level is still beyond me but I still look forward.
All are wonderful and your own style is really evident in these. Thank you for sharing - that 1st shot is a very powerful shot in my opinion.
By the way, I also echo the vote to clone out the moving star/planet in the sky. It's the only one in the sky so it's distracting.... I like this shot the most mainly because I know how difficult a shot like this is to capture and have everything as sharp as you have in this shot. Really powerful, emition packed image.
I am more drawn to the black and white image of the trees and grass.
Your other images are luminscent, beautiful, well crafted but I want more than that...
For myself, and it is all about personal taste and where we are in our artistic journey, I find great photographs have 'psychological' depth, say take the work of Paul Hill.
The trees and grass image says more than it simply portrays, is very clever and touches ones soul. There is beautiful form and contrasts of texture but it is the atmosphere of the image that grabs me.
Of course I have not achieved this myself, my efforts at present are working on mastering composition and light , the next level is still beyond me but I still look forward.
I believe I understand what you're saying, Jane. Also, I know well how difficult it can be to capture an emotion in a nature photo that goes beyond 'wow, look at that'. I believe the grasses and trees shot ('among the dead') is my best pure photograph of this past trip, and speaks on a deeper/different level than do the others. Most of my personal favorite images have that type of connection for me.
Amazing group of images Mark. Can't think of any additional praise to offer you and I wholeheartedly agree with all the positive comments. You work hard at what you do and the results are amazing and delightful to view.
Randy
For what its worth, below are my thoughts on each image:
1. Rated 6 out of 10. Love the sky, pass on the foreground.
2. Rated 7. It looks like you had to force things to rescue this image. Probably the best you could have done under the circumstances. Potentially a great shot worthy of a return engagement with an exposure plan.
3. Rated 8.5. BAM!! Great light here.
4. Rated 5. Doesn’t work for me.
5. Rated 5. Ditto.
6. Rated 5. Ditto.
7. Rated 5. Ditto.
8. Rated 7. Quaint scene.
9. Rated 9. BAM!!! Crop to 4x5 might give it more umph by bringing scene foreward and more readily available to appreciate (see) details.
10. Rated 7.5. Crop to 4x5 this time to minimize (cut off) distorted perspective at bottom.
Not bad for being preoccupied as a tour guide, all in all. Quite good actually.
I’ve been getting comments lately because I seem to be on a 4x5 crop schtick for portrait mode shots. You can blame it on Rodney Lough who, I’m sure you realize, shoots with an 8x10 Large Format camera.
Masterful work Marc. I have really enjoyed looking at these. And thanks for sharing some of the details of what you look for in an image and how you process.
So you mean to say that you liked every one of Marc’s shots?
To me they weren’t all great. For that matter, I don’t think he thinks they are all great. Not that I’m this killer photographer, I’m mediocre at best, but I do know what I like.
A few months back a guy called the folks on these boards for blowing smoke in Marc’s direction. He noted that we give him a pass because of his previous awe inspiring work.
I guess I agree with this guy, we do tend to be too easy on Marc at FM. So I posted my honest forthright opinion of each shot.
Yes, he is one helluva Landscape Photographer, among the best. But nobody bats a 1000 (or is perfect, in case you don’t speak baseball in Ireland).
I agree with your logic but I would certainly love to see more constructiveness.
For example, more elaboration why you don't like the scene - it is one thing to say that "we should not give anyone a pass".. Another thing to say "no" to a picture just because "I felt like it". In doing so you end up being no different from the folks who say "yes".
There are reasons for everything, even disliking an image, or liking it less. I know I would like to hear more about why you dislike an image, even if it's not mine.. Anyone and everyone has the right to comment, this is a level playing ground where photographic skill doesn't really come into play. Does one need to be a good cook to criticise food? But why don't you like the dish?
Every picture has room to improve, there is no perfect picture. But have you done your best in the "honest forthright opinion"? Is anything positive achieved by posting "I don't like this image" and leaving it at that? I doubt so, and I doubt anyone thinks so either. And that, is the marked difference between simply playing devil's advocate, for the sake of doing so.. And constructive criticism. Cheers!
P.S. Not sure why you call him Marky Marc, but that seems very condescending to me. Would you like it if I called you Dexy Dex?
