Colours are superb and that is what this image is all about - but the presentation with the white margin creates a strange look, top rhs (looks like the hill has a flat top) otherwise a very proficient work -

Robert

This is great - I really do like this and could enthuse for ages - I think the completely feastureless grey background promotes the subjects and their reflections beautifuly. Technically I guess quite difficult to get right sharpish shutter speed (reflections are detailed) - Fantastic

Not wishing to make a point or anything but see thsi was posted as a landscape - did that feel right?

Best wishes

Robert

I don't think there is much you can do to the lens to improve it (other than making sure it is clean and dust free).

With a kit 18 x 55 lens you should be able to get a little closer than this (your previous butterfly upload managed this).

Here perhaps you need to draw on your PS skills - crop right in to the image post production and use clarfication and sharpening to get the image definition (avoinding excessive noise). I have uploaded a mod with a rough idea of what I mean.

Not perfect by any means - but maybe this will give you a few ideas.

Best wishes

Robert

Fantastic rule flouting shot - just goes to show they are there to be broken because I just don't see how this could work any other way. Superb end of the day light and a sort of lazy and relaxed level of activity onboard both the old gaffer and the yacht within a yacht (they are letting the sheets fly espcially for your shot - the wind is dying and so is the day). The colours are just 'peachy' and composition exquisite even the wretched vapour trail brings a little something to the party.

Downside - not much at all but for me the fg boat starts with her bowsprit (rather than the stem which I think you have counted 'as boat') and that means she doesn't have a lot of space to sail/motor into - you have a little room to crop rhs up to the stern of the moored boat which would help. But I love this shot - fell in love with it the moment I saw its thumbnail tbh.

Best wishes

Robert

Difficult because of the the fine detail from teh branches - but I would be tempted to try selecting the sky either by hand or wirh you magic wand/brush selector once you have a half decent selection push the colour to make it bluer and colder, then darken slightly (4 stops) and up the contrast (maybe 10 stops) then drive detail into the clouds with your clarification toggle (maybe 8 stops) and finally use your curves adjustments to create a little more drama.

If I get a mo I will have a go for you - but you will enjoy doing this I suspect.

I like this technique very much and this image works well - but don't overdo it.

Very best wishes

Robert

Well its better than framing a chimp I guess! I like this shot enormously and picking up Phil's note the way you have used the bench arm to frame the guy makes this really quite a powerful shot IMO.

I think there is just too much bench fg though and parhaps think about a crop at the break in the pattern. The sign is also a bit of a challenge but it helps to build the context for the image I suspect.

Not too bad for a philosopher...

Best wishes

Robert

Great city, great photo (but that border!) ooopps I see it has already been said above. I think as a very rough rule - normally you shouldn't really be too aware of the presentation when you look at an image.

Because when we upload here on EPZ we have to sacrifice pixels there is probably an argument for not using borders at all (and lots don't) - I think however borders can just add the finishing touch and clearly you do too. It then becomes a balance between the image which is what we all want to see but making sure it is seen in the best light. Difficult balance sometimes.

Anyway - great shot and thats what counts

Robert

Intoxicating - thats a cool note.

This is another smashing shot maybe I find the fg a little bit of a scramble to make sense of but there is also a nice rising diagonal to lead the eye across the image and to the reflected cloud so all that hangs together very nicely. Good colour balances and as above lovely reflections.

Best wishes

Robert

This image is much slighter than your previous upload and for me as a result doesn't take mono so well - indeed I feel it ends up looking just a little cliched. Unduly harsh but street performers done in B&W need a strong comp to carry them because they have been done so many times before.

I had better stop - I am rambling!

Best wishes for a peacful new year

Robert

Can I borrow your dog for a weekend please? Interesting comments on this image and clearly some debate around teh compostional strength. For me there is just enough detail and interest rhs to justify it being there - it provides the very important contrast to the splash of light - indeed it is the essence of the shot. I think these dark light contrasts are devlishly difficult (witness my last upload attempt) but this is superbly handled - by someone who is aquiring an uncanny knack for this type of work.

Brilliant work again

Robert

Yep I think I agree with Andy - V1 is different and is a very powerful image - its amazing how the glowing cigarette tip holds the eye - when you think of all the other lights and illuminations in the image. The lit diagonals bottom left are superb and serve as a signpost 'this is where to look' - so yep my vote goes here.

V2 is accomplished (would we expect any less) but there it ends - a little like a marshmallow - promises much, tastes good but I am left hungry. Now if there was a hand grasping at the end of the ice break - then I think we would be in business!!

Cheers

Robert

An intersting example of 'the experiment' - slightly confused by having three images rather than two and I am not entirely sure I really know which is the 'fluffy' image and which is the 'lets get down to business and do serious but unapEPZealing' shots, is?

The 'tin lid' V2 promises so much more than the very mildly challenging V3 (and probably only mildly challenging because of the mono treatment - would you have posted a colour version? and if you had posted a mono version of V2 might that have then taken on the mantle of unapEPZealing?).

So I am trying to judge this not on colour or lack of it and I still think V2 has much more on offer. Leave it three months and post the reverse, V2 in mono and V3 in colour and see how the result compares?

BTW I wish I had a thimbulfull of your talent - all are quite excellent.

Robert

I know Cadover well - that bit of Dartmoor that really is quite isolated - this is a fantastic image (not this year I guess) a very clever lead in taking the eye right to the heart of the image (the apparent source of the river) - I love the muted colours they just shout winter and the detail beneath the water in the fg - well that is a masterstroke. Imo this is just about 'on the button' maybe the slightest crop from the bottom to really snuggle in the lead in but otherwise fabulous.

What a stunning way to open your account - impressive

Robert

I would love to see a slightly toned down version cause for me this has gone a tad too far (I also don't think the heavy presentation/caption helps the image - I mean you get to do an intro and any background notes anyway). And the horizing could do with a tweak to straighten it.

Having said this the image demands to be looked at from the thumbnail (well it did to me anyway) and it is exciting and full of interest - the fairway bouy and the barely recognisable coaster underway are quite brilliant indeed all the components are - the sea is fantastic and the sky sure overblown but quite amazing.

I will be interested to see how you get on with this - but I really think there is something quite special here with a little tinkering.

Best wishes

Robert

I think I have spent longer looking at this image than any I have looked at this month - why? Quite simply because it is brilliant - it works superbly as a mono, the crop is heroic and works equally superbly, details are presented beautifuly, entertaining pov and masterly dof - I am running out of superlatives so I had better stop there.

Two things - was this shot in colour and converted? And a nagging doubt about a border I guess you tried it and it didn't work - because the image is strong through its simplicity I guess?

Lovely

Robert

This is interesting but I have to say compositionally it is questionable because its really two images divided by a sea of mist. But it is intriguing and I think it works off the screen rather well. I think the above comment about landscape format rather than portrait is an interesting one.

Interesting and a little unusual - that does it for me

Robert

Well I like this image a lot - it i snot the strongest composition ever but none the worse for that - indeed the fact that it is really quite gentle and almost 'slight' works really well for it, There are some interesting diagonals - that get repeated - this helps to build interest. The reflection/water line hits at around 33% so you are following the rule of third, Colour balances are quite muted and delicate but have a nice autumn feel. So all in all an image I find very pleasing - my negaive comments I would reserve for the imo overwrought border - the image is much too fragile to be able to compete with such a strong and detailed frame. As a result it diverts from the shot. TBH most viewers want to see the image not how good our software is - so I think as a general rule always underpresent (unless what you are uploading is really is very weak and needs all the help it can get - this doesn't for sure!)

Best wishes

Robert

Well the image is nigh on perfect but for me it is lacking something - there is no tension or retaining interest here and I think it may have something to do with the 'pseudo' horizon which runs from the base of the harbour wall right through the middle of the image.

The sky is quite powerful and I guess has had a little drama added with curve selection. The composition is faultless - but it is like an Elton John/Madonna single, beautifuly crafted but strangely souless.

I do hope you don't mind me saying this especially as I have been unable to come up with anything really constructive - but this image has really got me puzzling (that has to be a good thing I recon).

Very best wishes

Robert

Well if I had taken this shot first I think I would post it with a contrasting background (black would be good) - when you do this I think you will also want to try and do something with the sky it is possibly overexposed and certainly could do with some colour balance and contrast work - second I would think about cropping down to where the action is but also keeping some of that lovely translucence you have caught beautifully in the wave. I think there is a good image here but right at the moment you are keeping it well hidden.

A click for the colour in the wave and for the potential in this image.

Best wishes

Robert

The framing is what makes this shot work - but there is IMO too much of it and it contains little detail. The light you had to work with is terrible too - but you can imaging this shot on a fine day at dusk wow it would be superb (can't you go back?).

Have uploaded a mod

Best wishes

Robert