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| Sails
at Sunset |
|
Mark Says: First impression is that I like the shot. The leading
lines work well, and the sun is pretty much on the 3rds. I would have
liked to have the sails a little sharper as close inspection does
show up a little softness. |
Steamy Says: This is
an interesting idea and an unusual angle. I like the contrasting sky.
Perhaps the sail is a little out of focus and it is a shame about
the black mark in the top left hand corner. |
 |
| The
Old Bakery |
|
Mark Says: Quite an interesting shot, with plenty to look at. Nicely
composed, although the Window rather than the Hovis sign is the object
that I keep going back to. |
Steamy Says: Nicely composed
picture with plenty of interest and rural charm. Could perhaps be
a little sharper with a few people for depth. |
 |
| Frosty
Urban Sunrise |
|
Mark Says: I’m not sure what to make of this image. The central
composition of the tree seems to work, probably because of the yellow
sunrise in the right third of the image. I’m not sure I like
the red tinge to the grass – doesn’t look quite right
to me – that’s not to say its not. |
Steamy Says: I like this
one. The colour is spot on for me and it has a luminescent quality.
Good use of sunlight on the frosty grass. Works well. Excellent. |
 |
| Daisy |
|
Mark Says: This is an interesting shot. I like the use of the shallow
depth of field to both set the location and lead the eye onto the
flowers. |
Steamy Says: The bottom
third of the picture has impact and is well shot, but for me perhaps
too much blurred background tends to overpower the close up daisies. |
 |
| Reservoir |
|
Mark Says: Another different shot for this month. I don’t think
I like the portrait orientation – and I’m not sure that
the foreground adds anything – it seems to split the image into
two shots |
Steamy Says: Cannot comment
…. One of mine. |
 |
| A
country Walk |
|
Mark Says: It’s a shame the building isn’t in a little
more sun – as it does seem to lack a bit of sparkle. I would
have liked to have seen a little more grass below the building. Other
than that, the composition is pretty good – the tree sits on
the one third, and the building just about on the other one. |
Steamy Says: The contrasts
across the picture and exposure and colours are good. Has a sense
of distance and depth, perhaps some figures in the foreground would
have increased this. |
 |
| Barn Owl |
|
Mark Says: I like the way the bird is framed by the opening into
presumably the barn. But the lighting is a little flat – I’m
not sure if flash has been used – I think it has as there is
a dark shadow to the front of the bird. The bird looks slightly soft
– it might be movement as the door appears to be sharp enough. |
Steamy Says: Well composed
and the owl is nicely framed in the shot. Good effort with a difficult
subject as it tends to blend with the background a little due to Winter
plumage. Well done. |
 |
| Reflections in Padstow |
|
Mark Says: A good idea that has not worked as well it might. The
reflections in the water are not strong enough for me, and the boats
are a little to tightly cropped at the top of the frame – the
hand rail is only just in shot. If the photography was looking at
the water reflections on the hull of the boat, then they are not filling
the frame enough for me. |
Steamy Says: Colour and
exposure is spot on. I think I would like to have seen a little less
water at the foot of the picture and a little more of the view above
the boat rail at the top. Good reflections on the hull. |
 |
| Opera
House |
|
Mark Says: I quite like this shot, although I’m not sure what
the person on the right is doing! |
Steamy Says: No comment
… my second. |
 |
| Outside
Bath Church |
|
Mark Says: This has a great sky – nicely detailed. The building
is slightly flat – could do with some levels or something to
bring out the detail that is clearly in the shot. |
Steamy Says: Well focused,
detailed shot with nice contrasts. Perhaps more at the bottom of the
image at the expense of less sky at top as the building is framed
by sky on three sides. |
 |
| Tree
in Field Aylesbury 2 |
|
Mark Says: This is a really good silhouette. I really like it, the
positioning of the sun is perfect. It would have been even better
with a lower viewpoint to remove or reduce the horizon to the bottom. |
Steamy Says: Carries
impact with good dark / light contrast against an effective stormy
sky. Frozen ? pond is a nice touch. Pity about the spots on the sky. |
 |
| Otter |
|
Mark Says: For some reason this shot doesn’t do a lot for me.
I don’t know why. It might be that there is not enough room
for the Otter to swim into, or it might be that the colour is a little
drab. |
Steamy Says: Lovely shot
of a difficult active subject. Carries impact because the important
bit is bang in focus. Well done. |
 |
| Leaving
the river |
|
Mark Says: This is a much better shot, the colours seem better –
probably the bright coat around the shoulders of the Otter. There
is space in front of the Otter for it to move into. It also seems
sharper. |
Steamy Says: Even better
than the last otter shot. Well balanced and good colour. Well seen
and captured on the hoof. Excellent. |
 |
| Williams
F1 |
|
Mark Says: Sorry just don’t like it. I really can’t think
of anything to say. |
Steamy Says: Good technique
to capture a moving subject so well. Perhaps the subject would have
benefited from closer treatment at the expense of less background
and grey sky. |
 |
| Spring |
|
Mark Says: This is lovely shot. The three bunches of flowers, sat
on a diagonal through the shot is perfect. Nice la bright and really
does look like spring. |
Steamy Says: Really good
well exposed and focused shot. The subject stands out from the background.
Tells you warm days are on the way. Well done. |
 |
| Packhorse
Bridge & Ford at Wycoller |
|
Mark Says: I think a closer view point would have worked better.
It would have taken out some of the sky which is very dull and uninspiring. |
Steamy Says: Good composition
in this scenic view full of interest. The road leads the eye up the
hill and also across the ford to the houses. Two things detract for
me, too much bland sky and perhaps could be a little sharper. If only
the cars were riders on horseback. |
 |
| The
Singing Ringing Tree |
|
Mark Says: I first thought this was a photoshop creation, but is
actually in Burnley. Its quite surreal and I like it a lot. |
Steamy Says: This I like
… just not what you expect on a landscape which helps to make
it good. A few people at the base would be good for scale and a shame
about the shadow, bottom left. Good effort though. |
 |
| Morning
Song |
|
Mark Says: A nice shot of the Robin, though I would have liked there
to be more space to the right of the shot. But it is very well exposed
and reasonably sharp. Its good to see a highlight in the eye too. |
Steamy Says: Not an easy
subject and this is a well composed picture, which might perhaps benefit
from a slightly closer treatment. Not too sure about the focus. |
 |
| Leith
Flats |
|
Mark Says: I love this shot. The quay side leading you up the docks
to the flats. The white one is nicely positioned in the frame, arguably
a little high, but not much, and the reflections are great. |
Steamy Says: This picture
has loads of depth and is well thought out. I like the quayside leading
to the bridge and down the road to the church. Nice use of colour
and reflections. |
 |
| Not
Grangemouth |
|
Mark Says: An interesting idea, which may have been a bit better
if the surroundings were not visible. |
Steamy Says: An imaginative
idea , but it does not particularly work for me. Somewhat blown out
on the bottom left hand corner. |
 |
| Afternoon
of the Fishermen |
|
Mark Says: The walkway takes the observer into the frame well, though
you do get dumped a bit into the lake with no clear path out again
apart from whence you came. Leaping upwards though reveals a lovely
sky which fills the better part of 2/3 of the frame, but is no worse
for it. |
Steamy Says: I love this
one….. good use of short perspective leading in to depth …works
well. Lovely colour and exposure and the figures give scale. Excellent. |
 |
| Mad
Max |
|
Mark Says: The sense of speed and action is clear here, with the
bike leaning well over into the bend. There is a good amount of space
in front of the rider too, which is perfect. |
Steamy Says: Cracking
shot of a really fast moving subject. In my view closer treatment
still leaving somewhere for the bike to go would have made this a
stunner. Regret the background adds nothing. |