An Evening Portrait
by Sirashley

Comment by RKT:
I can't get over how lovely the color is, an elegant portrait.

An Evening Portrait
by Sirashley

Comment by Lydia:
So lovely... (not voting)

An Evening Portrait
by Sirashley

Comment by galatia_n:
Lovely white and bg.

An Evening Portrait
by Sirashley

Comment by mariuca:
This is so crisp and clean and perfect bird that I wonder how it's possible to maintain all this in a dirty world! A NG shot

An Evening Portrait
by Sirashley

Comment by HarveyG:
Stunning shot, soft where it needs to be, sharp where it needs to be. Great BG and calming tones.

An Evening Portrait
by Sirashley

Comment by Neat:
Lovely indeed.

The Awakening
by Sirashley

Comment by Sirashley:
Louis thank you very much for your critique. It's funny because the technical aspects of this shot were what really frustrated me. I really wanted to add more contrast to it, but when I tried to, it added allot more noise in the grass. I had to run a ton of noise reduction as it was to make it tolerable. As most know by now, the D200 is terrible with noise at higher isos, and I had to keep the iso higher because this shot was actually taken from the bow of a moving boat. I have never shot in fog before, and I have a new respect for those who do. Its really not easy. Truthfully, I had this image pegged at 4.5-4.7. I had Yospiff take a look before hand and he said it would find a decent fan base and to just enter it any way so I did. I was shocked that it did as well as it did. I think with the Fine Arts challenge, people gave higher scores towards images that moved them and focused less on the technicals. I love Fine Art, but its not something you can just pick up a camera and do, at least I couldn't. Well anyway, I feel the same way about the richer contrast and boldness, I just couldn't find a way to do it with all the noise (I'm sure there is a way to do it, I'm just not that skilled with photoshop) Thank you very much for taking the time comment on my image and thank you for your jury service.

The Awakening
by Sirashley

Comment by Louis:
I enjoy spare images, and photos that mostly hint at what they're all about. The best story pictures -- those photographs that have something to say to the viewer, whether or not it was intended by the photographer -- are suggestions of meaning, quiet nudges in the direction of some kind of story element. This photo quietly says something about its imagery. It works on that level. For me, it suffers, however, from its technicals, its presentation, and the post work. Unfortunately, and this is probably a style bias I have, its tonality is too flat to appreciate what's going on here fully. It's also over-sharpened, for me. The razor-like blades of grass are disharmonious with the gentleness of the message I feel is being hinted at. What would have made this a killer image for me would have been a hint at the imagery, as much as the story is only hinted at: subdued sharpness, even some edge blur, a shorter depth of field, a restrained hand in post (or no hand at all). Richer contrasts would have helped it for me, but again, I'm sure it's a style bias, as I prefer boldness in the articulation of light and dark (and this image is about light and dark to me). Your restraint is highly evident in what you've chosen to show us. I think that's the mark of a skilled photographer. Less restrained, though, at least for me, is what you decided to do with what you'd found.

The Awakening
by Sirashley

Comment by njsabs:
great mood set by the fog....awesome in black and white.

The Awakening
by Sirashley

Comment by mariuca:
Astonishingly philosophical through economical means. True art. 10
So much for using an i-pad! Your picture remains wonderful.