Schooner Fest
by alohadave

Comment:

Originally posted by wehrmacher: I like this photo with some of the same cautions mentioned earlier. As you and I both have and use the same camera/lens, I thought I would write. I suspect that the washed out sky could be helped by using a polarizing filter, then exposing for the sky using care not to wash out the sails, and using fill flash to get the observer lit, although that would likely wash out the observer's finger that finds itself in sunlight. However, most of these suggestions would, I fear, not be possible when taking such a transitory shot.

Yeah, it was a very seat of the pants shot, and I really had the wrong lens on.

Chinese New Year
by alohadave

Comment:

Originally posted by Yandrosxx: I'm not sure I understand the point of this image? If it's really about the Chinese New Year what exactly does it show about the Chinese New Year?

If you've ever seen Chinese New Year, fireworks are used extensively. As you walk around, you can't help but to see the debris everywhere. It was a way to show the results of the celebrations.

_DSC4645.jpg
by chrisp

Comment:
I would crop out the dirt at the bottom of the frame. It's a lot of empty space that doesn't add anything to the picture, maybe just below the barrier on the left, or even a square crop.

That way, he fills the open space of the sky, and the tree and railing/barrier frames him well.

The B&W processing is fine, you have good texture in the tree, and strong lines and shapes that work well in B&W.