Favorite Photos

cdmonson (5304) [2017-07-26 16:12]
I like the layers here: layers of trees, layers of rock, layers of light. It makes what would probably be just a humdrum mountain picture work much better. And the colors look perfect here.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2017-07-26 16:11]
Hi Marvs:

Lovely shot of Mt. Stephen. It's a little yellow for my taste, but a good composition and capture of nice light. Those clouds in the upper left look a bit funky--I'm guessing that's smoke from the forest fires we've been having recently?

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2017-03-08 11:28]
Goodness Robert, this is lovely. I love those peak colors (so late in Quebec?), the rain-saturated scene, but most of all the steep rise of that ribbon of road. One note on the road: most photographers, myself included, would probably have been tempted to warm it up a bit with an adjustment brush to get rid of some of the blue cast. You didn't--and in my opinion it makes the photo. It moderates somewhat the natural warmth of the leaves, and the cool blue combined with the overcast light evokes mist, which is perfect for this kind of photo. Wonderfully done.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 16:20]
Definitely the right call to post the B&W version. The color version looks a bit washed out and mid-day--this is evocative and moody. Is it just me, or is there a small dust spot about an inch above the left-most tower? Sorry to nitpick, I'm just paranoid about those in my own photos and I tend to notice them in others. But this is a nice picture overall.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 16:18]
I've heard Zagreb is lovely and underrated. This is a nice picture. Looks like you mostly had it to yourself. Your verticals look excellent and exposure is perfect. And that sky! Thanks for sharing.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 16:17]
Nice shot. Love the diagonal slant and the alternating colors. It's a great abstract shot.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 9:46]
Hi Derek:

Can't stop looking at your shots. The long exposure here makes the sea look like mist on the heather, or maybe low-lying clouds over various mountains. And such a lovely blue-green color against the reddish rocks. But what really draws my eye is the arch in the distance.

County Donegal is amazing.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 9:40]
I'll never understand the standard tourist mentality. "Oh, the sun is going to set in the next hour or two. I guess it's time to go." Huh? I mean, I'm glad they leave so we photographers can have it to ourselves, but their actions are totally illogical. Let's leave just as everything is getting beautiful.

Nothing not to like about this one. The person on the rock really gives it scale, and of course the light is as fine as you could ask for in County Antrim.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 9:36]
Lovely warm light, especially on Benbulbin. Nothing more representative of County Sligo than that. :) Just beautiful.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 9:35]
So jealous. I had pretty dramatic light when I visited here, but nothing like this. Dunlewy Church is one of the creepiest places I've ever been. This shot looks just a hair oversharpened for my taste, but otherwise it's lovely. Great work.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 9:27]
Awesome. This one is so colorful and busy, but not busy in a bad way. Because the business is all clustered in the center, it works. Only complaint is that there are some dark smudges around the flags. Not sure what those would be.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 9:05]
Beautiful light on the old town. This shot almost gives a sense of vertigo; it feels like you're about to go tumbling down that street. I just wish those telephone lines weren't there--but there's nothing you can do about that...

I need to get to Croatia.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 9:02]
"Zimbiker." Will there ever be a TE member who's better at coming up with photo titles than you? I struggle to come up with cliched titles. Good ones just seem to roll off your keyboard. :)

Love this shot. What makes it special for me are the kid's expression--kind of a mix of confusion/curiosity, and "back off"--and the upturned handlebars on the bike. Beautiful capture of rural life in Zimbabwe.

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 8:54]
Looks inviting. You could replace this with a Corona bottle and I'd think it was a commercial for them. I would have liked to see a bit more of the palm umbrella, but this works. Only thing I'd do is crop out the little item at bottom right. It's a bit distracting. Otherwise, nice photo.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 8:52]
Haha, Weapons Square! Plaza de Armas just sounds so much more refined. Weapons Square makes it sound like you're from the American South. :)

I like the effect of the framing here, but there are a couple of things I'd change. One can be changed, and one would be for next time. First, it's tilting slightly left. Easy correction. Second, I'd include more of the top of the arch. This feels a little cutoff. More of a note for next time.

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 8:50]
Nice soft light. I'm a sucker for column pictures. It doesn't hurt when you have two types of columns, at two different angles, with a beautiful woman in the frame. Also, I loved your note about it being our duty to enjoy life. Taking one for the team... ;)

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 8:47]
Love it, Prema. The soft darkness of his skin contrasts perfectly with the wiry whiteness of his beard. And his look is one of perfect contentment. Great light and great shot.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 8:26]
Good one here. The dove could be slightly more in focus, but maybe it's a post-processing sharpening issue. The only thing I'd change is I'd perhaps crop some of the tree/branch/whatever dark thing is on the right side out of focus. It distracts from the photo.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 8:24]
Golden bokeh is right! I like this one. Not sure why it hasn't gotten any points. Lovely light, and good decision to frame the foreground to one side of the frame. The composition is well balanced with the foreground on the right side and the background vague, out-of-focus light. Best touches to this photograph? The light behind the leaves, and the spider webs on the flowers. Thanks for sharing.

Clark

cdmonson (5304) [2016-04-28 8:20]
You really have an eye for composition. I'm going to have to look through your photos more and perhaps borrow some ideas. :) This one caught my eye from the get-go. Excellent shot.

Clark