Once again, not really a fan of the blown highlights here. The bottom of the image is interesting and appealing, but overall, could be better, IMO. This could work for High Key with some work.

Thanks, Clyde. I truly love art for this reason - one man's garbage (blown highlights) is another man's treasure.

Quick point: I am glad for Van Gogh's twisted vision - his work, as you know, was considered garbage by the majority of art critics at the time. For some, however, Van Gogh's art was beautiful; it spoke to them in a meaningful way - even through what was considered to be a lesser ability and technique. His unorthodox techniques and courage to produce art (despite opposition from critics and friends) have opened the door for countless artists to explore their art in new ways. I will continue to submit work that is honest to my vision - it may be garbage to you and to others - but to some, it may speak in a meaningful way. For what it's worth, I in no way see myself as another Van Gogh or Man Ray. I won't be put in a box, however. I like picture postcards, but I can only handle a certain number of them before I long for something with a bit of freshness to it. Too many of the critiques here look like they are written by first year photography/art majors. It's a little tiresome to read: this could better if the horizon were straightened, this is too blue, this should be cropped to follow the rule of thirds, the highlights are blown, the composition is weak...I have been guilty of making these kinds of trite observations as well. As a community of artist/photographers I hope that we strive to create original work - don't get stuck in a mold. In the example above, I know how to make a postcard out of that shot - I do that for a living. I give people what they want to see. That's fine as far as it goes - it certainly isn't art, however. Shoot from the heart and let the chips fall where they may. By the way, none of this is directed personally at you, Clyde. You should know by now that I think your work has merit.

Best to you,
Jon

@Jon, I appreciate your comments greatly. I am always excited when dialog breaks out on this site.

I love blown highlights and tilted images if done in an exciting/provocative way. But to characterize mine and others comments about horizons and blown highlights ref your recent posts as "trite" or that we were saying "garbage" is not the way you will learn or grow as a photographer.

This image for example is a weak example of blown out or "high key". Some better examples would be:

vazaar.com/user:effraie/photos/id:26709/
vazaar.com/topic:high-key/photos/id:7909/
www.onexposure.net/?photos=latest-additions&photo=...

When you have an image that is basically straight, but just a bit off tilt, it come across as a mistake not as an artistic expression.

This doesn't look like a mistake to me, it looks like a artistic expression:
www.vazaar.com/topic:street-photography/photos/id:...
but here it looks like a mistake:
www.vazaar.com/topic:signs/featured/id:17574/

Again, I appreciate your art and your comments, but don't blow off comments just because they don't flatter your posts, blow them off is they are stupid or wrong. I'm sure I make plenty of both types of comments, but I don't think the one's you are reacting to here were...

Cheers!!

Hey, BTW, did you remove some of your recent pics??? Couldn't find some I remembered when I went back to look again.

Ummmm, I find it a little intimidating to comment after your exchange with Clyde ... but I will anyway cause I looked at the image before I read. I think that the composition of this shot is strong with the barn and the trees as the main parts of the subject. I am far less enthusiastic about the control of exposure. For me it is not about the blown highlights, but the seeming lack of exposure on the barn so that it lacks punch and detail (looks overly post-processed to pull back some of that detail). The sky was always going to be blows with that light, the trees were always going to be silhouetted nicely on the right, but the barn just lets the overall image down a touch. The up-side of this, of course, is that the clouds are perfectly exposed - and this is often the rub when you have a scene that has such a wide range, something has to give and in this case I would prefer to see the "giving" in the clouds and the barn really get nailed.

Just my 2 cents worth ... but I am usually wrong - and my wife will confirm it.

Oh, and I'm with Clyde, I love to see extended exchanges about the quality of the image displayed. When given in the right spirit (which I think that you both always have for my images) it adds so much more and challenges for better each time, rather than the trite and useless "great", "love it", "wow" comments.

@Clyde: Appreciate the time and thought you put into your response. I am always glad for the opportunity of exchange with another photographer! Your work and comments have been helpful. Oh, and I did pull most of my work - including my features - off the site.

@Boyd:That whole intimidation thing is overrated:-) Appreciate your comments and thoughts on the photo!

Best to you,
Jon

@boyd - I guess there are times when comments like "great", "love it", "wow" really mean what they say instead of being 'trite' and 'useless' :) unless they are said to gain critique credits.
For novice amateur photographers like me they are encouragement and confidence boosters.

@Jon, I am interested to know why you pulled your photos?? I hope it doesn't mean that you are not posting here in future ...

@Pradeep, yes, I know that including "wow" etc is a confidence booster, but it is good to get why - but there are times when there is nothing more you can say because an image is just so good ...

Boyd,

Thanks for the concern - I intend to be around for awhile:-) Shouldn't have pulled the features:-( Duh!

Best,
jon

Boyd, point taken, will keep that in mind the next time i critique :)

du grain ,un ciel brulé et un certain manque de relief ce n'est pas ce que je préfère en photo . Mais si tu as voulu créer une atmosphère douce et tranquille c'est réussi

Is anyone able to translate?

Thanks in advance,
Jon

Hey Jon, try these, they are great:

www.google.com/translate_buttons?hl=en

Clyde,

Great link - thanks!

Cheers,
Jon

P.S. beats learning French, I guess:-)