http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/redboys/CherryBlossoms245.jpg

Another great shot Tuna. I really look forward to seeing your work when you post. However, I think the people detract from the image. They just seem out of place to me. I like the ominous sky and the very white cherry blossoms. The contrast is spot on in my eyes, but maybe a little hot (but I like that).

Another great capture...not as bold as your last shot ;) but great none the less.
Very candid moment and a great take on a often photographed subject (as is apparent).

I really like the tones in this photo, but I think the sky is a little too burnt in. The most noticeable area is over the middle tree. If you toned down the sky some I think this would be another great photo.

Cheers.

Tuna, your photographs always invite a good search and this is no exception. The lady in the background, (photographing the blossoms?) steals the scene. It's like a photograph of some one else's composition. The main photographer is beautifully positioned here and just like you she is standing back to include everything.
The little bit of blown out sky is not allowed to detract from anything here.
How do you do it Tuna?
Tom

what can i say? they have said it all.

but again...great pic...

Thank you for your comments and critique, folks.

I work on my images on my home monitor which is Spyder calibrated monthly - this image looks fine there, the sky is bright but not too bright. However, when I view it on my never-calibrated work laptop, I see the too-bright sky you speak of...oh well.

Here is a quick and dirty compromise of that area of the sky...

Tuna

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v382/redboys/CherryBlossoms246.jpg

I prefer the original. It has far greater impact to my eye. While I don't care for the presence of the lady in the foreground (she's too obvious) I love the folks by the bench. The black and white couple go well with the black and white mood. ANd I love that, as the photographer shoots the buds, the other person is staring out and away. But they don't dominate the photo which I think is what makes them even more appealing as part of the comp.

Very moody and well balanced.

Tuna...I'm actually undecided on whether I like the people in this...I like the woman taking a pic of the man and little boy and I also like the couple further back in the shot...but I'm not sure I like ALL of them together...it just almost seems like too much. Then again, I do like how you have them aligned...and the fact that even further into the scene there's a couple of people behind that bench.
What I love about this though, is the contrast between the trunks and branches of the trees and the blossoms.

Emily

Hey, Tuna

First of all, I love the people in this one and their positioning - how many times have we tried to photograph family and friends and those people in the background just won't get out of the way! :p

But...for me, this is one of those exceptions when a more featureless (or is it less featured?) sky may actually be "better". The dark clouds here look a little too foreboding for the overall emotion of the subjects. The upper left corner appears too artifically darkened (even if it wasn't). Personally, I would go the over way and lightened and reduced the contrast of the clouds to give it just a little detail. I think the cherry blossoms would stand out even more and lighted the mood.

I think my eyes just had a stroke...a visual goodie overload :)

I think I'm seeing two more people behind the bench or is it the gaps in the trees? So the Cherry Blossoms are taking all this in.
Tom

A modern day scene from Ingmar Bergmans "Cries and Whispers".