Trying something new ---for me....

[natatbeach]

Natalie,

this is really good work, it still retain the photo feel. The only thing that I think doesn't fit is your face... No offense, I just think it would be much more mysterious if it was just the benches. The face immediately triggers a "ah, it's fake" response, but if it was just the benches it would make one think about it.

As always, my 2 cents.

O.k. so maybe not everything is better if it's all about me....you know how I love to put myself in every pic--lol

that's a really good idea...and just to show you what a great idea I think it is here ya go ...no face...and Shhhhhhhhhhhhh I think I like it better that way and thanks for your two cents

Thanks as always...

[PuckJunkey]

...original. That is, I much prefer your first image. You obviously know exactly what I was talking about in my comment about your benches / what makes Uelsmann's work so compelling. Just because "it wasn't there", doesn't mean "it isn't there" if you take my meaning.

Shots like this are invariably about what's inside you, and what you want people to understand about you... the juxtaposition of the benches on the water is both clever and well-designed. The only thing is that the ripples almost infer "shoreline nearby", which of course could mean one might take this shot quite literally (in the case of the second version). And your face *does* belong in there I think, although I would fade it into the sky even more than you have done to give it a bit more ethereal feel.

I did a bunch of shots like this when I was in photography school (digital imaging class, not the darkroom thankfully!) and I found that people were most often moved by the shots where the human elements were *very* subtle, but still easy to recognize once you scan over the entire scene. The starker the contrast between the human and the inanimate, the more it becomes about "the act of combining cool imagery" than about the emotion behind the work. Like the difference between a Hallmark card and a daydream, maybe... I dunno.

I can't describe that idea quite right, but I will conclude by saying you have a real talent for this sort of thing, so I encourage you to keep making compositions like these IF it's something you really enjoy doing. For me, I like doing montages like this as self-portraits (which might be why I like your face in the shot more than out of it). If you do it right, you can turn your computer into a camera and not just a special effects machine.

;)

[natatbeach]

Duncan McCloud and I am the Highlander ....or something like that. Thanks for directing me towards what I didn't realize would be a source of inspiartion.

having fun on posting a few different version...the ocean allows for a broad range of playing...thanks again...

[jeff_in_ak]

WOW!!! what awesome work. Great imagination and inspiration. I very much like both, but leaning just a bit to the "faceless" version. On the other hand, I was blown away by the first offering sooooo...
I think I will just enjoy them for what they are, pleasing to the eye and reaching different emotions and feelings and enjoying great work from your wonderful imagination.

jeff

[natatbeach]

thnaks for your really encouraging words jeff...I'm often inspired to go try landscapes and such from your beautiful posts...so maybe I should thank you

[natatbeach]

Penny
I have a few more in the works...but it'll be a while before I work on them with as much zest. there's so much going on right now (paid work -yeah, bartered work-yea, and sickness and germs everywhere) thnaks for taking time out of your hectic world to enjoy mine