Posted by Jim Erhardt on August 28, 2006 at 6:46 AM
Another week of great photos and tough choices...
Congratulations to Paul Fusco (Avian), Lori Kincaid (E,S&S), Pete Bengeyfield (Fauna), Barb Hansen (Flora), Ganesh Shankar (M/CU), Ian Flindt (M&N), Bishop Batien (PA) and Prashan Khapane (WC #242 - "50mm On Film")
Oh, finally I got one picture worthy of EP over here. All these years (2001) at NPN and I never managed to do that. Well, there are so many talented ppl at ESS forum which I frequent so thats allright, I guess. Thanks Mods.
Congrates to other winners.
Posted by Basil Greber on August 28, 2006 at 9:36 AM
Very nice photography once again.
Jim - I noticed that the galleries are still named "Editor's Picks", while you use the new name "Moderators' Picks". Dunno if it's on purpose, or an oversight, just bringing that to your attention.
Lori's image is not only technically excellent and visually pleasing but is also a great lesson in classic landscape composition. Note the subtle use of the rule of thirds (concentration of flowers on the lower right), and the arrangement of stacked triangles all the way from the foreground rocks, the rhododendron bushes, and even the patches of grass inbetween. The elements of interest are balanced throughout the frame - everything has its place, nothing is extraneous.
Only Lori can answer whether this is the result of a deliberate effort or whether her vision instinctively led her to this beautifully balanced composition.
Guy
Posted by Bob Steele on August 28, 2006 at 2:52 PM
Why was this image selected? (Avian)
Once again, the quality of images in Avian was incredible. Garth and I could have gone with any of a number of outstanding images. In fact, this was one of the toughest weeks in a while to choose only one. But choose only one we must, and Paul's Buff-breasted Sandpiper was clearly one we both could agree on. Paul's image is obviously a visually appealing scene with just about perfect technical execution, but it doesn't stop there. As I said in my critique of this image, Paul's use of an extremely low angle of view took what would potentially been a mediocre foreground/background and turned it into a wonderful color complimentary setting for this bird. The raised leg indicating action adds to the image as well. Our congrats to Paul on a fine bird image!
Posted by Barb Hansen on August 28, 2006 at 5:20 PM
Congratulations to all this weeks Moderator/Editors Picks. I am honored to even be considered in the mist of so much talent. Thank You.
Posted by Lori Kincaid on August 29, 2006 at 11:23 AM
Guy Tal wrote:
Only Lori can answer whether this is the result of a deliberate effort or whether her vision instinctively led her to this beautifully balanced composition.
Thanks so much for the EP and the kind words! This particular image was born of instinct and the pure beauty of the place and moment more than anything. I had been frustrated by a windy sunrise on the ridge top, so I dashed over to the leeward side of the mountain and hopped up on the foreground rocks to a site I'd scouted in the harsh light of the previous day. I saw this scene and stood there with mouth agape for a few moments, before scrambling to set up my camera. I did a little tweaking of the composition on the groundglass, but mainly it presented itself to me. I only had to see it.
I'm often quite painstaking in my composition, but my best shots are usually the ones that grab me instinctively. Even then, I try to pay careful attention to extraneous elements, mergers, and the flow through the scene, among other things. I almost never think deliberately about compositional guidelines like the rule of thirds, but sometimes I'll recompose after taking a shot to see if adherence to a compositional guideline would make a better image. It would be interesting and edifying to hear how others 'see' their images.
Lori
Posted by Bill Stice on August 30, 2006 at 8:32 AM
This is one of the best collections we've had. Thanks to all the moderators for the picks and congratulations to all the folks who took these stunning images!
Discussion
9 repliesCongratulations to Paul Fusco (Avian), Lori Kincaid (E,S&S), Pete Bengeyfield (Fauna), Barb Hansen (Flora), Ganesh Shankar (M/CU), Ian Flindt (M&N), Bishop Batien (PA) and Prashan Khapane (WC #242 - "50mm On Film")
Moderators' Picks Gallery
Thanks to all for your participation!
Congrates to other winners.
Jim - I noticed that the galleries are still named "Editor's Picks", while you use the new name "Moderators' Picks". Dunno if it's on purpose, or an oversight, just bringing that to your attention.
Basil
Mike Anderson
www.lightscapephoto.com
Why was this image selected? (ESS)
Lori's image is not only technically excellent and visually pleasing but is also a great lesson in classic landscape composition. Note the subtle use of the rule of thirds (concentration of flowers on the lower right), and the arrangement of stacked triangles all the way from the foreground rocks, the rhododendron bushes, and even the patches of grass inbetween. The elements of interest are balanced throughout the frame - everything has its place, nothing is extraneous.
Only Lori can answer whether this is the result of a deliberate effort or whether her vision instinctively led her to this beautifully balanced composition.
Guy
Once again, the quality of images in Avian was incredible. Garth and I could have gone with any of a number of outstanding images. In fact, this was one of the toughest weeks in a while to choose only one. But choose only one we must, and Paul's Buff-breasted Sandpiper was clearly one we both could agree on. Paul's image is obviously a visually appealing scene with just about perfect technical execution, but it doesn't stop there. As I said in my critique of this image, Paul's use of an extremely low angle of view took what would potentially been a mediocre foreground/background and turned it into a wonderful color complimentary setting for this bird. The raised leg indicating action adds to the image as well. Our congrats to Paul on a fine bird image!
Thanks so much for the EP and the kind words! This particular image was born of instinct and the pure beauty of the place and moment more than anything. I had been frustrated by a windy sunrise on the ridge top, so I dashed over to the leeward side of the mountain and hopped up on the foreground rocks to a site I'd scouted in the harsh light of the previous day. I saw this scene and stood there with mouth agape for a few moments, before scrambling to set up my camera. I did a little tweaking of the composition on the groundglass, but mainly it presented itself to me. I only had to see it.
I'm often quite painstaking in my composition, but my best shots are usually the ones that grab me instinctively. Even then, I try to pay careful attention to extraneous elements, mergers, and the flow through the scene, among other things. I almost never think deliberately about compositional guidelines like the rule of thirds, but sometimes I'll recompose after taking a shot to see if adherence to a compositional guideline would make a better image. It would be interesting and edifying to hear how others 'see' their images.
Lori