New Picture for Critique

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:09 pm

This little fantasy, created in Photoshop from a night shot in the Loire valley, is called "Tree of Flame".

All opinions happily accepted!

Post by **Mike** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:21 am

I generally like the photo but I do think that the lens flare is rather strong in the composition. If the flare was dulled down slightly then it might not overwhelm the photo.

Other than that I would say it is a very striking photograph.

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:19 pm

I was going to word it slightly stronger than Mike, but see above about the lens flare. Otherwise cool.

TAOWBST · Post by **TAOWBST** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 4:09 pm

The only criticism I have is again the lighting. Although I agree the lens flare is a bit on the strong side, I wonder whether it should be there at all.

It seems to me as though the light source is from behind the camera, as opposed to behind it.

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:06 pm

Nobody seems to like the flare, which is flare enough....(Hmmm)

Seriously, though, the flare is supposed to represent ....something.....and pose the question and give tension to the picture. It isn't intended to be read as the main light source. I may have to think again to make the message clearer.

I have another picture with flare that I will post eventually, called "The Coming of the Vitons" and to understand its implications you need to be aware of Eric Frank Russell's "Sinister Barrier". This is an SF novel that postulates that we have all been slves of the Vitons for centuries. They look like my flare spots if you can see them, but for most they are undetectable. They feed on emotion - fear, hatred, etc. Their banquet is the pain of War.

A nice story, and I'm trying to produce a photograph that shows the Vitons. Think of this current one as arms raised and running with blood (the tree of flames) and the flare is a feeding Viton. Very obscure context I know, but I am trying to think about things creatively. I must make it clearer!

Post by **Mike** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 1:02 pm

I think that the flare could work but it is just too powerful. I think it needs to be toned down dramatically to make the mysterious effect that you are after.

mr_e · Post by **mr_e** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 6:54 pm

It would perhaps be better if it was slightly more organic-looking to suggest what you're after, as apposed to being totally spherical.

TAOWBST · Post by **TAOWBST** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:07 pm

I think if your trying to represent this 'being'. Especially if there is very little in the way of definitve description of its appearance then I think the spherical aspect works.

Post by **johnriley1uk** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:52 pm

Thanks for the feedback.

Thinking about it, perhaps I should have had in mind a book cover rather than such an abstract representation. Then it would have been some sort of human figure(s) with the Vitons hovering around, taking their fill of emotions.

I'll see what I can do in a studio shoot sometime.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 8:31 am

To follow on this thread I will post a photo soon with a piece of art Lizzie and I created yesterday. Open to critique obviously!

TAOWBST · Post by **TAOWBST** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:30 pm

*tapping foot* I'm waiting