I just got back. There was a lot of cloud about today too. I filled up some SD cards, but I haven't got good vibes really. Way too knackered to look at them tonight, though - got up at 5.30 this morning and was at the field by 7.

I'll either post something within the next day or two, or 'fess up to having nothing but dross!

BTW.. didn't you think the combination of Chipmunk and Helicopters was just the strangest?

Well, I would completely agree with you. I don't get that either.

Yes. This is his particular skill, I think, and it's a fairly rare one.

As I said earlier, I often dislike Paul's work, mostly because I sense an iconoclastic and sometimes political stridency about it that jars with me somehow.

However, it's that very quality that at the same time impresses me as evidence of the ability to photograph in a way that can evoke strong feelings.

So I can respectfully dislike some of the work, while at the same time recognising its power.

I think perhaps you're not looking closely enough. The reflection isn't mirror-smooth, but the arm on the right side of the frame as we look at it is clearly present in the reflection.

Without a doubt this is the case. But that's true about a lot of pictures - their context adds significance to elements in the photograph that would otherwise be unremarkable.

For reasons I won't go into here, all things Christian evoke in me a strong negative reaction, so the compositional dissonances in the photograph strike a strong chord with me.

Having looked at quite a lot of Paul's pictures in recent times, I do get a sense that these compositional dissonances are not coincidental.

Just to put my own view in perspective, though, I wouldn't go as far as Kris. It's good, very good even, but not quite that good, IMO!


Please don't change! Excuse the pun, but god forbid that the trend towards positive-only comment squeezes out those that have a contrary view.

Please don't anyone feel they need to do anything to a picture for my sake.

The OP asked for opinions, I gave mine. No one's under any obligation to agree with them, defend their own preferences, or indeed pay any attention at all.

The eyes in the second one remind me of The Hood, from Thunderbirds.

That aside, I think the highlights are now a lot less distracting, but the texture of the skin is a bit plasticky, especially the forehead.

Actually there's one more thing that I had at the back of my mind last night, but I couldn't remember the details.

I've found it now... There's a quote from the bible...

In Matthew chapter 7, vv 13-14, it says this:

[quote="god allegedly"]... For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.[/quote]It's another contrast with Paul's photograph. A great big wide path, with a big cross, leading nowhere.

Love it.

Because of the dissonance it introduces by not being horizontal.

Sorry, I accidentally posted discussion stuff in the classified section. Here's what I said..

...you know, unless there's something wrong with it, I'd not be too hasty to get rid of it. I don't have any experience with that particular lens, so maybe it's not all that good.

I have to say, though, that despite conventional wisdom, which rightly says that 28 isn't wide enough for a truly all-purpose super-zoom on APS-C, I still find uses for my Pentax 28-200.

And there's no denying that 28-300 is a wider range than 28-200, or the increasingly legendary 55-300.

It would have to be a bit rubbish not to be worth more than £100.

I'll preface this comment by saying that I mean what follows in an entirely complimentary sense.

I must pay tribute to you, Paul. One of the marks of a great photographer is the ability to evoke strong feelings in one's audience.

I almost invariably dislike your work, while at the same time being most impressed by your observation skills, and your ability to compose photographs in an unusual and yet effective way.

This is no exception. For personal reasons I dislike almost all Christian imagery, and yet I'm forced to admire this.

First the reflection in the puddle. Class. Second, the annoying slant of the treeline, contrasting delightfully with the aggressively vertical cross. Also class. Ditto the way the cross itself isn't quite in the centre of the broad path, all amplified by the square crop.

And the revoltingly white christ-figure, contrasting defiantly with the misty background.

Excellent - I hate it. Can't wait for the rest of the series.
_____

PS... By the way... why?

I haven't noticed any specific slowness either, and I usually visit several times a day.

Nothing AFAICS consistent with anything unusual.