Being cooped up in the house is driving me nuts. The Doc says that I have to stay indoors until the cough gets better. Well I broke the rules today. I shot the icicles hanging off the front of house. In this one I was trying to get the moon in the backgound. That is the bright spot in the center. The lighting was only the 25 watt brown bulb on my porch. Hand held, 4sec - f2.8, 70-200mm lens at 70mm, ISO 400. Post work includes hue adjustment and slight USM. Any thoughts on how to improve other than using a tripod? No Sheila, not one handed. ;-) Magick Michael

The thumb...

OK now with the right image... Too much medication...

Love the dof on this and all the interesting things going on in the background. Warm light is really nice too. I had thought that the compo might look better going in tighter, but now after playing with it I'm not sure that it improved anything..... Hope you don't mind me messing with it a bit....

I don't mind at all! I like your crop but I agree that yours is closer but still missing something too. hmmm... The tight side seems like dead space. It was hard to hand hold this, not cough my head off and compose the shot. Maybe this?

Ahhh! I think you nailed it! I was trying not to crop off the right side too much because I really do like the interesting shadows and shapes back there, but yes, too much dead space... your new crop seems to work well!

i like the original the best. i like the openness of it....like going into a cave. that's the feel i get on the original.

In the first image, the moon adds so much depth...like you're at entrance of cave looking in...seeing all the way back. on your tighter cropped image, that depth, IMO, is lost. it's all that open space on the right that leads me in and gives depth. well the icicles give depth too, but the openness on the right seems to enhance it.

#2 and #3 are just fine. but i think the first one is the best. i dream more in it.

do you notice on the right of the moon what looks to be a bush??? i really like that a lot, but it's cropped out in #3.

do you notice the man in this image? a shadowy man or ghost. you see his eyes? left side, behind the icicles. the man is intact in all three.

it's a very dreamy image for sure. the tones are incredible, and what you've captured is even more special considering the lousy lighting you had to work with and being so sick.

Improvements, Michael? sorry, i don't have any. i wouldn't change a thing!

but all this is just my opinion...what i like. you and others are sooooooooo much more experienced and able to give advice. i just tell you what i see and what my impressions are. technical stuff...that not by any means my expertise. my own personal tastss...well i'm expert there! LOL.

Take care, michael and i sure hope you'll start feeling better soon!!! i definitely can related to being cooped up in the house!! well, i am working but this elbow has made me cooped up in house too!! feel better! sheila

Message edited on: 01/25/2005 23:47

This is real cool. The DOF and colour is wonderful

I don't know which I prefer but they sure look good - like golden syrup icicles :)

They all look good. Almost gives winter a warm reception.

I thought they were golden...uh something. But definitely golden. I also like the cave effect. BUT now that I realize they are ice stalagcites I think the open space should be cropped. Funny hunh. Michelle your man is lying side ways. Zhounder did you KILL somebody in the golden cave but forget to hide the body? Bsteph

hmmm...there must be TWO men!!! the one i'm seeing is right on the left edge like he's ready to exit the image!!! LOL!!!

Will post to the challenge asap :)

hard to say which crop... but the golden glittering dreamy feel really captures the eye :] feel better soon