8/17/2003 9:08:57 AM

Sharon, this is fantastic ... love the lines and color :)

8/17/2003 9:26:00 AM

Great shot, Sharon!!! I like the colour, graphics and composition.

8/17/2003 9:43:12 AM

JW, Gail, and Leanne - thanks so much for your nice comments.

8/17/2003 10:02:21 AM

Good work!

8/17/2003 10:46:18 AM

Beautiful shot! LOve the lines!

8/17/2003 11:47:00 AM

Excellent composition, very pretty color and great textures. Nice job, Sharon!

8/17/2003 12:07:34 PM

Michael, Carolyn, and Patricia - thanks so much for your nice comments!!

8/17/2003 1:01:09 PM

Sharon, to me this shot is an absolute WINNER! You did a terrific job on this! Really coool shot!

8/17/2003 5:19:29 PM

Jean - thank you so much!! I'm always on the lookout for graphic, colorful images and I was very happy to come across this one!

8/17/2003 5:53:50 PM

Gosh, Sharon! This is sooo cool! I agree with Jean, this shot is an absolute WINNER!!! Wonderful job! Love it!

8/17/2003 10:16:59 PM

I too love this image... But just to get a meaty dialog going, let me ask everyone: does the step down in the bottom left corner distract or pull away attention? Try blocking it out and see what happens. Does the image then become too abstract? I am not saying one way is right or wrong - just trying to get some thoughtful analysis going... was this something you had in mind, Sharon?

8/17/2003 11:21:33 PM

	Purple #2 cropped © Sharon E. Lowe photosbysharon.com Canon EOS D60 Digi...

Jim - thank you for taking the time to comment. I pondered the step myself (especially the leaf on it, which I hadn't realized was there when I shot it - would have probably removed it if I had). I kept the step in because I thought it added a bit of a different element. Just to show you what it would look like without the step, I cropped it - still wanted to bring the handrails from the corner so it is a big crop. I don't like it as well - seems a bit static. But, I would be interested in what others have to say.

8/18/2003 5:12:52 AM

Very well done, I prefer the first one.
Magnificent colors and like the proportions! Cheers Susana

8/18/2003 7:59:07 AM

Susana - thanks!! Appreciate your comments.

8/18/2003 8:05:12 AM

So far I like the first one, but maybe try cropping just above the leaf, leaving a small, simple triangle in the lower left corner. I tried scrolling the image to see that view, and, personally, I liked that one best. Isn't this fun to hear so many different opinions? At any rate, it's a GREAT picture!

8/18/2003 8:36:15 AM

8/18/2003 10:45:10 AM

Well, this is a very interesting discussion. So far I like the first one, but I see Jim's point! Personally I wouldn't crop the image. I would clone out the step - in that way you will keep the good balance from # 1 in the picture. But still - it's a wonderful picture, Sharon!

8/18/2003 10:50:41 AM

	Purple #4 Vanishing step.... © Sharon E. Lowe photosbysharon.com Canon EOS D60 Digi...

8/18/2003 11:15:10 AM

Hi Sharon - I think this one is really good, much better than # 2, you still have the fine balance.
There are so many possibilities - you could also clone out with the green background.... :-) But, the question is, what YOU like best...

8/18/2003 11:40:14 AM

Evy - thanks. And, yes, I could change the color of everything and add a cat and mouse hole to make it even more interesting. We seem to have lost some of the discussion because Jean made a comment to which I replied and it isn't showing up here. But, to repeat a bit the discussion that is missing, #4 might be cleaner but it isn't what I saw so I think I prefer the first one still. If I could do it over again, I would look for different angles to see what difference they made in terms of the stair showing or not. I was with family and had to take this one quickly so as not to have to run too far to catch up with them. My only real regret with the original was not seeing the leaf, which I easily could have removed before I took the shot.

8/18/2003 11:59:31 AM

Yes, wonder what happened to that comment anyway? I've reported a bug that sometimes comments disappear - this has happened to me a few times on my pix. Just to reiterate my two cents worth, I DO like this version #4 a lot, but then it is up to the artist/photographer to show their vision, the way they see it! It's been fun reading the commentary though! You could easily clone out the leaf in the original if that bothers you... wish people would make suggestions on how to improve my photos or, like in this case, other things to try.

8/18/2003 12:08:37 PM

Jean - I wish we did more of this back and forth too - we all seem to just compliment the ones we really like (or have time to comment on - some people are so much better at doing it than me - I can barely keep up with submitting my own and responding to the comments I do get). I've enjoyed this and can think of how either 1 or 4 would appeal to different people for different things. I sometimes wonder when the finalists are announced what I could have done to improve my images. So, maybe we should all take this as a lesson and plan to offer suggestions rather than just compliments to each other.

8/18/2003 12:29:15 PM

Hi again Sharon and Jean - I totally agree with Jean: It's up to the artist/photographer to show ther vision, the way they see it! - and as Jim said: .. was this something you had in mind, Sharon? AND reading the title "Take the Purple STAIRS" it would be silly cloning the STAIRS out... wouldn't it? :-) So, Sharon - I vote for the first one... :-)
I too like discussions and suggestions as long as they are on a serious level! What a great idea, Jim, to start this dialog! And now it's bedtime for me... :-)

8/18/2003 12:58:11 PM

Well said, Sharon! Count me in! (I once suggested a little checkbox for whether or not a photo is "sensitive," maybe I need to amend that to whether or not the photographer is "sensitive" regarding constructive criticism ;-)

8/18/2003 12:58:17 PM

Well.... count me in too! The right words: constructive criticesm! And... maybe I will learn a few more words in English.... :-) Good Night, Ladies!

8/18/2003 1:02:42 PM

Nite, Evy! See ya tomorrow morning!

8/18/2003 1:03:29 PM

Evy - Sleep well! Yes, I realized the title would have to change if I got rid of the stair! Some other sites I visit have forums where you can submit a photo for comment. Jim, I wonder if that is something we could do here? I would love it if people felt freer to provide constructive criticism/ideas for improving images and if there was a special area for it, maybe it would help us all.

Jean - I promise to look for your photos and provide comments!

8/18/2003 1:10:00 PM

I like #1 with the leaf cloned out, or #4 as a close second.

8/18/2003 2:24:36 PM

Sharon, I agree with you that if there is a separate special section where we can solicit comments, it will encourage more people to freely speak up. Besides, it's encouraging to get positive feedback too!

8/18/2003 3:39:40 PM

Carolyn - thanks for commenting!

Jean - yes, it is great to get positive feedback but we benefit most from these types of discussions.

8/18/2003 3:43:14 PM

Agreed

8/18/2003 4:27:22 PM

Very Very Nice! I don't know how I missed this the first time around!

9/8/2003 8:24:31 PM

Congratulations to you, Sharon!!

9/9/2003 3:46:59 AM

Damian and Kathleen - thanks!

9/9/2003 4:13:25 AM

Sharon - I'm so glad to see this beautiful image (with stairs...:-)) as a finalist! Congratulations! Well deserved! And good luck!

9/9/2003 4:23:55 AM

Evy - thanks!

9/9/2003 6:06:50 AM

9/9/2003 7:10:03 AM

Congrats on your fine finalist, Sharon!!

9/9/2003 8:06:08 AM

Thanks Bob and Murry!!

9/9/2003 8:29:56 AM

Congrats Sharon, good shot, I like the step showing, gives me a sense of scale of the photograph :) Good discussion.

9/9/2003 12:58:15 PM

HAHAHAHA, GREAT JOB SHARON! You stuck to your guns in all that photo discussion and you have yourself a well-deserved winner! It's fun discussing too, though -- CONGRATULATIONS!

9/9/2003 1:32:56 PM

Jean - thanks! I guess I could submit one of my altered images this month....

9/9/2003 4:07:50 PM

Cliff - thanks for stopping by! Glad you like the image and it was a fun discussion.

9/9/2003 4:08:35 PM

This is a winner to me, Sharon! I love this! Good eye!

9/9/2003 4:24:25 PM

Dolores - thank you! Don't you love it when these types of images show up when you have your camera....

9/9/2003 7:28:52 PM

Sharon, this is a marvelous image ---exactly...the...way...it...is! (Leaf included! Is it the Chinese who say, "add an imperfection"?) The discussion above indicates the need for compliments to be mixed with constructive criticism, if any of us, amateur or pro, wants to grow. I love a pat on the back as much as anyone else, but even more important - PLEASE suggest some ways to improve, i.e., "deeper color," "a little crop on the left or right," "read Chapter Whatever in PHOTOSHOP," etc., etc. And the idea of a separate area for such suggestions? EXCELLENT! Sharon: the very best of luck to you in the coming week!

9/9/2003 11:03:25 PM

Mary - thank you very much fro your nice comments!!

9/10/2003 4:26:04 AM

Congratulations, Sharon! :-)

9/10/2003 9:36:35 PM

Patricia - thanks!

9/11/2003 4:21:21 AM

Great color and line!

9/12/2003 10:22:35 AM

Robert - thanks!

9/12/2003 10:56:36 AM

wow, this really made a long way!! congrats!
Su

9/12/2003 4:03:07 PM

Su - thanks!!

9/13/2003 3:48:47 AM

Hi Sharon: Such strong lines and colors ... overall, such a wonderfully strong image!! Kerry

9/17/2003 11:24:59 AM

Kerry - thank you again! I will probably always wonder whether one of the revisions (or getting rid of the leaf) would have put it into second or first place though....

9/17/2003 11:29:42 AM

Hi again Sharon: Jim's comment sure set off a wave of discussion! Actually, I like the original version just fine ... to my eye, the step adds some visual interest to the photo (since it's quite dark, the leaf is very minor). But I also like Purple #4, too! Again, Sharon, fine work!
Kerry

9/17/2003 11:52:40 AM

Kerry - thanks again for your nice comments!

9/17/2003 12:36:18 PM

Great graphics, Sharon! Congratulations!

9/23/2003 9:07:10 AM

Dan - thanks!!

9/23/2003 9:26:12 AM