Photography Contests at BetterPhoto

Jeff Robinson 8/17/2003 9:08:57 AM

Very nice Sharon. Great use of color and lines! Jeff #53132

Gail Stelick 8/17/2003 9:26:00 AM

Sharon, this is fantastic ... love the lines and color :) #170305

Leanne M.E. Boyd 8/17/2003 9:43:12 AM

Great shot, Sharon!!! I like the colour, graphics and composition. #170322

Sharon E. Lowe 8/17/2003 10:02:21 AM

JW, Gail, and Leanne - thanks so much for your nice comments. #170337

Michael Prinz 8/17/2003 10:46:18 AM

Good work! #170379

Carolyn M. Fletcher 8/17/2003 11:47:00 AM

Beautiful shot! LOve the lines! #170439

Patricia Marroquin 8/17/2003 12:07:34 PM

Excellent composition, very pretty color and great textures. Nice job, Sharon! #170455

Sharon E. Lowe 8/17/2003 1:01:09 PM

Michael, Carolyn, and Patricia - thanks so much for your nice comments!! #170504

Jean Papo 8/17/2003 5:19:29 PM

Sharon, to me this shot is an absolute WINNER! You did a terrific job on this! Really coool shot! #170661

Sharon E. Lowe 8/17/2003 5:53:50 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! #170692

Evy Johansen 8/17/2003 10:16:59 PM

Gosh, Sharon! This is sooo cool! I agree with Jean, this shot is an absolute WINNER!!! Wonderful job! Love it! #170843

Jim Miotke 8/17/2003 11:21:33 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? #170894

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 5:12:52 AM

Evy - thanks - I always love to hear from you.

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. #171039

Susana Matos 8/18/2003 7:59:07 AM

Very well done, I prefer the first one.
Magnificent colors and like the proportions! Cheers Susana #171193

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 8:05:12 AM

Susana - thanks!! Appreciate your comments. #171202

Jean Papo 8/18/2003 8:36:15 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! #171212

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 10:45:10 AM

Jean - Here's the other crop - done as an 8x10 (I don't like odd sizes....). I still think I like the original one the best but everyone is entitled to their opinion and I like hearing suggestions from others. #171348

Evy Johansen 8/18/2003 10:50:41 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! #171351

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 11:15:10 AM

Evy - thanks for coming back. Yes, I think it is a matter of balance and thus far the original seems most balanced. As for cloning out the step, I guess I could just turn it solid purple so it looks like the sides of the steps - here's a quick and dirty cloning.... #171360

Evy Johansen 8/18/2003 11:40:14 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... #171381

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 11:59:31 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. #171397

Jean Papo 8/18/2003 12:08:37 PM

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. #171408

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 12:29:15 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. #171447

Evy Johansen 8/18/2003 12:58:11 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... :-) #171472

Jean Papo 8/18/2003 12:58:17 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 ;-) #171473

Evy Johansen 8/18/2003 1:02:42 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! #171476

Jean Papo 8/18/2003 1:03:29 PM

Nite, Evy! See ya tomorrow morning! #171477

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 1:10:00 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! #171479

Carolyn M. Fletcher 8/18/2003 2:24:36 PM

I like #1 with the leaf cloned out, or #4 as a close second. #171517

Jean Papo 8/18/2003 3:39:40 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! #171599

Sharon E. Lowe 8/18/2003 3:43:14 PM

Carolyn - thanks for commenting!

Jean - yes, it is great to get positive feedback but we benefit most from these types of discussions. #171606

Jean Papo 8/18/2003 4:27:22 PM

Agreed #171649

Damian P. Gadal 9/8/2003 8:24:31 PM

Very Very Nice! I don't know how I missed this the first time around! #191869

Kathleen Clemons 9/9/2003 3:46:59 AM

Congratulations to you, Sharon!! #192187

Sharon E. Lowe 9/9/2003 4:13:25 AM

Damian and Kathleen - thanks! #192305

Evy Johansen 9/9/2003 4:23:55 AM

Sharon - I'm so glad to see this beautiful image (with stairs...:-)) as a finalist! Congratulations! Well deserved! And good luck! #192354

Sharon E. Lowe 9/9/2003 6:06:50 AM

Evy - thanks! #192689

bob garas 9/9/2003 7:10:03 AM

congrats !! #192817

Murry Grigsby 9/9/2003 8:06:08 AM

Congrats on your fine finalist, Sharon!! #192953

Sharon E. Lowe 9/9/2003 8:29:56 AM

Thanks Bob and Murry!! #192996

clifton Mair 9/9/2003 12:58:15 PM

Congrats Sharon, good shot, I like the step showing, gives me a sense of scale of the photograph :) Good discussion. #193612

Jean Papo 9/9/2003 1:32:56 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! #193736

Sharon E. Lowe 9/9/2003 4:07:50 PM

Jean - thanks! I guess I could submit one of my altered images this month.... #193909

Sharon E. Lowe 9/9/2003 4:08:35 PM

Cliff - thanks for stopping by! Glad you like the image and it was a fun discussion. #193911

Dolores Neilson 9/9/2003 4:24:25 PM

This is a winner to me, Sharon! I love this! Good eye! #193933

Sharon E. Lowe 9/9/2003 7:28:52 PM

Dolores - thank you! Don't you love it when these types of images show up when you have your camera.... #194048

Mary K. Robison 9/9/2003 11:03:25 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! #194255

Sharon E. Lowe 9/10/2003 4:26:04 AM

Mary - thank you very much fro your nice comments!! #194397

Patricia Marroquin 9/10/2003 9:36:35 PM

Congratulations, Sharon! :-) #195513

Sharon E. Lowe 9/11/2003 4:21:21 AM

Patricia - thanks! #195764

Robert Brown 9/12/2003 10:22:35 AM

Great color and line! #197451

Sharon E. Lowe 9/12/2003 10:56:36 AM

Robert - thanks! #197474

Susana Matos 9/12/2003 4:03:07 PM

wow, this really made a long way!! congrats!
Su #197741

Sharon E. Lowe 9/13/2003 3:48:47 AM

Su - thanks!! #198152

Kerry Drager 9/17/2003 11:24:59 AM

Hi Sharon: Such strong lines and colors ... overall, such a wonderfully strong image!! Kerry #203712

Sharon E. Lowe 9/17/2003 11:29:42 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.... #203719

Kerry Drager 9/17/2003 11:52:40 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
#203744

Sharon E. Lowe 9/17/2003 12:36:18 PM

Kerry - thanks again for your nice comments! #203763

Dan S. Coquia 9/23/2003 9:07:10 AM

Great graphics, Sharon! Congratulations! #209514

Sharon E. Lowe 9/23/2003 9:26:12 AM

Dan - thanks!! #209545

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