Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: lorenzettifoto on April 18, 2011, 03:45:50 pm

Title: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 18, 2011, 03:45:50 pm
Good evening, my name is Andrea (nick: lorenzettifoto) living in Tuscany Italy and would like advice and opinions on some of my pictures
Thanks to all
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 18, 2011, 05:26:46 pm
Very, very nice and powerful, in the best chiaroscuro tradition.

If that is Tuscany, then it must be Dante's Hell version of it.  ;) Or just a forest fire.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 18, 2011, 05:28:32 pm
Andrea, Splendid! Bravo! --- Wow!
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Riaan van Wyk on April 19, 2011, 01:05:32 am
Dramatic indeed..I love it!
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: wolfnowl on April 19, 2011, 01:45:06 am
Welcome to the list!  Interesting rendition!

Mike.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 19, 2011, 02:37:33 am
thanks for your compliments.
The picture was taken in the lower Garfagnana a country called "Lo Cascio". The morning was not beautiful, but when we arrived on the square of the church, I saw the low clouds, but there not was a ray of sunshine. I waited about 2 hours before you start taking pictures, I was lucky
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Dave (Isle of Skye) on April 19, 2011, 03:25:15 am
Very nice indeed!

Photobloke
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 19, 2011, 03:41:24 am
Which just goes to prove there's a 'decisive moment' in landscape too!

Bellissimo!

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: stamper on April 19, 2011, 03:45:57 am
thanks for your compliments.
The picture was taken in the lower Garfagnana a country called "Lo Cascio". The morning was not beautiful, but when we arrived on the square of the church, I saw the low clouds, but there not was a ray of sunshine. I waited about 2 hours before you start taking pictures, I was lucky

You made your own luck.  :) Definitely different from most of what is seen here and a very pleasing change. You should print this and hang it your wall for all to see.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on April 19, 2011, 07:42:30 am
I'll join the chorus of approval. Wonderful image.

Jeremy
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Josh-H on April 19, 2011, 08:08:09 am
Simply a pleasure to view. Wonderful work.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 19, 2011, 09:03:30 am
Before placing me at Luminous Landscape, I visited it and given valuable advice, of technical and  other, I respect a lot Luminous Landscape  do great job , my school's preferred  on line. If not disturb I would upload some images of my work on landscapes and I like to receive advice on defects found on them, to improve my photographic culture
best regards
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 19, 2011, 09:34:53 am
Yes, please do show us more. What you have shown so far is quite excellent.

Eric
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 19, 2011, 09:39:52 am
This image was taken on December 8 in the Pisan hills at 9:26 am, the sun was behind a hill top, I just had to wait it is appeared, I arrived at the  05.30am  with a biting cold that struck me
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Slobodan Blagojevic on April 19, 2011, 09:45:17 am
 Damn it, Andrea! I love to criticize, and you are simply not giving me the opportunity! I can not find anything at fault. I am devastated. ;)
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 19, 2011, 10:00:55 am
Damn it, Andrea! I love to criticize, and you are simply not giving me the opportunity! I can not find anything at fault. I am devastated. ;)



What? You expected an Italian would go off half-cocked?

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 19, 2011, 10:46:43 am
This was taken in January at 7.30 am, arrival 05:30 on the place, when the sun appeared  heat exchange format  the fog has done his duty
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: John R Smith on April 19, 2011, 03:53:27 pm
Andrea

As everyone else has said, this is really excellent work. And very appropriate indeed for the Luminous Landscape Forum. I am not quite sure why you are bothering to show them to us, get yourself a website and a gallery and start selling prints!

However, there is a little something to criticise in this last landscape. The top of the frame is somewhat weak, as there is very little sky and it is too light to define the top edge of the print properly. Hence this edge of the picture looks unfinished. You could get around it to some extent by using a darker matt than usual when it was framed, or by using a thin box rule set out by 3mm from the edge, as I sometimes do where the sky is just too light.

Very good pictures!

John
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 19, 2011, 05:48:56 pm
thanks a lot John
 I care about to show you because my style is not very appreciated in Italy, their observation is to use too much post production, and I believe that photography is finished when the hang on the wall.
 I congratulate you for the defect found, and I must say that his observations become is right, now I'm covering the image of the same opinion, I have no apologies for defending the photo, in my landscapes I try poetry and sometimes I do take from the hand
 Best regards
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: sdwilsonsct on April 21, 2011, 04:19:34 pm
However, there is a little something to criticise in this last landscape. The top of the frame is somewhat weak, as there is very little sky and it is too light to define the top edge of the print properly.

I agree, John. But I like that tree at the top. And then I saw this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13156213

and just had to point out that there is precedence for the sliver of sky at the top.

I join the chorus of "great work". Most luck is made and not found.

Scott
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: popnfresh on April 22, 2011, 10:13:32 am
Andrea - all three shots are spectacular. I don't see anything much to quibble about. I suspect that there's more low value detail in #1 than I'm seeing on my monitor, despite the fact that it's calibrated. I'd love to see a really good print of it. The tree on the top of #3 makes up for the the lack of detail along the top edge. Graphically it's quite cool. All-in-all, these are three photographs any respectable art gallery would be proud to hang on their walls. Congratulations!
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 22, 2011, 01:32:11 pm
This image was taken on January 20 at 07.40am, the fog was thick and I've waited a long time to freeze the moment, I know this place and I knew very well that there was a house behind the fog
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 22, 2011, 01:46:34 pm
always on January 20 this time at 09.20am in the car while passing next to the lake of Holy Light I saw this house, I mounted the camera on a tripod with 70-200mm lens zoomed to 200 I also framing the reflection.
 I really love this picture, I find it very delicate
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: William Walker on April 22, 2011, 02:57:25 pm
Surely, in the history of this site, no-one has made a more spectacular "first eight posts"?
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 22, 2011, 03:09:34 pm
Surely, in the history of this site, no-one has made a more spectacular "first eight posts"?



You could post this statement in the Coffee Corner's 'Did You Notice'.

;-)

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: John R Smith on April 22, 2011, 03:19:37 pm
Surely, in the history of this site, no-one has made a more spectacular "first eight posts"?

Hmmm, I think Timo might have run him close . . .

John
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 22, 2011, 03:32:02 pm
excuse my ignorance but I do not follow your comments
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: John R Smith on April 22, 2011, 03:53:57 pm
excuse my ignorance but I do not follow your comments

Andrea

It would take too long to explain, but we are actually paying you a huge compliment  8)

And both of the new shots are really good, too . . .

John
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 22, 2011, 04:19:25 pm
Andrea, To understand what John's saying, go down through the threads in User Critiques and find a post by Timo Löfgren. Then, go into his Summary. Check out his earlier posts as well as his more recent ones. As just about everyone on LuLa knows by now, I'm no fan of photographic landscapes. I'm convinced that a good painter can do better landscape than any photographer, but though you and Timo may not make me eat my words, the two of you at least make me nibble them. You can see and so can Timo.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 22, 2011, 04:25:39 pm
I owe my growing photo also Luminous Landscape.
but now I'm boring you with my images and last image, load selected  at the sony award 2011
 This is the e-mail of the organisation:
 Sony World Photography Awards 2011
 Your Work Has Been selected for commendation Which is given to the top 50 images in Each category. The commended images will Appear on the course website in two But, Significantly, Also will feature in the official 2011 Sony World Photography Awards Winner's Book.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on April 22, 2011, 11:19:47 pm
This, I'm afraid, I really don't like. Please stick to georgeous landscapes.

Jeremy
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: William Walker on April 23, 2011, 01:18:26 am
This, I'm afraid, I really don't like. Please stick to georgeous landscapes.

Jeremy
+1
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: popnfresh on April 23, 2011, 01:41:45 am
I owe my growing photo also Luminous Landscape.
but now I'm boring you with my images and last image, load selected  at the sony award 2011
 This is the e-mail of the organisation:
 Sony World Photography Awards 2011
 Your Work Has Been selected for commendation Which is given to the top 50 images in Each category. The commended images will Appear on the course website in two But, Significantly, Also will feature in the official 2011 Sony World Photography Awards Winner's Book.

You're certainly taking us down a different rabbit hole here. This is a disturbing image. I wouldn't want to hang it on my wall, but I can appreciate it for what it is and also for its flawless technical execution. BTW, congratulations on your commendation. And no, you're not boring us at all.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 23, 2011, 03:27:04 am
sorry I rambled.
Do you know the gallery Photolark Gallery.com?
asked my images
http://stores.photolarkgallery.com/-strse-Photographs/Categories.bok
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 23, 2011, 08:34:20 am
Your 'violence' shot is probably more interesting than all of the landscapes put together. The trouble with landscape is that it's God's handiwork and not the photographer's: all the camera does is edit what's there and then mess with it even further afterwards.

However, setting up model shots (I hope this is a set-up) depends entirely on the skill and imagination of the team of people concerned. That's why, put simplistically, I prefer people shots and always have. Without the people, nothing would have existed. I see that as a far greater validation for doing photography at all than catching something that's already there, however pretty or unusual.

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 23, 2011, 11:10:09 am
Rob, As you know, I normally ignore landscapes and refuse to comment on them, or if I do comment my comment usually echoes Walker Evans's famous: "so what?". But both Andrea and Timo can see! Very, very few landscape photographers can do that. I think I'd also add Chuck Kimmerle to that list on the basis of his winter work in North Dakota. The three of them are about the only landscapers I've seen on LuLa who don't rate a "so what?".

I'd love to see Andrea do some street work, but his "violence" shot doesn't fall into that category. It's staged and it's derivative, and I can find essentially that same picture in just about any magazine that carries "detective" stories, or propaganda about violence toward women.

I agree with you that the vast majority of good photographs feature people in one way or another, or at least feature their handiwork. But we disagree about the "violence" picture. That's unusual.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 23, 2011, 01:10:57 pm
my photograph on violence is part of a work entitled the truth behind the door, taken from a real story that he told me a friend who has been raped. After the story I imagined the story in my own way trying to highlight a problem throughout the world (one in three women has been raped), it is not a nice story, but a complaint against this crime
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 23, 2011, 01:29:28 pm
(one in three women has been raped)

Andrea, That's the kind of off-the-wall statistic which, if you're going to toss it out, demands a reference to its source.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 23, 2011, 01:51:25 pm
a way of saying that there are many forms of violence
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 23, 2011, 01:59:42 pm
camden town
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: jasonrandolph on April 23, 2011, 06:30:59 pm
Andrea, your landscapes certainly have a "look" to them that is unique and wonderful!  The first image you posted is the most powerful to me, but all of them are excellent.  Keep up the great work!
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: popnfresh on April 23, 2011, 07:07:08 pm
Do you know the gallery Photolark Gallery.com?
asked my images
http://stores.photolarkgallery.com/-strse-Photographs/Categories.bok
No, I haven't seen it before. Thanks for sharing it. Do you sell much through it?
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 23, 2011, 08:46:10 pm
camden town

Andrea, If I were you I think I'd stick with landscape.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 24, 2011, 08:50:42 am
to be honest there are no big sales from this gallery just wondered if anyone knows it
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 24, 2011, 10:05:47 am
See... Another winner.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 24, 2011, 10:21:45 am
See... Another winner.



And here's another one, Russ: dig the dark-haired dancer in the middle of the background group of three.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQBKpV9emKc&feature=related

Big mistake for Dee Dee: never share the stage with dogs, kids or better dancers!

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 24, 2011, 10:48:39 am
Right, Rob. And people actually wonder why things are going to hell in s handbasket?
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 24, 2011, 11:31:45 am
Right, Rob. And people actually wonder why things are going to hell in s handbasket?

They used to say that the road to hell was paved with good intentions... Gotta switch her back on again!

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 24, 2011, 12:53:58 pm
thanks jason for comment
I visited your site, beautiful images and I envy much the black and white   I fell in love.
also would me like to learn to have a black and white as perfect as your
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Eric Myrvaagnes on April 24, 2011, 01:36:01 pm
Another stunning image (this last one).

I think this one would also look good in black and white.

Eric
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on April 24, 2011, 09:52:12 pm
my photograph on violence is part of a work entitled the truth behind the door, taken from a real story that he told me a friend who has been raped. After the story I imagined the story in my own way trying to highlight a problem throughout the world (one in three women has been raped), it is not a nice story, but a complaint against this crime
I have, I'm happy to say, no first-hand experience. However, I suspect that few women about to be raped, or who have just ben raped, are naked except for stiletto heeled shoes. That kind of dress is commoner in pornography (I'm told).

Jeremy
(sorry if the thread has moved on; I'm on holiday and reading only sporadically)
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: popnfresh on April 24, 2011, 11:35:30 pm
I think I might have to move to Tuscany.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 25, 2011, 06:24:51 am
a river of fog
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 25, 2011, 08:37:18 am
Andrea, It's obvious that landscape is your forte. It's wonderful work. Bravo!
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 25, 2011, 09:22:08 am
I think I might have to move to Tuscany.


Guaranteed the heels, I may follow you to seek my new life.

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 25, 2011, 09:29:05 am
I have, I'm happy to say, no first-hand experience. However, I suspect that few women about to be raped, or who have just ben raped, are naked except for stiletto heeled shoes. That kind of dress is commoner in pornography (I'm told).

Jeremy
(sorry if the thread has moved on; I'm on holiday and reading only sporadically)


I take it you don't dig Helmut Newton, then? He has publicly admitted to a box of the less pleasant sort of image, but I don't think that should imply that the lady's dress, of itself, indicates porn; I can easily imagine many times when such dress would be highly stimulating in the very finest traditions of consensual marital love... However, the Fatty Arbuckle equipment adds a sinister note, even if the model's using the wrong brand.

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 25, 2011, 01:55:06 pm
The heels in this case, are the emblem of the "trade".
The walls are crumbling physical setting but also a symbol of moral degradation.
I would keep in mind that there are no "coded events. " The reality is sometimes the most amazing and original imagination.
It expresses unequivocally what I intend to convey to the observer and I find it a strong emotional impact.
The very antithesis of these two elements heels and the squalor of the environment is the sublimation of the contrast between the squalor of the criminal act, in which the woman is considered only a must-have, and the hypocrisy of our society in which 'appear, looking at all costs, to be "trendy" annihilates any human relationship and interpersonal.
Finally, the fact that the victim does not escape, it seems that in almost all cases where this situation exists, the ending is exactly what transpires image. Still, the picture leaves a moment of suspense ... even if everything seems to have written, what happened next? The victim will be able to escape his tormentor in a last, desperate burst of self-defense?
It seems important to emphasize that the real power of that image lies in the fact at have caught the attention of everyone, and have struck the imagination, have created a relationship "empathy" with the observer. Each has then filtered and found the image on the basis of their emotions, their own experience, their moral and cultural beliefs.
Thanks to all for discussion and to this sincere and exchange of ideas.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on April 26, 2011, 02:06:49 am

I take it you don't dig Helmut Newton, then? He has publicly admitted to a box of the less pleasant sort of image, but I don't think that should imply that the lady's dress, of itself, indicates porn; I can easily imagine many times when such dress would be highly stimulating in the very finest traditions of consensual marital love... However, the Fatty Arbuckle equipment adds a sinister note, even if the model's using the wrong brand.

Rob C
I'm afraid I don't, no. My brother gave me a book of his work for my 21st birthday, a good many moons ago. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now, much. I can see the artistry but I can't see the point. My failing, I'm almost prepared to accept.

On the other hand, I'm as susceptible as the next man to emotions evoked by a shapely leg above a high-heeled shoe.

Jeremy
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on April 26, 2011, 02:09:17 am
The heels in this case, are the emblem of the "trade".
What "trade"? Your earlier answer gave the impression that the shot was some kind of contribution to an anti-rape campaign, and that's what I didn't see.

Jeremy
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 26, 2011, 06:00:40 am
the heels of the trade in that they appeal to the sensuality emanating
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 26, 2011, 08:49:31 am
the heels of the trade in that they appeal to the sensuality emanating



The trouble with much of this is simple: close to the end of it all, you realise that life is about three things: love, sex and the money to keep the two former aspects afloat. All else is window dressing.

Everything you can think of can be reduced down to those three needs. If you seek any profound truth about life, then forget the worthy tomes: it all lives, plain for all to see, in country and western songs, in the blues. You can fling clever semantic tricks around as long as you like, play syntax like a maestro, turn a phrase on the head of a pin as sweetly as the angels dancing there but, in the end, it’s that warm, shared bed and the full tummy that really, really dings your bell.

Or you are already dead, and just didn’t notice.

I like high heels on nice legs. 

Rob C 
                                 
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: RSL on April 26, 2011, 10:39:35 am
Rob, My favorite physicist, Richard Feynman once said: "Nature's primary command is 'do it again.'" I'm not sure the quote is exactly right, but that was the gist of it. He hit the nail on the head, heels or no heels.
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Jeremy Roussak on April 26, 2011, 10:49:19 am
the heels of the trade in that they appeal to the sensuality emanating
I'm not sure I understand that reply but let's leave it at that. For once (!), I'd rather not argue with someone. Your landscapes are exquisite.

Jeremy
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on April 26, 2011, 11:19:14 am
My English is not perfect and I would not fall into doubt, my passion for photography is landscape and I posted that picture because he was nominated, why not appeal to everyone.
I apologize to all those who have troubled soul, my goal is to denounce the violence.
Let's stop with this discussion and we talk about landscapes
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: Rob C on April 26, 2011, 04:25:31 pm
Lorenzo - si? - we talk about landscape here until the cows not only come home but fall asleep on their udders in exhaustion. It's one of the beauties of this station that you can drift away into things closer to the soul...

What's to be said about landscape, any photography? Some works and most doesn't; some people make a lot of money from it whilst others never sell a print. That's it: photography.

It's meeting some kindred or, for that matter, totally opposite minds that inspires the interest in posting here. Have a problem? Somebody is pretty sure to be willing and able to help you; another time it may be your turn to offer the aid. It's what keeps it cooking. Over the years you discover that some people remain tuned in whilst others fade away; some like to write and others just get their jollies from reading along; doesn't mean they don't get anything out of it because they don't say a lot. People are like that in life, too; every family has the noisy, exuberant member but also the silent one who does a lot of the hard work in the background. Often that's a woman. And we'd be dead without her, or if not quite dead, pretty miserable.

Fortunately, we aren't administered by strict disciplinarians.

Rob C
Title: Re: advice and opinions
Post by: lorenzettifoto on May 03, 2011, 12:00:29 pm
grazing sheep