Progress

[mjrichardson]

Hello all.

It's been a few years since I posted images for critique, I have little chance these days to grab the camera for recreation, I hope it's ok to offer these few images for comment and criticism.

I have named this series Progress, I think because there is a view that Iraq and Basra specifically is moving forward, developing in some way and I'm not sure I see it, working as I have here for the last 8 months.

These were all taken through the bullet-proof glass of my armoured transport, unfortunately to travel anywhere requires 3 such vehicles and a team of armed guards.

Anyway, I hope they pique some interest and comment, positive or negative.










Thanks for looking.

Mat

[Slobodan Blagojevic]

Aside from any political ramifications, I simply love the tonality of your images. It says more to me than anything else.

Thanks for the insight and stay safe.

[Fips]

Hey Mat,

Very nice. Especially the first one. Personally, I can't find anything to criticize. But maybe you can say a word about the colors? I like the muted tone of the sand and sky. Did you do any adjustments there?

Fips

[popnfresh]

Strong, edgy compositions and a gorgeous, subdued, almost monochrome palette. Great work!

[mjrichardson]

Thanks very much for the kind words, I'm glad you like them.

Normally Iraq is blisteringly hot but this time of the year is overcast and can lend an oppressive air, particularly in the oilfields where the air pollution is pretty high. This, coupled with the thickness of the armoured glass, gave a beautiful tone to the images, I've pushed the effect in pp, hoping I hadn't gone too far but it appears they're about right from the responses.

Thanks again for the comments, I really appreciate it!

Mat

[RSL]

I'm with Slobodan on the tonality, Mat. It's wonderful. And, like Flips I wonder whether or not it's the way it came off the camera. Either way, it's very fine.

Well, you posted just as I was writing this, so you answered my question before I got a chance to ask it.

[Rob C]

Shocked and awed!

Rob C

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Stunning and evocative. Thanks for posting them.

Eric

[ivan muller]

Thanks, I like them all and please post some more.....

[EduPerez]

I'll adhere to the general consensus here, the tonalities of these pictures add a lot to the message; the composition on the first one (and probably the second one too) is specially appealing to me.