PotW Feb 22, 2011 - Guest selector: Rooz

[gstark]

Thanks to Gary for allowing me to indulge myself and choose the POTW. as per normal there has been some wonderful images posted this past week.

the usual crew getting up nice and early to post some spectacular landscapes despite gerry suspiciously not working his magic to bring out a glorious sunrise when other forum members were looking over his shoulder.

zaf also gave us a portrait that belongs in every persons photo album. there is alot of feeling in this image. an intimacy between mother and daughter that is palpable thru the image and i just love that. the image can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=40678.

marc posted part 2 of his african series and once again we have been treated to a truly superb wildlife photographer. revisit the images here: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=40664

ultimately though POTW came down to an image...or should i say series of images from wayne. the thread can be found here: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=40650 i have watched Piro’s travel series with anticipation of what we will see next. the mono images have a raw simplicity that remind me of film but mostly they photography “of the moment”... taken for the sheer joy of our chosen medium of expression. they are uncomplicated. unconcerned with dynamic range, MTF charts or any other such technical mumbo jumbo. they do not leave me thinking about what PP was used, what lens was used, what aperture...nope...none of that. they just encourage me to enjoy them for what they are.

the transition in this series from a solitary girl in her own world in #2 to her genuine joyful interaction in the 2nd to the intimacy in #3 to sealing the deal with a kiss in #4 is just sublime. if pushed i would select #4 as my favourite. well done wayne and thanks for sharing.

[photomarcs]

Lovely work! I too admired it as a collection, the strength in the images are phenomenal in making me care less about the technicals of exposure etc, and concentrate on subject.. Very rare since I'm all technical so well done :D I can now tick off the "don't care about techs and care about great shots" on my list of things to find. Keep up the awesome imagery and congratulations!

[surenj]

Very well deserved! Nice selection Rooz.

[PiroStitch]

Wow! This is indeed a great surprise! Thanks Rooz and Gary, greatly appreciate it.

Shooting with the Leica has taught me a great deal about pre-planning and putting in a lot more thought than I usually have. Changing exposures isn't as easy as the flick of a thumb or my index finger on the SLR. Everything is preset with the exposure in mind and then comes the joy (I mean this sincerely) of waiting and watching for that moment.

I didn't have this series in mind at all when I captured it, even though I remembered Valentine's Day. I was sitting on the steps of [url=http://www.digifocal.com/wp-content/gallery/prague-streets/thumbs/thumbs_l1000706-edit.jpg]this local cathedral[/url] and the girl was standing in the distance, as shown in the first image of the series. I took that shot and thought that was that. Then the whole story evolved and kept going from there.

I understand that street photography is at times hard to perceive as a thing of beauty, which is why I really greatly appreciate this POTW.

Many thanks again and will keep sharing more pics. There's a really great trip planned for this Saturday and I've started preparing for it. It's a place of great meaning for me and will share in due time (sorry, no spoilers).

[colin_12]

nice set and good choice.
Way to go

[biggerry]

Great write up Chris and good choice, Well done pirostitch.

[zafra52]

Great image! Evocative of the great masters
of photography. It is the type of picture I
would expect to see occupying half the wall
of a good coffee shop. It conveys the cold
of winter and the warmth of romance or
friendship. Congratulations to all!