Mike - Gallery 1

[Admin]

Mike's first gallery is now on the website.

http://www.releasephotogroup.org.uk/mikegallery.htm

[Joe Tully]

Oooooooooh!!! Now here we have a collection of work, which, bringing cliches to mind, should see some cats and pigeons and wheat and chaff brought up over the next few days. Let me say right away that overall I really like this gallery offering. The work is original, well executed and visually stimulating. Couldn't ask for much more could we?
May I also say that once upon a time I entered a piece in similar vein in a club competition only to hear in judges comments the immortal words "Very good, but does it really belong in a photo competition?" I didn't agree with the judge as it happened, because the shot was entirely a photograph. Just one exposure at that, albeit with much use of the replace colours routine on several layers. He thought it rightly belonged in a graphic artists competition rather than a photographer's ditto and it is difficult to know where the dividing line should be drawn. I think some of our members might have a go at drawing such a line in response to these images, but don't be too quick off the mark. The subject is a minefield. Perhaps best just to enjoy Mike's little treat for a while. One by one so.... with my marks out of 10.

"I See You"... Very beautiful, thoughtful image this with lovely muted colours. If I have to be a tad critical it would be to say that perhaps the horse is a trifle central, seems to be lit differently than the flowers and looks a wee bit cut and pasted (perhaps only as a result of the lighting). As a graphic treat though, I like it. 7/10

"Duck Boards"..... Again a bit central compositionally and despite a very clever title it looks just a bit contrived like as if Mike has been trying just a bit too hard to produce something outstanding. 6/10

"Early one misty Morning".... What a cracker!! As a fan of watercolour painting and especially of JMW Turner's type of watercolouring, I am bowled over by this one. It's tranquil, ethereal, conveys a wonderful sense of solitude and peace and its unashamed to look longingly after the watercolour tradition. 9/10

"Faded Glory".... Other than the deliberate pixellation I rather loke this too but would have preferred a simpler treatment. 6/10

"Freedom".... This is a great image. A definite candidate for the graphics competition but I don't care, it is simply great. There is a wonderful sense of power and dynamic allied to a sense of mystery. Wish it were my creation. 9.5/10

"The Rose"..... Much the same thoughts here as with "Faded Glory". The diffusion is lovely though. 7/10

"The Tower, Farnborough".... I like the tension between the diagonal line traced by the vapour and the vertical of the building. Throw in that lovely fluffy cloud and the inky black sky and you can hardly lose. Like it a lot. 8/10

"Winter Dawn"....Top class work again. Not quite as good as "Early one misty Morning" but within a whisker all the same. The bear is whats holding me back. Something about him not ringing true. Now a wee yacht and we might really be in business!! 8.5/10

Well, thanks Mike, these have cheered me up no end. Isn't vision wonderful. I love music but I think if I had to chose between my hearing and my sight, I would have to vote my hearing away all the time I had stuff like this to look at. Over to the rest of the gang........

Joe

[IAN]

Hi Mike
Well done with your first gallery and being part of the Release team. You've got off to a great start showing us some of your images which have your own unique style stamped across them. Joe has marked you quite highly on most of them and knowing from previous assessments he can be a hard man to please so you've scored with him already.

As you know I'm all for originality and interesting subject matter. You put together your elements in a very tasteful way without going over the top. I can see how you use similar backgrounds in a lot of your images making good use of their potential.
I enjoy the use of the watery layer coupled with the misty overlay which really gives them an ethereal quality. 'Early One Misty morning' is a classic example of these qualities. I know some will say a lot of them are very contrived but that's modern day image making, and it's about the final product we're looking at that counts. It's art yes but made up from photographic components, from which the worlds your oyster. So many images to be made from your stock pile of accumulated layers.

Great to have you along and what you bring to the photographic table.

Ian

[Audrey]

Dear Mike -- Just to say THANK YOU!! I find your images well crafted and the results are beautiful, cheering and inspiring. I think "Digital Painting" is a grand discription and I'd add imaginative and original.The colours are glorious but the gallery makes me turn an embarrasing shade of green!!!
 Audrey

[Overbeyond]

Very nice to see your work on here Mike.
A nice gallery of images Mike and all very easy on the eye. Obviously lots of competent design work has gone in to these, yet my favourite of the bunch is the one that has, perhaps, received or needed less attention than the others; and that is Farnborough Tower. It has a drama and tension life that I feel does not come over in the others.
The colour images are not without a degree of beauty and calm but I feel that somehow, subject wise, they could be more inventive. It seems to me anyway, that I have seen most of these subjects, or something very similar, somewhere else before.
Just my four and sixpence worth.

[Wearwell Mike]

Well my gallery has been up for a while now for all to see, I thank ,Joe,Ian,Audrey,& Tom,for looking and for your comments,my aim is firstly to produce work which is varied and stimulating,if I have caused you to post a comment either good or bad,then I have achieved something and  that is what strives me on. I'm not sure where my photography is going right now,there is such a variety of styles out there That I wont to try my hand at everything,this digital age we are in now has brought out the creative side in me,more so than I ever thought,long may it continue. So my friends,thankyou,thankyou for taking the time to view my images,and for your kind comments.  Mike. 

[alanw]

What more can I add to the rewarding words already expressed by other Members to your Gallery 1 Mike, except to say that I am glad we have you on board so we may also view your varied & interesting photographic works in some detail at the Club. Thank you. alanW   

[Wearwell Mike]

Hi Alan,thanks for taking the time to view my gallery and for your kind words. Regards. Mike.

[Glenn Rossiter]

Mike.
Glenn here, apologies for lateness in getting to your First gallery.

"I See You"... Great technical work, but the Flowers overpower the Horse for me, which I feel is the main interest here.
"Duck Boards".... Again an interesting Image compositionally, being very central, love the colours. I feel the duckboards themselves need to be a stronger diagonal in the Image.
"Early one misty Morning"....   Now this is a good one .... misty technique suits the Image. Love it.
"Faded Glory"....   Now this one is faded for me I'm afraid, apart from the Light, I'm not really fussed. Sorry.
"Freedom".... Just Brilliant Mike, I'd love to see this one larger.
"The Rose".....   A little like faded Glory I'm afraid .. Not a Fan.
"The Tower, Farnborough"....   Really good mono, love the balance between Tower and the vapour trail. Excellent
"Winter Dawn".... Again a good Image with effect similar to Misty Morning. Just a question, wouldn't the Image be better with an Iceberg insert rather than the wooden stump or post in the left forground ?
Anyway a great discussion set Mate, well done. Thanks for the Panel.
Glenn

[Wearwell Mike]

Hi Glenn,many thanks for looking at my gallery and for the comments, apologies accepted by the way, I don't entirely agree with all that you say about them,but heh wouldn't life be boring if I did,"Winter Dawn",the wooden stump thingy is a small rowing boat by the way !  As for an iceberg........I'm still looking. Thanks again. Mike.