(photographing with the soul)
Shadow Chairs
Goodness, great image. Lots of poetry and dance in this one. If you get thinking about motifs for a second, one could argue you have a great one going in the checkerboard pattern of the fabric and its relationship to all the squares formed by light and shadow coming from the window. Two kinds of grids playing with each other, and ultimately the viewer. This feels "decisive" in the sense that light truly is fleeting and makes particular magic at certain times. Well seen and also impressed that you had to look DOWN to find this bit of magic. It means you are staying open to many opportunities. The fact that you had no frame is a bit astonishing as there isn't a single thing amiss. Nice done.
Pumpkin Smile
This one, humorous, and also surgically composed (you promise you didn't peek?) Great use of filling the foreground and moving in close on your subject. Puts a little extra emphasis on Farmer Pumpkin from Eviltown. (Why didn't I have those inflatable skeletons growing up?) Two stories going on: 1) the magic or possible secret world of these dark figures 2) the everyday storefront in Main Street America. I like the juxtaposition and Americana-esque feel of the whole thing.
Ichabod
Possibly the best of the bunch. Immediately taken with the figure, of course, as it dominates and does it spooky routine. Once I get past that "shock", I am off to other very, very exciting flavors! The way the light is striking those leaves in a sort of heraldic/heavenly way is ironic, humorous. It has the effect of leaves encase in ice, as though the conjurer in the foreground has cast an ICE spell of sorts. Fascinating amount of stuff going on. Also, the utterly wonderful connection between the fingers of the tree (bony and gnarled) and the fingers of the witch. Another, seemingly, surgical composition. I don't think I want you using the Viewfinder at all going forward. [wink]. Photographic wonders too in the interplay of darks and lights! More and more can be said, but I'll leave it to you.
Final Thoughts:
Couldn't feel better about your start with this class. Nicely done lesson with some very remarkable compositions and good "eyesight" without viewfinder. Idea now is to keep that great connection, immersion, vision going once that persnickety viewfinder gets put over your eye again. Nice work.