On 1/26/2015 I had critique from the Portfolio Review at B&H Camera. I appreciate their honesty and will consider what they said. The review is designed to help prepare us for possible selection by the Gallery. It was pointed out to me that photographs, not Photoshop work on the images, is what they like. Blurs and other tricks done in camera are OK. For example, they like abstract images of trees blurred to look like a pattern and other in camera tricks. But I was told that mine looked like I used Photoshop just because I could. I disagree with their limiting criteria. I feel my interpretations of my photographs is my art. Can’t win them all!
Straight photography is not what I want to do and does not fulfill me as an artist. I think that if I just use my photos unaltered they will be like many other photographs of nature. I to satisfy my need to create art I enhance, draw and painting on my photographs to fulfill my vision. If it cannot hope to please everyone, art is subjective.
Sherry Felix - port4u 
I agree with Louise. I prefer the “B” in each. I think that for me they stand out more. Just my opinion.
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Of these three pictures I liked B best for each. I have loved a few of the images you’ve done with photo shop previously but on the whole I prefer the unaltered photos.
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what a dilema. Number 1 i prefer b because i love the bird on the blue sky. Number two i prefer a, not for any real reason it just looks better. Number 3 i prefer a, it reminds me of a crisp winter day rather than a sunny summer and he looks like a winter bird. (if that makes sense).
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Thanks Eileen. I will continue working. Love gettnin comments back, it helps me to know how others see things.
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When all is said and done, I prefer all the “A” pictures because of the colors seem to pop out.
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#1 photo: On my first viewing I definitely preferred A. Then I reread what you’d written and I viewed again and I hesitated some in making the choice but I still prefer A. But if those judges want to minimize photo shopping, I might choose B. Really B is very nice. It’s just that A is definitely more artistic. (When I wrote this #1 comment, I initially did not have these last 2 sentences here – I went on to write about the other 2 photos. Then I came back and looked at #1 again, felt more appreciation for B and wrote the last 2 sentences…
#2 photo – it is not easy to see immediately the difference between A & B. Given what the judges prefer therefore, I would think maybe it’s best to go with B. However, that doesn’t really answer your question as to which do I prefer. Well…I don’t have a strong preference. Your version is “cleaner”, more precise with some better color (orange). However the B version, being less of “clean” line does seem to reflect nature more accurately – it’s slightly “busier” looking which I think is not bad at all – maybe a plus in that in that sense, it brings the viewer into nature more.
#3 photo – I consider myself to not have much of an “artistic eye” (although I may be slowly developing it some. That would explain to me why initially, I preferred B version. However, when I spend time with the 2 versions, I feel I understand why you would like A. I feel about A that non-art people would prefer B. But you asked for opinions and for me to have an opinion I feel that A is demanding – demanding of the viewer think, sense. imagine. So for myself, I would probably ultimately choose A.
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Valid and excellent responses. Good to see what others think. Thanks.
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I like version A of Brown Thrasher. I like the B version of the Hermit Thrush.
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Thanks Anne
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