Andy Rouse feedback

[jinky]

Not sure who can see this as it is a facebook link but just been brave / stupid enough to comment on an Andy Rouse image and say it doesn`t woirk for me. He`s used infra red photography to shoot a gorilla with very little of the background foliage showing. To me it works very well as a black and white image but the IR element was wasted as nothing in the central image is really imapcted by the IR treatment as I see it. He asked for opinions and I gave it. Others have said the same and his immediate response was " well the press love it because it`s different" . Just shows that even the great photographers get defensive when they offer an image for critique and then don`t like what they read - he`s polite though 
https://www.facebook.com/andyrousephoto/photos/a.273469753752.144395.266511513752/10153573097053753/?type=3&theater

He`s just come back to me and said me and another guy are being "too technical" and we`ve missed what makes the image stand out in infra red over his mono version. I`ve asked if he can share his mono version to show me. He`s certainly got more life in the gorillas eyes than I thought possible using infra red but....

It`s funny he posted an advert on FB for places on his next trip to the pole yto shoot polar bears  with a chartered ice breaker. i commented I`d have loved to have gone if I`d won last nights lottery (it`s £8,5000 + flights  pp) and he replied he had and had bought the ship! 

This is a screenshot in case you cannot get onto Facebook showing the shot and comments. He thinks I`m too technical and missing something and is probably right! I should stress it is a screenshot of Any Rouse`s shot for critique purposes and I will delete the file once anyone has commented and feedback any further comment he makes. I`ll also be getting out my old infra red Sony F707 when I see what he means.

[jinky]

I think he's binned me now saying he won't share the B&W one but trust him the IR one is best.
Still not many photographers at his level would do banter on Facebook. Not enjoyed myself so much since a few of our Leeds Flickr group were dismissed in the Guardian as a " bolshy lot" for challenging his assertions about shooting lots in the hope or aim of getting one decent image!

[Beaux Reflets]

My take on it Paul

An interesting shot - Both the IR tones and the sqint in/of eyes are messaging the quite natural " Try to connect with,,," aspect - In combination it works to grab initial attention and to underline the loss of connections in Nature - A good PR shot for endangered species.


I'm not a IR fan, some images work and some don't - I am not inspired to try IR as a result of the Squinting Gorilla shot but can see some merit in the combination.

[Oldboy]

Not everyone likes the same image as we are all different. You gave an honest opinion and he should respect that and not try to brow-beat you to accept his choice because he's a pro. I'm not keen on it either as it lacks impact.