"Untitled" by Tiago Capela | Why I like eyes...

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via altphotos.com

Some will have noticed I comment on eyes a bit (usually first, before mentioning anything else). Whenever someone TwitPics a photo, adds to their FB profile pics, or links to something, I look to the peepers… then maybe wander round a bit after.

I. Love. Eyes.

It’s not just an aesthetic thing either, I like the stories. Time & emotion rest heavy in the eyes. In photos, I *really* like it when a photographer then captures some fantastic catch-light or a telling/story driven reflection... and the above is a great example I just stumbled across on ALTphotos.com. I haven't closely examined to try discover what's there... but I'm just drawn to this stuff.

What makes it different for me? I get to alternate between two stories, and three functions of time.

1. I get to have the story I’m dreaming up about this guys life, spanning years/decades/continents/loves/losses everything that's created that face, that expression.

2. I get to imagine that singular point in time for him. All moments led to this, and *something* is still happening just behind that camera.

3. He’s captured, frozen, trapped. But there’s energy/life/movement in that face/reflection. He’s lived, alive, frozen, and all at the same moment. It's *nearly* Quantum...

(via ALTphotos Photography Community)

Ballots, bullets and bombs in Afghanistan - The Big Picture

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via boston.com

Now there's some dedication :) Nice Canon advert too!

From Boston Globe/ Big Picture"
"AP photographer Emilio Morenatti takes pictures as he is carried on a stretcher out of the University of Maryland Medical Center's R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center to be transferred to the Kernan Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation Hospital in Baltimore, Tuesday Aug. 25, 2009. Morenatti, whose left foot was amputated after he was injured by a bomb blast in Afghanistan, was transferred Tuesday to a rehabilitation hospital in Baltimore, where he will be fitted for a prosthesis. (AP Photo/Enric Marti)"

[NSFW/R18] Milla Jovovich (via I Heart Chaos) - Wasted opportunity :(

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via iheartchaos.com

I was considering the removal of "hate" from "love/hate" for this blog thing. I want to spend more time elevating great artwork... but this annoyed me so here we go:

Milla is stunning. If I was a star-struck type, she'd possibly be the one I would say "OMG" about... so why did the photographer waste such an incredible opportunity here (IMO)??

Maybe this is what she wanted? Who knows. Maybe I should Google the magazine and see if there's a write-up to go with it (I haven't yet). But images should be able to stand on their own with out commentary, and I'm just not seeing anything "special" about this shoot. To me, it's just another set of nude pics as you'd find almost anywhere else on the internet.

Again... such a waste. I should back that up really huh... But I can't. It's just a personal opinion. Like so many others with free access to the Internet space, I'm just soap-boxing.

I shoot as I see the person at the time, Millas ex-lover shot the way he saw her... he's allowed to. I just wish she looked more relaxed, the poses less awkward... that they'd made a choice between fine art and erotic art, rather than sit somewhere in between (without doing either justice).

Ending on a high note though... I like the one above a lot. Her expression is what we're use to seeing of her, so we can feel a tad more engaged with the "star". There's also some nice light happening. And, for me a personal preference, just a *hint* of sexuality that lets your brain do the rest.

P.S. Clicking the image will show you what I mean... but it's definitely NSFW/R18... you've been warned - twice.

"On the stairs" by pepexdx

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via 1x.com

Not going to say mch on this one. I just like it.

Couple of things I might do differently given personal taste (everyones eyes see new things), and some experts may argue it's not technically brilliant... but it's a great image.

I most like that it's not, necessarily, saying anything at all. It's not forcing an opinion, not making us see the photographers/subjects story... It simply offers me a start on my own little mind journey.

Thanks "pepexdx"

"Liberty" by Jean-Paul Kowitz

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via 1x.com

I've held a deep love/lust for good black & white images for this many [----------------------].

You may see a few here, as I hunt/stab/drag them back here for proud display. I make no apologies for this, get used to it.

Here we have an example of something that grabs me... today anyway.

The details on the forehead made by the rippling water, how it gives her skin an ugly, alien look. Just long enough an exposure so the flowing water off her lips isn't static and perfect, but not some random haze either... Really liking that even though the model is attractive (by my standards), Im reading the water instead.

Kinda neat. I like.

http://1x.com/photos/portrait/27192/

It takes a village... or something ;)

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via flickr.com

I'm sure the first post requires some form of momentous insight... but I'll start with a test, & a thought on what I might use this for.

I've always loved the idea of minds, from varying walks of life, collaborating. So this Social Media explosion seems to be happening at just the right time for me... even though many of us have been active with it for some time now.

Now that the "thought" is done, & the test of the bookmarklet is complete... I think I'll use this to share my favourite images as I come across them. Perhaps a little commentary will be in order, or I'll just let the image speak.

Be well :D