Riga - the Freedom Monument

Critiques [Translate]

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• devimeuxbe (45792)
• [2008-04-15 13:26]

Hi Kristine
The contrast is wonderfull with the dark background. Your perspective is great. Excellent composition.
Your work is very nice
Bertrand

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• PaulVDV (1479)
• [2008-04-15 13:54]

Hello Kristine,
I like this composition. The light is very good and the monument contrasts very nicely with the darkblue sky.
Regards, Paul

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• scobert (5321)
• [2008-04-15 14:10]
• [2]

Hi Kristine,
I had my critique all written out and I hit the wrong key and "poof", it was gone. I hate that. I will start again. This is a marvelous photograph and a wonderful testament to your difficult past and to the brave spirit of your people who have had to endure so much hardship and injustice. Your freedom was hard fought and hard won. The dramatic composition and lighting and the bold colors do wonders for the theme of this monument. To me, Milda and her stars being bathed in the warm glow of the sunlight, represent hope and freedom, and the the dark brooding clouds in the background represent the darkness of the past. I am sure that was your intention and you created a stunning and powerful image full of a variety of emotions and symbolism. As I have stated before, photography is so much more than just all of the technical details. You are a very creative and thoughtful person, and I love this posting of yours!
Stan

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• Hunkar (1565)
• [2008-04-15 14:58]

A superb image under clouds..

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• Wandering_Dan (3075)
• [2008-04-15 14:59]

Hi again -

A very interesting angle, especially considering what it stands for. I guess freedom is not as upright and straightforward as we would like to think. A powerful image.

Best,
Dan

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• Polonaise (15749)
• [2008-04-15 15:29]

Extraordinary photo, Kristine...
And, I am saying that because I know how difficult is to produce an interesting 'photographic' photo of such thing like monument or sculpture or any kind of building whatsoever.
Firstly: Because there are myriads of them
Secondly: Because you have no help whatsoever from your subject...
You see dear...
When you photograph a child - you have a tremendous help from that child... i.e: Oh, look at this kid's eyes...
Oh, aren't' they beautiful...
Oh, she is so sweet... Oh, she is so beautiful...????

You see, K ?
That's what I call 'a help'
You don't have to be a skilled photographer...
You just have to know which child is cute, and which one is not... That's it...

Here..? Here it's a different story...
She is not cute... She's not sexy...She has no big tits...!!!
There is no help for you...
It's you and her...
That's' all...

Now it's time to show the world your class..



You did, Kristine...

...................

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• jmdias (7365)
• [2008-04-15 17:19]

kristine

I liked this sculpture and this pov. The light is perfect and the way you put the piece of art is nice too, even the cloudy sky is interesting here. tfs

jorge

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• jorgi (2231)
• [2008-04-15 22:32]

Hi Kristine,

nobody want's to do me a favour and post less now while my presence here is reduced to minimum. :( Well, I will try to do my best. :) Love this one. Simple with striking colours (and what a sky!), shiny stars and strong dynamic position inside the frame. All together produce excellently composed shot of great symbolic value. I'm just afraid that these days monument of freedom would look quite differently, not so upright as shown on your capture.

Kind regards,
Jeri

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• imrek (6766)
• [2008-04-15 22:52]

HI Kristine,

very nice one, good compo and great colours, you had a good light here, well done!

regards,

imre

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• samrat_roy1 (675)
• [2008-04-15 23:34]

hi kristine
nice capture of the statue and knowledgeable note. the dark cloud certainly makes the statue stand clearly...good work done

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• delkoo (23427)
• [2008-04-16 1:41]

hi kristine
this is absolutely great shot, full of light and colors. Excellent composition and perfect moment to capture such place and such scene.
regards
didier

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• Floydian (24243)
• [2008-04-16 2:06]
• [+]

Dear Kristine,
Seeing the ws...a nice straight forward picture, nice snapshot. But seeing this one, oh dear, this one is really good. The strong contrast in colour, but also in the composition is stunning, how i love this. You see how the light shines on her body while the blue is almost black, just as it should be...great, absolute great..!!!
Regards, Henk

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• Greg1949 (5233)
• [2008-04-16 3:48]

Kristine, this is a dramatic shot, wow, it just jumps out of the screen... The colors are just fantastic and while I am not sure about the angle it is really a great shot.

Greg

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• Dpbours (7348)
• [2008-04-16 3:57]
• [+]

Hi Kristine,

Wonderful light here!! Shine like a star. Interesting to read that such an important monument for independence had to be paid by individual donations. Wondering why that choice was made...
Thanks for sharing! Wonderful light!!

Greetings, Dennis

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• Merline (5068)
• [2008-04-16 4:12]

Dear Kristine,
so much has already been said with more talent than I have for writing. When I opened the thumbnail I went oh! This is superb. As George says its so difficult to make something interesting with monuments, here you proved you masterly skill of creative and managing light and colors. A proud photograph for an important story. That wondrous sky, the green and gold shining, perfect sharpness, she seems like borne out of the sky. Wonderful !

TFS, Warm regards
Michèle

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• zmey (4283)
• [2008-04-16 5:33]
• [+]

hugs dear :)

thanks for sharing this central hallmark of riga cityscape. for me: so many memories are associated with it... and i am sure, the same goes for you... i like the shot: in my opinion, masterly done and timed with the darkish, threatening sky illustrating well the times Milda has had to endure. as to Mukhina: her son, whom I met in St. Petersburg during one of my wanderings confirmed the story. according to him, his mother did insist on the Soviets keeping the monument rather than destroying it.

warm regards,
k.

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• dlevy23 (2002)
• [2008-04-16 6:24]
• [+]

Hi Kristine, wow, what a photo. I think the first time that made this photo great is the composition, taking the low angle against the stormy sky was perfect. Second the colors and the lighting, everything is amazing. It looks like the statue of liberty.
Very nice job.

Daniel

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• gildasjan (13413)
• [2008-04-16 12:37]

Bonjour Kristine
Très belle mise en valeur de cette statue devant ce ciel sombre et la lumière est belle.
Bravo
Cordialement
Gildas

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• pasternak (11884)
• [2008-04-17 1:24]

Nice joke, I didn't know it... Amazing how times have changed...

Fantastic framing, Kristine, you have a great eye to find such creative povs and crops, and light was definitely on your side! Excellent work, I like it.

Cheers
A.

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• fulvio52 (3849)
• [2008-04-17 5:43]

Hi Kristine,
outstanding exercise in perspective and lighting,
you sure squeezed the absolute max out of this composition.
I really like minimal shots, the point is : not everybody knows how to present them... Well, you most certainly do!
Great shot & great note.
Have a wonderful day, see ya around.
Cheers,
Fulvio.

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• pboehringer (18442)
• [2008-04-17 7:59]

Kristine,
do me a favor. Show this image to Kristaps and let him know that this image is only what it is due to your genious inspiration of using a polarizing filter! Well, not just the filter because the composition with the off center placement is also extremely good. A wonderful minimalist shot!
Peter

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• baba_flies (4288)
• [2008-04-17 8:08]

Hello Kristine, and thank you so so much for your words, I love to listen what you say and you were so right, and I was so lost. Your wonderful grey sky is the best proof how to make a picture attractive and away from the main stream and to give it a special meaning. We can use a little freedom and I like how it stands there reaching for the sky letting the stars shine just a little for all those in need. Nick Cave, I saw your link for Fluvio, I bought his latest CD some days ago but did not have the chance to really get into it but I eventuelly will ... the weekend is not far, the weather soso lala ... therefore enough time to have a cosy Saturday evening :) Barbara.

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• marietom (19186)
• [2008-04-17 9:08]

Hello Kristine,

Jolie composition, un peu penchée, bien colorée. Bonne idée de nous présenter cette statue ainsi.
Bonne soirée
Marie

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• JorgeCK (2306)
• [2008-04-17 13:20]

Hi Kristine,
Excellent contrast between the dark blue sky and beautiful the green granite of Freedom Monument. wonderful POV.
well done
regards
joRge

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• leo61 (30502)
• [2008-04-17 21:19]

Hi Kristine!
I love this:strong sunlight at the subject and a grey sky.
Good composition with the tilted statue.You placed it perfect in the frame and I like the bright colors.
Regards,Leo

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• steliosk (4121)
• [2008-04-18 2:05]

Hey Kristine,
I don't know how you do it. The colour is splendid in this one. the sky looks negative, am I guessing right?
However the atmosphere is great here.

Many Regards
Stelios

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• ifanik (13914)
• [2008-04-18 5:09]

Hi Kristine
Wonderful photo with impressive sky and light
Very well done
Best regards
Nick
Tomorrow**

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• mikeo (8038)
• [2008-04-18 5:42]

Hello Kristine,

This shot was definitely 'done' by the sky and thats great! It gives amazing contrast to the monument. Very well chosen POV.

Good job!
Greetings
Mikeo

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• ElAprendiz (4265)
• [2008-04-23 12:56]

Hi Kristine:

Some time ago not to visit your gallery, and I find this beauty-making.

The viewpoint chosen offers a majestic appearance of the statue. The composition, the position of principal element in the frame, contrasting tones of wonder, makes this takes a great picture. Congratulations.

John

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• Angshu (24514)
• [2008-04-24 4:35]
• [+]

Hello Kristine
Another delightful shot...a treat to the eyes. I have to learn from you the art of framing which you've shown here & The Latvian Riflemen photo. When I see the WS, we see a snapshot of the monument, but this..pure artwork. Love the play of light on her body & makes the stars shine. I guess the cloudy sky helped in creating that aura about Milda, with her glowing amidst the darkish sky. Oozes a sense of poer here IMHO. Very creative, very dramatic & considering the subject is a statue, this IMO is sheer brilliance!
Best Regards
Angshu
Saturday I’ll post a pic. of one of your favourite ‘subjects’..hope u get some time to check that.

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• Signal-Womb (9856)
• [2008-04-24 11:35]

This is a fantastic shot Kristine, I just love the angles you use on these type of shots. The solar illumination on this Monument really lifts it from the background. Excellent work..

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• plimrn (15494)
• [2008-04-24 16:23]

Hi avene,
It's hard for me to finds words to describe how much this composition moves me; even without the excellent note. I think perhaps the Russians were afraid of the response to detroying this monumsnt. The travle agent story is a very telling insight on the Latvian psyche. The WS is a classically beautiful addition but your PP really is primary!!
HLJ, Pat

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• Stepan (25152)
• [2008-04-26 0:38]

That's so inspired and that's so well realized !
You had a perfect light and you made a perfect realization with the off-centering, the frame and the sharpness. Big visual impact.
Stéphane

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• gunbud (16886)
• [2008-05-01 17:44]

Hi Kristine,
The silver blue sky makes the perfect canvas for this beautifully detail statue to lie on. The vibrant green and gold really come to life. Excellent details and sharpness to this wonderful symbol of freedom.
Regards, Tom

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• ndb1958 (9206)
• [2008-05-05 11:09]

Hi Kristine,
a wonderful shot with amazing colours, great contrast, beautiful light. Love the perspective. Beautiful composition,
Nino.

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• belido (8863)
• [2008-05-06 8:33]

Hi Kristine,

this is a powerful simple composition. There are not too much elements to bother us and that's a good point. The statue in its superb luminosity against that marvelous cloudy sky is what makes this an outstanding photography. Well chosen pov, fine details. Just great!
Regards,
Carlos

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• daddo (7818)
• [2008-06-14 3:14]

Hi Kristine. What a history your Milda had. At first I thought that she was a Soviet clone, but reading your note set me straight.The humorous note reminds me of the Russian term laughter through tears that explains a certain literary style. powerful shot, evocative use of light and dark sky. My compliments Kristine. Regards. Klaudio.

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• kiks (3646)
• [2008-06-16 7:19]

Hello Kristine, this is a perfect choice of POV. Love the metaphore of the statue in the sunlight reaching to the sky (freedom) against the grey dramatic bg.
Best regards
KIKs