(P.5) She eats at the lowest point on earth

Hi friends,

The Dead Sea again. Its waters are so saturated with minerals, that every solid object in the water gets soon covered with heavy layers of salt. In fact, when you enter the sea for a swim - very recommended health-wise ( The water has an oily feeling, bitter in taste, and it's highly recommended to prevent water entering the eyes ) - and come out from the water, a nice layer of salt builds-up on your body. Every movement of arm or leg sounds a cracking sound. Brrrrrrrrrrrr... So people are heading directly to the nearest shower.

In this photo we see a rock in the water, with heavy sediments of salt accumulating around it. From time to time workers break and take to the refineries the solid salt plates.



==============================================

What I find so fascinating is to watch people from all types and races, who live in my country - Israel. This young lady is Caucasian by birth, with her face carrying traces of that origin. Add to it the fact that she was a very very kind lady, and you get why I took this shot of her at midnight inside the dining room (yes, they serve free all the time, even at midnight).



Enjoy clicking, Yehuda

Yehuda, I know you are a guru on this forum, but i don't like most of your portraits. Both of the images you posted here have too much yellow, and both of them seem blurry and not sharp at all. The girl is unattractive.

I like the the stories, though.

Great pictures...what was the name of the boat they found nicely preserved in the Dead Sea?

Dave

Yehuda Katz said:

Hi friends,
The Dead Sea again. Its waters are so saturated with minerals, that
every solid object in the water gets soon covered with heavy layers
of salt. In fact, when you enter the sea for a swim - very
recommended health-wise ( The water has an oily feeling, bitter in
taste, and it's highly recommended to prevent water entering the
eyes ) - and come out from the water, a nice layer of salt
builds-up on your body. Every movement of arm or leg sounds a
cracking sound. Brrrrrrrrrrrr... So people are heading directly to
the nearest shower.

In this photo we see a rock in the water, with heavy sediments of
salt accumulating around it. From time to time workers break and
take to the refineries the solid salt plates.



==============================================

What I find so fascinating is to watch people from all types and
races, who live in my country - Israel. This young lady is
Caucasian by birth, with her face carrying traces of that origin.
Add to it the fact that she was a very very kind lady, and you get
why I took this shot of her at midnight inside the dining room
(yes, they serve free all the time, even at midnight).



Enjoy clicking, Yehuda

Click to expand...

Shalom, Yehuda!
If only the one just came out of the Dead Sea could met our tundra deer!

He(or she)'d lick clean the swimmer! BTW there a lot of animals, suffering of salt deficit.
As for your portrait, its great. Her eyes striken me.
Master's done! = Yehuda's done
Yuri

Yehuda Katz said:

Hi friends,
The Dead Sea again. Its waters are so saturated with minerals, that
every solid object in the water gets soon covered with heavy layers
of salt. In fact, when you enter the sea for a swim - very
recommended health-wise ( The water has an oily feeling, bitter in
taste, and it's highly recommended to prevent water entering the
eyes ) - and come out from the water, a nice layer of salt
builds-up on your body. Every movement of arm or leg sounds a
cracking sound. Brrrrrrrrrrrr... So people are heading directly to
the nearest shower.

In this photo we see a rock in the water, with heavy sediments of
salt accumulating around it. From time to time workers break and
take to the refineries the solid salt plates.



==============================================

What I find so fascinating is to watch people from all types and
races, who live in my country - Israel. This young lady is
Caucasian by birth, with her face carrying traces of that origin.
Add to it the fact that she was a very very kind lady, and you get
why I took this shot of her at midnight inside the dining room
(yes, they serve free all the time, even at midnight).



Enjoy clicking, Yehuda

Click to expand...

Hmmm.... at least you reference what it is you don't like. This one does have a touch of yellow to it, but I don't find that as a pattern. Softness, I suspect, is just a result of resizing and not sharpening.

But what prompts me to reply to you is that Yehuda's posts are about so much more than technical mastery. They're personal documentaries of experiences, not unlike what you may read in a newspaper documentary series. And with photojournalism sometimes the photos are secondary and used to support the story/experience. What is most important is that as a combination of the script and the photo, the viewer/reader makes a connection at a different level.

This is how I feel about Yehuda's photos and stories(I look at them all but have been more hard-pressed for time to comment lately). I feel that Yehuda makes my world seem smaller and more welcoming. Somehow more peaceful and hopeful. Very odd, considering the daily threat of terrorism Yehuda and his subjects face.

Not to say that I don't enjoy the portraits, but yes, some are better than others. But if only the best were shown, we'd miss so much of the story. Does it matter if one subject is less attractive than the other? My answer would be "yes" it does matter. It's what makes these stories and encounters real. (That said, I don't think there have been any unattractive subjects, just some that are striking by comparison).

Anyway, thanks Yehuda! You know how I feel.

Jim

Oleg K said:

Yehuda, I know you are a guru on this forum, but i don't like most
of your portraits. Both of the images you posted here have too much
yellow, and both of them seem blurry and not sharp at all. The girl
is unattractive.

I like the the stories, though.

Click to expand...

--
Jim Fuglestad

Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase. -Percy W. Harris
Our existence is determined by the truths we tell.
Why simply live and let live? Live and help live.
http://www.pbase.com/jfuglestad/galleries

Hi Yehuda,

Her eyes are intriquing , and she has a very wellcoming smile which once again you managed to capture perfectly as if you know here like a best friend.

I admire your style so much and eagerly await my foot to heal properly and ai will go out & do my best to copy you for a while.

This seems to me like it was a wondeful trip and you certainly seem to make the most of life,

How maby pictures from the 717 thus far ? 4050 for me in 6 months

Keep em coominf friend

Jules
--

Please check out my site and if you have a comment please visit my guestbook . http://www.sonycam.co.uk

Julian Porter Southampton UK
Sony P9 & 717 Lots to learn

Oleg K said:

i don't like most
of your portraits. Both of the images you posted here have too much
yellow, and both of them seem blurry and not sharp at all. The girl
is unattractive.

Click to expand...

Oleg,

I love that direct approach of you. Way to go.

Yehuda

Shutter. said:

But what prompts me to reply to you is that Yehuda's posts are
about so much more than technical mastery. They're personal
documentaries of experiences, not unlike what you may read in a
newspaper documentary series. And with photojournalism sometimes
the photos are secondary and used to support the story/experience.
What is most important is that as a combination of the script and
the photo, the viewer/reader makes a connection at a different
level.

Click to expand...

yes, i agree, but many people refer to Yehuda's photos (and portraits especially) as nearly perfect, while i say that they are very average, not only from the technical point of view (lighting, color balance, post-processing), but also from artistic side. In my opinion, they are only interesting in the context of his stories.

I think people will mistakenly follow Yehuda's way of making photos and will suffer in the end.

Shutter. said:

This is how I feel about Yehuda's photos and stories(I look at them
all but have been more hard-pressed for time to comment lately). I
feel that Yehuda makes my world seem smaller and more welcoming.
Somehow more peaceful and hopeful. Very odd, considering the daily
threat of terrorism Yehuda and his subjects face.

Click to expand...

I absolutely agree with that, but i still wish that he improved his technical skills. This would increase the value of his photos alot, i think. I think it's not so hard to sharpen photos a bit and set the right color.

In here aren't experts so...

I would consider most of Yehuda's portraits to be "great" or "excellent" for two reasons.

1. I can't match his level of work, so if it's better than I can do it's got to be good from my perspective.

2. These aren't just pictures of people. Most of them have some sort of compelling story behind them. I think that enhances the photos in some way.

Finally, this is the STF, not TIME or People magazine, so I treat it as such.

To each his own, I guess.

Stever

P.S. Thanks Yehuda!

Oleg K said:

Oleg K said:

But what prompts me to reply to you is that Yehuda's posts are
about so much more than technical mastery. They're personal
documentaries of experiences, not unlike what you may read in a
newspaper documentary series. And with photojournalism sometimes
the photos are secondary and used to support the story/experience.
What is most important is that as a combination of the script and
the photo, the viewer/reader makes a connection at a different
level.

Click to expand...

yes, i agree, but many people refer to Yehuda's photos (and
portraits especially) as nearly perfect, while i say that they are
very average, not only from the technical point of view (lighting,
color balance, post-processing), but also from artistic side. In my
opinion, they are only interesting in the context of his stories.

I think people will mistakenly follow Yehuda's way of making photos
and will suffer in the end.

Oleg K said:

This is how I feel about Yehuda's photos and stories(I look at them
all but have been more hard-pressed for time to comment lately). I
feel that Yehuda makes my world seem smaller and more welcoming.
Somehow more peaceful and hopeful. Very odd, considering the daily
threat of terrorism Yehuda and his subjects face.

Click to expand...

I absolutely agree with that, but i still wish that he improved his
technical skills. This would increase the value of his photos alot,
i think. I think it's not so hard to sharpen photos a bit and set
the right color.

Click to expand...

--
...they don't qualify as 'galleries' but http://www.fotki.com/pukrat

Yehuda Katz said:

Oleg K said:

i don't like most
of your portraits. Both of the images you posted here have too much
yellow, and both of them seem blurry and not sharp at all. The girl
is unattractive.

Click to expand...

Oleg,

I love that direct approach of you. Way to go.

Click to expand...

if you don't like that then i won't comment on your photos anymore - i was just honest.

Stever46789 said:

I would consider most of Yehuda's portraits to be "great" or
"excellent" for two reasons.

1. I can't match his level of work, so if it's better than I can
do it's got to be good from my perspective.

Click to expand...

of course you can - just try harder

Stever46789 said:

2. These aren't just pictures of people. Most of them have some
sort of compelling story behind them. I think that enhances the
photos in some way.

Click to expand...

i agree with that.

Hi Jim,

Thanks for your input. It's an honor to be among people like you in STF.

Have an excellent day, Yehuda

Shutter said:

But what prompts me to reply to you is that Yehuda's posts are
about so much more than technical mastery. They're personal
documentaries of experiences, not unlike what you may read in a
newspaper documentary series. And with photojournalism sometimes
the photos are secondary and used to support the story/experience.
What is most important is that as a combination of the script and
the photo, the viewer/reader makes a connection at a different
level.

This is how I feel about Yehuda's photos and stories(I look at them
all but have been more hard-pressed for time to comment lately). I
feel that Yehuda makes my world seem smaller and more welcoming.
Somehow more peaceful and hopeful. Very odd, considering the daily
threat of terrorism Yehuda and his subjects face.

Not to say that I don't enjoy the portraits, but yes, some are
better than others. But if only the best were shown, we'd miss so
much of the story. Does it matter if one subject is less
attractive than the other? My answer would be "yes" it does
matter. It's what makes these stories and encounters real. (That
said, I don't think there have been any unattractive subjects, just
some that are striking by comparison).

Anyway, thanks Yehuda! You know how I feel.

Jim

Oleg K said:

Yehuda, I know you are a guru on this forum, but i don't like most
of your portraits. Both of the images you posted here have too much
yellow, and both of them seem blurry and not sharp at all. The girl
is unattractive.

I like the the stories, though.

Click to expand...

--
Jim Fuglestad
Skill in photography is acquired by practice and not by purchase.
-Percy W. Harris
Our existence is determined by the truths we tell.
Why simply live and let live? Live and help live.
http://www.pbase.com/jfuglestad/galleries

Click to expand...

Stever said:

In here aren't experts so...
I would consider most of Yehuda's portraits to be "great" or
"excellent" for two reasons.
1. I can't match his level of work, so if it's better than I can
do it's got to be good from my perspective.
2. These aren't just pictures of people. Most of them have some
sort of compelling story behind them. I think that enhances the
photos in some way.
Finally, this is the STF, not TIME or People magazine, so I treat
it as such.
To each his own, I guess.

Click to expand...

Hi Stever,

Thank you for all those compliments. I'm really happy that you like my work and appreciate it.

Have an excellent day, Yehuda

Yehuda, like Jim, I appreciate, and really like most of your pictures. I also don't always have time to comment, but hope that the comments in this thread don't stop you from sharing with us.

alan

Yehuda,
Thanks for continuing your interesting story. Makes me wish I were there.

And the portrait is beautiful, I bet you captured your models personality in that photo, she looks so friendly and happy.
Have a wonderful day.
Linda


The camera is an instrument that teaches people
how to see without a camera. -Dorothea Lange

O-

I think he was serious. He appreciates the constructive criticism, from what I could read.

Stever

Oleg K said:

Yehuda Katz said:

Oleg K said:

i don't like most
of your portraits. Both of the images you posted here have too much
yellow, and both of them seem blurry and not sharp at all. The girl
is unattractive.

Click to expand...

Oleg,

I love that direct approach of you. Way to go.

Click to expand...

if you don't like that then i won't comment on your photos anymore

• i was just honest.

Click to expand...

--
...they don't qualify as 'galleries' but http://www.fotki.com/pukrat

Yehuda,

I do not make many comments because many of the members here, you included, are much more capable than I.

Even when I don't agree with what I hear or read, I personally don't mind criticisms because it opens my eyes to other views. That said, I find your portraits very enjoyable. I find the humanity that you show and describe to be fascinating.

Please continue...
My best regards,
Jim B.

Yehuda Katz said:

Hi friends,
The Dead Sea again. Its waters are so saturated with minerals, that
every solid object in the water gets soon covered with heavy layers
of salt. In fact, when you enter the sea for a swim - very
recommended health-wise ( The water has an oily feeling, bitter in
taste, and it's highly recommended to prevent water entering the
eyes ) - and come out from the water, a nice layer of salt
builds-up on your body. Every movement of arm or leg sounds a
cracking sound. Brrrrrrrrrrrr... So people are heading directly to
the nearest shower.

In this photo we see a rock in the water, with heavy sediments of
salt accumulating around it. From time to time workers break and
take to the refineries the solid salt plates.



==============================================

What I find so fascinating is to watch people from all types and
races, who live in my country - Israel. This young lady is
Caucasian by birth, with her face carrying traces of that origin.
Add to it the fact that she was a very very kind lady, and you get
why I took this shot of her at midnight inside the dining room
(yes, they serve free all the time, even at midnight).



Enjoy clicking, Yehuda

Click to expand...

Yehuda Katz said:

Hi friends,
The Dead Sea again. Its waters are so saturated with minerals, that
every solid object in the water gets soon covered with heavy layers
of salt. In fact, when you enter the sea for a swim - very
recommended health-wise ( The water has an oily feeling, bitter in
taste, and it's highly recommended to prevent water entering the
eyes ) - and come out from the water, a nice layer of salt
builds-up on your body. Every movement of arm or leg sounds a
cracking sound. Brrrrrrrrrrrr... So people are heading directly to
the nearest shower.

In this photo we see a rock in the water, with heavy sediments of
salt accumulating around it. From time to time workers break and
take to the refineries the solid salt plates.



==============================================

What I find so fascinating is to watch people from all types and
races, who live in my country - Israel. This young lady is
Caucasian by birth, with her face carrying traces of that origin.
Add to it the fact that she was a very very kind lady, and you get
why I took this shot of her at midnight inside the dining room
(yes, they serve free all the time, even at midnight).



Enjoy clicking, Yehuda

Click to expand...

--
Cliff. Johnston

Yehuda,

I just read some gripes about how this young woman looks (not in the super model class). They are right. So what!?! You have the chutzpah (sp?) to give us a "slice of life" - a wee bit of everything. Keep it up. Not everyone is Hollywood gorgeous. There is an old axiom about beauty being only skin deep. I can personally attest to that - my first wife was a "looker" - she made heads turn when she walked by. Unfortunately I couldn't live with her personality (not so nice).

Keep on clicking, and keep on posting.

Cliff.

I believe there is a difference between being honest and being deliberately mean. First of all, Yehuda submitted this photo for comments and critiques, yet you decide to mention that you dont like any of his work. Fine, that is allowed, but is it necessary for you to say so in the context of this thread?

Second you mention two problems with the photos, but offer no assistance to the photographer on how they could be improved. You know like "you might try toning down the yellow saturation", or "have you ever tried running the USM over your resized images?" To state problems with no possible solutions isnt constructive criticism. Its just criticism. I think a major point of this forum is be constructive and offer advice.

Third, you offer an incredibly subjective opinion on the subject. Who are you to decide who is attractive or not? What if this had been his daughter, or another member on this forum? How would YOU feel if someone posted a picture of you, and someone else said "DAMN he's ugly!" You might say you wouldnt care at all, but I dont believe you.

I totally agree with being honest and straightforward in our posts, thats the only way we can help other improve. However, there is certainly room for common courtesy. This was a really disappointing thread man...

Ok, my rant is over. Thanks.

Eric

Oleg K said:

Yehuda, I know you are a guru on this forum, but i don't like most
of your portraits. Both of the images you posted here have too much
yellow, and both of them seem blurry and not sharp at all. The girl
is unattractive.

I like the the stories, though.

Click to expand...

--
Eric Lamont (formerly elamont)
Sony DSC-F717
Canon S9000
http://www.pbase.com/elamont

'If you're pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough' -Robert Capa

BigAl-SA said:

Yehuda, like Jim, I appreciate, and really like most of your
pictures. I also don't always have time to comment, but hope that
the comments in this thread don't stop you from sharing with us.

Click to expand...

Hi alan,

Great to know how many friends I have here!

Thank you for taking the time to view and comment.

Have an excellent day, Yehuda