I think you're going through the same phases we all go through with photography. You learn some tricks that make images look cool and you get the best out of them but you always get bored in the end and want to take images that stand up on their own merits without too much messing about.

Then you start thinking that all you're doing is being a conduit and not actually putting any sort of stamp on the images to mark it as your style so you go looking for new tricks and it swings backwards and forwards between those two poles until you eventually even out somewhere in the middle and learn to appreciate your eye for what makes a photo in the first place but also when to do a bit of trickery or leave your mark on a shot.

That's my instant opinion anyway, the first thing that popped into my head. If it's any consolation, I don't like the reflection shot I posted today either. Just did it as an intro to the next two I intend to put up.

I agree with Jamey to a certain extent. However, you're still a very talented photographer, and it remains an excellent picture.

Thats a good point Jamey. I tend to have a different slant on my own photography. My approach is to photograph images that have some relevence to my life experiences to date.

My photos don't always convey my feelings, and the longer I engage in photography the less inclined I am to try and explain my rationale or reason for taking them.

I'm with Jamey in that I tend to process my images according to what I feel is required but I'm glad I have invested in the time to develop the skills which enable me to do that.

I do enjoy seeing everyone elses work though and this image kind of takes me back to the reason why Dave inspired me in the first place.

Without Daves help and inspiration I wouldn't have found my own approach and whilst everyone knows I have a close association with him we still see and take different images.

I like this image a lot. At first I didn't like the purple and would have been inclined to change the purple to grey, but on reflection (no pun) I think the colour purple somehow makes the image.

Jamey: yep, that's probably part of it. Also, one of the things that I particularly like to explore is the ability of photography to capture things that we might not otherwise see: reflection shots being a case in point. When I was shooting a lot of these, particularly ones in water - puddles, pools on the beach, and so on - I got to the point where I experienced the content of the reflection as tangible (i.e. a feeling that there was 'real' depth, that it was 3D rather than 2D). I haven't had that experience in a while, which could account for why I'm not 'seeing' these shots as I used to do.

John: it's odd you should mention the purple - it's my favourite bit of the shot.

no, I still love this one, but I certainly feel that your style has progressed, and I've really enjoyed your recent pictures. would of loved to of seen the cats and your son!

Beautiful complimentary colors. Nice abstract.

Cute though your children are, I much prefer this type of shot. I am also very much in favour of capturing images that only the camera can visualise. Jamey and Dave make good points. It is inevitable when responding to random stimuli that the range of photography ebbs and flows and even when you decide to follow a thread there are only so may images you can post before you start to alienate visitors.

I like the strong purple; makes a nice frame for the reflection.

Really good colors...they go well together and make a better than average abstraction. I can go to google images or Getty for stock shots. Thanks for digging this one out of your archives.

I love the colors here, and I'm always a fan of abstraction. The composition is nice, but what I really like is the warped reflection. The way it's bent out of shape (out of phase I suppose) is really interesting. Great capture.

So nice! Great reflections and colours.

Nothing has changed with the images just your own perception of them. When something comes easily (like your reflection shots come to you) the end result never seems quite as brilliant as when the result comes the hard way (like your stuck on the top of the boat shots)

I think you're being very picky - just pity us poor mortals who haven't yet mastered the reflection shots yet! I love it - almost as much as the picture I have in my mind of you trying to shoot your sleeping lad and fighting off inquisitive cats! ;-)

Interesting. I’m really not into the palette of this one, but I seem to be the only one!

Reflection shots can be trite but if the reflection is abstract in some way, as this is, then it can stand up. I'm quite happy for you to keep archive raiding during this hiatus as it's throwing up a good mixture of pictures and processing.

I like this one. Its back in the style that first attracted me to visit Chomasia daily! As you say reflections are a part of life often missed and I myself fail to see them expecially when I want to 'shoot something different'. Its all in the eye!

I never understood your obsession to begin with really although I do like the seemingly more infinite number of colours present in this reflection

Very nice!!! As someone famous once said, it's not what you see, but how you see it.

Bonjour,
Are you sure " the Blackpool tower"?.. not "the Eiffel Tower"..Wonderful picture!..

I enjoy it quite a lot. I think the wavyness (if thats a word) of the reflection contrasted against the straight lines of the window creates a nice contrast. I also really enjoy the colours. I think its important not to view this as a "reflection" but rather a combination of form and colour... kind of like when you try and draw a person, your not trying to draw a person, your focus is drawing the forms that make up the person. Does that make sense ?

The angle of this reflection is great!

I dont think that its up to your usual standard David! But as far as reflection shots go its a good one.

Thanks everyone.

I like it. The colors are great too.

I hate to be the lone dissenter, but it looks like you stumbled and your shutter went off.

Some interesting points on photography and the maturation of style are mentioned above. There's a lot of experience and truth to the words.

However, as to this shot, I'm surprised that the fact it is a reflection is instantly acknowledged, there's not a word on the quality of the reflection because it isn't a straight reflection. I feel the distortion of the relfection is what makes it so interesting. There is portions that look sharp next to sections that are reduced almost to mist. Every straight line is reduced to waves. This is a very nice presentation of a warped and interesting capture. The post-processing is handled well and I like the complementary colors.

Also interesting is the effect of a mirror-like reflection of a reflection.