Well done to all those who posted.  I am really pleased there were
13 submissions.  I wish I had a chance to submit one myself.

Not really sure of what the critiquing "rules" are for the SI,
but I'll have a crack at it from an amatuer/novice point of view.

There were several shots that I suspected were going to be there
in some form or other.

I quite liked Bowser's view from the motorbike - does leave me
feeling like a ride :)

But for me the standout is Helen's shot.  I don't know whether
it's the mood I'm in, or whether it's because my long gone
grandmother would have turned 87 within the last week, but that
shot really put me in the place of an elderly lady's "point of
view".  The wrinkly hand, the writing on the card.  All of it
screamed emotion to me.

Let's see what we got ...

Tully (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458896):

I like the way that the viewer has a POV on the dog, but more so that the
dog seems to have a POV of the photographer - Is he dangerous? Am I in
trouble? Should I growl or run away? I don't know what's going through the
dog's mind, and that makes it an interesting image.

I would like to see this scene shot from a little lower (so the dog's head
isn't bang in the middle of the frame), and including her (?) forepaws so
she's not chopped off at the shins.

Alienjones (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458898):

She does have a couple of interesting points to view. (Sorry, couldn't
resist!) I'm not sure whether I'm supposed to connect with the
photographer's POV or the figurehead's POV. The flat light and clutter
detracts for me. I'd like to see her from closer in and lower down to see
what she looks like "in the net", but that would probably lose the context
and connection with the theme.

Bowser (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458900):

Cool idea. Enough blur to know that you're in motion. I like the way the
screen forms a frame within the frame, focussing my attention on the rider's
view down the road into the distance.

Tom Gabriel (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458902):

I like the idea but I'm distracted by the branch and the bulk of the window
frame on the right. I wonder if it would work better for me cropped down to
focus on the people getting on the bus? I imagine that might have a more
voyeristic feel to it - an idea that works for me as a view-through-a-window
thing.

Ken Nadvornick (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458905):

I imagine a hillbilly sitting in the chair with a shotgun across his knees,
ranting xenophobically, and defending his property against varmints and
forners.

Wilba (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458907):

The Man With No Legs. Easy to work out how it was done. The idea was to get
a portrait from an unusual POV. Nasty green tint on the arm - probably could
have done something about that.

Paul Furman (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458909):

I needed to read the comments to get what the photo is about, and how it
relates to POV.

Rich Pos (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458911):

POV from a barstool? POV about martinis? I'm not sure what I'm supposed to
make of this in relation to the topic. I want to be able to see all of his
face, but that thought also makes me think I've missed the point somehow.

Doug Jewell (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458913):

I like the unfolding ambiguity - is this about the shape of the skate ramp
... tick tock tick tock ... or is it about the POV of the "artists"? What
would make you want to paint weird skulls all over the place?

Good technical work - deep blue sky with white clouds, vivid colours, detail
in the shadows, disciplined framing, etc.

Walter Banks (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458915):

I'm not sure what to think of this - it doesn't say anything to me. Unless
that's a face carved into the rock ...? Is that a plane taking off?

Jim Kramer (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458918):

To be engaged by this image, I have to mentally crop a sixth of the width
from the left, so that the bright eye isn't in the centre of the frame. I
take full responsibility for my aversion to "bullseye" compositions. :-)

Helen Silverberg (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96459156):

Nicely put together. The image tells a story by itself, and the text adds
value. Makes me wonder what is her POV (opinion) of the granddaughter, and
vice versa.

She was your subject in http://www.pbase.com/shootin/loss?

Bret Douglas (http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96459451):

Nicely ambigous. Could be a building, a vent, rack, sieve, grate ...? What
is it? :-)

It's hard for me to pick a winner this time. I like Bowser's idea - it works
well for me as a response to the challenge, but the one that connects the
most for me is Tully's dog. Goodonya everyone.

Some nice photos there, I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to put my entry in
on time, My Dad was in Sydney having some major surgery to his Kidneys. so I
was sort of distracted. I will have to think about something to do with the
Tie-In :-)

Ok here goes for my comments about the shootin.

Tully http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458896
I like how it is taken from the eye-height of the dog with
the fisheye. Almost puts the viewer in the position of
another dog - am I about to get sniffed? I would kinda like
to see the dog's feet in the shot tho.

AlienJones http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458898
The shot seems cluttered & disorganised to me. I'd like to
see a tighter framing onto the figurehead or perhaps a
different angle to greater convey the feel of Point of View.
Sorry, this shot just doesn't do it for me.

Bowser http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458900
Very cool, and one of the best in the set for fitting the
mandate, with the photo clearly showing the view that the
rider would be seeing. Well executed, nice and sharp & well
composed. Minus points cos you didn't take it though - what,
can't you ride and photograph at the same time? :P

Tom Gabriel http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458902
At first glance I went ho-hum, but the more I look at this
shot the more I like it. It breaks many laws of composure eg
the frame cut in 2 with that branch, the other tree blocking
the billboard etc, but without those flaws, the image would
be dishonest. That's the whole point - this is the view out
your window. I like the cool colouring - adds to the photo
looking cold and dull, nothing spectacular, typical view
from any window in any city in any country. The more I see
it the more I like it. Well done.

Ken Nadvornick http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458905
I dunno what to say here. Technically well done, I'm just
not sure of the subject. Maybe it needs a slack-jawed yokel
on the chair!

Wilba http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458907
Well it's a different Point of View.

Paul Furman http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458909
Lucky you if that's your POV. Well done at getting an
acceptable shot out of the plane window - every american
aircraft I've seen had such a thick layer of crud on the
windows you'd have a hard time telling the difference
between the rocky mountains and the nevada desert.

Rich Pos http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458911
Nice shot from the POV of someone sitting at the bar. I'm
guessing that your roll of film has shots taken at
increasingly low angles? ;-)

Doug Jewell http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458913
I'm surprised I seem to be the only one who interpreted POV
to mean "opinion" rather than "vision". I didn't even think
of the visual side of "Point of View".  A "point of view" is
an opinion to me, and that is what I tried to portray here -
Whether you call this stuff graffiti or art depends entirely
on your point of view. As Wilba pointed out, the artists
would seem to have some odd points of view as well.

Walter Banks http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458915
It's potentially a nice landscape shot, although it does
look a bit soft to me (intentional?). Not quite sure how
well it fits the mandate though - perhaps if there was some
sort of foreground to put things in perspective?

Jim Kramer http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458918
Suddenly the Peter Gabriel song "Games without Frontiers"
comes to mind - or specifically the lyric "If Looks Could
Kill they Probably Will". That cat has an attitude, and if
you are small and that's currently what you are seeing, you
are about to be in a whole world of pain. I like.

Helen Silverburg http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96459156
Without doubt, the standout shot in this set to my mind.
Even without the story, this shot stands out, meets the
mandate perfectly, and is a very powerful piece.
Exceptionally well done. Surely this shot will dispel any
ideas that Helen==Bret.

Bret Douglas http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96459451
uhm... yeah...  what is it?...
Interesting texture, lighting & reflections, but I would
have liked just a bit more of a visual clue as to what it
actually is. As an abstract texture shot, I think it would
work better if it was symmetrical. I'm going to take a stab
in the dark - an escalator?

On May 2, 9:54 am, "jimkramer" <Newsread...@NOFSPAMjlkramer.net>
wrote:

I am so pleased and happy with the turn-out.  Some great technical
excellence and creative work.  Thanks for the great comments on my
entry.  I am truly humbled.
Helen

Tully (mine)
I chose to ignore all text and only comment on my impressions of the
images. Had I included narrative with this submission, I would have
said that Lucy is "harmonizing" with the stereo. Her contribution is
only musical from her point of view.

Alienjones
From the mermaid's POV, life gets interesting only when the ship is in
motion. For me, the subdued colors, flat lighting create a quiescent
mood.

Bowser
Motion blur might have been a cliche here. Nice to see a sense of
motion conveyed by focal length & framing instead.

Tom Gabriel
Although I might wish for something interesting to be happening at the
bus stop, maybe the mundane scene is the point. The mind wants to make
up a story: is the person inside for a reason?

Ken Nadvornick
There was a time when this would have been seen as the "real" America.
Now it's a typical day in Flyover Country, and those who think the
"real" America centers around NY and LA will find this kind of living
irrelevant and unappealing to them. To me, it speaks of integrity,
dignity and truth.

Wilba
Never has a white T-shirt been depicted with greater fidelity. A good
self-portrait, but what's with that expression? The Mona Lisa was
enigmatic, but this is a poker face for the ages.

Paul Furman
Not an easy medium to shoot through (two layers of thick plexiglass).
To think some of us wonder if we're losing quality by leaving a UV
filter on the lens.

Rich Pos
This one has an early Kodachrome look to it. Cheers!

Doug Jewell
The graffiti artists are definitely expressing...something. I like the
composition.

Walter Banks
I don't know about this. It seems as though it wants to say something
about a dramatic vista, but it just looks kind of ordinary.

Jim Kramer
If I believed in the Evil Eye, I'd be very worried by this critter.

Helen Silverberg
More than journalism...lyrical, poetic. Wins hands down (NPI) for
emotional content.

Bret Douglas
A visual puzzle? It held my interest for a long time, because I was
trying to figure out what it is. Looks like a three-panel mirror, but
reflecting what? Shelves full of video tapes?

On May 2, 9:54 am, "jimkramer" <Newsread...@NOFSPAMjlkramer.net>
wrote:

Tully:  I love the dog's expression, it says it all.  Getting down on
his level was the way to go, because it did what the mandate asked for
and that was the dog's "point of view".

Alienjones:  It isn't showing the mermaid's point of view, and I think
that's what you were shooting for.

Bowser:  Very cool creative-wise!  This shot met the mandate
perfectly. Excellent work.

Tom Gabriel:  Living in Toronto as well I automatically recognized the
TTC.  How was your couple of days when they went on strike last
weekend?!
Great idea, but I would have gotten more of the window frame in to
give more perspective on where you're looking from.

Ken Nadvornick:  One can always count on Ken for technical
excellence.  Those razor sharp objects, rich tones, with exposure spot
on shows the viewer the photographer's technical expertise.  I agree
with Tully.  This speaks of dignity, truth and integrity.  There is no
need for huge fanfares to have patriotism in the heart.

Wilba:  An interesting point of view from someone or something looking
down at you from either a tree or some place high.  Very sharp, but
it's your eyes that make the whole pic.

Paul Furman:  I agree with Tully in that it's hard to shoot through
thick layers of glass.  But you pulled it off with good results.  Good
point of view from an airplane or eagle's eyes in flight.

Rich Pos:  A customer's point of view at a bar.  Good idea, but I
would have had someone's arm extending out from the foreground,
holding the glass as the bartender was pouring.  It would have really
enhanced the point of view of the customer.

Doug Jewell:  I can see what you're saying, that your point of view is
an "opinion" rather than vision. Beautiful blue sky and puffy white
clouds really make the pic stand out for me.
An interesting interpretation of POV.

Walter Banks:  I think Doug said it right when he suggested some sort
of foreground to suggest point of view.  A potentially great landscape
shot, just a tad soft.

Jim Kramer:  I notice his/her right eye being the sharpest, focus
wise.  Point of View from a cat's eye?  Lovely cat.

Bret:  I thought Bret's submission showed great creativity and
technical merit.  I particularly like how the escalator is the center
of the subject, surrounded by black tones and dark shadows, it gave a
sense of sadness in an impersonal automatic/mechanical world that we
live in.

BTW:  Thanks Tully for your comment on my image.  It's greatly
appreciated.
Helen
Helen

Fisheye dog
Tully http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458896
Caption: "alright, am I looking thoughtful? go ahead & snap now"

Mermaid on boat
AlienJones http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458898
I like the different perspective prompted by something curious. Agreed
the background gets busy but that didn't ruin it for me.

Fisheye motorcyclist
Bowser http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458900
The fisheye works well here.

Bus-stop window
Tom Gabriel http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458902
Gotta love city living. I would have liked a more interesting
(twilight?) timing since this is the routine view.

God bless America, The Ramos
Ken Nadvornick http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458905
This must be Reagan era with the blue all faded :-) At first I'm
thinking this is a Latino family but maybe Jed Ramo, not Juan Ramos :-)

Guy from above
Wilba http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458907
Nice pose and POV but the background could have been improved.

Aerial mountains & desert
Paul Furman http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458909
(me) I got some better (150 shots) on the flight back but I just love
looking out airplane windows so I'm glad I got this submitted anyways.

Bartender
Rich Pos http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458911
Next time I want to see the view *through* the martini glass :-)

Doug Jewell http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458913

I appreciate your thinking. One the great powers of photography is to
bring us into intimate contact with the unfamiliar.

Cliffs side-view
Walter Banks http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458915
Stumped by the mandate... but I love the scene.

Cat stare-down
Jim Kramer http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96458918
Very nice Jim. He would kick that dog's behind in an instant (or at
least believes he could :-)

Helen Silverburg http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96459156
You have a gift for this kind of shot Helen.

Bret Douglas http://www.pbase.com/shootin/image/96459451
uhm... yeah...  what is it?...
Escalator! (took me a while and was pleasantly perplexing).

Thanks to everyone that participated in this round and special thanks to the
people that wrote comments.

Referring to my image:  The EXIF is complete with the exception that I had a
12mm extension tube on to get closer. The intent was an image that mad you
look at the central eye, explore the rest of the image, but then be drawn
back to the eye, you know the cat’s point of viewing. The strong diagonal
line formed by the ear fur, the eye, his nose and the light colored bit of
blanket; the white eyebrow whiskers redirecting your view to the central
eye.  I have to admit is does look a bit more daunting as a 12x18 inch
print, and it is hard to get that to translate to the computer screen.  I
knew full well that this would be a love it or hate it picture.

Annika – I have four cats I do not need another cat.

Wilba – The entire point was an “eye” composition, the rest of the image is
just context and framing. The intent was to engage the eye and little else…

Doug Jewell - He certainly thinks he has attitude.  He also thinks he’s a
dog. He tries to herd the other cats and wants to go out with the other
“dogs.”

Tully – His claws are far more dangerous than anything I’ve see come out of
his eye; He is a great mouser.

Helen – You are far too kind, especially for someone that keeps stealing the
show. :-)

Paul Furman - You pretty much nailed his personality; he used to ride the
dogs when he was smaller.  Somehow I don’t see the current chocolate lab
putting up with that today.

-Jim

Blame me for the mandate, folks.  It's sad that I didn't submit anything
(I have got to get me a set of extension tubes).  I'll have to make up
for it in critiques.  (Naturally, the results are posted when I go off
for a camping trip...)

So, given that it was my mandate suggestion, one would think I had a
clue what I had in mind?  Pshaw!  Original thoughts are for wusses!

Tully - Cute Doggy Award! You got down to its level, but I think it
might have worked better had you tilted the camera upwards a tad, or
taken a photo of somoene handing you a bone.  But that would be a
totally different photo.  So ignore me.

Alienjones - Corrupted Youth Award!  One has to wonder how many leagues
that fair maiden has watched slide by as she yearns for freedom.  
Personally I'd loved to have a shot from beneath her, looking upwards,
form the POV of the ocean being cleaved by her mighty um, cleavage.  But
that too would be totally different.  So ignore me.

Bowser - Live Free or Die Award!  If only there was more of a sense of
motion.  And a mermaid on point.  But then you'd probably ignore the
road.  And me.  (This is perhaps the closest to my original idea for the
mandate.)

Tom Gabriel - Downtrodden Masses Award!  You demonstrate that life
really is rather boring, despite what the liberal elite media overlords
that run the shoot-in (and their co-consiprators) want you to think.  
You showed them!  Now take this tinfoil hat and ignore me.

Ken Nadvornik - Color-blind Commie Award!  How dare you give hope to our
enemies by showing our them that our imperialist capitalist system is
fundamentally corrupt and unustainable.  In all seriousness, a bit
of spot color would have really increased the punch here, especially if
the flag is as faded as it appears to be.  IMNSHO, naturally, so ignore
me.

Wilba - You-saved-my-kitty Award!   Or maybe it's the Self-Portrait
#212.4 Award.  I'm up a tree and confused.  So ignore me.

Paul Furman - On Eagles Wings Award!  About to pounce on a pixel-sized
jackrabbit.  Perhaps the cleanest commercial airliner window I've ever
seen.  With such pretty scenery, you'd have to be crazy to not ignore
me.

Rich Pos - The Shaken, not-stirred Award!  I like the lighting and
general feel here.  I can't help but think that a top-down view of the
martini (grasped by a hand clad in fire-engine-red nails) wouldn't have
been cooler, but I've been declared officially un-cool, so my opinions
are ignored anyway.

Doug Jewell - The I-don't-know-anything-about-art Award!  If someone
paid for the um, illustrations, then it's art.  The punchy colors are in
stark contrast with what feels to be a very depressing place.  But since
when have art critics been worthy of not ignoring?

Walter Banks - The where-are-my-glasses Award!  - I can't seem to get a
feel for the depth or even a sense of scale.  It's actually giving me a
bit of a headache to look at it, so I'm going to ignore it.
(I really liked the linked photo though...)

Jim Kramer - The 'mmm, tasty...' Award! - Another image that I think
could have benefitted from a spot of color (this time, in the eyes).  I
just can't get my cats to stay still when I stick a camera near their
faces, so my hat's off to you.  Now if only it had a feather sticking
out of its mouth or something.  But that too would be totally different
so feel free to ignore me.

Helen Silverberg - The 'how does she do it?' Award - Once again, she
manages to punch us in the gut yet feel grateful for her doing it,
stealing the show yet again.  If you ignore me here, you're a heartless
commie bastard.   I'm still in awe.

Bret Douglas - The "We control the horizontal" award - I just can't
figure out the perspective or even what this is, so I ended up cheating.  
And I still don't get it.  Quite an accomplishment.  No color needed
here, unless it's the blood of your enemies, trickling through the slats
as their bodies are shredded further with each step.  But I cheated, so
ignore me.

What, you got this far?  I thought I told you to ignore me?

- Solomon