my 2nd print

g'day Rob,

i think you need to relax, take a moment, and realise you've a good eye for an image

this is a simple, effective and uncluttered composition

so, how could the presentation be improved?

more detail in the highligths?

cleaner edge?

Thanks Ray- you're right- the images will get 'cleaner' with some practice- which I'm looking forward to getting.
The negative seemed to turn out pretty well- I think the printing needs some work.

Thanks again for taking the time to comment on a newbie's ork.

Hi Rob

You mentioned that you have a good negative, so that means you have the best start you could possibly ask for. I would say that the next step for you is to determine your exposure from a test strip. Study it carefully, in a light that will be close to the light that the final print will be viewed in. Is there enough detail in the shadows? are the highlights washed out?, etc, etc. Like I say, study it and choose the one exposure that you feel represents what you are trying to achieve in your mind, and then work from there. If you have to, make another test strip based around the optimum exposure from the first strip, do so, study it, play with the contrast etc. Get the test strip right and the final print will be a breeze.

As Ray says, there is nothing wrong with your eye, do your own thing and enjoy.

Good luck

Stoo