Jim Genellie Photography

Ron DeKett, the editor of the ViewFinder, the monthly newsletter of the Twin Cities Camera Club, had this to about the Sintra House:

“Why I like it: This simply is a gorgeous photograph. The crop, composition, post processing and other technical elements of a great photograph are top notch. The colors and tones, light and shadows remind me of masterly paintings that celebrate light and color. Jim expertly uses the frame-within-a-frame principle twice. The first frame is the physical location of the house. It is tucked neatly among the trees and other flora. The second frame involves the colors. The tan, brown, gray and orange colors of the structure are neatly framed by the shades of green.

Jim took advantage of the pink flowers along the walkway that lead directly to the house where you can admire the structure’s color, shape and texture. What’s more, the line of pink flowers not only leads to the house, it leads directly to the center of an archway. It is a subtle touch that satisfies the eye, even if the viewer does not initially detect the source of pleasure. If the line of pinks had been to the right or left of the arch just by a few feet or inches, the photo would have felt unbalanced.

Once satisfied with an examination of the house and its placement in the image, the photograph urges you to explore its less prominent features, which in itself is a pleasing task. A staircase below and to the right of the house encourages you to climb upward toward the cool shade of the trees. A walkway to the right of the stairway invites you to explore what could be a hidden garden. Your eye eventually travels to the skyline in the background where mist partially obscures the trees beyond. One could quibble about the crop arguing that it includes too much sky. But that’s Jim’s artistic eye at work and I’m happy to accept it.”