I'll try it in plain speech....quit concerning yourself with "art" or "artistic photographs" many of the photos on you site would be much more appealing without the manipulations. You simply are not an artist or even artistic yet...you have too much craft to learn. I agree with Alan and t...at some point we've all been through this overly creative stage and it's always soon after we grasp the basics and we know, John Allen, exactly what it means...for both you and Man Ray. It means you are masking poor techniques in the name of "creativity" but Man Ray did it first so you don't have to. I tutor many students and I've seen this trait in nearly every one and I let them do it despite my feelings...I only pray that they don't get stuck there. It can be very fun and invigorating to your work but don't develope a fetish for infrared or others to the exclusion of learning your craft. I'm as guilty as the next...I have one solarization that I'm quite fond of despite it's trite nature....just one. I have hand tinted and labored over gum prints and platinotypes...and I learned some valuable lessons in terms of alt processes...tricks that I use to this day in more "straight" photos but the most important thing I've learned is that you don't need to use these techniques but once in a blue moon and only with an image which might be enhanced by the process and never, ever used to cover poor techniques or in the name of creativity. So John Allen, the truth is that I've seen a million of these types of images. The last thing in the world you need right now is to listen to a photoclub judge, or a critic....you at this point need to learn more than they know and never seek awards or money or praise and realize that when someone coo's over your work.... filter that praise with what they know of photography.(posted 8765 days ago)good luck,
Trib