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01/21/2006 05:42:51 AM |
Hello Katherine, from the Critique Club,
In doing these critiques I very often find myself liking an image that the voters didn't. But this time I am not liking a shot that the voters loved. I did ask myself if I shouldn't just shut up & keep my unpopular opinions to myself ... post a nice, generic "that's soooo cool!" critique and move on. After all, I'm a crusty old guy nearly two generations older than you, so it's likely that my opinions are of absolutely no interest to you anyway. However, you have done some work that I really do admire very much.
Here's just one brilliant example: 
And there are quite a few more just as good. So I think I owe you an honest appreciation of this eye image. Here goes.
The technical aspects seem excellent to me. Normally I have little interest in such tedious considerations. They seldom define the arisitic merit of a photograph, and often have almost no bearing on it at all. But for this type of image you have no choice but to be spot on with the focus, depth of field, and all that guff. And you are; spot on. Pretty much flawless I'd say, although I happily admit to being no expert in such matters.
So, what do I mean by "this type of image"? I suppose it sounds insulting, even condescending, but I don't mean it to be so. I simply mean that this photograph is no more than a piece of graphic art ... it's a beautiful picture of a beautiful eye, but for me it has no meaning or interest beyond that. It certainly doesn't seem to be about the person who owns the eye, although I suppose you could say it might be about the eye itself, which is perhaps interesting if you're an opthalmologist. So my reason for not being as moved by this image as were most of the voters is as simple as that; it's a photograph that doesn't seem to me to be about anything. It says nothing about the subject, and nothing about the artist's feelings or intentions. So for me it's a lightweight image that merits a quick glance to admire your technical skill, but then I'll look for something more challenging.
If I hadn't seen some of the more artistically ambitious work in your portfolio, I would not have dared to be so blunt in this critique. The comments you received during and after this challenge were glowing with praise. So I do understand that my opinion of this image is the minority view. I hope, however, that it is an opinion that may have some interest for you. You're a good, interesting and adventurous photographer. It's just that this photograph is not your best work.
Best wishes,
Paul.
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01/18/2006 10:57:04 PM |
| Well done and a nice top 10 finish. How awesome.! |
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01/18/2006 03:51:06 PM |
| Excellent finish, I've never been a fan of eye images but your entry is making me realize I am missing out on a fabulous subject of photograghy... look forward to meeting you on the Southern Utah GTG in May. |
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01/16/2006 09:43:48 AM |
| Very nice, good finish :) |
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01/16/2006 01:01:40 AM |
| Congratulations on your top ten finish with this beautiful and outstanding macro. |
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01/16/2006 12:06:49 AM |
congrats!!!!!!
Freakin awesome picture...shoulda got the blue. |
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Comments Made During the Challenge  |
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01/15/2006 01:18:54 AM |
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01/14/2006 07:56:35 PM |
| excellent entry. The comp and DOF are spot on... very well done. |
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01/14/2006 10:10:22 AM |
| strangely captivating and engrossing |
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01/14/2006 01:39:44 AM |
| Great detail and DOF here. The compostition and neutral color palette really emphasize the eye.... 8 |
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01/14/2006 01:36:02 AM |
| Back for comments. Nice execution and great choice of subject for this challenge. |
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01/13/2006 05:37:04 PM |
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01/12/2006 06:15:28 PM |
| Nice macro of an eye. I love the smooth texture. |
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01/12/2006 12:34:44 PM |
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01/12/2006 05:50:29 AM |
| One of the most pleasing eye photos I seen for a long time.....I love the tear that nearly there. |
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01/12/2006 12:58:38 AM |
| Nice and crisp... very nice color. I'm assuming a young child as the skin is so soft. Normally, I am a big fan of catch lights... but this time, I would have liked more pupil. |
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01/11/2006 11:02:13 PM |
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01/11/2006 09:25:51 PM |
| I don't know how you guys capture such detail in the eye with so little noise. Very nice. |
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01/10/2006 06:39:00 PM |
| Wonderful. One of the best eyes I've seen. |
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01/10/2006 05:40:27 PM |
| I love the color in this and the perfect focus on the iris of this blue eye. I find the reflection a bit distracting. Still I rate this an 8. |
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01/10/2006 05:04:18 PM |
| Great pic - only thing I'd recommend changing is slighly dulling the shiny spots in the corner of the eye. Lovely shot. |
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01/10/2006 02:29:52 AM |
| Mesmerizing detail in the iris. Excellent DOF. In the end, it's the unique catchlight that really makes this photo spectacular. 9 |
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01/10/2006 12:51:49 AM |
| This is the best eye shot in the challenge. I would have cloned out the white arc of your lens from her blue. That would have made the overall shadow less obvious. 9 |
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01/09/2006 11:45:58 PM |
| think I would rather have the eye looking at me? something about the angle of the eye to the way the face is facing feels unsettling to me. It's a beautiful eye, terrific color, great focus 7 |
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01/09/2006 06:35:46 PM |
| That is an extraordinary eye - good title. Wonderful detail, lighting. I wish the rest of the photo were even lighter - there is that other blue eye photo where the skin is really washed out, and I did like that effect. This is more gentle and realistic, but for a "burt of color" challenge maybe something more extreme is better? |
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01/09/2006 02:03:41 PM |
| Amazing detail in the eye. Met the challenge well and a great photo. |
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01/09/2006 11:53:38 AM |
| IM LOVING THESE EYE PiCtUreS!!! i like this one great Shot!! |
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01/09/2006 06:29:17 AM |
| absolutely beautiful...what a great shot! I think yours is the first shot I have seen that is remotely connected to the subject. Great work 8 |
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01/09/2006 02:01:04 AM |
| Very nice shot, I love the pattern. |
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01/09/2006 01:50:24 AM |
| Noice.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................blue is my favorite color. Nice eye, love the freakin detail. It's almost as if when you look into the eye, you are looking into another universe....another place...another time. |
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01/09/2006 01:11:53 AM |
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01/09/2006 12:19:20 AM |
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| Photographer found comment helpful. |
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