Elegant Egret
by BuddyBaum

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club.

I think this image benefits from some fine colour accents; the blue sky, the green and orange around the face too. I think you have the highlights at the right level too, bright but still with plenty of dynamic range.

Sharpness is a slight problem, the feet are perfect but unfortunately they aren't the most interesting part of the image. I'm surprised to see this as a 1/1600s capture, I'd have expected to see 'frozen' wings at that shutter speed, perhaps the unsharpness is all focus related. You've filled the frame admirably for a 105mm bird shot but I think the centre placement isn't the boldest or most interesting.

Overall this is a good shot, it scored well in the context of a Free Study, especially one that came on the back of a bird challenge.

Paul

At the twilight's last gleaming...
by Bear_Music

Comment:
I really like this.

pull
by posthumous

Comment:
Bad title.

Your Touch of Love
by jazul02

Comment:
I think this is a real step up in quality and vision. This has a created feel that communicates intent.

Very well made.

The rancher
by Yo_Spiff

Comment:
Very nicely made portrait. Congrats on the ribbon Steve.

Waiting My Turn
by njsabs

Comment:
Amazing huge eyes. I'm not at all surprised that this took the blue. Very nicely made.

heian
by bspurgeon

Comment:


Award for the March 2011 Free Study.

'sup?
by tanguera

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: Really interesting portrait(s) with an unusual but very effective POV. The lighting is stand-out too. The chick cracks me up with it's unintimidated directness.

Critical stuff: i'd have perhaps reduced some of the red coloration from his head.

Overall: A very unusual portrait. I like it.

All Mixed Up
by love

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: My what a choice you've made to submit this. I bet you're getting killed and I bet you don't mind at all! I love her wild hair and the sharp focus on her eye and the rule of thirds composition.... like you've approached it like a real portrait, with the limbs and torso being 'posed' in a very real way. I really like that bronze coloration too and the way that you've processed and captured the light in a way that makes the highlights a feature in their own right. I also think the negative space at the top is inspired.

Critical stuff: Nothing

Overall: I could see this in a gallery and I for one would be transfixed. Excellent

Olechka
by kiwiness

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: I wish I could do work like this! My model work is a bit dull and over-polished compared to this. The colours of the reflections, her pose, the intense eyes, the slightly soft focus, the grain - they all exude confidence in your work. Great stuff.

Critical stuff: The framing / cropping on the left.... perhaps a bit more would be better, here, by nearly catching all of her, the slight clipping draws the eye away from where it belongs.

Overall: Superb work.