Chocolate Happy Face
by ladpupmoe

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club ;)

Artistic Merit
Pros:
* The less than obvious head on view of the subject catching the reflections creates a good sense of depth.
* Good choice of subject placement with the negative space on the right place (with the subject look making him part of the picture).
* There are two implicit very strong circular lines that feed each other keeping the viewer's attention.
* The color contrasts very well with the monotone areas.

Cons:
* The crop is too tight leaving no place for the subject to "breathe".
* As pointed before, the background (where in focus) is competing for attention even though it's almost featureless.

Technical Merit
Pros:
* The focus is spot on.
* The photo is well exposed.

Cons:
* There isn't enough DOF on the subject's frame.
* There is too much DOF on the background.
* The photo lacks contrast and saturation for my taste, lowering the grey point would help both. Lowering the black point could also help strenghtening the blacks in the circular frame.
* Lightening is slightly uneven even though you almost managed to kill all reflections.

Emotional Merit
Pros:
* This is an funny and original picture.

Cons:
* The (angry) eyes and a (smiling) mouth convey contradictory feelings.

Result
I guess this picture was let down mostly by the technical aspects (which are well within your reach, judging by your portfolio) and the tight crop. AFAIK originality (where it could have gathered some points) this was a tough challenge prone to have strong competition. In a more objectively themed challenge, I believe it would have performed in the upper half of the pack.

Message edited by author 2010-01-25 20:32:49.

Arrgghhh! Sugar rush!!!
by sarampo

Comment:
Damn! This picture just pops at you when viewing in full screen! When I saw the thumbnail, I wasn't expecting much but it has got great contrast!
The way the warm and soft tones battle with the sharp focus gives it so much *PUNCH!*
And the soft vignetting really pulls you in.

Great technically and artisticaly.
Very underrated!
I'd give it an 8/9 had I voted!

Elegance in Bubbles
by jasonlprice

Comment:
Beautiful photo and softness, there is just one thing keeping me from giving it a 10*, if you had croped the top to hide the back of the head where there is a piece of dark hair showing, it would have gained a lot more balance, IMHO.
9*

Aglow
by IreneM

Comment:
Would have given a 10 for the colors and detail, unfortunately the borders are messing it, IMHO.
8*

Pearlescent Landscape
by hotpasta

Comment:
Would have given a 9(edit) for the colors and detail, unfortunately the borders are messing it, IMHO.
8*(edit)

Kicking Up Bubbles
by Trompie

Comment:
One of my favorite so far.

Eggtraordinarly delicate
by JCrest01

Comment:
Great photo, but forks and eggs have become a currency lately.

Fragile
by Judi

Comment:
Great control of desaturation.
8*

botanical incubation
by mycelium

Comment:
Another great example of why less is more.

Fragile
by TrollMan

Comment:
Now, this is lighting! Just too tightly croppped.
Upgraded to 9*.