Endures
by posthumous

Comment:
Greetings from the critique club.

You are my second detailed critique so I hope I have gotten good enough from my first one to provide you the necessary insight to fast forward your journey to becoming an exceptional photographer.

My how fascinating...I just realized whom I am critiquing...my hero when it comes to dpc prose... screw photography...I now only hope to not come off as illiterate.

I wonder if you are actually interested in a critique or just secretly laughing at the establishments' feeble attempt to understand you.. regardless, I will carry on what I've for some odd reason gotten myself tasked into doing and comment on this image.

So... my first impressions were that this was for the bokeh challenge. I think it a nice touch that you incorporated a recent challenge technique into this "life" photo. I sometimes think about how it would be cool to submit stuff that incorporated all the current challenge topics into a single submission, but then I quickly realize nobody would actually pay attention. I'm initially drawn to that orange colored spot...it's like a beacon of hope that spring may return some day...or that something is still truly living under the sheet of winter. Sure you got the buds on the branch, but they're looking kind of rough at the moment. So if I crop off the top or bottom inch the composition has a much better flow for me around that hi-light. The lighting is really soothing, but that 1 branch in the back is a bit overbearing so I'm wondering if you might have shopped a few other angles out to best limit the distractions. It is nice that it points the eye back toward your main subject...so what the heck do i know.

Technically...nice lens. Good focus from a distance. I assume it was smart to use a strong zoom and keep the aperture tight, rather than get up close and use a wide aperture. As I mentioned before the lighting is nicely done. I also like how the main ice point has a darker area directly behind it. Overall, the composition just doesn't work quite as well as I would like. Post processing isn't noticeable which I believe is what you intended.

Creatively...the photo has an emotive feel. That alone makes it better than 90% of the images for me. I like your choice of title and it's simplicity. I think titles are extremely important in setting the stage for the photo. Some how the word itself matches the composition. Something about the S and the curve of the branch. Or maybe that ess sound reminds me of gentle rustling of those branches in the wind. Or maybe I've had 1 to many chocolate chip cookies before bed ;) As far as subject matter, not exactly something I would have expected from the dpc underground, but you can't stay on the outside forever ;)

How to improve your score on dpc...not that I think this pertains, but keep focusing on water. Perhaps a spring thaw with a nice droplet on the end would have propelled you into the high 5s.

And so ends your critique... now go return the favor by telling me to stop submitting the same street crap to your challenges.

Thanks for listening. Take care.

-MT

The Dude Finds Himself
by mindbottling

Comment:
people say i look like "The Dude"...so your cat and I have something in common. Now if I too could only find myself one day... ;)

Message edited by author 2009-01-12 16:46:15.

Schoolgirl Reflections-Chinatown, 2008
by pawdrix

Comment:
the girl on the lefts apparent scowl makes the shot for me.

Amber Fort Keeper
by nancydrew81

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Lucky or not you are my first critique so I hope I do a good job for you.

My initial impression of your image was that it was excellent for the challenge because it had the added benefit of being something you wouldn't normally see without actually being in Asia. I like how you have his vibrant colors juxtaposed against the rather dreariness of the buildings and hillside behind him. Though I'm not familiar with Amber Ft Keeper...I assumed it was in India. Your image makes me think of how even though India struggles with poverty, it's people over come and are quite happy with their daily lives, lives filled with celebration and costume.

Technicals:
I think your choice of settings works quite well for the image. The harsh sun is handled well as the shadows aren't overpowering. I'm very curious if you did any post processing on this image. Perhaps if you ask for another critique you could fully list any post processing or state it's from the camera. I generally find images from my canon 20D require sharpening and a bit of a saturation boost. I would say this image as well would have benefited from both in moderation. More sharpening as the man isn't quite as crisp as he could be. Your lens and aperture listing confuses me as you list a max 4.0 aperture lens and a 2.8 setting. This image does have the feel of a large zoom so perhaps that effected some of the focus.

Composition:
As I mentioned before, you have done well to capture the man in his environment. I am left wondering how interesting the image would have been if you panned out a bit and caught more of his garb and his full gesture. As it stands for me, I kind of feel left in a no man's land between too little and too much detail. I think from a fine art perspective the composition might have benefited from showing more of the necklace and full arm as it would help the eye move around the image rather than just be drawn to the edges. Obviously, the situation and surroundings would dictate whether this was even possible.

Message:
I like that I get an emotional response from your image. So many photos on this site are simply for the eye candy benefit.

DPC Score Boost:
I'm no expert on this but I think a controlled sharpening of this image would have moved you much close to a 6.

If you have any questions or want to discuss your image any more with me, please feel free to PM me.

Thanks for listening, hope it helped.
-MT

California Dreamin'
by Hipychik

Comment:
this is quite nice

Evening Falls
by boyd2000

Comment:
great tones. i wish i had a more sweeping view of the area...perhaps there was a strip mall just to the right ;)

Enough surfing for today
by Pelle

Comment:
great positioning...great light.

Ynys Llanddwyn Rising
by Caravela

Comment:
wow...what a beautiful composition. the way some of the rocks mimic the clouds...and some mimic the shoreline to counter balance the flow.

le sposi
by rinac

Comment:
for a moment we were all swept up together and transported to another world.

Luv Of Coffee
by Crafty

Comment:
perplexing...you allude to the love of coffee, but then show an adbandoned cafe...