Dreams of Pink Petals
by jenesis

Comment:
Sweet! What gentle colors! I could get lost in this image for days and weeks.

Row
by roby21112

Comment:
Superb! Wonderful composition! I think the ring of light at the end of the one paddle makes this...like a diamond on a pretty girl!

Après le bain
by annig

Comment:
How perfect can it get?! Neatly lit. Love the pose...very emotive!

The Men: Wings For The Groom
by 777STAN

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

An interesting collection of men. Their similar dress makes their postures and expressions more evident allowing the viewer to see their unique expressions and individuality.

I like the sepia toning in the majority of the image. Clearly you felt the need to make the groom stand out, and he does, but not in a good way. The difference in his complexion from the others just seems weird. I think his central position and difference of stance are enough to identify him as the main figure in this group.

It does look a lot like a shot of a musical group...I like the casual feel of this posed image. But as a posed image it seems that some better choices could have been made. The lighting is harsh leading to squinted eyes and uncomfortable expressions...especially on the man at the far right. The 3rd man from the right partially obscures the 4th...this merger weakens the whole. Large groups are difficult to get everything right, granted. So more shots to get a decent expression on everyone, eyes and faces generally in tune with the camera (not closed or looking out of frame), and avoiding awkward overlapping.

The background is relatively neutral, but the reflections off the water are not helpful and the concrete not so interesting. Compositionally, I think the frame is a bit tight at the top...a little more head room would help bring the faces more into the frame. The way this is cropped the outfits become the pattern feature...and that's interesting...but I think there is more interest to be found in the faces which are crowding toward the top of the frame.

As for the challenge, I rarely care when making these critiques but not being familiar with the term "wingmen" I have to agree with the comment that it would have made a better title in helping connect with the challenge topic. Otherwise, it just feels like a shoe-in.

Keep shooting!

Downforce
by RulerZigzag

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I have to be perfectly honest up front, car shots do little for me. I tend to regard them slightly lower than photos of sculptures because, in my mind, they are simply representations of other people's art. As such, the photographer needs to bring his own interpretation to the object...or create a believable "product shot"...I don't see much "interpretation" here, so let me comment from the commercial point of view.

The background isn't very interesting, it's clearly a parking lot. The choice of selective desat helps minimize the impact of the background but finding a different point of view to actually lessen the amount of image space taken up by the background might have been more effective.

The focal point seems to be somewhere around the left, front quarterpanel. At least that's where contrast and line is most interesting. Because the eye goes there I have to agree with the comment that the inspection and registration stickers and, subsequently, the brightly lit portion of car seat become distractions.

The lighting is bright which makes the shadows deep. I think you've lost too much detail in the lower left corner of the image. Showing off the car, IMO, means balancing detail and form...the shadows send the balance askew. The bright light and mirror finish of the car also picks up the odd reflection of the parking lot lines. Reflections and the size of the object makes autos difficult subjects to pull off.

Overall, this is an subject that makes car-lovers go Ooooh! I'm sure I would have stopped to look it over if I were passing by. But what I wish is that images of cars would make me see the "Ooooh!" when I look at them. Capture the feeling you get when you find a sexy Vette and then you'll have something impressive.

Keep shooting!

m e t a l i c a
by hotpasta

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

First impression: good graphic impact! I like the tones...feels like a traditional black and white. The sky is odd...over-polarized?

Having read your comments I must agree with those who dislike the glow around the jet...it looks like a result of post-processing. It's very evident and doesn't seem to have an interpretation to it...it won't pass for water vapor. The jaggies are also clearly evident and take away from the smoothness of the metallic body.

The composition is probably the strongest element here. The timing of the shot, with the landing gear down, takes this a notch above the standard plane shot. I like the interpretation of the subject and agree with the comment that B&W is a satisfying choice.

Overall, it could be a cleaner image but the graphic impact helps make a statement of power and beauty. You predicted your score well...so what can I tell you except "Nicely done."

Bee Wings & Honeysuckle
by bs-photos

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

This is a pleasant image to encounter! I like the realistic feeling of the colors...saturated, yes, but believable. The bee makes the image...lucky he flew in just in time for the shot!

The composition is satisfying. There's not too much or too little of anything in that regard. I especially like the way the shapes of the petal echo the shapes of the bee's wings. Nice repetition in this image to help the viewer stay with it longer.

The frame was a good idea because it helps contain the image stopping the eye from wandering out of frame. But I do think it's a little over done. IMO, the frame becomes a feature because of its color and 3-D quality...simpler would be better.

Generally I think the technicals are well handled. Good focus and sharpness. Nice DOF. The only feature (other than the frame) that I find distracting are the red stem and the reddish older blossom. Perhaps a little selective desaturation along the red channel would tone those items down and keep the subjects foremost.

I think the relationship to the challenge topic is fair. The wings really aren't the subject here. I agree with the comment that a bit of fill light might enhance the challenge subject. Or, if the bee had cooperated for a while, you might have chosen a lower angle of view to bring the wings further into the frame.

Overall, a pleasing shot with few detractions.

Keep shooting!

Child Within
by LanndonKane

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

The idea is clever. I like the use of selective desaturation. Because of the title and the feminine nature of the wings the manly clothes seem out of place. If not for the title I wouldn't have that impression. I first interpreted this as a child hiding within her father's closet. (I see you have a similar comment to this.)

The technicals seem okay. I don't much care for the large hole created by the dark shirt in the middle of the frame...blank spaces like this (whether black or white) can suck the energy out of an image and make it feel improperly exposed.

The composition could be a little cleaner. I feel the tilt of the bar within the frame gives an off-kilter feel to the image that seemingly has no purpose in regards to subject interpretation.

With so much butterfly showing I kinda expect to find a child attached to those wings. Maybe less of the wings showing would carry the concept of "hiding" further?

Overall, a refreshingly different idea for the challenge.

Keep shooting!

Rock Concert
by idnic

Comment:
That ROCKS!
...in many, many ways...
:)

The Return
by electrolost

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Thank you for leaving such detailed comments on your image. I enjoyed the story of how you came to make this photo. I have read the comments left during the challenge as well as the discussion in the thread //www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=657696 you started.

Though I didn't vote in the challenge, this image is one of the few I happened to see while browsing the entries. My first reaction was, like many of those who commented, what is it? The title definitely helped me look for the subject. Because the head is blurred it took a little effort to discover the deer. I think some of your other versions are easier to interpret.
Such as this one, for example.

Once the subject was discovered I wondered what you were trying to say. It is about death and decay. It's an unusual find. It reminds me of those French cave paintings in its pose and earthy tones but doesn't quite have the same graphic qualities (those are more apparent in the high-contrast version). Nonetheless, I'm seeing something new to me. I've seen plenty of road-kill, mostly bloated does with their tongues sticking out beside the road. Here a younger deer relatively uneaten by scavengers with clearly recognizable hoofs and head.

I like the sepia toning. I think it does what you intended emphasizing the relation of animal and earth. But I don't think the blur effect works toward helping the viewer understand the subject better. The composition feels off to me. I would like to see the rest of the front leg and perhaps a slightly different angle on the subject. Perhaps if the image had been taken a step to the right the head would be better defined and the focus would not be on the rise of the belly where my attention is continuously drawn because that's where the contrast and sharpness are placed.

The story you tell about the deer is probably more compelling than the image. In this type of forum (i.e. DPC challenges) the image must do the work alone with perhaps a little help from the title. When you combined the word story and the image the statement grew stronger. I can now imagine the horror of discovery, the fear of ending up like the fawn, the tragic sense of your situation...but not from the photo alone.

Here is a famous poem that your story and image made me recall:

Traveling through the Dark
--William Stafford

Traveling through the dark I found a deer
dead on the edge of the Wilson River road.
It is usually best to roll them into the canyon:
that road is narrow; to swerve might make more dead.

By glow of the tail-light I stumbled back of the car
and stood by the heap, a doe, a recent killing;
she had stiffened already, almost cold.
I dragged her off; she was large in the belly.

My fingers touching her side brought me the reason--
her side was warm; her fawn lay there waiting,
alive, still, never to be born.
Beside that mountain road I hesitated.

The car aimed ahead its lowered parking lights;
under the hood purred the steady engine,
I stood in the glare of the warm exhaust turning red;
around our group I could hear the wilderness listen.

I thought hard for us all--my only swerving--,
then pushed her over the edge into the river.

I hope you don't mind this unusual "critique" of your image. I believe that no subject should be "off-limits" in poetry or art but the artist doesn't always know what they're saying until it is received by the listener. I hope you'll keep pushing the limits and create more provocative work. Keep shooting!

edit for the inevitable typo

Message edited by author 2007-08-14 09:26:47.