The Random Nature of Smoke
by lucienaw

Comment:
How cool this would have been in the Pi challenge! Neat capture.

Katie and PJ
by Di

Comment:
This is really sweet! What a difference a year makes, eh?

Who knows????
by Di

Comment:
I love the way the lighting works behind Woody! Neat effect.
This has whimsy and emotion...an odd thing to say about a doll, I know.
The arch is neatly lit...I wonder if the box shape on the right could have some of the same dimension to it. (Picky, picky...sorry.)
Still, this should do quite well. (as long as the anti-woody trolls aren't around, of course.)

lightbulb2.jpg
by I Enjoy Ham

Comment:
pretty neat, kiddo! how'd ya do that?

Farm-2.jpg
by judojoe

Comment:
This is my second favorite of this series...tall woman, short barn. The wrinkles at her hips are my least favorite part of this, though, because I think they cause a distraction.

Farm-3.jpg
by judojoe

Comment:
This one isn't as effective as the others. The shadow behind her just seems to emphasize the pose...a pose which seems rather non-commital. :(

Farm-4.jpg
by judojoe

Comment:
Cute idea. I like the contrast of the dress with the surroundings. But I think the lighting is a bit too hot...especially on the dress. The dress you could process down with some dodging...but there's still the issue of the shadows. I think a little more room at the bottom of the frame for her feet...and in that area a little dodging to bring out the lines of the shoes would help, too. Neat overall, though.

Farm-5.jpg
by judojoe

Comment:
Like the city boy in the country idea of this! Really says "weekend" and grandpop's!

Are you ready for this?
by xtian

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

What a nice moment! Stopped action, great expression on the player....and look at those muscles! The sand adds a nice touch.

The background is this image's biggest liability...you know that and so did your commentors. I think opening up the lens to its widest f/4.0 would help...and in these bright conditions that could easily be done by bringing the ISO down to 100.

I like the inclusion of the referee with the whistle in his mouth. It puts the game in context. I also like the palms and condos in the background which add to the setting. I agree with one commentor that the advertisements are a distraction. Any time there's text in an image it begs to be read. But the most bothersome of the background elements to me is the woman in blue framed between the player's legs. So, other than changing your camera settings, hunting around for a good background and waiting for the action to happen in front of it can also be a good strategy.

I also like the angle of view that puts the viewer slightly below the plane of the leaping player. I'd prefer to see more sand and less sky. I'd like to see more indication of the net, too, since I thinkk it would add to the story of the sport being played.

Your risk-taking payed off and the voters rewarded you...but I think it's worth going back and perfecting this type of shot. Nicely done.

Two Knights Defense (56) -White to Move
by whiterook

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Interesting looking game set up. I can understand the idea of chess as a sport...but the other part of the challenge was to show the action. I think including some human interaction with the pieces would help immensely in that regard. Perhaps showing a hand poised over one of the white pieces as if deciding to make the move?

The lighting is very yellow and unflattering in this image. I think using the camera's white balance compensation or fixing it in post-processing would help. The direction of the lighting (coming from almost directly over head) shortens the shadows and makes it hard to see the detail in the black pieces...the two bishops, for example, almost look like one object. At the same time the tops of the white pieces are too light...for example, compare the tops of the two nearest white pawns with the pawns guarding the king.

Subject is just one element of a photograph but lighting is everything!
Keep shooting what you love.
Regards, Kadi