pool-glow.jpg
by Bear_Music

Comment:
I am entirely impressed that you managed to find and capture the landscape of your bog in Florida! Lovely new graphic impact for your style!
Hope your travels are safe and enjoyable....whatever the weather may be. (They have "weather" everywhere, ya know. ;-))

Did you say walk?
by arrowsmith

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

The first thing that grabs me about the image are the beautiful lines of the frame. The sweeping curves of the frame are echoed in the many curved lines of the dogs face and ears...this helps return the eye to the subject whenever it wanders away on the "fence" lines.

I like the composition of the image. The fencing emerges from the upper right corner and ends satisfyingly in the lower left corner where the inward curve returns the toward the center. The one distraction in the composition are the planters in the upper left corner--because they are contrasy and have angular shapes they tend to pull the eye toward them. Unfortunately, they do not add much to the story of the image except to reinforce the garden setting. Were this not a basic challenge you might have been able to dodge that corner to lower the contrast and pull the eye back in to the more important subject of the dog.

The dog's expression is lovely. The eyes have those desirable highlights and the pricked up ears add a great deal of character. There is, because of this wonderful expression, a strong sense of story in the image which is reinforced by the title.

Technically the choice of limited depth of field sending the fence and background out of focus, further centers attention on the dog's expression. The tonal range is pleasing as well. It appears to be an overcast day which helps avoid harsh shadows.

What does it lack? Hmmm...it seems with so much going for it that this image should have scored higher than just above average. I think the planters are one issue--strongly competing with the dog for attention. Perhaps a slightly greater distance between camera and frame would have allowed for cropping that would place the dog's face closer to one of the traditional power points (rule of thirds). I almost always, personally, have trouble with images that contain so much grass--it is an individual taste issue but something about lawn just doesn't speak to me no matter how "truthful" it is to the environment. The lightness of the frame competes a bit with the features of the dog, as well--take a look at the image with the color removed and you'll see that association much more strongly. Finally, pets are a hard-sell on DPC (just ask Shutterpug)...there needs to be a very strong, emotive connection between voter and subject that personal pets just don't seem to evoke.

Overall, a well done image cleverly conceived and executed...a little more "pop" and it would have place a little higher.

Keep shooting and, above all, have fun!
--Kadi

all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free -blackbird
by kris11

Comment:
*Greetings from the Critique Club*

The first thing I like about this image is the quality of line. There is no question what the subject is or where the eye should look first--the leading lines of the floor tiles carry the attention directly to the pill bottles and the face of the young woman. The lighting reinforces this concept--the choice of vignetted edges successfully pulls the eye back into the point of interest.

You have nicely isolated your subject by limiting the colors to earthy tones. The girl is paler than most of her surroundings carrying the apparent suicidal imagery further...the room and cat definitely feel more alive by your color and tone choices.

The lighting provides a very 3-dimensional feel in addition to the perspective lines. It does, however, appear to flatten out at the cabinetry and black void...leaving the cat nowhere to go.

The cat: Some of your commentors, as you predicted, did not like the cat (or its butt) included in the image. I think without the cat this image would be rather cliche and lifeless (no pun intended). For me, the cat passing through the image enhances the concept of the unconscious girl by contrast—they are opposites in many ways: she still, prone, intending to escape—the cat moving, upright, casually attending its business.

The girl: She has something of a posed quality about her...her left arm holding/pushing on the floor is the most telltale sign of "acting"--not awful though. It is hard to fool the mind into believing this type of concept since we are all such attentive observers of humansâ€Â¦this is well on its way. (details, details)

The pills and bottle: Perhaps a little over the top. The number of bottles helps to make clear the point of the image...two or three might not convey the message to the viewer so quickly. However, the more time I spend with the image the less I like the beer bottle...it breaks the shape of the young woman's head and simply seems out of place. This part of the staging might be a good point to re-think....are there too many pill bottles?...could there be fewer and still convey the message?...should the beer bottle be tipped over as well?..should the woman's face be visible or obscured by the source of her angst?....etc.

The topic and title: You clearly fit the challenge by using a Beatle's lyric...I agree with one or more of your commenters that you've re-interpreted what most consider an upbeat and hopeful song---but I (personally) think that it is a valid interpretation of the simple lyrics. Some found this image depressing...I think that's great! (It is what you were going for, isn't it?)

Overall, you have a fine image that made an emotional splash among your commenters. You scored well in the challenge...not bad for your first entry at DPC! There are no real technical issues with this image--you've controlled depth of field, focus, lighting, post-processing, etc.

Congratulations and good luck!
--Kadi

181 Years of Sundays
by idnic

Comment:
lovely interior full of symmetry and pretty woodwork...the choice of wide angle introduces some strange curves to this otherwise nice image

Bok Tower
by ArpeggioAngel

Comment:
Nice point of view but the image is distractingly over sharpened!

Holy Family Shrine
by whatdewuc

Comment:
Great subject and wonderful light and colors. Not at all crisp, however.

En vert et rose
by Mambe

Comment:
You've made some interesting and powerful choices in this image! Very cool!

Refracted
by banmorn

Comment:
Fun! Such a neat way to refract upon yourself! :)

The Dark Side
by scalvert

Comment:
Awww, c'mon....we all know there's no dark side! :)

Thirst
by Kivet

Comment:
Whoa! Neat Image! Frankly you're far too pretty to need all that blur.