Big black mare
by snaffles

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

You’ve done her proud Susan, what a lovely portrait of a lovely horse. Your high key exposure has given her a sort of translucency that makes her radiate in a very pleasing way which also gives an essence of strength to her character. Whilst the high key effect has blown the background it helps make the horse stand out whilst your control of the whites in the horses fur is good there is detail throughout, well controlled. Focus, DOF and composition are all enhancing the end result in a very pleasing way.

A "Ten-Cent Hamilton" in the Upper Right of an Envelope
by Lydia

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An excellent image that contributes well to the challenge

Your appreciative commenters have already summed it up for me Lydia, as Mark says, 'a masterful job'. I think he may also be right about the under-rated voting, your image is just so convincing and they did not have the benefit of your comments like I do, its a real shame it didn't feature much higher it certainly deserved to. I love the hand writing except that, the only minor criticism I can make, is the faint line to the right of the g. Yes Lydia, I love your creative crop it works perfectly. Thank you for persevering and doing such a marvellous job and sharing it with us all, I and your commenters certainly appreciated it.

Dawn calmness
by docjonny

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

That is some view you have from your study, I’m not very envious am I! Calmness and brightness are what your image is all about so in terms of the challenge brief you have fulfilled it well. At first I thought I wish we could see a little more of the detail of the opposite shore but on reflection I prefer it as it is, there is just a hint of interesting detail on both shores, enough to add but not enough to detract. The sun’s rays are what gives the image its impact, I think there is room for a little more contrast to really make it stand out.

little tree will become tall
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Well, I think Glad2badad has done an excellent critique already and very succinctly summed up everything I want to say about your image, I will try to add a little further detail. The background does not add to the overall result a clean white background would greatly simplify and add impact. Because cameras are geared to give average results for average scenes they will always underexpose a predominantly white scene such as snow so you always need to give 1 or 2 stops +EC in order to get nice crisp whites. The white balance is in need of a slightly warmer shift to reduce the blueness overall. Happy New Year and good luck in the coming year Marcel.

Winter Ballroom
by Bearded_dop

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

This is a lovely night scene that is enhanced by good mono processing. Whilst the lights are understandably blown the exposure overall is good, there is good detail throughout. Unlike your commenters, I would actually like to see more foreground but it would need to be sharply in focus too. By cropping the tops of the tall trees it would move it all to the upper third and create a more interesting composition but as I said before this would only work with a larger DOF with light playing on the focussed shapes and shades on the water.

Four Seconds to Impact
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An interesting image that contributes well to the challenge

Another excellent entry Eugene and justifiably rewarded with a healthy score and placing, well done. In the context of the challenge brief your image works so well. I love the upper part of the image with those lovely shadows and the zoom burst effect, that against the sharp detail of the habitation is a tremendous contrast. The whole thing is utterly believable, lovely colours, just the right amount of blur, love it well done again.

Ugly but free!
by RulerZigzag

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealingly ugly image that contributes well to the challenge

What an appropriate choice of subject! Thank you for your informative notes which help explain natures way of adaption to suit the situation. Its a good frame filling shot with a dynamic composition, however, I have to agree with Lydia about the sharpness of focus, it would greatly increase its impact if it were sharper. Thanks for your entry Anton

Ghostly Wallflower
by ladpupmoe

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes to the challenge

I suppose there are several ways of interpreting the challenge brief especially given the absence of a definition and I like your creative take on the theme. The sunlight coming through the venetian blinded window add to the abstract nature of the painting and decoration on the wall in a way that adds an air of mystery to the image, I like it. I think your composition is spot on, what we can’t see through your crop adds as much to the image as what we can see, I love the top the way it dissolves any detail and the bottom which reveals the lines for what they are. All of this works really well for me Peggy, thanks for sharing it with us.

The Ice Queen
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes to the challenge

You’ve nailed that focus perfectly which, of course, is both essential and difficult the faster the lens and 1.2 is pretty fast! Indeed it’s that shallow focus that makes these lenses so unique but so often poorly handled with consequent dire results, this is a great example of how they can and should be used to good effect. It is a lovely portrait of a lovely girl, the lighting works very well indeed, well done for your seeing and quick reaction. In terms of the challenge brief I can see where your commenter is coming from and probably therefore the lower than deserved score and placing. Thanks for another excellent entry Eugene.

It's too hot !!!!
by clickodak

Comment:
Hey Marcel, well done! I've only just seen your latest addition to your ever-growing ribbon collection and what a worthy addition it is, great use of natural lighting with a humorous feel to it which is always welcome. I'm proud of you, keep up the good work...