The Little Lighthouse
by asij

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the free challenge

An attractive landscape made even more appealing by the addition of those good old Northern Lights. Your composition is good with interesting foreground and background. The undulating horizon and proximity of the greens and reds make it very appealing, however, I do wish there was more sparkle in the whites of the snow I think this could benefit greatly from some burning in to make the whites whiter and more snow-like whilst still retaining the evening darkness in the rest of the image.

Thank you for your entry.

In God we Trust
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge

Good accurate focussing in this close up and wide aperture to isolate it well from the background. It's quite an interesting choice to use soil and reasonably conceivable that a coin could fall in such a way in soft soil so well done. I like that the coin is on one of the Thirds hotspots, I might perhaps have chosen to use the lower left to give more room for the eyes of the person to look into, in the same sort of way that it makes a normal portrait more interesting. The coin is well lit with the lettering and head standing out well though it sort of looks a bit artificial I think perhaps a little burning in may have helped but not too much as it still needs to stand out from the soil.

Thank you for your entry Marcel

w h i s p e r • s o f t l y
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An interesting image that contributes well to the free challenge

What a lovely abstract. There are some lovely pastel shades running through the image with nothing dominating, it all contributes collectively to make for a very appealing and intriguing image. The only minor improvement would be the sharply defined centre portion might be better softened up a little so that it is not quite so clearly defined and more in keeping with the rest of the soft image.

A very respectable score, thank you for your entry Janine

Clover
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An interesting image that contributes well to the free challenge

Given your focal length you were closer than I would have cared or dared to be, well done for bravery alone! Your shot is accurately focused on the alligator nicely defined against the soft focus foreground and background it stands out well in an appealing way. There is good clarity of detail throughout the image. The green of its surroundings is in bold contrast to its dark skin. It is an accurate documentary record shot but that is all, there is no wow factor that takes your breath away perhaps if you had offered him one of your limbs it would have that missing factor but then so would you have missing bits and that, all said and done, is a little too much to expect!

Thank you for your entry

Prop Wash
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge

Perfect choice of subject for the challenge, I like your viewpoint and I like your crop. Yes, you have over-saturated but I rather think it has enhanced the image. It has helped to bring out the ravages of wear and the traces of workings as a result of maintenance. The various shades and colours make it more appealing than a straightforward shot of a prop accurately reproduced as a record shot. Your exposure is good with good detail throughout.

I really rather like it, I am sorry it didn't score higher and that you didn't get any comments during the challenge, I hope this makes up for it. Thank you for your entry

Inflight Snack
by Drake

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An interesting image that contributes well to the free challenge

Like you, I've never seen this myself, he must have been hungry! It also confirms how natural flight is to a bird that they can maintain their flight while concentrating on something else. In terms of frozen action this is an excellent example of it though personally I prefer to see more emphasis on motion, for example, with softness in the wingtips. I would also prefer the composition to be less central, this would crop well square with the bird in the upper right of the frame. A little less sharpening would benefit too there is some over-sharpening with halos on the feathers. I think the background could be lightened up just to make a little more appealing.

Thank you for your entry

Fog is rain that whispers ~ Olivia Dresher
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An interesting image that subtly meets the challenge.

Although this is a pleasing composition my first impression was that it did not meet the challenge but on further inspection I can see that there is a vague mistiness against the trees so it would appear to meet the challenge but not in an obvious way. The image reflects the dull sort of day that is often experienced where the uniform light lacks modelling and does not create a huge impact. I do like that you have used mono conversion with a good range of tones to bring out the detail in the clouds and emphasise the sombre mood. I tend to disagree with the comment about contrast I think you've got the balance about right you would start to lose important detail with any more contrast.

A respectable score and result, well done Janine

Dragons Breath
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge.

This is probably the most golden hour I've ever seen! If I'm perfectly honest, which I always try to be, its not entirely to my taste but it certainly captures that early morning moment well and it fulfils the challenge brief with the morning mists. I get the impression that you have applied some saturation, I may well be wrong but I think this would work better with some desat to reduce it to more pastel shades, I find the vivid yellow of the water hurts my eyes. By doing so it may well also bring out the mists on the water itself as opposed to just the darker background. Having said all that, I appear to be in a minority here so well done with your score, result and positive comments

Kill Bill IV
by snaffles

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An appealing image that meets the challenge

Well thought out and executed, I like your action pose, glad I'm not on the receiving end of that blade! Your title probably means more to folk on your side of the pond than it does to me but the message is quite clear. I like your composition but I think its a shame the detail doesn't continue into the left half of the image it leaves the image feeling a little unbalanced. Your sillhouette works really well with just a hint of detail and the space beyond adds a really nice backdrop to your wicked pose.

Another excellent contribution Susan that has received a respectable score, well done.

Ashes to ashes
by snaffles

Comment:
Hello from the Critique club

An excellent image that meets the challenge well.

Wow Susan! Everything about this is just so good, right from the original concept of the idea through to the finished result, there is a lot of thought and hard work that has been put into this. I cannot fault it but I suppose I can see why you got the comment about the teardrop but your explanation, which was obviously not available to your commenter, clarifies it.

You were up against some tough opposition regardless of the invincible gyaban but thoroughly deserving of your high score and placing, well done and thanks for your original creativity in this sad challenge.