The Forbidden City in Beijing built in mini Lego Block
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

This certainly fits the challenge brief well Marcel. Your commenters have already identified the main problem with it being the shallow DOF, obviously a smaller aperture would have enabled you to get all of the building in focus. However, given the inclusion of what looks like Big Ben in the background this is obviously out of place for the nature of the subject, because of that I would identify the real problem as your focus point. Had you focussed to get all the frontal features sharp it would have rendered the background detail softer and stood our more this would have given it a lot more impact.

Little Man
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

This is a lovely portrait Janine, I like the pose and the crop they are both very appealing. However, I feel it is somewhat overexposed, there is loss of detail in his clothing, but his face which is obviously the most important aspect of the image feels too light and flat, I feel it would definitely benefit from less exposure. I do like your original approach it gives the image more impact.

Juvenile Tricolored 002
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

A great perspective Ronnie, the nice low shot enhances the feeling of being there with the bird. The lovely colours and feather detail add a significant impact to this lovely bird and the image as a whole. As we have come to expect from your images it is up to your usual high standards, well done

Snowy Owl doing its yoga routine.
by RulerZigzag

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that meets the challenge well

Congratulations Anton on your ribbon, a splendid result for a splendid image. I love the pose, it works so well especially with the challenge theme in mind. I realise you were taking this in the golden hour in diminishing light but as has already been commented a little more exposure would have really made the whites of this gorgeous bird really stand out magnificently. What a great start to the year for you, Happy New year and continued success to you.

A Little Fishing
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that meets the challenge well

A great action shot Ronnie. The focus is lovely and crisp and sharp exactly where it matters, those eyes are superb. The prey being so small is a little difficult to distinguish at first but you're timing is spot on. As far as the challenge is concerned it does meet the challenge it is a bird with wings however, I think a shot where the wings are more obvious may have rewarded you even more but nevertheless its still a good image, well done and Happy New Year to you.

Steel Bracing
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An interesting image that contributes to the challenge

Your take on the challenge brief is interesting Marcel. To be honest, I think it is only partially successful, as an image in itself it is not an appealing subject that was ever really going to score that highly, I̢۪m sure you could have found a more imaginative subject. Anyway, having chosen this structure that, due to the lighting, does stand out from the background so yes, to a degree, it fulfils the brief, other than that there̢۪s not really a lot else to say about it.

Cotton Candy
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes to the challenge well

Another great shot Ronnie. Whilst the other image in itself is the better this fulfils the challenge theme more fully. Everything about this is once more very appealing, the colour the white and yellow contrast and composition it all works very nicely indeed. I love Mariuca̢۪s imaginative comment. Well done.

Photographing Wildlife
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes to the challenge well

Ah, that lovely golden hour. Great use of the light to transform this into something special that stands out, the light together with good timing of the moment. Your predicted score was spot on and your ribbon, once more, well deserved, well done Ronnie

My favourite time to surf
by docjonny

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes to the challenge well

Lovely landscape Jonathon. I love the diminutive figure of the surfer it gives a sense of scale to what one of your commenters describes as small waves but clearly his presence shows they are larger than is at first appreciated. I think perhaps you could have given it slightly less exposure to reduce the blow highlights, anyway, well done with your score and placing

Snow Dancing
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes to the open challenge well

Great nature study Ronnie. I like the way you have captured the bird in mid stripe with his yellow foot vividly contracted against the green background. There is a lovely level of detail in the bird with his beautiful white plumage again nicely contrasted against the dark background. I find the brown on the left a little distracting but not a lot you could probably do about that, other than that well done Ronnie for climbing another rung of the ladder towards your goal