Baby Blues
by shneal13

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

First off, always try to include some info about the shot in the Photographer's Comments section. It really helps out when we know what the photographer was thinking and what equipment/lighting/etc. were used, especially when you request a critique. Secondly, welcome to DPChallenge!

Camera Work/Technical: Great depth of field use and nice exposure. Your darks and lights all have the detail that they need, and nothing is under or over exposed. I think that the focus is just a little off, with more clarity on the hair in front of the eyes, rather than the eyes themselves.

Lighting: It looks like you used natural light for this one. You used it well, keeping the exposure in control, as well as capturing some very nice catchlights in the pup's eyes. I'd like to see a little more balanced lighting on the right side of the frame, but not much is needed.

Composition/Content: Nice composition and pretty good use of the rule of thirds. I think your angle for the shoot could have been decreased just a bit, getting more level with the pup. My only real complaint is that lone hair sitting on the black fabric in the left side of the frame.

My Opinion: I think that this one fits the challenge well. With a little different composition and a bit more lighting, this one could have probably reached the 6 mark.

Dirty Old Knobs
by freakin_hilarious

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

First off, always try to include some info about the shot in the Photographer's Comments section. An old PA doesn't give us much insight into how you prepared this shot. It really helps out when we know what the photographer was thinking and what equipment/lighting/etc. were used, especially when you request a critique.

Camera Work/Technical: This image is nicely seen, and well captured. I like your depth of field use that isolates the front few knobs. The exposure looks nice, and you captured a great tonal range.

Lighting: The lighting seems very nice, with each knob holding its own catchlight.

Composition/Content: Great point of view. I like the tilted composition that you used here, and the rhythmic rows of knobs work well to lead the viewer's eye deep into the frame.

My Opinion: I think that this one scored close to its potential. While this is a very nice photograph, it lacks the wow factor to propel it into higher scores. Voters here look at each image a for a very small amount of time. There are usually about 600 or so images to vote on each week, so it really takes a powerful image to grab the average voter and keep them longer. Vivid colors and strong contrast tend to do better in most challenges. Scoring this one, I would have given it a 6. I think that it is an above average photograph, but needs something else to grab a voter's attention.

The Kindergarten Teacher
by scarbrd

Comment:
This is a terrific example of what an enviranmental portrait should be. My only complaint is that the teacher is a bit too centered. Wonderful. My first 9 in the challenge!

Dark Prophecy's Child
by notesinstones

Comment:
Amazing shot!! DQ or not, you put together an amazing image here. Your composition is terrific, exposure control is nice and your post-processing is top notch. Very, very well done. No need for embarrassment. I am sure that it will eventually happen to us all.

Rub-a-Dub Dub; Three Men in a Tub
by temba

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

Congrats on your highest scoring photograph to date, as well as a nice top 15 finish. This is a well seen and well composed photograph that is deserving of its high finish. When I critique shots, I try to look and see what could have help them finish higher in the challenge. With this one, I am lost. I think you have a capture here that is both technically and aesthetically better than some of those that finished ahead of you. Your composition is strong, focus crisp and exposure near-perfect for the scene. I think that you would have pulled an even better score if the three men were a bit more dominant in the photo. As it is, they almost get lost in the beauty of the sunset, but they are the subject of the cliche. Nice work, and my vote would have been in the 7-8 range for this one. One other note...I appreciate the level horizon. It drives me nuts if they tilt even a little. Nice job.

Coming rain will pour and pour
by quinde

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

First off, always try to include some info about the shot in the Photographer's Comments section. It really helps out, especially when you request a critique. That said, I really don't see this as a sub-5 photograph. The focus is very crisp and the composition of the rain drops is such that it pulls the viewer's eye into and around the frame. I do get more of a sense that the storm has passed rather than pouring rain, as the cliche suggests. As mentioned before, the background is a little boring, and improving that would no doubt improve the score. I think that this one came close to its potential without making major scene changes, but still should have scored a little better.

"When The Rubber Hits The Road"
by holdingtime

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

Nice composition and great depth of field, but I think that this one is a bit washed out. As arnit mentioned, the direction of the sun gives this effect, but it is easily fixed with a curves adjustment. Giving it a slight s curve would also add the needed contrast and probably bump this one up a full point. Your composition works very well, drawing the viewer's eye down the path to the next biker, while still isolating the main subject. Your choice of subject and cliche make this fit into the challenge very well. Overall, nice work that could be even better with some slight adjustments.

Lolita
by mannjudit

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

First off, always try to include some info about the shot in the Photographer's Comments section. It really helps out, especially when you request a critique. That said, you have the beginning of a very nice portrait here, but I am not sure how it fits into the challenge. Your depth of field use is this shots greatest strength. Very nice choice in background coloring and very nice work in blurring out beyond distraction. You lighting looks a bit flat, and her catch lights could use some enhancemnt. Great model and great colors, but meeting the challenge is one of the biggest score improvements you can do here.

Dick: Private Cock
by xianart

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

These are always tough for me to critique. You have a very creative and interesting shot here with several elements that work well to keep the viewer looking around inside the frame. It's very difficult to get a wow-type of photograph using stuffed animals or toys. Check out the recent toys challenge, and you'll see just that. While I do like your creativity here, this one just lacks that pop needed to send it to a top 10 type of photo. I am not sure that it could be done with stuffed animals. Very nice job meeting the challenge. This was a tough one that I sat out, but you met it very well.

Dorothy's Pixy Cousin
by Neuferland

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

Cool idea, and a nicely lit and exposed capture. There are two things that strike me as needing some attention in this shot. First, as mentioned by hideout, the pink hair ribbons really wash her face out, thus distracting from her expression. This is a biggie to watch out for when doing portrait-type work. Secondly, those chopped off elbows leave me looking to the edge of the frame, instead of at the subjects in the shot. Chopping off limbs, especially at major joints, hurts composition. It also looks like she was cutout, I think because of the dodging around her hair. Excellent choice of expression and wonderful clothing for this shot. It meets the challenge well, and, with some minor adjustments, this one would have scored a great deal better I believe.