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.

Dark Primeval Carnivals
by kari1

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

This capture does produce the moody, cultish feel that you were after, but the lighting is lacking just a little. I think changing the position of the small candles to move them out of the frame without loosing the light would have made this one even better. Those just look out of place and take away some interest, in my opinion. You have a very nice balance using the two larger candles on either side, and those also fit the overall feel of the photo. The composition is just a little too centered for my taste, but I do like the photo overall. Great idea, and small changes would make it even better.

Don Pedro's Cue
by jdannels

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

Great composition and depth of field use. Looking at your portfolio, you really have a knack for interesting subjects and nice composition. I like the way the balls and cue stick serve to draw the viewer up and into the eyes of the player. Nice choice of wardrobe colors to contrast nicely with the table felt. The right eye seems a bit too enhanced considering the overall shadow on that side of the face. Perhaps a small light on the floor to your right would have helped eliminate this harsh shadow a bit. I wouldn't have added a lot of light because of the mood that the lighting produces. Just enough to show a little detail would have helped a great deal.

Dill Pickle Conspiracy
by timfythetoo

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

This is too funny. I JUST finished the trading post comment, then I pulled you again from the CC cue. How the heck does that happen?!?! In addition to what I just added, I think that the burning is a little overdone. It adds a great dirty feel to the alley, but you can really see it in the sky. Going for the 50s-60s poster, maybe desaturating is all a bit or toning it differently would have given an even older feel. Very creative, but just not my preference.

'Til I'm Blue in the Face
by nards656

Comment:
--Trading Post--
The lighting looks a little flat here. I do like the composition and the square crop, but I'm not sure that it fits snugly in the challenge. I do like the creativity, but I think more blue would have helped. Great focus. I hate doing self-portraits.