Orange saver at the blue lake
by tyrkinn

Comment:
The mountains and how the sun shines on the water is absolutely beautiful. However, the lifesaver stand (I don't know what else to call it) is backlit against the sky which is kind of washed out. The orange color doesn't really stand out very well. However, I like the idea behind the shot and the composition. 8

submerged blue and orange
by deceptive

Comment:
Good use of complementry colors. I really like the water ripple effect. It makes the picture interesting. At first, I didn't like the shadow, but as I study it further, I change my mind. It add dimension to it. The colors are vivid. Good job! 10

Old Mill Inn
by TerryGee

Comment:
Critique Club

Hi Terry,

Before I get started on this particular picture, I must admit that I enjoyed studying your work as a whole. When I critique for the club, I like to take a look at everything I can to get a feel for the photographer before I start writing. I found myself to be impressed by your artistic eye. You are able to try new techniques and style to each photo with amazing results to make you a well rounded photographer. You inspire me. I am especially drawn to how you are able to capture color so well. The flower pictures in your portfolio are perfect examples. The colors are so vivid and rich, they literal pop out of the screen at me.

Now onto the task at hand...your beautiful postcard! During the challenge, I scored this a 9.

Composition: I really like the way the building is centered in the photograph. Yes, it would be nice to see more of the waterfall, but the building is the main subject and there is enough of the water to complete the picture. If you would have moved the shot a bit to the right, I'm thinking that it may not have been as nice. It doesn't really look like there is anything interesting to the right of the building. Of course, not knowing the area, I don't know that for sure...just guessing.

Technical: Once again, I'm impressed by the way you are able to bring out the colors in your photography. As with your other photos, the colors are vivid. The lighting seems nice, however, I would have liked to see the water wheel better. It is in the shadow of the building and doesn't stand out very well. Judging from the position of the sun and what appears to be moss on the rock around the wheel, that part of the building may not get the sunshine and good lighting in that area may not be possible for it to show up well in a photograph.

The reason why I voted a 9 instead of a 10 is the lack of clarity. The building seems just a tad blurred. When looking at the windows, my eyes tend to ache wanting to focus them in. Perhaps just sharpening the edges just a little would give them more clarity. Just because my curosity got the best of me, I did take your photo and simply sharpened it just a little in my program and it did work. It even managed to bring out details in the water wheel to make it stand out better. Try it and see what you think.

Challenge: This is definately a nice postcard subject. The photo is well framed in the postcard size and the border is appropriate. Not only was the subject the reason why I voted this as high I did, but also the way you used it in the postcard. You chose an excellent font for the text and provided the necessary information on your card to let the recipient know what they are seeing.

Congrats on personal high score for you on DPC. Well deserved.

I hope you found this critique helpful. Please feel free to notify me if you would like to discuss anything further.

Connie

Primary Glass
by Jacko

Comment:
This is really nice. I really like how you portrayed the primary colors for this challenge. Turned out to be a cool effect. The colors are vivid and literally pop out of the screen. I can't help but wonder, though, how it would look if the glasses had been placed on a mirrored tile so that the strips of color would have extended down through the whole picture. I don't particulairly like how the color abrubtly ends. Since it wouldn't be wise, in this case, to crop out the bottom of the glasses, there should be some way to extend the color down to your surface. 9 Good luck in the challenge

Welcome Home, Troops!
by Artifacts

Comment:
Although this water droplet technique is getting a little over done, I do like your take of it by adding the yellow ribbon. I do believe, however, that the droplets could have been in better focus to give it more of a "WOW" effect.

primary colors
by Gotchya

Comment:
I understand what you were trying to do with this by manipulating the colors or by using a filter to make the white stripes yellow. Although you were successful in meeting the challenge, it turned the flag into a displeasing color and very unnatural. I do like the ripples and shadows in it though.

Primary Friends
by sagestudio

Comment:
Very cute shot and an unique take on the challenge. I also like how you coordinated the shirts to the color of the child's hair. I assume that this was done on purpose. 9 Good luck in the challenge!

Primary Rope
by Kaz

Comment:
I must say...VERY NICE!! I voted a 10 on this because this is a nice and unique representation of the primary colors. The lighting is perfect and the colors literally pop out of the screen. Only drawback...too bad there wasn't a stand of red running through the yellow rope to even out the color trend. You should score high...good luck!

Postcard
by Gussi

Comment:
Critique Club

Composition: This is a beautiful picture and includes interesting subject matters. The building is lovely and unique. I have not seen one like it. Set nicely behind it is the beautiful blue sky. The geyser is nice and with the angle at which you shot this, it frames the building nicely and doesn't compete with the building. You were lucky that the wind was blowing the right way for this. Is this a constant errupting geyser? If it were possible, I would have walked a little closer to the fence. Although the colors of the grassy areas in the foreground are nice, it would have been better, I think, to get the fence out of the shot and still get in the spout of the geyser with the building behind it. At it's current distance, it would not be effective to just crop out the fence because you lose the bottom of the geyser.

Technical: I would not change anything about the technical aspects of the photo. The colors are fantastic in what appears to be a beautiful day. The lighting could not be more perfect. Well focused and shows nice depth.

Challenge: Good "postcardy" subject matter. However, the text seems awkward. Perhaps using a border around your picture and placing the text within it would be more appropriate. I noticed that many of the comments you recieved during the voting stated they wished they knew what building and landmark they were looking at. I believe that the purpose of a postcard is to educate the recipient of the area in which the sender is visiting. Perhaps including this information would be appropriate for this challenge.

Overall: Beautiful picture that portrays your homeland nicely. I was looking back at some of your other pictures and saw this building again in one called "The Trio". Although that picture was slightly blurry, my breath was taken away at the beauty of the sunset. I would have never guessed that building was a resturant. In any event, you seem to have a good eye for photography. Keep up the good work.

I hope you found this critique helpful. I enjoyed studying your photographs.

Connie

.25 cents each / 5 for $1.00
by KarenB

Comment:
Critique Club

Hi, Karen


Challenge: I can definately see this included on the postcard rack of a gift shop in New England. This was one of my favorites in the challenge. I thought I had commented on it during voting, but I don't see me there, so I guess not. You definately met the challenge with this professional looking postcard. I like the overlapping text. The font is appropriate and adds to more of the postcard"ish" feel.

Composition:This is a beautiful picture of the coast. I especially like the lower portion of the sand and the gentle waves. I also like the wispy clouds of the sky. My only disappointment is with the coastline in the background. There isn't much clarity and takes a little away from the entire picture, in my opinion. I am in agreement with a comment that stated there should be a somthing such as a lighthouse to lay our eyes on. Perhaps a larger subject along that coastline would have helped to give it more clarity. The rock, unfortunately, is in shadow and doesn't "pop" out as eye catching to aid in this area.

You know, I could see your daughter (right?) out there with her hat and the water lapping over her bare feet. Just a thought.

Technical: Once again, I am drawn to the bottom portion of the picture. As I see it, that is where the focus lies. I like how it shows the texture and ripples of the sand, the foam on the water and the waves coming in. The colors are nicely done. The greens and blues of the water are nice and show well. The color of the sky is nice with the slight pinkish hue along the horizon adding to the beauty of the scene.

Overall: In my opinion the only drawback to this lovely picture is the shoreline in the background. As you state in your comments, the WOW factor is missing, but overall a very pretty scenic view of the coast. Ever since I've joined DPC, I have seen your work and have been impressed with what you come out with. You have a good eye for photography. I'm always eager to see more.

I hope you have found this helpful
Connie