Focussing on Festivities
by Konador

Comment:
** Greetings from the Critique Club **

Nice use of shallow DOF, although I thikn the pine cone is lacking focus. Focus should be real sharp on the subject in my mind. The red blulb that is in the background, just above the pinecone would have been better if it were blue - would have made the color combination more pleasing. As is, the red brightness takes away from the natural color of the pinecone. Composition is good.

- Linda

merry christmas
by bevvy

Comment:
** Greetings from the Critique Club **

Your have definitely used shallow DOF in your image. Great bokeh on the background. I love the glittery blue ornament in the shallow focus. As others have menntioned however, the harsh lighting - obviously from camera flash - is much too harsh and distracts greatly from the subject. Nice effort though. Good composition.

- Linda

Fairy Thinking
by Mush

Comment:
** Greetings from the Critique Club **

Nice deomnstration of shallow DOF. Colors are also very nice. I imagine the lighting was not easy on such a sparkly subject, but side lighting would have brought out more detail than straight on. The only other correection that would have also helped would have been horizontal straightening.

- Linda

I'm Ready for My Close-Up Mr. DeMille!
by SJCarter

Comment:
Another beautiful photo. great head shot, nice expression. I like the DOF and PP blurring.

Back Off - This One's Mine!
by SJCarter

Comment:
Awe - look at that expression! Nice shot. It's like she is inviting you to come pay with her and her toy.

Olivia & Shasta
by SJCarter

Comment:
Jim, what a wonderful emotive shot. I love the expression on your nieces face, and how the dog is watching closely over her. Nice capture.

caged
by arsenal

Comment:
** Greetings from the Critique Club **

A creative use of DOF - reverse of what most would do, but I like it. This makes the subject "caged" instead of just another bird shot. The amount of focus on the bird is just right in my mind.
Composition is well done, as is the lighting and focus on the cage bars.

Keep up the creative thinking and good shooting

- Linda

Deception
by hutch699

Comment:
** Greetings from the Critique Club **

My first take on this was of a man who had just commited adultery. But then why would his ring be on the dresser and not hidden away in his pocket? Then I thought perhaps the deception was that the wife who had "everything" engraved inside his wedding band was now realizing it was over as he was dressing to leave her. Can be taken several ways.
No matter how it is taken - the image is powerful and emotes a ,.lot of feeelings. I like that in a photo. The mystery of which meaning it has makes it even better.
Excellent DOF and composition. The blown highlights on the wedding band are the only negative here. Keep up the good shooting and creative thinking.

- Linda

goldfish
by gaurawa

Comment:
Congrats on the yellow. Fun shot

japanwindow
by librodo

Comment:
I had no doubt this would ribbon - excellent shot. Congrats