June 06
by talikf

Comment:
I hope I like your challenge entry as much as I like this "green" photo. The only thing I might have done differently would be to have your model look directly, smack-dab into the lens of the camera with an "I love apples" attitude on her face. (Of course that may be a crazy idea, too.) The way you have it is very appealing.

Woody Presley
by tngrndream

Comment:
Trading Post Comment

I thought the photo was a bit harshly lighted with the right thigh blown out (at least on my monitor). The DOF also seems to shallow because the shadow is fuzzy, which might not happen with more depth to the picture.

The composition was good. I would have liked to see a stronger, cleaner shadow, because in a sense this photo is as much about the shadow as the Woody IMHO.

I gave this a 5. The idea was fine, the lighting and DOF didn't work for me though.

"Crying, Waiting, Hoping"
by Melethia

Comment:
Trading Post Comment

Wonderfully funny photo...great capture (and having read your account, great patience too).

I think the lighting is a tad bright and (given the location of the nest) it doesn't permit much shadow. The photo, therefore, appears a bit flat or two dimensional to me, even though it is in a corner. Color is not dominant in this shot, so I wonder if it would do well in B&W.

This obviously is well received. Congrats on the top 20 finish. I didn't vote in this challenge (I don't know where my head was, because I am of the Beatles generation and always enjoyed their music) but I would have voted it relatively high - mostly because of the impact of the subject matter.

Public Library
by Melethia

Comment:
Trading Post Comment

I liked this photo a lot. The abstract nature of the composition with all the diagonals, sharp edges, and angles, as well as the near-complementary shades of blue sky and orange/peach/rust color of the building really works for me. (I notice a similar choice in my own picture, so obviously I like what you did.)

I also like the interplay of light and shadow and the way they define the volume of the spaces and walls.

I just read some of the comments below and I (respectfully) disagree with two notions expressed there: (1) I think the A/C belongs in the photo. It repeats the vertical lines in the building itself and it provides one more shape/volume to the picture. It also balances with the rectangular shapes in the building on the left side of the photo. Without the A/C I think the picture suffers from the loss. (2) The idea that the concept of "architecture" is somehow lessened because the photo emphasizes the "abstract" nature of the lines, shadow, shapes, etc. rather than, say, the look of the whole building in its entirety seems illogical to me. (You might as well tell Frank Lloyd Wright his buildings aren't "architectural" because they are too "abstract".) Your photo's concentration on the abstract is an artful depiction of the architecture IMHO. Obviously we all have different and valid views of things (I don't mean to take away from anyone's view to the contrary) and that's part of what makes dpc (and this trading post) fun and valuable. I just wanted to add my two cents because I thought otherwise and thought you should know.

I scored it a 7 and should have scored it higher.

Message edited by author 2006-06-07 01:13:02.

unwilling model
by timfythetoo

Comment:
You've really captured personality well in this shot. The expression and character of your model are terrific. Focus is very sharp on his face, especially his eye. The color of his eye is very compelling, might even be better if a bit more of it came through. I would have liked a little more DOF because it almost looks like his body is not connected to his face, as if you made a picture of his face and pasted it onto another picture of his body. It may just be me, but a little sharper torso would not have me thinking this way. I scored this a 6 and would have gone higher but for the disconnect I felt between head and torso due to DOF choice.

I just read some of the comments below; I don't have any problem with the dark shadow on half his face.

A child's crowning achievement
by Kelli

Comment:
The focus is good, as are the colors of the medal. There are background shadows that distract from the subject. I didn't vote in this challenge but probably would have agreed with the majority. The photo lacks any "wow" factor, but instead looks like a stock photo shot.

I just noticed the title. Given that, perhaps the child should be in the picture too. I'm sure his/her grin would have been worth a bump in the score.

Careful...beverage...extremely hot
by Melethia

Comment:
I liked this shot alot. Great colors and good flame...really conveys the idea of heat well. The humor is top notch. I scored it an 8.

Hot Hand
by timfythetoo

Comment:
Trading Post Comment

I thought this shot had great lighting on your hand and a bit less successful capture of the flame (probably because of the shutter speed used). Overall, though, I marveled how you could do this without burning yourself. I scored it a 6 and would have gone higher if the flame had been crisper near the top.

Enjoying my ultimate success.
by timfythetoo

Comment:
Trading post comment

I certainly agree with the concept and the position of you two is good relative to each other. However, I think the trees vie too much for attention. They aren't adding to the relationship and, beyond being a pretty shade of green, they are making the photo unnecessarily busy IMHO. I didn't vote in this challenge but would have given this a 5 or 6.

total success
by DanSig

Comment:
Superb use of color and lighting. I like the off-centered figure. The one thing that I can't figure out is the small item in front of her (in the background?) Super score and congrats on the top 10 finish.