Safe Laborers
by Scoman

Comment:
Mark,

I don't think the score reflects the potential of this shot. While the subject matter didn't have the kind of "hook" it takes to score the big numbers, it fits the challenge well enough to have scored higher. Usually you must have a great subject and solid technicals to score very well. Here, your subject was stronger than the technicals, yet both were okay.

Technicals: The composition is strong. The placement of your workers, their position and the way they fill the space work well overall. It feels just a bit too tight, especially on the top and right. We often see the eyes on the 1/2 to 1/3 line, so when the eyes are higher on your main subject, it feels off.
The DOF didn't quite work. On the men, it is a bit too shallow, with the hands soft and the main subject's eyes soft. Yet, on the trees, it is a bit too deep. This is a place where using the telephoto could make a difference as you get further from your subjects and place more space between them and the background.
As mentioned in the comments, you have some hot spots on your subjects' faces which indicated overexposure. The bright spot near the white hardhat also draws my eyes out to the intended subject.
The glare in the glasses distracts. Put the glasses at an angle to the camera to eliminate them as much as possible, either up, down or to the side.

Subject:I believe you could have had a stronger subject by changing the background to something that screamed, "Keep me safe!" such as road construction, near demo work or around heavy equipement. The generic trees didn't give you the added umph this subject could use. Without it, this image says workers to me, but not safety.
I like the colors and contrast betweeen the blue and orange. I'm not crazy about the dark hardhat as I'm not sure what the logo says/means and I feel like I'm missing something important in that.

It is good to see you get back to photography. Do not let this site get to you, as you have some very interesting shots. These small details can really make a difference in a shot and can often mean the difference of a full point or 2.

Thanks for sharing your image with us. I'm sure it will be appreciated on your publication.

Becky

Red? Or Black?
by fmalan

Comment:
Francois,
,
Congratulations on one of your top 3 scoring shots to date. Overall, it's a good shot that needs just a bit more to take it over a 6.

Technically: While you are very sharp in some areas, others, such as the hand are a bit soft. I can see by your ISO and shutter speed that you were pushing to get this much light in the direction you wanted. However, a higher aperature f8-f11 may have helped, or afaster shutter speed or even backing the camera up a bit to get more focus on the hand.
The coloring is a bit red, even on the face of a nervous bomb technician. More light on the surface holding the bomb would have given less of a "floating" feeling.

Emotionally: I like the intensity in the eyes. The mouth expression feels a bit off to me as I'm not entirely sure what it is supposed to be. I also think that because the bomb is facing forward and the man is facing sideways that the connection between the man and bomb is not as strong as it could be. I'd like to be scared spitless for him. Instead, I feel like I'm getting a staged retelling. Changing the angle of the bomb would probably help, and adding the sweat would really get us sweating.

Meeting the challenge: You definitely met the challenge. Many people related to the image concept and had some very good comments.

Keep up the good work, refine the details and we should be seeing you in the high scores often.

Becky

Bridge over troubled water
by surfdabbler

Comment:
Wonderful shot - well done. Congratulations!

*lol*
by Wyrdling

Comment:
Nice start. It's a fun pose with the shirt to match. Getting that crisp focus is a problem for me too.

I Wanna Rock
by awpollard

Comment:
Wonderful shot. The processing is in keeping with the theme of the shot. I enjoy the border and tape effect. I get the feeling I know a bit more of who you are.

Day 1
by Patsfan

Comment:
I love the eye contact and splashes of water. Fun start.

Osushi
by MAK

Comment:
Hey, MAK - Congratulations! You beat me by one place. I must be getting better to be catching up to you.

Successful Flat Spin
by Zeus

Comment:
congratulations, Carl! I't a wonderful image. You're right. The colors do make the shot.

Double Arch
by jbsmithana

Comment:
Congratulations. It's a beautiful shot.

I See You, Dad!
by Zeus

Comment:
congratulations! Athena did you proud.