Christmas Crystals
by o2bskating

Comment:
Gave this a 3. The color was nice and the composition fairly well balanced. Criticism; depending what you had to work with, a slight variation in the crop to give more balance and symmetry may have made this better in my opinion. No expert on photography, especially long exposures (nor do I know what camera settings you have etc), but looking briefly at your settings, and from what I am learning on, eg; ISO, perhaps if you used a lower ISO that may have helped reduce the grain, not sure (I would suggest if you were interested in improving your night shots to research what your camera can do and how you can best use the features to try to achieve your desired shot). Depending also the 'access' to this scene, I think that a slightly sharper (ground level) perspective/angle may have worked better, or else just 'further to the left' to allow the tree to become more centered. If the size were 640 width would have been better (especially for 'here', try to 'show' your shot at the highest dimensions (640 width or height or both)), but again, if the quality was like this would only have 'enhanced' that grain that I can see remnants of here at this size. There are also two 'unusual dark shapes' under the tree, which slightly detracted, but minor. This Challenge was advanced editing, so perhaps you could have 'softened' the grain/dark areas, or just generally tried to 'manipulate' various parts of the image using the tools available to you (in whatever pp program you use), to try to achieve the type of shot you envisioned. Finally, this being a 'Holiday Catalog' Challenge, my interpretation (and many interpret Challenges differently) was that the shot would be something you would see in a Holiday (Christmas) Catalog. The only 'quick connection' (that is all most voters attempt - a 'quick connection'/look) that I could make was 'tree lights' being 'advertised' - and that was a bit of a stretch. Hopefully this comment helps you - I would have commented on a portfolio entry, but you have none (yet).

Leaf Frosting
by slackboy

Comment:
2 - Seemingly good potential. Criticism; needs to be bigger, 640 height in this case. Especially at this size, it is difficult to ascertain where the focal points/DOF come into play. The centered composition works, especially with the vertical framing, but perhaps a variation may have given this something extra, not sure. Just bigger, more detail on the leaf/texture/edges and being able to discern the 'shallow DOF' more, would have made this much better in my opinion.

Out of Season
by lyta

Comment:
7 - Nice. Criticism; difficult, perhaps it is the focal point, I don't know, but 'if only' the bird just 'popped' more, especially against the 'shallow' background, make this even better in my opinion. Perhaps tweaking of the colors/contrast, but likely difficult, not sure. Nice scene and composition, but not sure if a different cropping may have helped 'pop' the bird more, who knows. Up to 7 from 6.

Death March
by robjamez

Comment:
7 - Good use of shallow DOF. Symmetry looks very good and near perfect. Criticism; not much, maybe the focal point slightly more fore but your call. The 'base' seems to have very slight gamma issues but it could be the texture/fabric, minor anyway. Perhaps a slightly tighter crop on the left, not sure.

Mrs Cardinal
by bormic

Comment:
7 - Very nice. Colors seem very 'true' so well done. Criticism; having said that, perhaps if the colors were 'tweaked' just a fraction to get them a little bolder, more contrast (difficult likely to not distort), may have made this even better in my opinion. The tail of course, but you know that. Nice capture. Perhaps a fraction sharper on the eyes too, but difficult. Up to 7 from 6.

Frosty's sustenance
by M.O.C.

Comment:
7 - Very nice. Toning works well. Criticism; very difficult, but even sharper on the 'flakes' so they 'pop' more, would have made this even better in my opinion. Likely difficult to adjust the contrast/etc. Perhaps a slightly different composition/framing, not sure. Good use of shallow DOF.

After Death. Before Life.
by fiverivers

Comment:
7 - Like this. Good colors. Criticism; difficult, as the 'fore' shallow DOF parts add a good element to this, but I think that a crop/framing variation and possibly even 'wider', would have made this even better in my opinion.

Flower or Butterfly??
by Aussie_Bluey

Comment:
7 - Very nice. Coloring is true - I almost submitted 'one of these', but the quality is nothing like this. Good use of shallow DOF to bring out the color and character in this flower. Criticism; 640 height, possibly the top stamens/anthers in focus too (difficult likely) and perhaps trying to incorporate/enhance the color of what appears to be more of them in the background, so perhaps just more 'space' up the top, likely make this even better in my opinion. (Butterfly Clerodendrum, Blue Glory Bower (Clerodendrum ugandense) if you are interested and did not know the name).

Morning Flight
by Mary Ann Melton

Comment:
7 - Nice capture. Good DOF. Nice and simple. Criticism; 'if only' the head were as sharp (but might be just not discernable at this size, apologies if wrong) as the chest/body seems to be, make this even better. Like the way that the body 'pops' against the shallow DOF. Good wing movement capture, extremely difficult to get those 'still'. Perhaps a crop variation, especially on the left, the dark area, but not sure. Quality dependent, just a tighter zoom may have also given this that little 'extra' (especially to show more detail at this size) and made it even better, in my opinion. edit:typo & congratulations

Message edited by author 2005-12-28 19:41:43.

Ol' Dawg
by Azrifel

Comment:
7 - Nice capture. Good use of grain and the toning. Criticism; difficult, but likely prefer the body not cropped, but depending of course what you had to work with and indeed wanted. The shallow DOF is still able to be seen even with the toning and grain so well done. Like the sharpness in the eyes, and the way the whole ears/face 'pop'. Good shot. Perhaps a 'wider' frame, again depending what you had, bringing the whole body in would have made this even better, in my opinion.