Whirlwind Passion (Floral)
by Neil

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::
This is going to be a tough image to critique. Abstract is very subjective therefore there are no rules, no right or wrong.

First Impression:
A powerfull, attractive canvas of colour and motion. I find it strong and pleasing to the eye.

Composition:
Abstracts are difficult to compose in the traditional way yet you have used thirds well here and it definately strengthens the impact. The other 'rule' in composition is that an image flow from bottom left to top right has more appeal than other configurations. You could have a look at it after doing a Flip & Mirror which would put the centre of the swirl in the top right corner. I'd be interested in your opinion of the difference.

Subject:
The subject is powerful, it may have lost some voter points for being three colours when the Challenge was for two complimentary colours. Outside of the chalenge I believe this is a strong image and whatever the subject actually is isn't relevant as this is an effect, not an object. It is colour and movement and it does this so well.

Technical (Colour and light):
It's bright, it moves and you can't miss it. Despite my comments about it not being on-challenge, what more could you really want. The light obviously works as it has bought those colours to life and given them impact. Whether by accident or design, the drop-off to dark in the top right just adds depth to the effect giving it a 3 dimensional feel. In many ways that little 'feature' is lost to the image as it sort of fizzles out as you flow through the frame. So the Flip/Mirror might really work as that area would then lead you into the image with the impact building as you go. Who knows, some of the best results come from fiddling just-one-more-time.

Summary:
As with all abstracts, it has polarised voters. I believe that is a left vs right brain thing. Some people are uncomfortable with something they can't 'put their finger on'. Others celebrate such lateral approaches to everyday things. You'll never satisfy both.

We must remember that a challenge is not necessarily the sole arbiter of a fine or otherwise image. Having a popular image is terrific but that's not the only criteria by which an image should be judgeed. Photographs and artworks have specific places where they are powerful and strong. In this case, I would love to see this as a large format print in a corporate office reception area. It's that good.

Thanks for the opportuity
Brett

Message edited by author 2005-10-18 15:27:48.

The Power of Life
by roadrunner

Comment:

Originally posted by roadrunner: This is the trouble we have with only being able to submit small photo sizes, so we need to realise this on other photos as well, i have some great photos in print size, but reduce them to 640 and you would'nt look twice at them..... something we should keep in mind anyway...

The 640 res is something that I like because it protects our work from being stolen and printed. At least we all have to labour under the same restricton so it all becomes relative.

Brett

Proud of my freedom
by Buckeye_Fan

Comment:
Pity the flag is almost unexposed

My sweet little niece
by jerowe

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::
You were clearly disappointed witht the result but I wouldn't say it "bombed". It nearly scored 5. To bomb you have to be in the 2's and 3's. You've just set the bar pretty high because your first challenge entry got a well-deserved 4th :).

First Impression:
Cute, lovely freckles and makes you smile as she has a cheeky mischievous look about her - but is it relevant to the challenge?

Composition
As you can see from the comments, this tight cropping both wins hearts and turns them away. The composition elements of the all-important eyes and the mouth both sit right on thirds lines and that is perfect composition for this crop. In a portrait challenge, this image would stand out and be alluring because you have dared to be different.

Subject:
She's cute but you may have got it wrong to win this challenge. That's not to say she is irrelevant to this challenege if she is the most important corner of your world. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that she is the centre of your universe? Your image also needs to communicate that affect to others too. The caption alone can't carry it.

Technical:
The lighting works as it reaches all over the image evenly with no blown highlights ot deep shadows. The small highlight on the bottom lip really adds a sparkle to that first impression of the image too.

It doesn't look as if you have sharpened it at all and you don't mention that in your comments. Sharpening is way over-used by a lot of people but it is quite legitimate, indeed almost essential, to use a little when submitting. The crispest image will blur when you reduce it's size from Photoshop/PaintShop Pro to a 640 pixel jpeg. Your original capture looks to be in focus and to have been sharp in the camera but the eyes and mouth just look like they have lost that in the conversion.

Summary
This is what is often termed a "camera club" image. They're usually of children, babies or pets and are dear to the heart of the photographer. Everyone who has children understands that only too well. The problem, or challenge, with such images is that you then have to make them interesting to other people as well. All images need to involve the viewer as an active participant. You can do that with something highly emotive, something which leaves the viewer trying to resolve something to do with the image or it can tell a story which the viewer gets involved in interpreting.

Thanks for the opportunity to look at this in depth
Brett

Message edited by author 2005-10-16 16:45:26.

Ton up at Lords
by tonyv

Comment:
I wish I could see this, it looks amazing

Celebrating a place to worship.
by drz01

Comment:
I think this is a terrific shot with the combination of the tonal greys and the filtered sky. It's a shame that without title, it's not very celebratory

Energetic Celebration
by PhantomEWO

Comment:
What a terrific image of light and movement. Withotu the caption though it's hard to read celebraion into it.

Decorations
by rebelgirl

Comment:
The roof trusses really spoil this ... bit hard to get rid of them though I guess

Songs of Praise
by BobsterLobster

Comment:
This has great light, movement and soul.

Rainy Daisy Days
by CNovack

Comment:
Cool pic, great concept. It can stay on challenge without its title too.