Blue Moon Rising
by karmat

Comment:
Gee there's some interesting elements here. I guess visually my eye isn't sure which one to go to and then the title throws another one at you and it really get s very confuzzling

Sticking the clouds
by greslizzz

Comment:
That's a pretty dramatic sky. I don't quite understand the title sorry

Oranges are round!
by carlo

Comment:
Yes they are .... but they're also "orange" :)

PawnOfTheWorld
by seebrown

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::
Having not entered Username, it's great to be doing a critique in it. One thing you learn is that people have some very weird usernames - the mind boggles.

Great fun to do a critique on your image but it is more difficult if you don't give us detailed information in your photographers comments. When we do a critique, we go past just the photographic result or post processing, that's what voters comments do. The critique looks at what you were trying to achieve, how you wanted it to look and what issues you had in getting the image captured and ready for voting.

First Impression - the most important one:
Interesting, I instantly liked it. It does what it is supposed to do - stop you from passing on, it engages you to look further into the image = first base.

Composition:
I'm really confuzzled here because it looks fine but hasn't scored well and something about it just doesn't gel. I suspect that composition rather than any other factors is where it didn't grab hearts so lets look at that.

Part of the difficulty is for the viewer to decide what the Point Of Interest is. Was it your intention that point to be the pawn, the centre of Africa or the whole lit area as a unity? Once decided, that area will have the most impact on a thirds intersection.

One of the other useful things to note is that the eye enters bottom-left and exits top-right. Ignoring the type reversal, I wonder what impact change mirroring the image would have.

Is there too much neutral black space below the globe? I'm really not sure, but it would be fun to run some test prints and get family/friends to choose a favourite.

Subject:
Bang on challenge, interesting, very differnet, creative and pushing the boundaries. In effect, good choice.

Technical (Colour, focus, and light):
10/10 for the lighting. You've really worked hard at this, it shows and it works. The complete blackout all around africa is terrific as it gives the drama and imact needed to be noticed in this tough environment. Well done.

To grow its vote?:
If you do try some composition variations, let me know what worked best.

Summary:
A really good image, well conceived but not well received. I'm probably as mystified as you as to why not and would be really interested in any tests you do.

Brett

Maternal Magic
by LindaLee

Comment:
Brave and good stuff. It takes confidence to go the blurred route and you have pulled it off superbly

Mother Mary
by NstiG8tr

Comment:
This probably a little too close to representing someone else's artwork as I guess you didn't do the setup or lighting? If you did then I apologise

Raising cubs
by M.O.C.

Comment:
Sorry, I don't think I get it ... but I really like the shot :)

-
by robjamez

Comment:
Mmmm. Congratulations, this is really really good. Everyone's expressions are interesting and sincere. No cheesy stuff (thank goodness). I would possibly have cropped just on his left ear to bring mom to the thirds line and looking into the image. Nevertheless, a high score from me.

A Mother A Super Hero
by Coley

Comment:
It's that trampoline again! Well done, this works well and the light is excellent considering how difficult this was to get right

The Energizer Bunny (Still Going After All These Years...)
by SJCarter

Comment:
This is a tough school and I'd have to categorise this as "Couple" because there's no offspring to suggest that she is or was a mom