Aurora Borealis
by samchad

Comment:
You know how you go along voting... click, click, click and kind of get lost in what you're doing? Well, I just got snapped out of the voting doldrums when this one popped up. WOW! Absolutely stunning! Where is that favorites button again?

Stepping Out
by Imagineer

Comment:
This shot makes me dizzy... but I like it!

Transfixed
by madhatter

Comment:
This reminds me of the sofa from the blue ribbon to the Far Side challenge. Great use of lighting, and the models expression is perfect to go with the title. Well done!

Tomorrow
by chele

Comment:
I like the idea... but seems a bit heavy on the processing? Her hand seems to be one with her neck, and she seems to have lost half of her nose.

Cats Eyes
by UNCLEBRO

Comment:
How creative... I love the negative space!

Day 17 Bailey
by UNCLEBRO

Comment:
All three shots are wonderful on their own, and they flow together so well into the triptych! Cute, cute, cute! :)

Day 20: Cuddle
by Siggav

Comment:
Best way to watch TV, ever. Definately.

I love how you've captured so many sides of her personality through this challenge. She's a wonderfully photogenic kitty! I can't wait for the rest! :)

Best Angle?
by xXxscarletxXx

Comment:
Cuteness x 7! What a great set of puppy shots!

Day 15: Poly X Big Molt
by rox_rox

Comment:
Great shots... I love the bright background color to offset him. We get butterflies in the spring for my classroom and last year I tried the time lapse thing since they always seem to molt, pupate, and emerge over the nights/weekends. I set a webcam up to shoot ever 15 seconds, and it was enough to not only get individual images, but you could loop them together into a movie too. Fascinating stuff! :)

Cactus
by Brielle

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

My first reaction to this shot was to question which challenge it came from. High contrast? Abstract macro? I think in either of those challenges it might have scored a little higher, but in the free study it just didn't speak to the voters as much on it's own.

The lighting here is great (as you noted), I love the contrast it provides. I like the prickly textures contrasted with the smoothness of the plant too. But, my eye just wanders around aimlessly giving me nothing to focus on, so I end up looking at the large dark area. Perhaps a different crop or angle would have given a composition that let the viewer's eye wander around looking at the great lighting and textures more systematically.

Most of the commenters said that they liked the b/w conversion, but I'm wondering what the color version would have looked like, or even just a slightly desaturated version. Could you play with the hue a bit if you weren't fond of it?

Overall, I think for me this picture just doesn't tell me much of a story. It has some interesting technicals and details, but the composition doesn't allow the viewer to just enjoy them without hitting those awkward parts of the picture.

I hope this critique was helpful. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions!