Abstract Yellow Bug
by DCThiessen

Comment:
I always enjoy shots like this. For this particular challenge I think it would have been better to show less of the tail light and more of the yellow lines of the bug. It's a nice composition and well executed. 7

The End of Winter
by Ziggy

Comment:
This is very beautiful. Natural and simple. Excellent composition and colors. The border is very effective as well. 10

Happy
by mariomel

Comment:
Critique Club critique by Tim Jensen

My first impression was that the skin tones were too red but after considering it I think that the coloring is appropriate because the child is inside a red tube where the whole overall color is red. Red is much more natural a color then, say, green would have been. The blue shirt is also effective in creating a nice contrast and emphasizing the boy's face and hands.

I think the cropping is also pretty effective. I might have cropped the top of the head a little to match the cropping on the arms. The extra space at the top is not necessary. The tighter cropping reveals more detail and increases the intimacy while excluding any distracting elements.

Somehow the lighting, in the way that it is a bit harsh, adds to the natural, playfulness of the photo as apposed to an evenly lit studio type shot that would appear too contrived and setup.

There really isn't much of significance that I would change with this photo. The composition, framing, bright colors and lighting, and big smile all add up to a very striking and emotional photo. It clearly meets the challenge and technically it looks solid. I think it is a very good photo.

Tim

Absent Squares
by paynekj

Comment:
Critique Club critique

I'm a little late getting to this, sorry.

I just love images like this. They are fun to look at. You can let your eyes wander around from detail to detail. I wouldn't change too much about this photo except for maybe showing a little more of the links on the fence, but I would have to experiment with it to know for sure. The colors and textures are just wonderful and not overly sharpened or saturated, I'm glad to say. The composition is very nice with a good use of angles. You handled the depth of field very well by keeping the background blurry so that it contrasts very nicely with the fence. even the subtlety of reds in the grass matches nicely with the red color in the fence. This is a very clean image, it meets the challenge nicely, and I think it is appropriately cropped. Good job.

T

Who`s Got Bottle
by redfig

Comment:
Critique Club critique

The main thing that I don't like about this photo is the title. I don't know why, I just don't. And since that is such a trivial thing I think you can tell how much I like this photo. It is just so simple and clean with very interesting visual elements to hold your attention. What I think I like best is the way that you didn't overdo anything in the composition. There seems to be just the right amount of milk bottles, the right amount of water drops on the bottles, and the right amount of visual balance between the positive and negative spaces. I bet you really studied your photos and cropping options before you settled on this because it appears like you put a lot of thought into it and made the right decisions. I enjoy the photo for it's visual imapct as well as it's abstract qualities. You presented the photo very well with an appropriate border and a clean, sharp image. Very well done.

Tim Jensen

Tag! You're it.
by Dez

Comment:
Critique Club critique

While the perpective certainly makes this photo an interesting one I feel a little uncomfortable with how much the left edge is being crowded. I would like to see the angle of the pole exaggerated even more so that the round sign is positioned on the right side with the top of the post in its same location to create an even more dynamic look and feel to the image. This positioning would also create triangular shapes in the negative space that would compliment the triangular sign. The reflection of the light bothers me a little as well and maybe the use of a polarizer filter could have reduced the reflection. You chose a good background that adds to the dramatic effect. The colors are good and overall the photo is very sharp and clean. The border does a nice job of presenting your photo without overpowering it. All and all you did a nice job with this photo.

Tim Jensen

Strawberry Fare
by Ptman

Comment:
Critique Club critique

The colors here emmediately jumped out at me and made a good impression. They look natural without being over saturated. The composition is good but a little safe. In that I mean the overhead view with a pleasing arrangement is pretty common but that also means that it works well. The composition would be just fine to me if the lighting was more dramatic in some way. It appears flatter than it should be with too much ambient light. The ice cream and strawberries have very interesting forms that should be emphasized as much as possible. I would think one dominate light slight diffused on one side to produce a strong but soft shadows with a lesser light on the opposite side to reveal some detail in the shadows may work well. The amount of sharpness is right on and the image looks very clean. It is a very nice photo but some more emphasis on the forms would really make this a winner.

Tim Jensen

No Cars Allowed
by GeneralE

Comment:
Critique Club critique

Well well, I get to critique one of your photos. Ok, where to start? : )

One of the first things that jumped out at me was how well you presented this photo. The cropping is very appropriate, the subtle border presents the image very well, and it is very clean and natural looking. As far as the photo content goes I find it fairly ordinary and without much punch. I feel it needs more visual appeal like dramatic lighting or a very unique perspective. Something that grabs the viewers attention. I would like to see what it looks like from a lower perspective so that it looks like the sign towers authoritatively over the bridge and didn't compete visually with the other vertical street lamps or in size and weight to the bridge. As it is now both the sign and bridge seem to compete for the primary focus point. As I said it very good technically and in it's presentation but it is lacking in visual appeal. I think this would have been a great opportunity for some greater visual risk taking.

Tim Jensen

Gold Blend
by Natasha

Comment:
Congratulations Natasha. This is very well done. The composition, lighting, texture, forms, and execution are all handled beautifully. It is definitely deserving of first place.

T

Big Horn Mountains
by Sonifo

Comment:
Critique Club critique.

Two things jumped out at me initially. The slightly over saturated colors and the black distracting border. The colors, particularily the blue channel, appear over saturated which takes away from the naturalness of it. This may have been intentional or a calibration problem on your monitor. The black border really commands attention which draws my attention away from the photo where it should be. The border should support the photo not compete with it. Maybe a thin dark inner border of green, blue or even black with a wider outer border in a lighter color of ocre, cream, or white would be appropriate. I like the wider cropping, it helps to convey the sense of a wide open space. I'm not sure about the perfectly centered horizon line, I think I would prefer to see it raised so as to show more of the foreground with the beautiful colors and features. If there were some really interesting cloud formations Than you could have focussed on that but as it is, with only a solid blue color, it isn't really necessary to show that much of it when you can, instead, show off more of the land which has the interesting details. The photo appears properly exposed with the right amount of sharpness and clarity. It looks like a beautiful area to photograph. Nice job.

Tim