Amatuer woodworker's dream-a square and old barn wood
by kposey

Comment:
Sorry, I just have to nitpick; It's spelt "Amateur". Otherwise I think your image lacks contrast.. It is very pale, and the light is rather undramatic, I love the way you decided to solve the assignment though, and the right-angle tool certainly adds to the image. (6)

Shapes, Color, and ... Pie?!
by indigo997

Comment:
Great idea, but not sure about the wool the plate is placed on - a finer textile (cotton? Filt?) would probably have been more suitable. Not a bad shot, however. (7)

Go Away!
by myqyl

Comment:
(Critique Club)

I am nut quite sure what is going on in this image. On my monitor (well, both my monitors, actually, so I don't think it is the monitors fault), the lines look jagged. Both the cirvle on the sign, the line through it, the wooden stakes in the background... Etc. Also, I have the most serious doubts in the world if this sign was taken on f/4.0. The background - and several meters behind - are completely in focus. The only way this could have been taken with f/f is if you were standing very far away from the sign.

My tip would have to be: Go a lot closer, use your widest (i.e smallest number) aperture, and throw shte background out of focus that way. You also write that you used unfamiliar tools, and my tip for that would be.. eh.. don't ;) That is probably the reason for the jaggedness.

When all of that is whined about; Interesting composition, and great contrast in colours.. Good work.

Gold Blend
by Natasha

Comment:
Wow, what a fabulous picture. The reflections are superb, and the lighting is spot-on. Very good. (10)

The Strong, Silent Type
by indigo997

Comment:
(- Critique Club -)

This is a very strong image indeed. The inverse diagonals of the light/dark under the tree and the clouds on the opposite side draw your image to the right of the image.

But.. uh.. there is nothing there. It might seem ironic somehow, but my eyes are actually pulled away from the tree. I think this might be the reason for why the image fails a little bit in my eyes; In an image that has such incredibly strong visual pull towards the right, you sould almost wait to find something in the intersection of shadow and light. Anything would have done. Somebody sitting with their back to the camera (a nude? A naked back, for example? An old wooden chest, perhaps? A pot of gold? Anything, really).

Technically the image is very good, but it could easily have been sharpened several degrees; I want to see the individual branchlets of that tree! (if you don't know how to sharpen an image,

have a look at this tutorial). Furthermore, a tad more contrast would also have been an option, although the clouds are already burnt out (I know you have a tremendous span in this image - bit I still believe your image is a tiny tad overexposed)

When all that bickering is done; That is a damn fine image you have there, my friend! There is a good reason for why I gave this thing an 8.

Haje Jan (SharQ)

By the lake
by lionelm

Comment:
A superb picture. But not a landscape, I'm afraid.

The Ridge
by autool

Comment:
Beautifully framed and lovely exposure. (10)

Serenity
by lykofos

Comment:
Looks like your camera is tilted 20 degrees to the left somehow. I think it destroys the balance in this (otherwise great) image. (6)

Oasis in the Snow
by mariomel

Comment:
I can see a sharp white ridge around your trees and on the ground.. Seems you have been a bit too eager with the USM. Nice picture though, well seen.

At the Park
by kandyj

Comment:
Nide DOF ans sharpness, but I think it is lackking in contrast. Besides, I think landscape pictures usually picture a.. uh.. landscape, rather than a detail of one. Still, lovely picture (7)