"I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam-I-am!"
by hotpasta

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club,

I didn't vote in this challenge, so this critique is the first time I've seen your image. In fact, I haven't even looked through the results yet so I have no idea what the other Green Eggs and Ham entries look like. My first impression of your image is "Ok, where is the ham and what is up with the green Jell-O egg yokes". What did work here is that the breakfast plate has the look of something that would be expected more at a bistro instead of at home. That level of detail made it easy to look past the green colored ham and the Jell-O looking egg yolks. You scored about where you predicted and I enjoyed your interpretation of the theme.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding this critique.

Tim

Theodor Geisel's "Design For Death"
by GeneralE

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club,

Wow, I really don't know where to start. This is my first Critique Club assignment of a Brown Ribbon winner and it goes to someone that has been around long enough to know what to expect in relation to the image subject chosen and the expectations of the voters from the challenge topic. First, let me start by stating the obvious. Your image does depict your vision for the challenge strongly; however, the image quality and subject choice made this an easy vote low and move on entry. I also think if you would have included Geisel's pen name in the title, Theodor Geisel's, aka Dr. Seuss, "Design for Death", your image would have made more sense to the general voters (especially those outside the US).

Reading your comments, I see that the coloration was a major factor in your processing. When I think of nuke clouds I think of big white mushrooms emanating from a focal point of destruction (I've never seen a real one, only those portrayed in the movies). I wonder how your clouds would have looked in B&W with super high contrast, as the yellowish color doesn't really work for me. OK, now I’m trying to force my perception on your artistic vision. Sounds kind of like DPC doesn't it.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding this critique.

Tim

symmetry underwater
by saradownend

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club:

First let me welcome you to DPChallenge. Kind of a rough start for your first challenge entry. I think the primary issue with this entry is that it does not look symmetrical. Symmetry is when the left side of an image looks exactly like the right side of an image (or top like the bottom), like a reflection off water or a close up of someone’s face. Your image almost has symmetry on the diagonal but the face is turned too much to one side and the bubbles trail to the right. Scores are always lower if the voters do not think the subject fits the challenge topic

The second suggestion I have for your next challenge entry is to submit a little bigger image. The rules allow for 640 pixels on the longest side of the image. Your picture is 400 pixels on the longest side. Voters also give a lower score on small images because it is hard to see the details in the image.

Now about the post processing of the image. Not knowing what software you have available, I will give you a few suggestions to try with just the most basic tools. First, there is really no color in this image that is all that wonderful. I would suggest you change this to black and white. Now the problem with using the “Convert to Black & White” function of most programs is that the images will not have enough contrast. Your image will need a bunch more contrast and also you will need to increase the brightness. Once you do this you will see that the bubbles really stand out. And the final step after resizing your image to 640 pixels is to sharpen the image. Most members use Unsharp Mask with a radius around 1. If your program doesn’t have Unsharp Mask, start with the lowest setting for sharpening that you can and bump up if possible.

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this critique.

Tim

Art Exhibit
by bucket

Comment:
Back to comment: Art is a culture of its own. Made my top three for the challenge. 9

The Partisan
by ladibug

Comment:
Back to comment: Not the strongest subject for the challenge topic but still in my top three for the challenge. 9

Cinco De Mayo dancers
by kandykarml

Comment:
Back to comment: I love the motion in this image. The tilt brings a dynamic aspect to the composition that earned the only 10 I awarded this challenge. Nice job.

Amanda
by Madukes

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club:

I didn’t vote in the Free Study so this is the first time I’ve looked at your image. My first impression is that the one blue eye looks really out of place. That part you realized shortly after you started receiving comments. Ok then, if the eye wasn’t blue what could you do with this image to give a different look. I think the shallow depth of focus works well in this image but the bend at the models waste draws the viewer’s attention away from the in focus eyes. If you cropped the left side of the image just past her waist, I think the focus would look more balanced. You should note that this crop will cause her elbows to be cropped just a bit also but I think it would still work. It will also crop off part of the flower stem but this will improve the image as the left end is sort of bright and the crop will make the stem blend into the background more. Now with the left side cropped you will need to crop some off the right side to bring the models eyes back to the rule of thirds position. This will take the very tip of the flower off but if it doesn’t cut into the body of the flower no one will really notice that it is gone. Give it a try and see how you like it. I always try to find a couple of ways to crop my images to see which has the biggest impact. If I don’t like the crop, I just undo the step.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding this critique.

Tim

Laundry the 1880's Way
by Buckeye_Fan

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club:

I didn’t vote in the Free Study Challenge so this is the first time I’ve looked at your image. This is one of those images that I hate to critique. The image is extremely sharp and the post processing looks like you accomplished your intent. So why didn’t it score better. I think you were attempting to create a little bit of wow factor using selective desaturation. However, it doesn’t really provide any wow for me. Then again, I don’t think the house in the background looks old enough where going sepia would do the trick either. On top of all that, I think the image looks a little unbalanced with the house overpowering the laundry. Cropping tighter on the laundry might help with that issue. This subject looks like it has a lot of potential but a different perspective/background might be needed.

Overall, the image is good and your score reflects its above average qualities. I glad I had a chance to look at your entry, as I enjoyed the visit.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding this critique.

Tim

Impressionism in basic editing
by purpleflutterby13

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club,

A very creative entry for a free study. Most photographers equate images like this with a mistake they have made when taking an image (Oh crap, I forgot to reset my shutter speed). Although when done intentionally for artistic purposes, most photographers think to themselves "That doesn't take much skill, all they have to do is use long exposure time" or "Is that all they could come with". Either way, the score will not be pretty, as you can attest. Please continue experimenting and learning but be careful what you select for a free study.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions regarding this critique.

Tim

Julius Rop, last years Rhine-Marathon winner, disappointed
by h2

Comment:
Back to comment and bump: A very powerful image and a excellant showcase of your photographic skills. 9 Changed my mind, 10.