Jeep Tracks on Sandy Neck
by alexzen

Comment:
Greetings from the critique club!

As mentioned in previous comments the sharpening is a little overdone. Taking it back a bit would definitely help. The colors are nicely saturated without going too far however.

The composition is good with strong leading lines that take the eye throughout the frame. Taking a bit off the bottom to have the left track come out of the corner might have helped but its still pretty good with its current crop.

The horizon does seem to "cut" the people walking. Not a lot that could be done about from this distance however.

Unfortunately the cloud in the sky moves the eye away from the heart of the image. Again, not much that could be done about.

The ocean on the left and the rocks to the right really help "contain" the image quite well. A border would have definitely hurt this image so going without was a good choice.

The challenge: Excellent way of conveying a vanishing point. There's about 7 lines that are converging on the vanishing point. (The horizon, The coast line, the edges of the tracks, the rocks). Moving a bit to the left would have put the people pretty much right on the vanishing point to make this even better.

A good job overall

Rite of passage
by FairyWings

Comment:
Greetings from the comment club!

Well composed with the main subject being right on one of the "sweet spots". Nice colors and great exposure. The light mark on the post is somewhat distracting. Cloning it out would help but may not be legal under basic editing. Good detail in the hair of the people in the foreground. The positioning of the graduates creates a nice leading line throughout the frame.

The challenge: Interesting take on this challenge. I don't believe I remember seeing this approach used on any other submission. The title really brings home that graduation is indeed a passage into adulthood.

The Chief
by dwterry

Comment:
Geez...I almost feel bad for giving you just a 7

lol...congrats David on the well deserved blue!

A Funeral
by banmorn

Comment:
A tough subject to photograph. Personally, I find taking pictures at a funeral somewhat ghoulish. However, this shot is tastefully done and does demonstrate the photographer's respect for the person who passed away. The black and white is fitting for this scene and is somewhat symbolic. The mourners in their black symbolizing their grief. The white walls of the church symbolizing the celebration of a person's life.

The composition works well here. As mentioned previously, showing all the people who came to the funeral works well and is important to make this shot work.

Exposure was pretty well handled. There is a couple of bright sports on the right but nothing too distracting. I like the light rays coming down over the coffin.

The challenge: As I mentioned at the beginning this is something I personally would not feel comfortable photographing. That aside it certainly meets the challenge in a unique way and a way that is very personal to the photographer.

Oh That's Mine
by sudhi

Comment:
Greetings from the critique club!

This shot has a lot to offer in it in terms of visual interest. The musculature on the players is brought out well with the black and white conversion. There is a lot of action happening here and the slight blur of some of the players works well here. There is some noise in the shot but considering the high iso that was required to capture this image there wasn't a lot that could done to counteract it aside from the noise reduction used in post. The noise actually works somewhat favorably as well giving this a "chaotic" feel to it.

The composition works well though with such action its hard to really have much say in it. As mentioned in previous comments, it is unfortunate that the player behind the subject is also wearing a white shirt. This creates a bit of a visual "blob". While somewhat centered, the lines of the main subject's legs draw your eye across the frame to ultimately come to the soccer ball.

The exposure is pretty well done considering the brightness of the white shirt.

There is a spot (dust spot) right by the left hand of the far right player. Cloning it out would definitely help.

The challenge: Certainly with an international audience there is going to be a lot of soccer shots. This one is quite unique however with the black and white conversion. It also does a good job of demonstrating action.

V8 jet Boat, Bam Ba Lam
by BrianR

Comment:
Interesting shot but its very noisy.

Culture of a Child (Play)
by penguinbob13

Comment:
I would have to say this is a stretch to be culture. That aside? Where is the event? Sorry...DNMC

Pursuit of the American Dream
by saloonstudios

Comment:
Pump jack culture? And the pump jacks are getting together to have an event?


Sorry DNMC :(

A Crash Back to Reality
by mistchild2008

Comment:
Interesting but not related to the challenge as I don't think an accident is really a cultural event per se.

The Dress Code!
by thedarkpose

Comment:
Ow ow ow! My eyes. Turn it down! Way over saturated! Way to too much contrast!