Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition
by Alecia

Comment:
I could definitely see this on the cover... A couple of small issues you could address and improve the shot would be the blown-out crests of the breaking waves and the dark shadow across your model's face. While the highlight issue is a bit more difficult to address, you could possibly use a bit of fill flash to fix the problem with the shadows.

Loud Colors
by peggy

Comment:
Critique Club critique:

Your title is quite fitting for the shot-- I find that creative (and meaningful) titles can certainly add a great deal to most shots. Overall, I feel your submission meets the challenge well.

The photojournalistic composition and feel suits the subject and busy scene. However, as several commenters noted below, the lack of focus on at least something in the shot makes it difficult to find one single point of interest. If I were to make only one suggestion for improving this shot, it would be to bring some focus into the shot. A fairly shallow depth-of-field would have been appropriate as well, again as long as there were a clear element of focus within the frame.

Obviously, it would have been difficult (if not impossible!) to pose anyone for this shot. However, one perspective I would have considered would have placed the camera slightly higher, providing a better line of sight to the performers and locating the onlookers lower in the frame.

I hope these comments have been of help. If you have any further questions or are baffled by anything I have said, please PM me and I will glady elaborate.


Paul.

Travelling Home
by Eliza

Comment:
Critique Club critique:

I must say that I was a bit lost looking at this photo during the challenge... it wasn't until your PM that I realized it was a passport in a shirt pocket! Kind of like one of those optical illusions where you cannot see the obvious. :-)

I like your creative approach to the challenge, which is made particularly meaningful since you truly were on your way home. Unfortunately, although the colors are rich and interesting, I think the pattern of the shirt distracted or camoflagued the overall effect of your shot and negatively impacted the feeling of 'home' you were trying to convey.

The inconsistent lighting across the shot also drew my attention. You have what is probably the ambient light inside the train across the shoulder of the shirt (imparting a very pleasant, warm feeling) contrasting with the sharp lighting and colors from the camera's flash. Given the conditions of your shot, I doubt you could have used the ambient light for the entire shot (no flash or reduced flash intensity), but if it were possible, I think the effect would have been quite 'cozy' and reinforced the feeling of home.

While the composition doesn't immediately jump out as being amazing, it works reasonably well for this shot. Your decision to include part of the collar brings some orientation for the viewer, and the tight crop to the bottom of the shot keeps everything well confined and without many distractions.

I hope these comments are of some help to you; if you have questions or would like me to clarify anything in the critique, PM me and I'd be happy to elaborate.


Paul.

Anticipation
by adine

Comment:
Very nice shot... but in my opinion, the bright red border detracts from the overall quality. --7

Pure Maple Syrup
by Gracious

Comment:
Very warm, pleasing shot. Leggo my eggo! :-) Nicely done. --10

Paint
by loz1

Comment:
Oversaturated red detracts from your shot, in my opinion, particularly at the top left corner of the bottle.

Relocated
by Toddh

Comment:
Very pleasing compositionally... duotone gives a nice overall effect. One of my favorites so far this week. --10

Dairy Queen
by crabappl3

Comment:
Fantastic splatter shot! I am interested to find out what sort of triggering you're using to catch this so nicely. Only nit I can pick is the very tiny droplets away from the main splatter-- they're just a bit distracting. --9

Blow your top
by dan_pendleton

Comment:
Bet that made a mess... :-) Great stop-action shot; the yellow background is a bit strong for the overall shot, however. --7

Flaming Liquid Metal
by mbardeen

Comment:
Beautiful shot here-- nice, rich colors! I especially like the metal spatter on the surface below the molten metal; it adds a nice touch. Not much I can suggest here for improvement. --10