Skeletal Fractal
by CrazyDiamond

Comment:
HI Elle, welcome to the Critique Zone!

CrazyDiamond? Crazy fool - how am I supposed to Critique this?

Great choice of subject for the challenge, really well executed. I particularly like how you ignored the compositional rules demanding lines into the corners, third etc and put that stem right down the middle. It works.

Well done, A+. Now go and do it again!

Happy hunting,

Frank.

The Chamber
by Ja-9

Comment:
HI Janine - welcome back to the Critique Zone!

This is definitely a DPC crowd pleaser and a perfect fit for the challenge. I don't think my old laptop screen does it justice to be honest. I need to be on a shiny iPad or something!

Technically, there isn't a thing I would change about this. The sharpness is great, the DOF as good as it can be and the lighting is definitely what sets this apart from the average. Artistically there isn't much to call either. I agree with the comment about balancing this vertically in the frame - it is such a geometric shot that the bigger gap at the top really stands out. Picky, I know... The negative space, on the other hand, is critically important so I don't think that a tighter crop would be a good idea. I'd be interested to see it positioned on the right third rather than the left third but reserve the right to decide that you were right after all!

This is definitely you on form - congratulations!

Happy hunting,

Frank.

Conq shell 1
by marabu61

Comment:
Hi Daniel, welcome to the Critique Zone!

Where to start? This is an interesting shot, lots of detail and I think that you have succeeded in achieving the DOF that you were after, so good job there!

Technically, this is not soft at all, I don't know what that comment was about. Focus is very good all the way through. For me, it is the lighting which is a slight problem. Because of the angle of the light, you lose the shadow between the 'layers' of the shell and on the right, they merge into one. It is a very harsh light too, perhaps with too much contrast between the very bright right side and the dark left.

Artistically, this definitely meets the challenge. It's a great subject. I think you would get a very interesting perspective by angling the shell slightly to point to one of the corners, fixing the lighting to drop shadows behind each 'ridge' to get a really deep composition. I also have to admit that I'm not crazy about the blue colouring - perhaps a good subject for black and white?

I hope that didn't sound too negative - it's a really nice shot. I am just trying to find some things which might be of interest to you to try for next time!

Happy hunting,

Frank.

Little Boy's Blues
by photokop

Comment:
Hi Mike, welcome to the Critique Zone!

I'll start by saying that I disagree with several of the comments below. Where to start? I think that the fabric up his nose is great - he's a young boy, made of snails and puppy dogs tails etc. He should be misbehaving! Secondly I think that it is a very 'interesting', or rather, captivating portrait with some minor technical issues rather than the other way around.

Technically, it's a little soft. Perhaps because of the very slow shutter? You can totally get away with ISO 400 or even 800 with that camera and some noise reduction software. But I think it is actually a focusing issue because his shoulder is very sharp. Really, it needs to be the eyes.

Artistically, there is much less to say. This is a perfect capture of a personal, candid moment. Your model is so completely natural - one could not ask for better. I personally also like the composition, the angles (making him look just a tiny bit upwards in a plaintive manner) and the crop. Some would say that you have to either include the whole head or crop in more tightly - I would disagree, this works perfectly.

To sum up, a slightly tighter focus on the eyes and perhaps a little more contrast (in PP?) and this is a killer shot. Without them, it's definitely a serious keeper and a reminder or a really great grandparent / kid connection.

Happy hunting,

Frank.

last day at the office
by ytshuva

Comment:
Hi Kobi - welcome to the Critique Zone!

My first impressions - this is a really nice shot. I have always been a fan of those who can get light to work for them 'photo-graphy' and you definitely have here. But it is a shame about the background. Why couldn't the screen manufacturer have made it a little taller?

Technically, I would have been interested to see this taken at f2.8 just to try and blur out those pot plants. Other than that, the focus is perfect and of course the lighting is what makes it.

Artistically, I would wonder how much to ascribe to you and how much to your model, but looking at some of your other work, either you are very lucky or you have a way of getting your models to give you what you need! This is really natural with a very nicely balanced composition.

I like it, like I said, it's just a shame that screen wasn't a tiny bit higher!

Happy hunting,

Frank.

scan that doggie in the window
by posthumous

Comment:
Hi Posthmous, we meet again in the Critique Zone!

Hmmm. Normally I am a fan, but this one doesn't grab me. I like the dog although I am a little mystified by the barcode through the nose. I am just not sure what the blur adds to this, it doesn't seem to me to need a sense of movement or dynamism. The flat, desert beige colours tell me that everything there should be still, beaten down by the heat. Perhaps I am wrong and it is heat haze not motion blur?

I think what really leaves me cold is just the overall balance of the composition. The tilted angle, the extra space at the top. I guess I just don't get it! Having seen plenty of your work, I'm sure you had something in mind here but this time, I'm not sure what it is.

I'm going to head back to predictability and over-sharpening now!

Happy hunting,

Frank.

The Pinnacle
by JamesDowning

Comment:
Hi James, welcome to the other side of the Critique Zone!

This is a bit wierd - I was just looking at some of your critiques, and here you are on the other side of the wall... anyway...

Overall, I really like this shot - so did the voters although I would have thought that they would like it a little more? Genuinely not sure why this did not break the 7.0 barrier.

Technically, there is nothing that I can fault here - even being nitpicky. f3.5 seems like a pretty wide aperture - perhaps not necessary given the amount of light? But it doesn't seem to have affected your DOF, so no problem there. The lighting, as commented on elsewhere, is excellent and focus is very well controlled.

Artistically, it is on the nail for the rule of thirds in every direction / dimension, and is very visually pleasing as a result. The leading lines, sunbursts and clouds all add great texture. If it were my shot, I might try seeing what it would look like a little darker? Of course I haven't tried that and it might not work.

Like I said, I don't think there is anything to fault here. This is definitely one for the album!

Happy hunting,

Frank.

Towards the Galactic Center
by Pascal

Comment:
Hi Paschalis, and welcome to the Critique Zone!

This is a challenge - I have no experience of astro-photography so how to critique this? Hell, I couldn't take it, although I am inspire to learn how. Where is a good place to learn the techniques and how is your 1000D modified?

It is a lovely shot - not as clear as some of your others and with less obvious subjects but that is the nature of your subject here.

Sorry I can't say anything useful! If it helps, I think it is pure art, stolen from science.

Happy hunting,

Frank.

Evening Goose
by MEJazz

Comment:
Hi Mansoor, welcome to the Critique Zone!

Clearly this shot left the voters a little cold - I guess the question is why? (noting that all of this is subjective - so I hope some of it is of interest)

Technically: This is a tricky one - it is fairly sharp around the back end, but doesn't seem so sharp around the head and eyes, the traditional focal point. I suspect that this is a result of your really large aperture (f2) and a fairly small Depth of Field. Personally, with a 5DII, I would be happy going to about ISO 800, allowing an aperture of at least f7.1 without compromising your shutter speed. That would probably give you razor sharp bum and head, with room for manouevre.

Artistically: It's really a taste issue, so this is just my opinion. I think that it needs to be cropped differently: either with the scale as you have it but the goose to the bottom left, giving it 'space to move into', or with a tighter crop. As it is, the goose is just too central in a vast expanse of space. I would also recommend trying to find a different perspective - in life, we look down at stuff like geese (physically!) so a photo which does the same lacks impact - perhaps vertically down (difficult) or from on a level, or even up at the goose? Something to shock the eye and show something different. Just my thoughts.

Anyway, I hope that there was something in there of use!

Happy hunting,

Frank.

Good Morning Sunshine
by Ja-9

Comment:
HI Janine!

Great shot - but then again I would like it, they are amongst my favourite flowers...



Like I said, I like it, but it doesn't take my breath away like some of your other work. Two things I can think of (bearing in mind that it's all subjective):

Firstly the lighting doesn't seem quite right. Not sure I can put my finger on it but it's very bright and contrasty in the middle, but a little dark around the outside petals. It looks a little like on camera flash not quite delivering?

Secondly the composition - for me it is just in between two choices - really tight and detailed or a little further out and capturing the whole flower. I guess my mind sees it like the flower equivalent of cutting a human model off at the knees.

This may all sound a little harsh and for many others I would just say 'great shot' - but you have so much history of doing better.

Happy hunting!

Frank.