"I HOPE I score"
by mbrutus2009

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club:

I think an issue a lot of folks had with this challenge was DNMC and fit for challenge. Voters tend to vote down images that fit the challenge criteria only because of the title.
Having said that, I think this is a decent sports capture. I, too, like how the sun has illuminated your friend̢۪s hair, and I think you did a good compromising the amount you froze the action yet still keeping some movement. The image also has good sharpness, contrast, and saturation throughout.
In terms of composition, I think framing your subject closer would benefit this particular pose. Generally, I would try to use a wider frame in order to show context (IE, other players, the goal ETC). Since the wider crop on this doesn̢۪t do that, I would say that you can concentrate things down more and eliminate some of the surrounding negative space (which in this case is rather distracting because it is hardly blurred). You might consider opening your aperture to help blur the background a bit more. Also, getting a telephoto would help this, but for sports you need fast glass and that̢۪s an expensive route.
Lastly, since this challenge was under Advanced editing, I would suggest you brighten the face a bit more and the shorts a bit too so they have a bit of definition to them.
-Derek

I Hope the Weather Stays This Sunny
by bobonacus

Comment:
The Critique Club arrives at long last.
Obviously, the strongpoint of this photo is the great color. The complementary colors really pop, and the deeper blue of the sky goes quite well with this. I like that you got underneath the flowers a bit to capture this, as well. Subject wise, tulips bring spring to my mind, which is almost always associated with hope and optimism after the dismal grey and brown of winter, so you meet the challenge well.
Few suggestions though: composition wise, you might consider taking a photo of this sort from more of an oblique angle. This would add depth and interest to the subject. Also, the leaves projecting up in such a manner in the bottom right are a little distracting. I like the leaves grouped with the flowers, but the tips in the corner would be better off if they took up more space. As it is, it is the one asymmetrical aspect of the photo, which draws attention.
Couple editing comments: I like what you did with the sky, and I know I do, because you can compare the end product with the little bit you missed in the center of the photo :). A minor thing is there is a slight halo on the left petal of the middle flower, but that¡¦s getting pretty anal. Lastly, I¡¦m not sure if this would be an editing or lighting comment, but the left tulip seems a bit duller than the rest.
The vivid colors and life of your photo makes me jealous! It just snowed a bit over a foot here and everything is just brown underneath that!

-Derek

Message edited by author 2009-03-28 21:19:20.

"I hope they've got food"
by animal

Comment:
Hey there, I̢۪m from the Critique Club.
Welcome back after a long hiatus!
Overall, your image is well exposed and sharp. Your placement of the duck was a good decision, leaving her negative space to swim into. I think your title was amusing, but that it was largely what qualified this image as an entry into the Hope challenge. Because of this, many people likely voted your shot down. Honestly, there isn̢۪t a lot that I can say needs improvement for this particular shot. I think the problem you ran into during voting isn̢۪t a question of technicals, but one of suitability and interest in regard to the challenge. Ducks are very common subjects and to captivate the viewer you must have captured them in unexpected, uncommon, or exciting split seconds and preferably have a related challenge.
-Derek

Message edited by author 2009-03-28 08:05:12.

The Hope of a New Day
by scooter88

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club-
Although there isn’t a lot of color here, I almost think that works better for the given shot/challenge combination. When considering hope and depicting it using a sky, I associate it with light, white billowy clouds on a blue sky. I think the fact that you didn’t have lots of color helped you avoid one of the clichés of DPC (sunsets). The sky also has a very dreamlike aspect that lends itself well to hopeâ€Â¦ perhaps because of the arrangement of clouds, the colors, or the softness of the water and sky combined.
I like your composition- placing the person in the lower left was a good choice, and due to the angle, the viewer is peering off in the same direction as the subject. The driftwood on the beach adds a bit of interest to the scene as well, but I might̢۪ve left the sand undisturbed in the lower right corner (though this might not have been possible for you). My only suggestion would be that you consider bracketing exposures and combining them or tonemapping (but keep things subtle, because your shot only needs a bit of dynamic range expansion). I say this because the sky is a bit overexposed to me and the sand a bit under.
Great shot, as shown by your placement in the challenge.
-Derek

Message edited by author 2009-03-28 07:08:07.

big emotions
by Miep

Comment:
This is kinda eerie, but I like it. I wonder if it might look a bit better if the only up close face was the one on the right, so they aren't so on top of each other.

The Installer
by Quigley

Comment:
Oh boy, T&G hardwood floor installation. Makes my lower back ache just looking at this.
I would've liked a bit more contrast on this. Maybe more "abstractness," but that's all sorta personal opinion, I guess.

Lavender Motion
by chickadeezl

Comment:
This is probably one of my favorites from the challenge. I'm sorta curious how you achieved this motion. It looks like wheat/grass combined with stalks maybe? But how did you move it to create this....will have to wait for the end of the challenge.
Regardless, cool.

Pterois volitans astratto
by bcenu

Comment:
And here I was thinking the lionfish couldn't get any more psychadelic...
Not sure how practical this would be, but I think fish would be the ideal creature for motion panning. They don't move to fast, so are easy to track, the rear of their body moves while the head stays more stationary... so you'd have this oddball head thing melting into the panned background. Just a thought.

Squirrels having fun!
by davisambrose

Comment:
Given the season, I think they're doing a bit more than just having fun. Pretty sure the one on the right is copping a feel in preparation of later escapades.

Twirling
by cebuloulou

Comment:
I like the background of this, specifically the way it melds together like a colored pencil drawing, but the hardcore grain of the child is somewhat offputting.