Leaving
by e301

Comment:
From the Critique Club

This is one of those shots that I can not just sit down and write up a critique for. Each time I look at it I pick up a little more than the last time. I see another subtle nuance. This, to me, is a sign of a very good, if not great, piece!

My very first impression was that this was overly sharp and too contrasty. After a moment I realized that you have attained an almost surreal feeling with this combination. My next thought was that the darks are too dark and the highlights are too light, but again after a moment I realize that this all combines to give the overall feeling of moving from the here and now to the beyond.

Your foreground is very crisp and clear. The horizontal lines of the brick path give it a very 'base' feel, like a starting point. The rest of the lines lead your eye up and over the bridge into the unknown. You've accentuated this feeling with the very dark background and the very light lines of the bridge. This gives the bridge a feeling of a transition from the base or now into the unknown and shady future.

All in all a very compelling photo which implies a story. You don't know the details of the story, but you know that there is a change in it.

Kudos on this!
TC

Control Freak
by spydr

Comment:
Great minds think alike? I almost did the PS2 controller. Nice composition (a little busy maybe) and a darker background (though harder to shoot) would make for some nice shadings!
TC

Black Pottery of Northern Mexico
by lwkimages

Comment:
Beautiful! Love the off center, off setting reflections!
TC

My Black Beauties
by MikeO

Comment:
I can get by with the high key treatment of black boots. In fact this is pretty darn good job of high key black though you are blown out on the left heel. However, the yellow border has absolutely no place here. It is the first thing I see and the last. Lose the yellow border, tone it down JUST a touch and you have a great shot here.
TC

Lost in the Dark Woods
by Arcy

Comment:
IMHO in order to make this work, one tree would have to be the subject OR there would have to be more darkness. To me this doesn't say black, it says blue.
TC

Classic Black
by dan_pendleton

Comment:
This is very nice. You managed to make black be a statement! Wondering how many shot you had to take to get the lighting just right...
TC

Black swan on ice.
by jjbeguin

Comment:
Hmmm... a little patience and you might have been able to capture a more pleasing 'pose' of the duck, or were you trying for black swan butt? Otherwise nicely composed.
TC

Vulture
by GolferDDS

Comment:
Very majestic silhouette, but with such a magnificent creature I would rather see the detail.
TC

Magic
by dr rick

Comment:
Very nice. I love how you have just enough detail especially around the nose! I just wish the eyes were a little more even. Very nice capture. Too bad about all the comments about it being too dark...
TC

Rejection
by glenfoto

Comment:
This appears to be a little crooked... I also would move your subject to his left just a touch or crop out further.
TC