Classic Trains
by TerryGee

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

The message
This is a wonderful photo that would make a great magazine cover. It effectively conveys the essential character of the classic train.

Creative choices
The sepia is perfect, giving a "classic" look that enhances the message. The water tower in the background makes a great setting. The composition isn't bad, and probably great for a magazine cover, but I would like to see just a bit more to the right; the engineer is too close to the edge.

Technical aspects
Focus and sharpness are great. Exposure isn't bad. Details are lost both in highlights and shadows, but there's not much to be done about it; there is just too much tonal range for a camera to capture here.

car and driver
by loudzgamer

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

The message
The purpose of this photo is to show off the unique features of this interesting vehicle. It's a great subject for a magazine cover and the home in the background makes a nice setting. But it's lacking in interest; another element (like a driver) or an unusual point of view would help grab the viewer's attention.

Creative choices
The lighting is harsh, but I think it works well here with the dark car, casting an even darker shadow and making nice specular highlights. The colors of the various elements work well together. The reflections in the car are subtle and nicely show off its contours.

Technical aspects
Exposure is perfect. Focus seems fine. I'm not sure what caused the diagonal lines to be jagged, but it is mildly distracting. But my main complaint about this photo is that the highlights are missing their metallic edge, making the car look plastic. I suspect this is a result of the Neat Image processing.

Horticulture: Phalaenopsis - Luxury For Less
by amsmyth

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

The message
The intent of this image is to interpret the natural beauty of this orchid. It's pure whiteness makes it a technically difficult choice, but a great subject for a magazine cover.

Creative choices
The lighting is nicely soft and at a good angle to bring out the textures and forms of the petals. The background is blurred perfectly and makes a great contrast with the flowers. I think a more frontal point of view would work better; the petals obscure interesting parts of the flowers in this nearly side view. The focus seems a bit soft; some sharpening would enhance the textures and better show off the orchids' beauty.

Technical aspects
The focus is accurate and the colors are beautiful; especially the subtle yellows in the center of the flowers. The image is overexposed, burning out the white flowers and ruining the photo. A proper exposure would have captured details in all of the petals instead of leaving just a pure white area in the center.

untitled
by israfel

Comment:
This is beautiful. The stamens have a wonderful form and texture that is captured well in this image. The contrasting color of the petals make a great background. The chunks of pollen on the lip add that extra something to make this an outstanding photo.

O
by MikeO

Comment:
It's the negative space, and the interesting shadows it contains, that makes this photo work well. I also like the gradient of the texture from rough to smooth.

Autumn morning
by pikyto

Comment:
This sunrise certainly has beautiful colors. But the most interesting parts of the photo are on the right side, going off the edge. It makes me wish the camera was pointed about 45 degrees further right.

dried ...... and still HOT!
by arbil14

Comment:
What a wonderful range of orange colors! The chiles have nice textures too, but the image needs a little sharpening to bring them out.

Pay as you glow....
by Polecat123

Comment:
The starlite effect works well here, and is aligned just right. The key light is too harsh, washing out the body of the device and diluting the effect of the orange lights.

Outrageous
by neehai

Comment:
I love the shapes, lines, and colors here. But the first thing I notice is that is is out of focus.

Orange Blossom
by sfarrell23

Comment:
The lighting brings out the natural beauty of the flower. A tighter crop may have made a more compelling photograph.