1-jan 09 archive foto. dreamscape
by roz

Comment:
Tbat's very cool Roz! What an interesting result from four very diverse photos! Love the color tones too.

Day 1: Haley and Abbey
by socalsteve

Comment:
Great composition and very cute shot overall. Perhaps a bit on the dark side--it might be nice to bring out details in the black areas a tiny bit more--the girl on the left's dress, and their irises. And Happy New Year to you! (Oh, and the title at the top is not centered.)

Hello Woody
by incubus

Comment:
Very cool overall. I like the high key. Only thing I see to suggest is to perhaps bring your eye/face out a tiny bit more.

Number 1 - A wing and a prayer (edited)
by Kelli

Comment:
I like the improved contrast here! But I'm not as sure about the color changes -- I miss some of the blue to the sky. Maybe if going this direction, BW might be interesting!

Seeking One's Muse
by GeneralE

Comment:
Great catch! Editing looks good, though I'd be tempted to suggest "trying" some perspective correction with this, at least to the point of resolving some of the "perceived" tilt.

Neon Spider
by Nuzzer

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

This is a very nice shot overall; I really like the "expanding" look (perspective) of the bokeh. And congratulations on your top 15 image!

COMPOSITION: As I said, I really like the composition you chose, the perspective, and the look of the bokeh, is great.

EXPOSURE AND SHARPNESS: Exposure seems to be ok. Contrast is good in the center by the spider and in the sharper areas, but overall, the photo has a bit of a flat look--I think because of the colors. If you had shifted these to more contrasting colors, it might have been more striking. Sharpness and clarity seem ok at this size, but not exceptional.

AESTHETICS: I think the photo has everything going for it in aesthetics (outside of being a shot of a spider which some people fear!). But overall aesthetics don't work for me, despite the great subject, and excellent bokeh. I believe it's the colors--they don't appeal to me (whereas they do in the shot you were emulating). Or it might be the "negative" look (whether created or somehow natural; perhaps indeed it's the colors that say negative to me).

This is of course all subjective opinion! But perhaps it will help you in trying alternative post-processing, or just for the next time you try this!

It's not Christmas without mommy
by LevT

Comment:
Well done--I like the theme, colors and comp. Congratulations Lev!

sweep
by ursula

Comment:
Congratulations Ursula, and welcome back!

Red
by brownsm

Comment:
Excellent composition and scene layout Steve! Perhaps less noise ninja would have helped--surely ou don't need it at ISO 200 on your camera! There does seem to be texture missing, but maybe even without the noise ninja, maybe not as much as would enhance the photo (you have texture where the wall and door are degraded, but not the surface textures themselves.)

Complementary Portrait - A Tribute to 'Dark Portrait'
by mchalmers

Comment:
I love the overall orange colors in this as well as the intense stare (and color patter) broken by the face paint. Great shot.