Thanks for this world!
by Alexys

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!

This is a wonderful shot that has a lot of potential. The colors are very deep and rich and really add to the shot. Sadly the focus is wanting a great deal. I'm guessing it was windy from the waves on the water but the lack of clarity on the tree and water and rest of the shot really detracts from it's overall beauty. Also the tree getting cut off on the right, bit of beach and the trashcan in the lower right corner ends up being a distraction, perhaps a tighter crop? The use of negative space on the top is well done, helping take you into the sky and off into infinity :)

Hope this helps.

Good Luck In Future Challenges!

Deannda
DNeufer@stny.rr.com if you have any questions or want to discuss this further!

Thankful for my Family
by rj324

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!

This is a wonderful shot of you and your family and as seen by the ribbon several others think so too. But since you did ask for this critique, here goes.

I worked for a portrait studio for over 4 years, my husband was the photographer and I did pick up a few clues along the way. First, the youngest daughter could be slightly lower than the oldest daughter, putting them at the same level provides a bridge between you and your wife but their head sizes don't match and is a tad bit distracting. Another way to set this up would be to stair step from your youngest to your oldest to your wife with you in the back bringing the line around and making it more a vertical portrait instead of a horizontal one. Also her dress is a bit rumpled where you are holding her, if she was sitting on her own seat or stool that wouldn't happen.

The hair blends into the background also. Either a back light or a spot light from above would highlight the top of the heads seperating them from the background and giving them an ending so to speak.

This is a wonderful shot and you should be proud, the expressions are perfect and you have a beautiful family.

Good Luck In Future Challenges!

Deannda
DNeufer@stny.rr.com if you have any questions or want to discuss this further!

Yes, I Have Money; Now What?
by librodo

Comment:
Interesting shot, doesn't really make me think of money per say but interesting all the same. Not quite sure what they are selling, is it flowers? And the motion blur of the traffic or train behind is perfect but the customer in the middle is more distracting. The border seems a bit heavy to me, too much for this shot. A 4 to start a 5 to finish

when you got none
by sergut

Comment:
Sadly there are too many of them out there. This looks like a set up shot but at the same time a walk by shot. The fish eye effect is a bit much and the homeless person looks too clean and the clothes look too new it's hard to say. The focus is lacking a bit and while the black and white works well with this shot but the brightness and contrast is just a bit wanting. A 4 to start, going to a 7

Coin in the Stone - Cheaper than Excalibur
by unicum

Comment:
Ah, money in the shot :( But a nice shot otherwise. This is one of the few I didn't punish you as much as I did the others for not reading the description on this one more carefully. I like the DOF on this shot, the black and white works very well and the off center of the coin is also nice. The angle seems off for some reason though, like it could be more head on so the printing on the coin was straighter? A 5

Rich Enough to Have a Gift-Wrapped Car
by Beagleboy

Comment:
That would be nice, no doubt. But there is no real focus in this shot, not one car is the center of attention and perhaps that is what you were going for but to me, the balance seems off and the angle of the shot is off, perhaps a more direct angle and making one car the center with all the others leading off that one, like little clones. A 4

Engaged in Regal Beauty
by mirdonamy

Comment:
That is one big rock! But not so big that it should affect the DOF on the middle finger, seems to me the entire shot should be in sharp focus. Also the light is blown out on the top and shining off the fingers. Perhaps if you had come from the other side, like someone was showing off the ring and you could see the entire hand? A 4

hands
by protector

Comment:
Not sure what this has to do with the challenge and the motion blur is very distracting. The border also seems very heavy for this shot. A 4

Tranquility....priceless!!!
by hysmor

Comment:
Yes it is and I sure could have used some this past week! This is a wonderful concept but the pulling off leaves me wanting. I'm guessing you were going for a soft focus feel on this shot but it really deosn't work for me, comes off more of a fuzzy shot than soft. The tiny bit of water on the left make me want more. Perhaps if the shot was panned more to the left, taking out the houses on the right, leaving just the one house or even just the canoe/boat and the sea to the left would really bring the message across, all the houses just add more clutter/stress to me. A 3

Some Churches Serve God And Mammon At The Same Time
by Mona

Comment:
Yes, sadly they do. The concept is good the shot is wanting. The trees are very distracting and really take away from your shot for me. The border is a bit to much gold, you don't have enough in the shot to carry it off. Perhaps if you had flipped the black and gold borders? And a more direct shot of the steeple of the church without all the branches if possible and a bit more clairty and contrast. A 3