Urban Chaos
by keyz

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Another fun image from you. I enjoyed looking at it in all its detail.

You received a nice middling score on this image, and here I am to try to give you some impressions on how to (perhaps) make it better.

First, I wonder if zeroing in on the 'action' would make this more lively. There is a lot of scene-setting going on with the dark wall above the main subject. When I played around with your image on my own computer temporarily, I found that taking this down to just the foreground post and the orange-on-white background lettering make both more important graffiti features. then just a little touch of levels to give everything a pop and accent that foreground shadow gave this a new look.

But every viewer has different thoughts. The idea is to appeal to the voters quickly so your image doesn't get lost in the voting.

My suggestion would be to get lots of pictures from lots of angles, then experiment again and again to visualize the best presentation. you're already good at this.

Good luck in your next Challenge. I hope this critique was helpful in some small way.

Alice

PPjomari copy
by Alicia

Comment:
You know, I have that program too, but purchased the Nik program at about the same time, and never really explored Redfield. You did and I sure do envy your excellent work on this.

back to the drawing board.

Canal streetcar at night
by SEG

Comment:
If I was doing a CRITIQUE CLUB COMMENT, it would go something like this.

Your composition is excellent. Your colors work well.

There is considerable haloing and waaaaay to much grain.

Topaz needs to be used with restraint, and the sliders make for nice adjustments. Usually it is best to use this less than full strength.

The predominantly blue/green/magenta colors here work well for an over-the-top presentation, which this is. Make it smooth(ish), and if you have a source to market this very nice image, it will likely present well.

Rocket Ship
by freakin_hilarious

Comment:
cute picture and good seeing to catch this one.
(maybe a little closer crop would make it stand out.)

Fiesta Then Siesta
by CoreyFitz

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Hey, Corey, We're neighbors. I'll look forward to meeting you one of these days. Now, ordinarily your image would have gone into limbo-land at rollover, but we've cleared the queue of current entries and have the choice to go back and catch up. Yours is the first image to show up in my catch up queue.

I love the bright colors of this and your bug. Since I am a bug chaser myself, well...I had to look at more of your portfolio. Yeah. Bugs. Nice.

Frankly I do not know the limitations of your camera. You can study your owners manual and see just what you can do and fudge as much as possible. So much for recommendations on that.

I had a 'better' crop in mind. Getting rid of most of the blurry background matter and focusing on the main attraction: The Bug. But it was not to be as the jaggies showed up immediately when I placed this temporarily on my own computer.

So my only suggestion in connection with this fun and splashy image is to know just what you can get away with and push it as far as you and Photoshop can get away with.

You have a good eye. I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

(Photo tip. You probably already know this: The gardens at UC Santa Cruz are splendid from about a month from now and through the summer. Bugs, bees, hummingbirds, oh, just heaven for the likes of us.)

Bounty
by scarbrd

Comment:
I'm still reminded of Cezanne; veyr nice composition. (Comment only this time, no vote)

Sound of the Sea
by Prime_Time

Comment:
...near Rodeo Beach. Nice one.

Steeple, reconfigured in light of the circularity of God
by Bear_Music

Comment:
That's a super image, no matter who sayeth it.
:-))

Paris-Montmartre
by Rino63

Comment:
GREETIngS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Oh, I am SO envious. You were in Paris last year and I was not. Not only that, but you captured a great street scene.

Interesting. You finished just about in the middle of the pack in this demanding "Best of 2009" Challenge. And that is just about the way your comments split on your treatment of this scene.

HDR, Topaz. Like? Don't Like? That is the question.

My personal opinion is that you have taken this excellent image almost to the point of illustration and if I was lucky enough to call it mine, I'd probably do it more in a photographic way. But this fine image is yours, not mine.

You had fun with it and it shows very nicely. that's what counts. Keep up the good work.

Alice
:-))

Four little piggies
by jeffreype123

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Well, jeffreype123, if your intention was to make the voters smile, you succeeded beyond belief. If, in addition, your intention was to score well, well you have time for that later.

For the record, this is an excellent macro shot. Did I know toes have (er)toeprints, like fingerprints? Well, I do now. Nice placement in the frame (I can't believe I'm saying this) and good colors. The green thingee in the upper right bothered me a little at first, but then I thought, "Why not!"

Would I hang it on my wall? Um, I will think about it. Is it amusing and fun and all that. Oh, yes.

So, thanks for submitting it to the "Best of 2009" Challenge, keep your sense of humor, and I DO look forward to seeing more of your work.

Alice