Kogel Bay Twilight
by darnok

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

A stunning image and one that did exceptionally well in the Best of 2009 Challenge. Congratulations on your 6.78 score. In any 'normal' contest it would have been a contender for a bright little virtual ribbon. In this one? Well a top 20 isn't bad.

While you did request a Critique Club comment, there is simply nothing to critique here, so with thanks for the chance to review this very fine image again, I will move on to the next image in the queue.

Alice

Fishing Bear
by stenella

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB
Congratulations. You were there on one of those splendid treks to see the bears. A friend went exploring on one of those treks in that area a summer ago and came back with wonderful images. As, undoubtedly, did you. I have the feeling that you have many more splendid images of bears from this shoot.

These are awesome creatures, and it is no wonder that you wanted the image that was 'up close and personal.'

As far as a critique goes, this beautiful bear could have certainly used more space in the frame to show off its power.

I look forward to seeing more images from you at DPC.

SFAlice

Comer
by SuttonN

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Aww, old "Pancho" has been supplanted by an alpaca! Pancho was the reigning beast when I visited that site some years ago.
:-))

Of course this is a fine picture and you have many accolades from the knowledgeable people on the site. It works well in black and white and the placement of the alpaca in the grass is wonderful. It describes the site perfectly.

If I were to nitpic, and that's what I'm here for, I would suggest cropping out some of the left side of the image. Say, remove the area including those 2 people to the left. That gives undivided attention to the stone house and makes a nice triangle to the animal and back up, keeping the viewer in the picture.

Glad you entered this fine image. I had a good time reviewing it and remembering a great time there when I visited.

The Ice Storm, Dangerous but Beautiful
by O'Holleran

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Oh, what beautiful, icy trees. They look so delicate and lacy it is almost possible to forget they are also a product of cold, cold weather.

When I first looked at this lovely, icy scene, I too said to myself, "oh dear, that road." But I'm not going to belabor the point as it's been made a number of times in your comments.

You were using a moderately wide-angle lens, so unless the grounds were so inhospitable that you just couldn't move around, sometimes taking many pics from many vantage points helps in the final choice. Also, since this is Advanced editing, a little cloning of an unwanted car or two might come in handy.

But you were there, and I was not and you probably already know all this.

There's a pretty good tutorial on resizing here at DPC and if you use Photoshop, their "Save for Web" is a pretty good way of getting a useful size for competition.

Good luck in your future entries in DPC. You've got a good eye and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work.

Alice

Gate of dreams
by stanmoore

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Jeepers, I wonder where this is!
:-))
Great shot, and I say that as one who has aimed a camera at this bridge many, many times in its many moods.

You caught the personality of this bridge beautifully. From the lighting to the delicate treatment of the fog bank that is about to envelop you, there it is. I think it is very well done and you received many fine comments reinforcing this viewpoint.

Because it's my job to nitpic, if this was mine (and I know it isn't) I might have toned down those lights at the other end of the bridge at the waterline. They (IMO) detract just slightly from the overall majesty of your image.

Good luck in your new job and your new city and come back to see us soon!

Alice

9/1
by jdannels

Comment:
Just beautiful, Joe.

Alice

ARIADNE
by Pipe_Dream

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Wow, what a spectacular image. You must have been beating up the "update" button all week with this splendid effort.

It was a tough challenge with the Best of the Best in it and in ordinary times, I feel sure this would have made the front page. It didn't but it did finish extraordinarily well with lots of comments and compliments.

I am pleased to have the opportunity to appreciate it again, and look forward to seeing more of your very fine work.

However, since "there is nothing to critique here" I guess I must move on to the next image in the queue.

Alice

Teasing
by Kathe

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Awww, what a cute scene. You were fortunate to be there and smart to capture "the moment."

Your image was well received by our DPC voters and scored comparatively well because as noted in the comments, along with its delightful charm, it does have a few problems.

I'll suggest one: how shall I put it - this little guy doesn't have any feet. In composition, it frequently is a good idea to include either the whole animal, or take enough off so that it looks like a deliberate crop. Then, the image is a bit busy with the other little guy who is not quite fading into the background and since he's quite 'hot' that takes away from the main attraction.

In experimenting with this very fine image, I did find a fun portrait, just isolating the featured animal's head and shoulders (blurring out the little bit of nose left over from the other animal).

It's just a thought, but frequently I can see more than one crop in my images, and sometimes the first one is not always the one I'll use.

Okay, I'm rambling on here, but this is such a cute image that I'm enjoying looking at it...

I wish you good luck in your future entries in DPC.

Alice

Arctic Lighthouse
by orvaratli

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

How lucky can a girl get! I very well remember this spectacular image from the "Best of..." Challenge and didn't know I'd get to see it again from the angle of the Critique Club. You finished well into the top 20 in a very demanding Challenge.

You know your subject very well, and you are a master of your camera and processing techniques. Your average and your many ribbons tell me this.

So with thanks for the opportunity to really look at this fine work again, I'll move on to the next image in the queue.

"There is nothing to critique here."

:-))
Alice

Lamplough
by moolacoola

Comment:
GREETINGS FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Wow, what a vista. Congratulations on this great capture of a stunning scene. And, as your comments show, the figure on the upper left gives a fine sense of scale to it all.

but, still, you didn't score as well as one might think with an image this stunning. You are new to HDR and I can see why you would like the results so much because of all that detail and color. IMO, this very fine image almost heads into the 'illustration' category. And there's nothing wrong with that, for heaven's sake! It's just that treatment doesn't go over terribly well at DPC.

so, other than suggesting that you might tone down the color on that yellow rock in the bottom right border area, I'd say you are on the right track, with very good observation and camera skills. You caught this incredible landscape at a spectacular time.

Keep up the good work.