Spring Beauty
by rbecker

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

Isn't it nice to see the spring flowers again? Daffodils and jonquils are some of the first to appear and with their unique shapes are fun to watch develop.

I like the way you placed the flower in the frame and I wonder if a different exposure would have made this image more successful. The background is a bit too prominent, and since I can't understand your stated settings, I'll just suggest a low number ISO with the same f4. Or blur it out in Photoshop, since this was Expert Editing. Your flower seems to have lost color as well with, perhaps, some of the original yellow still visible around the center of the petals.

Just a little tip: In a situation like this, I usually try to bracket my shots, and in addition, in the bright sun, carry an umbrella or some shading device so the subject matter is not in the full light.

You're just getting your feet wet at DPC, and I look forward to seeing more of your work in future Challenges.

Boots
by Grandad

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

GREAT rooster! Love his feet with their feathered pantaloons.

You have a wonderful subject, and if you get a chance, you might try shooting him from different angles to see what shows him off best. For example, you might get down to his level to try a shot. Since this guy isn't perfectly sharp, I'd also suggest bracketing your shots to get a really good one.

Finally, and you may have done this deliberately, it is just a touch distracting to see the vignetting on this image. If you're trying to put Mr. Rooster in the spotlight, my suggestion would be to make the vignetting even darker, but not so dark as to obliterate the background.

In any event, you have a delightful shot of a chicken who is supremely proud of himself, and probably you have a nice reminder of a pleasant day.

Walks Alone
by ChikaZAWa

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

Gosh, that's a scary alley for Savanna! Or for anywhere, for that matter.

But that's the mood and effect you were going for, I think, and if so, you certainly succeeded. Well done.

I could tell you this is "too dark" or "too blurry" or "too ..." a lot of things, but I think that would defeat the purpose of your very fine image. From your portfolio, it's easy to see you know your way around a camera and you did not do any of these things by mistake.

So, despite the rather low score for this image (if you care about the score) I'd say keep following your imagination and ideas. You're doing fine.

My pride
by ingvar

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

What an appealing child you have. And you have photographed her well. The soft lighting worked so very well.

The composition is delightful and the pose is precious. I suppose that, had there been a little smudge on your daughter's nose or cheek, it would have added a point or so to your score. But, to me, it looks as if this little girl stopped her play for just a moment to please her dad by posing. You caught that moment, and that is what matters.

I certainly don't have any technical questions about this image. I think you did a good job and you will treasure this photograph for a long, long time.

Three Peppers
by miadrago

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

Welcome to DPC. I see this is only your second entry, and I hope to see many more from you in future Challenges!

Okay, to work on this entry: Good composition with the hat, saddle, peppers and the straw-like substance. If it was mine, I'd probably eliminate the white backdrop and add more of the straw to show off the peppers more. And yes, I would give that right pepper some more room.

Technically, I think this image is a bit out of focus. Because those peppers are the stars of the show, they should really be tack-sharp. And you have the lens to do it, too. That Tokina is a nice one! I trust you used a tripod. If not, (or if you don't have one yet) you can set up some books or arrange some surface on which you can place your camera to try for good sharp images. And then bracket your shots.

Good luck here at DPC! And I hope your friend likes her salsa label.

Trap's Pond
by Maverick

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

Oh, dear. Your prediction came true! Five-ish indeed.

Well, it looks as if you went for serenity, and serenity you achieved. Nicely photographed, with good framing from the branches and excellent control over color all the way through. An aside here, it's amazing how spring foliage colors can look like fall colors. The reds and yellows of the budding leaves could be from another season.

It probably would have been ideal if you had a nice red boat on the pond, maybe with a fisherman and a dog in it. But that was not to be. And in this challenge with lots of flamboyant entries, it just seems that your very nice entry was overlooked by our voters.

Still, I'm glad to have seen it and look forward to seeing more of your work in future Challenges.

Untitled for Stef
by edwalk74

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

It's always fun to see an unusual use of light in a photograph and this example is no exception.

Of course my attention went immediately to the last of the sunset because of its brightness. But then, it was delighted to find the flower display you lit up with a flash! The mysteriously black middleground has it's own place in the composition and works well.

There is just one (IMO, of course) weak spot in this delightful piece; the bit of sky above the sunset. It's a sort of 'dead' color, one that I sink into without pleasure. Okay, that last sentence was a bit over the top, but it's the only way I can think of to say it right now.

With Expert Editing as a tool, I wonder what would have happened if you had introduced just a touch of color into that dead spot above the sunset.

In any event, your image is a good rendition of a good technique and I hope you submit more images to DPC in the near future.

Shiver
by andrewthomas

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

WOW. This is one of the times I feel richly rewarded for being part of the Critique Club. I get to see images like this, and then get to check out your portfolio (I couldn't help myself).

Because there is nothing I can find to critique in this image, I'll just say that I looked at every one of your images and each, in its own way, is spectacular.

The lack of footprints - and the relative size of the model - tell me that you dropped the model in from another image. However, you did it, it's just priceless. You know your way around a camera, and you know how to tell a picture story.

Congratulations on a fine effort.

Perth: City of Lights
by Delta_6

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

Oh, Perth! If I ever get back to Australia, that is very high on my 'list' along with the rest of Western Australia.

You've given us a good look at the present-day skyline of this beautiful city. As your other commenters have noted, this image is well composed but is a bit 'hot'. Melethia has given you some excellent pointers on how to correct that, and I'll give you one more: Bracket your shots. On a night shot like this, you used a tripod. When it's all set up, it's a matter of a few tweaks of the camera settings to change the aperature/shutter speed. Then you can select the best exposure later on. Then, in RAW, you can change the exposure setting as well. Experiment! It's fun to play - with a copy of your original, of course.
:-))

I'll look forward to seeing more of your photography from this beautiful place.

Cacti
by psart

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

I love to see these cacti,especially when they are in bloom or have all that colorful fruit clinging to the edges of the paddles.

You did get some nice lights and darks in this image, and it comes close to making it as a pattern shot. However, I think digitalknight was on the mark with his comments which i won't belabor.

When I glanced at your portfolio, I noted you have some lovely pictures of the Arizona desert. I hope you continue to find and submit them to future Challenges.