Blue Flight
by danw791

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

Congratulations. You have your first Challenge under your belt and it didn't hurt a bit, did it!

I like your image; it reminded me of some pleasant times in India with those arches and colors. I very much like the darkness within the arch which is matched beautifully by the dark trees to the far right.

And yes, as your commentors suggested, you included lots of information in this image. I too, would simple it down quite a bit. For example, wait until those birds have either settled onto the roof or flown away. Then, I wonder if the "Burst of Color" effect would have been intensified by a much lower sky crop and another crop to the left to eliminate that chimney. Because the moon, the facade and the black tree are extremely effective without the distractions. Try it and see if you like the composition better.

Still, it's an interesting image and a great location. If you live nearby, you might well have fun shooting a lot of images of this building.

Welcome to DPC, and I'll look forward to seeing more of your work.

Floral Magic
by o2bskating

Comment:
I like y our imaginative lighting on this image. Adds character to the almost monochromatic greens.

Cool Day on Sequim Bay
by dickwilhelm

Comment:
The bit of blue in the fenceposts really sets this image apart from the others. Well, the composition and subject matter help too.
;>)

Dead End
by unicum

Comment:
Choice of DOF is perfect for this image.

Moonlight Sonata
by kirbic

Comment:
I'll be fascinated to see the technical information on this image eventually. Lovely lighting, and no apparent movement in the stars.

Golden
by riot

Comment:
What an exceptional close-up image of this bird. Just beautiful.

Preening Pretty
by nidici

Comment:
Sometimes I just like to come back to a picture to enjoy it again. This image fits that category. I can't score it any higher.

Color Wheel
by bowhenn

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

What an original idea. And an excellent choice of fruit to exemplify the primaries and secondary colors. Focus of the fruit and dishes is spot on. The light painting works well mostly. It's a bit dark (and that's where your score suffered, I think) and there are a few hot spots as well. It is fun, though to see the design in the middle.

Someone more experienced in lighting techniques than I, would have to tell you how to get the effect you want without the hot spots and the overly dark shadows. I can only commend you for a gallant attempt and a really great idea.

I hope you continue to enjoy DPChallange. I will look forward to seeing more of your work.

ALice

Rapper!
by permapier

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

What a good time to visit Costa Rica, in their nice warm weather.

You found a colorful image indeed, while you were there. And you met the Challenge nicely with the colorful turban and other items. I would suggest that you may have given the viewer a bit too much information though. While there is lots of color, I think the color burst you are looking for is in the turban, and much of the lower half of the image (say from the elbow down), is extraneous. Then, and it is unfortunate, you did crop into the turban. Frequently, when cropping, it's good to either crop before a major element, or deeply into one. Just a little bit into the element usually appears to be a 'mistake.' (Whether it is intentional or not).

Other than that, the colors look good as does the exposure.

So keep on trying and having fun doing it. Good luck in future Challenges.

Window to the soul
by nlghttrain

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

YOu must have had fun desaturating this image. And you were certainly on the right track to emphasize the pupil of the eye in this fashion.

If this was hanging in the Museum of Modern Art, the patrons would be ooh-ing and aaah-ing over it. (Me too.) But, no, it's in DPChallenge where the voters frequently want more realism, and symmetry. So you scored in the lower numbers.

I suppose, for DPC, if you had made the color of the eyes more 'normal' and used a more conventional composition, you'd have scored a bit higher. But would you have been happier? Doubt it.

So, what the heck. I certainly think you know what you're doing. As long as the numbers don't bother you, keep on doing your photography that way and let those of us who appreciate your work continue to do so.

Good luck.