Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades
by aurorab

Comment:
Hi, Critique Club here...

It's too bad about the score, I actually rather like the shot. I like the hard shadow and the angled shoe. I get the saying too!

There are a few things that I think would make this better. I think the background is quite mixed, from blown out to kind of muddy. I'm thinking that if you shot this on an evenly lit white paper backdrop you wouldn't have the distracting line of the wall. Additionally, there is a blue cast from the shoe that detracts from the image. Perhaps if the shoe was standing on it's own the distance to the background would be great enough that it wouldn't show. Maybe you'd need another light for evening out the light, stronger side light to cast the shadow but it would even out the right side. The other thing is the grenade is really dark and lacking detail. I think that was also pointed out by one of the comments during the challenge. You can use white cards, tin foil, and/or mirrors to help add light to specific areas. As you've found out, doing a shot like this well isn't as easy as one would think.

Keep working at it and good things will come.

I didn't vote in this challege, but if I had, I would have voted this one a 5. I don't think it deserved the ones.

On the Other End of the Lens
by Insomniac

Comment:
Hi, Critique Club here...

I love the idea of this shot. I like the "photographer" giving direction.

What holds this back for me is
1) why is the flash going off, it's inconsistent with what's happening. Someone could be testing the flash, but whoever
that would be should be paying attention to it.
2) the only thing in focus is the MUA's shoulder
3) while I can live with the fingers being cut, I can't with the eye chopped in half.

So, for shots to do well on DPC, on has to pay attention to the little details because the audience here doesn't miss much.

Once again, this is a stellar idea and I would definitely want to try it again if I were you.

If I had voted in this challenge, I would have given this a 6. If the issues with the MUA didn't exist, an 8.

i bet your chair doesnt take you skiing
by chrisp

Comment:
Hi, Critique Club here...

Keep in mind this is only one person's opinion.

Firstly, I really like most of the image. The colors are great, I love the blur of the wheel, and I like the background with the hills and lights. I like the action shown with the blur of the skier and chair.

What I'm not so keen about is that while I like the blur of the rider on the lift, I would have liked just a hair faster shutter speed so I could actually see a person. The operator in the middle is awkward in that I don't think he adds anything to the image, but because he contrasts so much with the lights, he draws attention. I wish he was gone and the rider, a little more recognizable, was in the frame a little more. Of course the operator has to be there, so I'm just sayin...

One of the comments was that the picture really doesn't say "chair". I agree with that. While the challenge simply stated a chair should be in the photo, I think most people are looking for one that is more easily identified. If I were asked to describe this image, the word "chair" wouldn't come up.

But after all that, I do like the image. If I had voted in this challenge I would have given this a 6 or 7.

Willing Payment
by 777STAN

Comment:
Critique Club here...

I think you did a great job conveying the message here, and you might very well have gotten some low votes because of it.

I like the choice of the diagonal composition. I think the texture of the hand is a bit strong, it jumped out at me. I'm not a fan of the foreground blur, I wish the full hand was in focus. Given the choice, I would rather have seen the nails out of focus. Speaking of which, they aren't very believable - larger ones or better yet, spikes, would have helped sell the image.

If I had voted in this challenge, I would have given this a 6 because I thought it met the challenge very well.

schnoodlecopter
by posthumous

Comment:
Critique Club here...

I spent a good deal of time looking at this image trying to figure out what works a what doesn't work (for me).

Works: I am drawn to the gritty, harsh look of this. The hard light and crisp shadows give it kind of a edgy look. I think what I like best, and what creates the most tension in the picture is the disinterested dog.

Doesn't Work: The structure along the top is really distracting. There is no clear focal point for the viewer to hone in on to answer the question "what is the point of this image", but maybe that's not a bad thing either, if someone bothers to enter and look around. The main diagonal leads the eye right out of the image. I think if you flipped it horizontally that same diagonal would lead the eye into the image - just the way our brains work I guess.

I think this would be received better in a gallery than in a challenge like this where you have a but split second to either engage the viewer, or not. If I had voted in this challenge, I probably would have given this a 4 or 5. If I took the time to delve into it as I have now, a 6, maybe a 7.

TV heaven
by landon1013

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

A couple things stand out for me that I think hurt this image. I think the background is too busy with all the knobs and reflections. I think her pose is stiff and unnatural looking and I think you should have gotten rid of the stuff on the carpet. I realize it's artistic impression regarding the hard contrast of the lighting, but personally I don't care for it much. I would have liked it better with the shadows on her right side opened up. I also think there are too many body parts cut off by the crop. In general, you shouldn't crop at a joint and you've essentially done that in four places. It tends to create tension with the viewers.

If I voted in this challenge, I would have given this a 5.

I hope this was somewhat helpful, and maybe helps to explain the finish in this challenge.

Goals and Resolutions for the New Year
by George

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

You got great color in that morning sunrise. I think your own critique pretty much sums up my thoughts on this. In particular, the goal is very distracting because the eye isn't sure what the focus of the picture is. If it's the goal, the sun is too bright and pulls the eye right to it. If it's the Sun, the goal posts are extra stuff that just gets in the way.

I get what you were going for here, I just don't think this composition works very well.

Hope this is at least somewhat helpful.

Lesson of seduction : Feigning indifference
by keyz

Comment:
Greetings, Critique Club here...

Like the off centered composition and the crop. Some had issues with the harsh light, I don't and I consider it artistic license in this case. Black and white is a good choice as well.

I'm not keen on the lower part of the legs, the skin is a little "muddy" to me. I also think it would have benefited from some softening/blurring of the skin to reduce the effect of the hair/fuzz. I am not terribly fond of the way the crop cuts the hand on the right. Fairly minor.

I think this is a good image and I guess it's expected that you found a couple of antianythingresemblingnudity people here.

Hopefully this is somewhat helpful.

Anna's Sunrise
by slickwilly

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

This is going to be easy to critique as I don't see anything I would do differently. It's a gorgeous image! Excellent use of the foreground element to pull the eye into the image.

I guess the only question I would have would be why the vertical landscape? Maybe the lens wasn't wide enough to get both the foreground element and the mountain tops in frame? Of course the composition is a personal thing, I just find myself wanting to see more of of the landscape.

Well done, congrats.

Napoli-Via Santa Lucia
by Rino63

Comment:
Hi, Critique Club here...

Congratulations on a nice image. I really like it. I think the exposure is great and I love the low angle you chose. I think the fisheye distortion adds interest to the image as well as the taillight trails. The pattern in the cobblestones is also interesting to look at.

I'm not keen (as others have said) on the distorted pole on the left, it's a very powerful element that some will love, and some will hate. I think the difference in contrast and brightness tends to pull the eye away from looking deeper into the image. The leading lines down the street are great, just can't overcome the pole. My opinion is that the pole is what prevented this from being a 6.6 or better.

If I voted in this challenge I would have scored this a 7. I do not think this deserved the one or two votes it got.

I hope this is helpful.