Fiery
by DoMoreira

Comment:
Great lighting - emotional image - very well done. It would do very well in a challenge where it meets the theme.

When words fail...
by divernick

Comment:
When words fail ..... to meet the challenge rules.

Portrait
by Ninety

Comment:
This is a very intriguing image that would do well in a challenge where it was within the theme of the challenge. If there are words somewhere - they are so hidden they are not a part of the composition.

pink delicacy
by tropcho2003

Comment:
This is an excellent - stunning - photo, great colors, focus, composition. But it does not even try to to have words. Complete words.

Dark Flowers
by eostyles

Comment:
Very "Artsy" and moody! The way you handled the lighting is exceptionally welll done. On the down side, I'd personally like to see more of the cutoff green leaf on the right side and would also tone down the red in the top right corner.

Overall - very well done.

Atlantic Ocean
by Brooklynsbridge

Comment:
Hi Crystal and Greetings from the Critique Club

Atlantic Ocean is an excellent attempt of making a simple subject into an elegant photo. You've tried one of my favorite techniques - finding horizontal layers in nature. You have 5 distinct bands of color - creating a layering of colors. It's a great technique.

Sometimes, as we learn more and more about photography, we discover when to make images. At other times - we discover when NOT to attempt it. I'm afraid this is one of those times. Your shot was taken in terrible high-noon (or early afternoon) harsh lighting. No film or digitial process except maybe black and white can handle the number of f-stops required. Your highlights - the sun reflections on the water - are very over-exposed - and you've lost some detail in the waves as well.
I would bet if you went back to the same exact spot several hours later, you would be far more pleased with the result.

As others have noted - critics are sure to notice a tilted horizon - especially when there's a straight line involved like water or a flat field. The secret here is to use a tripod whenever you can, use grid lines in your viewfinder if you have them - and be extremely careful.

Even if you do end up with a crooked one, you can rotate and crop - even in DPC's basic editing scheme.

You may also want to try using a polarizer in shots like this to reduce some of the glare on the water and also pop out the white clouds from a blue sky. It works best when the sun is at a 90 degree angle to the film plane - but will also work at the angle here.

I suspect the reason it did not score as high as you'd like is that you entered it in the "extraordinary" challenge - which had a ton of great images. Not only that, the voters were really expecting to be totally "wowed".

So - keep shooting and sharing - you have a good eye and just need more experience. It should come quickly if you keep hangin' out here.

-Tom-

Edit for spelling....

Message edited by author 2004-07-13 23:23:16.

Splash of Colour
by SteveZ

Comment:
Hi Steve and Greetings from the Critique Club

You found an expecially nice scene for Splash of Color.

The four colors are well saturated in what appears to be a really overcast day. The gray boards of the dock really make the chairs pop right out. But even so - I think there may be a slight under exposure problem because the boat behind the chairs should probably be white instead of the gray it appears to be. But then again, if the boat were exposed "correctly" you would lose the great saturation of colors in the chairs.

Some other commenters left remarks that they thought the diagonal lines behind the chairs - the rope and the post were a bit distracting. I agree - the focus of the image needs to stay on the wondeful chairs - anything that draws attention away from them is unfortunate.

Perhaps you could have moved to the right and shot at a different angle to eliminate the diagonals. I can't tell what freedom you had to maneuver - but it also would work really well if you could have gotten quite a bit higher and shot more at a down angle.

As suggested you may also want to try cropping the image so that it is a long, narrow horizontal - removing the water and white edge of the dock in front and everything above the railing in back.

You really nailed the focus - the image is sharp as a tack - which adds a lot of overall impact.

I suspect the reason it did not score higher was the fact you entered it in the "extraordinary" challenge. That one had loads of top-noth entries - and the voters were really wanting to be wowed.

In any event - you obviously have a good eye and excellent technical skills. So - get out, shoot and keep on entering!

Smell The Flowers
by Spanish_Grease

Comment:
Incredibly sensual.

Cildhood Unbound
by Rooster

Comment:
It shouts freedom... and fun. White sky is unfortunate.

For Purple Mountains Magesty
by lilnukee

Comment:
Exceptional scene with great colors. The border does not help as it calls to much attention to itself.