10 Lost Sailors
by ingib

Comment:
test

10 Lost Sailors
by ingib

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi Ingibergur,

Firstly, congratulations on a well deserved top 20 finish. I have looked at your portfolio and you have some excellent work there.

You scored very well in this challenge but interestingly did not get a huge number of comments. DrAchoo has posted some useful feedback in that the sky and weed are the 'weak' areas of the photo. It also seems to be a little oversharpened IMO.

The conversion to black and white was a good choice for this subject and the evocative image works well and tells a story. Interesting that Pano points out that this would have worked for the perspective challenge. I see that you did enter something similar for that (so congratulations on capitialising on the location) I actually like your perspective entry a little more than this one, perhaps because of your excellent application of toning which adds a little to the shot.

Overall this is a great shot. Nicely seen and executed with only small potential areas for improvement. Excellent work, I look forward to seeing more of your photos in the future.

Regards Chris

NOTE:
It is possible to uncheck the critique option at any time during and after voting. You may find that you receive sufficient feedback through comments and your score that you may feel that you no longer require detailed critique.

Childhood Memories
by snackwells

Comment:
Congratulations on the top 10. Well deserved.

D-I-S-C-O-N-N-E-C-T-E-D
by kjennings

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club.

Hi Kevin,
Firstly, congratulations on the high score and 42nd place. This challenge had some strong and high scoring entries. More importantly three people so far have marked this picture as a favourite which is a strong endorsement. Great work.

Now, down to the business of critique....
Well I think you have done exceptionally well in coming up with something different. These 'open' challenges cry out for a different concept, idea or style. You have excelled in this and created something special.

You achieved a high number of comments (again, the sign of hitting a sweet spot with the voters) there are some useful comments and points for improvement.

The border adds to the photo (which they so often do not) I like the way that you have achieved the vignette look with careful lighting, very creative and it really 'makes' the image for me.

The Yellow centre is a little burnt out and the overall appearance is that this is not pin sharp, but the sharpness is not a problem IMO. The image works fine as is.

As for the optical illusion that you have created, I must admit I'm not a fan. Perhaps this is because my eyes are tired from a day at work, but I found looking at the image difficult. Obviously some voters loved this effect and commented their thoughts. Either way interesting.

I have looked at your portfolio and am impressed by the style and diversity of your pictures. I think that you will continue to have success on this site and will get some high scoring entries in the coming months. I look forward to seeing more of your excellent and imaginitive work. This is what DPC is about.

Regards

Chris

As the dancers to the end of the dance
by Rino63

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club

Hi Gennaro, This is a nice capture and good entry into this challenge. You have done well to capture a sharp and well exposed image.

I think the main criticism of this photo is the pose of the insect. It gives the impression of a 'grab' shot. There have been many photos of 'bugs' over the months on this site and I think that voters will vote down on anything not perfectly poised.

The central composition does not work particulalrly well in this instance and as 'atupdate' mentions the green areas to the side are a little distracting.

I have tried and failed to capture these insects myself and understand the difficulties. You obviously have strong technical ability and you have spent time to write an interesting and imaginative title. I suggest re-visiting the area and trying some more shots of this subject. As I'm sure that you will manage some spectacular photos. I look forward to seeing more of your work

Kind regards

Chris

Blue Fractal
by andrerusso

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club...

Hi Andre,
This is a very nice abstract, I have tried similar photos myself and appreciate how hard it can be to get a composition that works and to effect suitable lighting. The exposure is spot on and technically the image is excellent.

You received some mixed feedback from the voters and your overall score reflects this. I agree with the comments that with a photo such as this would have been better posted at full-size 640 pixels.

Overall I actually like this a lot although my main criticism would be that the image lacks a focal point. The viewers ete is left wandering around the scene. This has merit as it can give an unsettling feel to a photo but in a challenge such as this with voters spending seconds on each image it doesn't quite work.

Nice work and good idea though.

Regards

Chris

nooooooo!!!
by Simpa

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club..

Hi Pierre-André

I actually quite like this picture, it meets the challenge and unlike a number of entries does not require an explanation in the title. Nice work.

There have been some useful (and some not so!) comments from voters. The main rub being that the photo seems to be OOF (out of focus) I think it is actually motion blur (looking at the 1/8 second exposure) and reading that this was taken in the light from headlights.

If there is one thing (other than not meeting a challenge) that will kill a score it is OOF. Voters do not spend enough time on each picture to pick up subtle differences between focus and motion. Although Yontally picked up on this and has a good point... either much more movement or non at all.

The foot is quite central and does not meet the usual rule of thirds composition rules but it doesn't need to. The foot and crack are central to the theme and central in the composition. Perfect (IMO)

I guess that this doesn't quite have the WOW factor to differentiate it although Kudos for shooting 'on location and improvising light. You have done very well considering the challenges involved!

Keep up the good work, your creativity and ideas are excellent and I confidently predict some high scores in your future. I looked at your portfolio and really liked your 'Hands' entry which unfortunately got a DQ.

Regards

Chris

last autograph
by Simpa

Comment:
It is an Excellent picture, one of your best. Too bad you received a DQ. I like the vignetting effect that you have used.

summer
by ursula

Comment:
Very, Very good. Inspirational photo. I expect a lot of people to go and try a similar composition. I certianly will. congrats on a well deserved blue!

Discarded ...
by kari1

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club...

Hi Kari, This is a very nice photo and a good choice for the challenge. I think that you recognised the need to submit something a bit different and you have done very well. It is good to try and tell a story with your photo, leaving the viewer wondering why this rose has been left in the water.

A photographer once told me that if you take a picture (or rather line a picture up in your viewfinder) you should only take the shot if you can think of a title for it. i.e. If the picture has nothing to say, don't take it at all. Interesting advice. (Personally I still snap away like a terrapin on speed, but I keep telling myself that this is all part of learning what the camera can do..)

Tecnically this is a good shot also but I would suggest that a greater angle of the rose might have helped (as per digitalknights suggestion) To me also the leaf at the back is a slight distraction as it looks at an unnatural angle.

The only other thing that maybe could be improved is the reflection of the water itself. I am not 100% sure I like the look of it (not sure why) Have you tried using a polarizing filter over your lens (is this possible on a DMC-FZ30?) this would help reduce the glare and darken the water. IMO this migh make for a stronger background.

Overall a great photo. I think the sharpness and saturation work very well and are in keeping with the title.

Chris