Anxious
by Pedro

Comment:
The lens selection here is great to enhance the mood. Very good.

Did someone say study?
by jadkpics

Comment:
Adoringly cute and captured to perfection.

Martini Lounge
by debitipton

Comment:
An image that lingers. Very well done.

Happy birthday Honey!
by InnaN

Comment:
Greetings from the critique club:

First you get credit for the different take on the challenge. These images are very difficult to pull off however, a 5.8 places the effort above the average and one that was understood by the viewers. The selection of the props and their respective colors, such as shirt, tie and earring case all work well. Yet, our object is to produce an image that will exceed this good effort. The framing is good because it adds interest and keeping the face out aids in the general concept. Personally, I would have used a lighter tint for the lipstick or at least less pronounced. This is important because the image is so close in one's face that the eyes will search the telltale. As is, it is so pronounced that it hits the viewer at once. So well defined that the recipient would wack the giver across the mug.

The inclusion of the thumb would have added a needed touch so as to remove a desired item or to prevent the viewer from simply becoming hung up by looking at the bottom of the frame. A bit less saturation would remove the deep tones in the hand. Another important consideration is the following and is one I would have explored. The hand a little higher and more extended with a shallow dof and dead focus on the hands. Now, the shirt and chin would be slightly out of focus. This puts the hand right in the face of the viewer and will increase the wow factor, that is a razorsharp hand with the real story behind in the fuzzy background. To focus on the lipstick works, but you are leading the viewer too quickly.

Outside of this, I believe you did a wonderful job and all you need do is pay special attention to everything that you frame. I also suggest making extra takes with different focus, lighting etc. Good luck.

Aces up...........
by coraanne

Comment:
Greetings: from the critique club:

Okay, the presentation or the visual impact is good because the hand position and the card fan is nice. Here you selected to go with the selective desat. The effect works well because it imparts the higher importance to the cards. The major drawback is the cheating attempt. Too much card exposed so the furtive element is missing. As a matter of fact it looks blatant. A better place for the Ace would have been down around the wrist and just peeking from the shadow area. Another consideration is to palm the Ace with your right hand and then cup the hand and bring it near the card fan. However, my object here is not to show you how to cheat but to discuss the merit of your image as a whole.

While the presentation is good I would forego the tonal framing because it takes away from the impact. The lighting is acceptable but a dark cloth on the table would really lift this image above and beyond its visual appeal. To make it work as is required softer lighting and a slightly different angle, but that would be a another image. This is not to downplay your image as is. It does speak.

I think, insofar as this challenge is concerned, you did all you can. The big danger was selecting cards. They are all over the place. You seem to have an awareness of what is required to make a good image and my suiggestion is to follow your instincts and then to play around with lighting. Even clamp lights will help. You want your images to be different and it just takes a little more work and I am sure you can do it.

Put Your Teeth In Dear
by macrothing

Comment:
Very funny and very well presented.

By Design
by macrothing

Comment:
You certainly have an eye to capture the beauty in the subject.

Mrs Misumena
by macrothing

Comment:
A wonderful composition with great use of light to give it that semi transparant look which gives the image its great strength. Very good work.

Glowing
by macrothing

Comment:
This is quite a sensitive and lovely capture with a truly pleasant feel. The colors are just great.

Samoa Pulp Mill
by bryanbrazil

Comment:
A lovely time exposure with a steady visual splendor. Bumping up.