Niagara's Horseshoe Falls
by aliqui

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A popular scene that adds a good contribution to the open challenge.

I am amazed at how much critical feedback you have received here, I assume you have asked for these contributions. Anyway, they make some interesting observations but one in particular is, I feel, unduly brutal. I will try and give you my independent honest opinion regardless of your other commenters.

My initial reaction is that I don't see a great deal wrong with this per se. Given the lens you have used you have a more restricted view than a wider angle lens would have given you and so you are a little more limited in your options. I get a feel of the power of the water and can imagine the sound and the damp from the mist. That has to be the most important element of such an image and for me, it succeeds, so well done. Perhaps tilting the camera down a little to include more water instead of sky is a possibility?

I like the detail in the building and again given your viewpoint and lens you either include it exactly as you have, or you crop it out, in which case you would also crop the top of the cliff edge over which the water is roaring, definitely not desirable, so well done again. For me the building adds interest, it looks as though it may well be a hydro power station?

The colours and detail are good throughout, there are no blown highlights which would have been easy with this sort of exposure. The autumnal colours tell us the season, the colour and detail of the water is excellent. I wonder if your denoise was necessary given your low ISO? I like the generally muted colours as opposed to HDR overkill that is so often seen here.

Its unfortunate it didn't score higher, I gave it a 7 at the time and would still give it the same score. Apologies for the late critique, but as they say, better late than never, Sid

City after rain
by tigerluong

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A flawed cityscape that makes a mediocre contribution to the open challenge.

The first thing that hits me with your image is that it is tilted and it is tilted to an extent that is evident as a fault rather than a deliberate exaggerated enhancement. If you wanted to use the technique you would use a much more obvious slant that introduces a nother element to the image. The title is also ill-fitted unless we are to believe that all the water we see here is a result of phenomenally heavy rain fall!

The sky is not adding a lot to the image and would benefit from cropping but there are also artefacts throughout particularly noticeable around the buildings. I think more emphasis on the foreground as opposed to the sky would have been better. The reds prove what a dominant colour it is in this near monotones the reds are all very strong and vibrant, I am assuming you didn't saturate the reds specifically?

I think a little more attention to important detail would have helped you here, good luck with your future entries. Apologies for the late critique, but as they say, better late than never, Sid

Nightlife downtown
by clickodak

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An excellent night cityscape that contributes well to this open challenge.

The detail throughout is excellent, there is certainly plenty to grab your attention and therein lies a problem in that there is not one specific focus point but several equally competing for attention.

That is one good steady tripod you have there! The DOF and clarity of detail is a key element of your image and by taking the shot on a dark night as you have we can even pick out detail in individual windows. It has created a kaleidoscope of bright sharp detail that is a pleasure to observe, well done Marcel.

Apologies for the late critique, but as they say, better late than never, Sid

Daybreak
by Adz

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A very appealing landscape that is a significant contribution to this open challenge.

Your image is all about light. By using this gorgeous soft morning light it has enabled you to bring out many important details that would be lost very soon after you took this. The receding hills add a lovely background to the foreground which has lovely shadows and lots of interest.

You have good DOF throughout thanks to the small aperture you have selected. Although I'm sure the ISO will not have any impact on your image in this situation I would have used the lowest ISO and a longer shutter speed with a tripod so, for example, ISO 100 which would have given you about 1/60s. I think I would have excluded the blown out sun completely, it doesn't have a major impact on the composition and is much more fitting with the lovely tones throughout the rest.

Apologies for the late critique, but as they say, better late than never. Thank you for your exquisite entry, its a shame you have become so inactive, I hope we see you back again very soon, Sid

Stranded in Byzantium
by posthumous

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A moment in time that fits the challenge.

Your image has the feel of a grab shot emphasised by the use of the tilt and therefore meets this quite open challenge. I feel I want to like this image but I'm not finding it easy, probably due to the tilt.

It must have been a very difficult exposure with such contrasts between the two halves, your PP corrections have rescued it to a large extent. I do like the pastel type effect in the brighter left half and the person under the shaded right has an intriguing feel to it. It's obvious that you intended it to have this tilt, I like that it is so extreme as to not be confused for a technical error but for me it just doesn't work. I think perhaps it may help to have cropped excluding the portion of pillar on the left, and waited for the shadow to have gone?

Thanks for your submission, Sid

Happiness is... being the center of Mom's attention!
by Catherine_B

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*
A very competent animal portrait that partially meets the challenge.

You have isolated the cat nicely from the background with, presumably maximum aperture for the focal length giving a pleasing result. Whether this is enough to fulfil the challenge brief in full is a separate issue, personally I wouldn't say I see happy or feel happier as a result. No doubt he is a lot happier than he was as a result of your loving care but I have the benefit of your comments to determine that, the voters would not.

Your focus is good and sharp on the eyes and the lighting is good with good detail throughout. I do find the material on which he is sat very competitive for my attention it keeps drawing me away from the cat which is obviously not what you want. Overall its a very good portrait.

Apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, better late than never, Sid

t h e • w a t c h e r
by Ja-9

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An excellent cityscape that contributes well to the open challenge

A great choice of viewpoint and title, the dominant placement of the gargoyle transforms the image from a straightforward landscape into something much more interesting, it brings it alive.

The lighting though dull is conducive to a good even exposure, there is plenty of good detail throughout. The one thing I don't like is the sharpening halo around the gargoyle which is a shame as it is such a crucial element of the image.

Apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, better late than never, Sid

life's journey begins
by sidpixel

Comment:
Another allocation of my own image to critique.

I would welcome any critique from anyone else who happens upon this please...

Valley Orchard
by photokop

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An appealing image hat partially meets the challenge.

To clarify my position, I think your image has an element of Ansel Adams hallmark in that it features the wide open landscape but as some of your commenters have expressed it doesn't have the clarity of detail that you would associate with him.

Your composition has some good elements for example, I like your placement of the wagon, but I'm not sure about the pole bottom right. I like the light on the foreground bushes and I like your range of tones throughout. In general the scene as a whole is somewhat under impressive and lacks the impact that has Ansel Adams stamped upon it.

Apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, better late than never, Sid

Statutue 2
by headlesspiderman

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An interesting image that probably does not meet the challenge.

Since the challenge brief is to let your partner know what you want for Christmas, we are made to believe that this statue is want you wanted for Christmas? I would be surprised if that was your actual wish? I would imagine your low score is confirmation of a similar reaction from your voters

The original image is appealing, you have a nice composition with good exposure and detail. I have to be honest and say that I am not a fan of most of the special effect filters and would have preferred to see it without.

Apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, better late than never, Sid