Shoe
by CRoche

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An original approach that meets the challenge.

I like the originality of your entry I am confident its the only one of its type in this challenge. As one of your commenters has already remarked should the shore be more or less visible? So, let's explore both approaches, if you had made the show more visible then it would have more readily fitted in with the challenge theme and perhaps achieved a higher score, who knows. Completely invisible, well then it meets the challenge in an implied sort of way which may detract voters, however done well the red light would show up better and I think it has the greater potential.

This is where the image falls down a little in that the wavy red led outline has good definition on the sole it starts to fail on the uppers and is a complete near miss on the heel. I think if you could have defined the outline more consistently throughout you would have had a much stronger image.

I must commend you for your originality, keep those creative juices flowing, Sid

A L L • S T A R S
by Ja-9

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

Congratulations on your high placing for this appealing shot that meets the challenge well.

As has already been observed by your commenters this would a make good advertising stock image. You have chosen well in your choice of location and background, placing of the shoes, aperture and focus point, it all works very well together.

I like the whites, however, I feel it has been pushed a little too far, there is some overexposure and loss of detail, I think probably half a stop less would have retained the detail. It is not a major issue but to me it is evident and undesirable. There is a blueish tinge on the whites that would also benefit from some adjustment. I like the orange colour and worn nature of the road lines together with the textures, it adds a nice touch.

Well done Janine, Sid

Fired Up
by mrjssims

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An appealing image that meets the challenge well.

What I like most about your image is the crop it makes the image very appealing and so much more interesting than the bog standard 'chuck it in the middle' approach that is so often seen. However, what lets it down badly is what I suspect to be camera shake. I'm not sure what size your lens was but as you are probably already aware your shutter speed needs to be correspondingly higher as you go further up the telephoto range. There is no sharpness anywhere which has also been exacerbated by your cropping in on it, perhaps at original resolution you may have got away with it, but it is plainly evident here I'm afraid.

It is essential to meet this challenge that you caught the flame in a very obvious sort of way and this you have achieved, well done. The sky is a very vivid blue I think it would benefit from being toned a little, it is quite overpowering as it is.

It's a shame that it wasn't sharper it would have scored higher but thanks for submitting, Sid.

sunshine strolling
by sidpixel

Comment:
I would have liked to have this critiqued by another member but alas, it was not to be...

The Camera Constellation
by disassociation

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An interesting image that meets the challenge well.

You have some interesting shapes and reflections in the globules also with an interesting variation of DOF. Although you have used a small aperture you seem to have a surprisingly shallow DOF. I also like the colours and its variations too.

I'm a bit unsure about the top globule it doesn't quite seem to have the same reflective qualities that the main one does and detracts a little from the end result, I think it may improve it if it were cropped to a smaller size. I do like the large background reflection and colours I think it adds well to the overall result.

A very interesting submission, thanks, Sid

Olive oil
by clickodak

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

Congratulations for your high finish with this very effective studio setup that meets the challenge very well.

I love your carefully thought out setup and attention to detail and forethought that must have gone into it, the end result with the flowing oil is excellent. I like the shapes and the clarity and the way your oil flows onto each of the olives in turn. What I am enjoying the most is all of the fascinating reflections they are a delight. I also like the feint shadows that are giving the background an appealing gradient that adds weight to the image as a whole.

There's nothing I don't like and nothing I can add that would improve your excellent result, well done, Sid

Companions
by CRoche

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An interesting still life that meets the challenge.

You have fulfilled the challenge brief with your oil in the dish and yes, you should have listened to she who is wiser and swirled it round to make it more attractive. The thing that lets the shot down the most is the softness, where it should be sharpest, the liquid looks sharp but not as sharp as it could be. I think you should have used a smaller aperture to extend your DOF to include the bread, as it is it forms a major part of the scene but is completely out of focus. Your shutter speed is very slow due to the low lighting so I am assuming you used a tripod and this may be where the problem lies, if you did not have a remote release as soon as you press the shutter release you will introduce camera shake which is what I think the underlying problems is.

I like your composition it is very enticing having made some of your commenters hungry so to that end its worked well. I am undecided about the lighting, its nice that it makes it feel more warming but the same light has turned one of your slices into toast! It has also cast some rather strong shadows that don't really add to the overall impact.

Thank you for your submission and good luck with your future entries, Sid

Dancing night
by tigerluong

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An interesting shot in difficult lighting.

I like the intimate moment you have captured that conveys a lovely warm and inviting atmosphere where the people are all enjoying themselves. I'm not sure if the people in the background add that much but they are sufficiently out of focus for it not to be an issue.

Although the exposure is generally dark I think you have done the right thing to anonymise the couple through silhouettes but capture the bright colours of the lighting. Your composition is generally good in terms of the lighting itself but it has made the couple a little too central for my liking. Perhaps if the radiating light in the background had been moved a little higher and further right it might have improved the overall composition. The light pattern on the floor is essential and works well. Your focus on the couple is good too.

I like your image and feel that it was undervalued here, anyway, good luck with your future entries, Sid.

Icy view
by otto22

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An excellent landscape entered into FS

Congratulations on your high placing for yet another excellent Aurora image. The Aurora is a lovely shape and colour which has probably been enhanced by the fisheye lens you have used. That same fisheye may have also distorted the figure a little in that he appears to be leaning in the way that is to be expected from such a lens but its not so bad that its detrimental. Your placement of the figure tells us that this is thick ice not water or else he's only the second person to be able to walk on water!

Your exposure is good with good detail throughout the image. Probably the only thing that I can say is that I feel a little frustrated that I can't see more of the reflections of the rest of the Aurora in the ice but your 14mm has already managed to squeeze a lot more in the frame than we could normally expect so I reckon I'll have to live with that.

Another lovely image Otto, well done, Sid

bouquetoftulips
by sharw007

Comment:
Well, it would appear that this user has cancelled their account so any comments I can make will not reach the user anyway. If you are that user and you should see this comment on your entry, welcome back and please make contact and I will be happy to offer you my thoughts on your submission.