Where's Lunch
by Ja-9

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An appealing image that barely meets the challenge brief

You have a nicely executed image of an appealing subject but your position in relation to it is only marginally above it simply due to your own height to it, in other words to meet the challenge I think you needed to be in an elevated position which is much more apparent than yours here. Perhaps your intention was to convey the birds position above its prey but I would suggest that the somewhat lower than deserved score reflects this aspect in relation to the challenge brief itself.

I find the image itself very appealing, the exposure is good, the composition is also good, the colours are good. I particularly like the reflections and the interesting detail in the water. The focus has the eyes nice and sharp and the shallow DOF isolates the bird nicely from the background and foreground, though a wide open aperture would have given a shallower DOF which would probably have improved the small section of background above his back.

Thank you for your submission, Sid

Red house in snow storm
by otto22

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

Superb image that meets the challenge well.

Congratulations on your ribbon for your excellent submission, I like everything about this image, the minimalist approach, the composition, the colour its all working well together. Perhaps the only minor criticisms I would have concern the darker ridge of trees(?) at the lower right and a wish that the foreground snow was pristine and undisturbed.

The lovely red of the house in it cold surroundings very cleverly conveys a warm and inviting feeling as succinctly put by one of your commenters. Talking of commenters your first comment has berated it for all the things that for me work so well, it just goes to show you can't please all the peopleâ€Â¦

Takk for the pleasure of critiquing such a gorgeous image, Sid

Ocypode quadrata
by CodeShark

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A cute subject that meets the challenge well.

What a lovely little crab, you've captured it nicely with a shallow DOF isolating him from the sand background, I disagree with one of your commenters, the eye looks in good sharp focus, exactly how it should be, the problem is that the detail on the shoe canvas competes. It's a shame his eye is obscured by sand it makes it feel rather painful!

What I don't like is that the shoe dominates the crab and the image as a whole, I feel there is a strong argument for a judicial crop close to the crab's leg, a square would probably work well, there is just too much shoe and too much distracting detail in it. I like that the crab forms a diagonal within the image it strengthens the composition.

Thanks for submitting, Sid

RAILING
by HUETH

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A fascinating abstract though not immediately obvious that it meets the challenge.

Because the subject is so abstract it is difficult to tell what we are looking at, so your title becomes essential in telling us. So now we know we are looking at a railing it could be taken at the same height as the railing as opposed to above so we have to take it at trust that the shot is above. This would have been a great shot for an abstract, bokeh or OOF challenge.

I do like the abstract nature of your image it is very effective, however, as you have already observed the top right is completely blown out so there is nothing you can do with it except crop it out. Towards that end I think a crop immediately below it would have given the shot a lot more impact with the focused area at the top of the frame but how well that would be interpreted in relation to the challenge theme is still in question.

It's quite a respectable score in respect of the comments I have made, thank you for an interesting submission, Sid

Fast Food.
by romil

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A colourful image that meets the challenge well.

Your viewpoint makes for an interesting contrast between the dark mysterious interior and the boldly coloured exterior forming a frame for the entire scene. The mystery is added to with the position of the napkins obscuring the mans face and the dim lighting that reluctantly reveals the ladies somewhat pensive face. The man's position within the space feels very dynamic, I especially like her position in the top corner.

The lighting is flat and the exposure is good creating a dimly lit interior that suits the subject well. It has been well appreciated here with a respectable score together with some very useful comments, I concur particularly with the comment from streetpigeon.

Thank you for an interesting submission, Sid

Man with a Camera
by johnbrennan

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A pleasing portrait that meets the challenge well.

Thank you for your quirky and helpful notes, you have correctly identified the technical aspects of your shot that would benefit from altered settings, ie., aperture priority and lower ISO etc., Having said that the end result is not significantly affected and is still a pleasing result that needs little improvement

Your composition is good with empty space for the camera to look into, the background is neutral without any distractions and the generally high key effect is complimentary to the white hair of your subject. To be honest apart from the altered settings there's not a lot else to add, well done, Sid

Forest fires
by clickodak

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A very intriguing image that meets the challenge.

As with the other submissions I've critiqued for this challenge, I have to begin by admitting that I am not familiar enough with JJBeguin's work to be able to comment with any authority, however, I will do my best. Your comments are a good guide as to his and your aims with your work, thank you.

I have to say that after the initial confusion which made me look harder and then to see and appreciate better the image itself, I like what I see, I find it quite fascinating. You have done well to find the scene and transform it the way you have. quite simple yet effective. I love the shapes and the reflections and the eventual giveaway of the upside down nature of what we're looking at. Your exposure is good, you have got the snow white without too much sacrifice of the water's highlights, though I detect a blue tint that might benefit from some white balance correction.

I like your composition it works very well indeed and so to do the people here, a very respectable score for a very respectable entry, well done Sid.

Flowers and Seaweed. Tough conditions !
by josaa

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A generally pleasing image that meets the challenge.

You’ve met the challenge well in your choice of scene which clearly shows the natural; surroundings in which the flowers are growing. Given your shooting aperture I would have expected there to be a sharp DOF including all the foreground elements but there is softness, perhaps this was your intention? If not, it suggests that the focus point was too far into the image possibly even the background rocks?

You have queried whether you should have used an ordinary lens as opposed to this macro lens, to be honest this is only relevant if you are actually using the macro facility itself but you are not here, you are too far away. The idea of the macro is to enable you to get 1:1 or larger images when you are very close to your subject.

With regard to saturating the greens, I think you've done a pretty good job, its so eaasy to get carried away and overdo it, but these look quite natural, so well done. One good thing about overcast light you can get some good saturation without harsh contrasts so whilst the lighting is flat it works well colours wise too.

Thank you for submitting an interesting image, Sid

Events at Seaside
by posthumous

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An action shot that may meet the challenge.

Without spending more time than I have exploring JJBeguin's images I have to admit that I am not familiar enough with his work to be able to judge your entry in the context of his work/the challenge brief, hence, I assume it meets the challenge. However, I do have the benefit of JJBeguin's comment who seems to approve so that's good enough for me!

As an image in its own right regardless of the challenge brief I do like the diagonal running through the image and I like that is mono and although it is intentionally high contrast there is still good detail throughout. What I am not so keen on is the focus which appears to be soft throughout which may be deliberate to meet the challenge brief? It would have more impact if the bird was flying towards us as opposed to away but again it may be deliberate? The overall composition is good.

I'm sorry your image doesn't appear to have been so well appreciated as you would have liked, perhaps that is an indication of how well, or otherwise, it fulfils the challenge brief? Anyway, thanks for your submission, Sid

Hot Lunch
by MAK

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A candid shot that appears to meet the challenge.

Without spending more time than I have exploring JJBeguin's images I have to admit that I am not familiar enough with his work to be able to judge your entry in the context of his work/the challenge brief, hence, I assume it meets the challenge. However, I do have the benefit of all your commenters who obviously approve and seem to agree that it is in his style.

For myself, I am here to give you my honest opinion, and as an image in its own right I am not very attracted to it. You describe it as a snap which is how it feels to me, a grab shot that could be improved upon. I'm not really sure I want to see someone eating their takeaway in public and two people in the soft background that are obviously an intentional part of the composition but for me they do not add to the story whatever that may be.

I'm sorry I can't appreciate your image as much as everyone else appears to but I am obviously in the minority and glad that others here appreciate it in the way you intended, well done, Sid.