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

Exceed speed limits
by clickodak

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An interesting image that meets the challenge well.

Ah, the things we have to do for our craft! Well done and thanks for enduring the hardships, your image is very well composed. I like that you have gone for the red light dominating the image with the bright headlights clearly an evident but insignificant element overall. Its also enabled you to get the road signs well illuminated. The tilt adds a quirky element to the overall result. All in all, a good effort, well done marcel.

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

• s w o r d p l a y •
by Ja-9

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An intriguing image that meets the challenge well.

Lovely colours against the black background it makes for a very effective abstract. I like the implied diagonal composition and the way the colours merge together with clear separate red and green sections.

I'm not really sure how you have done this, it looks like some sort of light painting with green and red lights, its the shapes that are the intriguing element, very interesting. Well done Janine.

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

Enchanted Arboretum
by Pangurban

Comment:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An interesting image that meets the challenge.

I'm intrigued by what you have done here. I assume the shot has been taken at night, and what a dark night it seems but the lighting is what is bugging me, there is no way I can conceive that you have illuminated this like this yourself, so I assume the lighting is as provided by the Arboretum themselves?

I have to agree with your commenter, given the softness throughout I think this probably camera shake. If you haven't used a remote control you could use the camera's self timer to overcome this problem.

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