The Scottish Way
by Pangurban

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An image that contributes to the challenge

Your portrait fulfils the challenge brief in that it has been taken in natural light, there are however, a few things that I may suggest as potential improvements. There is a lot of distracting background that competes with the main subject as a result of the chosen aperture which has given you too much DOF. Most good portraits isolate the model from the background through use of (often) maximum aperture, sufficient distance between the subject and the background and by moving in closer to also reduce DOF. The composition is very central, use of thirds would greatly improve impact and also use of landscape orientation would enable you to make more use of the scene to add impact to the end result. I can see that you would want to include his kilt so a cropped composition just above the hem line and just above his head with landscape orientation with him to the left hrizontal third would have greatly improved the impact. Hope this helps a little Ellie, keep at it...

Still can't levitate or sparklefart...*sigh*
by snaffles

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

A fun image that contributes well to the challenge

Oh Susan, you can't levitate or sparklefart? I thought everyone could do that… A great image most amusing, I like the way you've included Alisha from behind, and your envious look up towards Meghann and her self-propelled flight of delight. Keep at it you'll soon be sparkling with the best of 'em...

Iced Gems
by Pangurban

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An image that contributes to the challenge

The way the ice encapsulates the leaves like this is amazing sin't it, I recall a similar experience in Iceland some years ago. To be honest, I think there is rather too much going on here, there is no focal point, I think you would have been better to isolate a smaller part of the image in a macro to emphasis that encapsulation. Also, you remark about your ISO but to be honest with such a small aperture you couldn't have gone too much lower anyway. I always try to avoid using such small apertures to avoid the high ISOs compensation necessary to produce a shake-free image.

Fireworks
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An image that contributes to the challenge well

Nice one Marcel, I like it. My first words as I was scrolling down the image “oh, I like that”, this is a lovely abstract and very fitting for the challenge. Your composition is good using the corner to anchor the cascades of the flower and yes, I can see your 'fireworks' connection. I also like the lighting and the processing, it all hangs together well. Good seeing and execution Marcel, well done.

A morning at -27 degree Celsius
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An image that contributes to the challenge

Ah, the things that have to be done for the sake of our art! It is perhaps understandable given the freezing conditions, that you didn't make more of the scene in front of you even though it is, to be honest, quite an uninspiring vista you have chosen. This country scene is having to do battle with the man-made horizon of the distant city on the left. So, I think a square crop of the right just to the left of the twin trunks makes for a more harmonious image. The other big problem is the lack of contrast, it lacks the impact that could have revitalised it to some extent with whiter snow and darker tree and grasses. If you were to use such a crop the distant vertical structure would need removing too. Never mind Marcel better luck next time...

w i n d s • o f • w i n t e r
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

This is a very appealing panorama Janine. Its only when you realise that the mid foreground is actually miniature trees that the grand scale of this vast landscape becomes apparent. The ruggedness of the mountains adds to the grandeur and the sky adds the final touch. Your composition is absolutely appropriate for this magnificent scene, well done Janine

Winter Quiet
by Coley

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

I agree Cole the curve of the fence is appealing and effective. I also like the complementary nature of the tree to the right with its sympathetic bend and the way its branches frame the otherwise uninteresting sky. You also have a good depth of field with appropriate sharpness and detail from the foreground to the distant trees. The snow is nice and white but it is difficult to tell from the lack of detail whether in fact it may just be slightly overexposed? Anyway, it all works well.

The Forbidden City in Beijing built in mini Lego Block
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

This certainly fits the challenge brief well Marcel. Your commenters have already identified the main problem with it being the shallow DOF, obviously a smaller aperture would have enabled you to get all of the building in focus. However, given the inclusion of what looks like Big Ben in the background this is obviously out of place for the nature of the subject, because of that I would identify the real problem as your focus point. Had you focussed to get all the frontal features sharp it would have rendered the background detail softer and stood our more this would have given it a lot more impact.

Little Man
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

This is a lovely portrait Janine, I like the pose and the crop they are both very appealing. However, I feel it is somewhat overexposed, there is loss of detail in his clothing, but his face which is obviously the most important aspect of the image feels too light and flat, I feel it would definitely benefit from less exposure. I do like your original approach it gives the image more impact.

Juvenile Tricolored 002
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

A great perspective Ronnie, the nice low shot enhances the feeling of being there with the bird. The lovely colours and feather detail add a significant impact to this lovely bird and the image as a whole. As we have come to expect from your images it is up to your usual high standards, well done