An old house comes to live
by Bennih

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An excellent image that contributes well to the open challenge

What a great idea and what great execution, this is a wonderful image well deserved of its high score and high placing. It's excellent that you've got them all looking in the same direction at the same time, all eagerly seeking something though what we know not but the true excellence that really makes the image superb is the bloke in the basement smiling direct at the camera, he's fooled the lot of 'em! Wonderful! I love the derelict nature of the house itself but rather wish I could see a little more of the superb backdrop of its location. The only thing I can think of to improve this is the title itself you could have helped the viewer with some reference to what they're all looking for, for example, the fisherman's return or something that refers to his guile in deceiving them all.

Anyway, an excellent entry Benedikt, thank you for amusing and delighting us all here,

Sunset at the Pike
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

You've managed to capture good detail throughout your image through the use of HDR to avoid the limitations of the camera's dynamic range. The composition is good with the obelisk off-centre and room for the lovely wide open landscape surrounding it. The grass has taken on a scarlet swathe that reflects the sun's rays but feels somewhat overdone, I think it would benefit from a little easing back on the saturation. Also, the sharpening has left halos throughout the horizon most noticeable towards the edges. Thanks for your entry Eugene

Elk River Rider
by Tupelo

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An excellent image that contributes well to the open challenge

Welcome to DPC! And what a good start with your virgin entry, its nicely composed and captures the essence of the moment well. Your DOF is good giving sufficient clarity for where he's headed with just a little softness in the background or should I say his foreground which isolates him well, the reflections are good with nice ripples. The 'decisive moment' has also been well timed at the end of his paddle stroke. The only concern I do have is with those ripples the highlights are blown, perhaps a stop of minus exposure compensation would have helped to preserve some detail here.

Thank you Tammie for your great contribution to the challenge and DPC and I look forward to seeing more from you soon.

Climbing Competition
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An excellent image that contributes well to the challenge

A great action shot that captures the challenge of the climb well, in terms of the challenge brief he is in a difficult position though I think perhaps you could have given him a bit more of a tilt to enhance the effect more and to more closely fulfil the challenge brief. I like your composition though I wish we could see your son's face but the clever inclusion of the other climber to a degree alleviates this by showing the intense concentration needed to negotiate the wall. You must be well proud of his achievement, well done to both of you.

Golden Eye
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An excellent image that contributes well to the open challenge

Wow! That must have been some moment when he surfaced so close to you, I don't know how much time you had but well done for getting such a good shot quickly. Your technical settings are just right with adequate DOF, low ISO and fast enough shutter speed and your focus is spot on, all in all a great shot. The reflections are gorgeous and the greens of the water are superb. I know this is the open challenge and there must be some good stuff for this to end up at 19 but you do have a respectable score, well done Ronnie.

Brexit
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge very well.

A great action portrait, great focus and DOF from this wide open fast lens, great composition and no mistaking the fact that he is returning through a customs control somewhere over here. I like it that he is not looking at the camera but the only minor problem is the direction of his gaze, he takes you out of the frame but being the enigmatic persona that he is he engages you more than an anonymous character would have done. In terms of the challenge brief, I didn̢۪t realise that DPC was the driving force behind the result, thanks for enlightening me Eugene.

The Last Flight
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge very well.

Congratulations on your HM placing, very well deserved. This is a lovely image, very well executed and set up, the moody atmosphere is enhanced by the empty dark space around her. The lighting from the window picks out her eyes very attractively and your accurate focus enhances that too. I like the way the lighting is picking out her necklace. Personally I would love to see the rest of her face but alternatively you could say that adds to the mystery of the shot. A great entry Eugene, well done.

The Dark Side
by jbirkman

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge.

I think it would take more than that message inscribed to tempt anyone into actually eating it! The rotten fruit has some lovely textures that you have captured well through your considered lighting, it works well. The message adds some additional interest to the image. Technically you have handled the exposure and lighting well. Thanks for your entry Joe

Hitman
by snaffles

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge very well

Scary or what?!? That must be where I̢۪m going wrong, perhaps I should get myself a chain! A great high contrast image Susan with all the malevolent atmosphere of film noir, it̢۪s a great action capture. The very high contrast hides as much as it reveals, the identity is hidden but the intent is clear, it works very well. The voters obviously liked it too, a very respectable score and placing, well done Susan, just make sure you hide the chain away from him!

Resilience
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge well

You have chosen a good high viewpoint to look down on the scene of which the church forms an important and interesting part. It is nicely composed with the church standing out in its foreground position against the busy backdrop of high rise buildings. I am intrigued by your title of ‘resilience’, for me it is more symbolic of the reduced significance of the church in modern society which is reflected in the dominance of the buildings around it. Even the crane waiting to construct the next high-rise is taller than the church even with perspective, in earlier history the tallest building in the community was the church, here it is reversed. This might not be the interpretation you intended but it still works for me, well seen Marcel.