The Steep Steps
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that meets the challenge well

I like your image a lot, in fact, its probably the way I would have shot it myself. The thing that brings it alive is the inclusion of the figure at the top of the stairs, such an essential ingredient to complete the effect. I really like the foreground cobbles and the way the stairs lead us up to the figure. I am not so keen on the heavy vignetting, I think I might have preferred to see the original with less emphasis but all in all an excellent entry Eugene, thanks.

The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

A fascinating image that intrigues and leaves you asking questions whose answers are so unexpected. What an unusual lens you have there, certainly a great plaything that with careful use could enable you to create some unique images such as you have here. The colours and shapes in the background are really quite magical. It's a shame about the bright light to her left rear, it overpowers the beautiful rest of the frame. I'm sure you will have lots of experimentation lined up for this, I look forward to seeing the results, happy shooting Eugene

Just like Mama
by Bennih

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

You have done your own critique for me Bennidikt, I agree, the young bird at the front is out of focus but it is still a fun image. It's a shame because the way the youngster is not only mimicking its parent it is doing it in such a way that doesn't even need to look at the other bird, its a bit like synchronised swimming, perhaps they ought to put in an appearance at Rio! Obviously it would have fared better for the obvious reasons as stated but it really is an adorable image, well seen. And keep making such valuable contributions here.

Sunset Cove
by darnok

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

A lovely dusk seascape with the sun slowly sinking in the background. Your composition and exposure is good with a sufficiently but not too slow shutter speed to capture a fell of motion in the water without going to the extremes of slowness that are all the rage nowadays. Whilst it is pleasing I think it would be nice to have a focus point of a ship or a bird or something to add another dynamic to the overall quality of the scene. Thanks for your entry Konrad

Impending Storm
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

A great sky that you've done well to bring out the lovely detail without blowing the highlights. The sliver of foreground serves well as an interesting base that has plenty to keep our interest until we inevitably look up to that fascinating sky whose textures and variety of colours are really quite captivating. A great exposure and composition well done and thanks for your entry Janine

Building Architectural Contrast
by clickodak

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

It's that church again! Very different from the previous composition but again emphasising the proximity of its overwhelming neighbours. I quite like your composition it works to a degree but I'm imagining myself in the same situation and I can see potential there to emphasise the overwhelming size of the big building to the left. Using the church's reflection either together with the church or even completely excluding the church itself concentrating on the reflection and building alone, I don't know if you could get yourself in a position to be able to achieve that? It may well be that you are restricted in the position you can get to but their does seem some untapped potential there still. Thanks for your entry Marcel

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
by RulerZigzag

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

A good frontal bird study that captures his profile well though his eye just seems a tad on the soft side, the feathers under his beak appear sharper than those in the vicinity of his eye just a slight bringing forward of the focus would have sharpened the eye just enough to give it that bit more impact. I feel the exposure is also ever so slightly a little on the bright side just easing back a fraction would have improved it to add to the impact. Overall, a great image Tony so very near, thanks for your entry

Lava fields
by Gudjonotto

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the open challenge

Yet another lovely landscape from this wonderful part of the world. An appealing composition featuring the pool in the top of the, presumably extinct, volcano together with the laval rocks evokes a sense of other worldliness. The rich ruby red skies with their softened reflections adds to the overall effect. Thanks for your entry Otto

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