Bridge Over an Icy Creek
by bdshort

Comment:
Really nice shot, looks like it could have been just a bit brighter.

Trouble In Paradise
by GeneralE

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Interesting composition, beautiful shot, color could be either more or less saturated.

Composition/ Content
The biggest thing I notice is the fact that the shot is very "middle ground" on the color scale. It is almost grayscale or black and white. It seems that either more color or a true B & W may have worked better. I like the way the flowers complement the razor wire, good eye there to see it.

Background
Once again, the color thing. A blue sky would have been so nice here in the background. A true B & W wouldn't have made it necessary.

Camera Work - Technical
Focus seems excellent especially on the wire. The wire does feel like it is moving down a bit to the right but I think that is actually the barbed wire under it. A tough decision there.

Digital Processing - Technical
The only things I might have changed is to possibly crop it up just a little on the bottom, and I would have used a darker border. Just my opinion.

Fits The Challenge
Fits the challenge but a bit of a stretch. I think the flowers kind of overpower the wire with a "Good over Evil" kind of message and that probably hurt your score some.

My Opinion On The Photo
I originally scored this shot a seven which is on the high side of your scores. I think that it meets the challenge but could understand how everyone didn't get it. Good job, and keep up the good work.


I would be happy to talk further about this shot if you would like to contact me.
DougPaz

Praying for Help
by Corey

Comment:
Corey, Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Beautiful church, meets the challenge, I like the Sepia feel.

Composition/ Content
I like this shot a lot. The way the light is hitting the person in the rear of the church is great although I'm not sure that didn't hurt your score as the light almost shows the opposite of despair. I like the framing too.

Background
The way the back wall is lit is excellent but once again takes away from the person which is really the focal point for this challenge.

Camera Work - Technical
Focus seems good and contrast is excellent for the difference in light and shadow you have here. I don't know whether you made it Sepia in camera or in Post Processing but it is the right choice especially for the challenge.

Digital Processing - Technical
Everything seems good.

Fits The Challenge
If there was more of a focus on the person, perhaps closer showing grief or praying, I think this would have done better.

My Opinion On The Photo
I originally scored this shot a seven. I think that it meets the challenge well but can see why everyone wouldn't think so. Good job, and keep up the good work.


I would be happy to talk further about this shot if you would like to contact me.
DougPaz

Waiting for Monsoon...
by snowleopard10101

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Interesting shot, a bit of a stretch to meet the challenge, leaning a bit to the left.

Composition/ Content
Everything in the shot seems to be leaning to the lower left. I don't know if your camera was a little crooked or if this was a hill but even the lion looks like it is leaning a little. The lion is really dead center in the shot as well. It may have worked a little better if she was higher or lower.

Background
I don't think you had a lot of choice here. Next time ask the lion to get up and move against a dark background!! LOL

Camera Work - Technical
Focus seems good but not real sharp and contrast is pretty good for the difference in light and shadow you have here. I mentioned the camera tilt earlier.

Digital Processing - Technical
You may have tried upping the saturation just a little here. It is probably pretty close to real color but a little bump would have made it more vibrant.

Fits The Challenge
I feel that the think that hurt your score the most was not really feeling great despair here.

My Opinion On The Photo
One of things that bothers me is the fact that the shot was apparently taken outside of the time allowed in the rules. All shots have to be taken the week of the challenge. I think that it meets the challenge with a bit of a stretch. Good job, and keep up the good work.


I would be happy to talk further about this shot if you would like to contact me.
DougPaz

Sad Little Monkey
by aeryk71

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Nice focus and sharpness, meets the challenge with a bit of a stretch, peanut or whatever hurts it.

Composition/ Content
You have really great focus here, especially through the fence like that. I think the thing that hurts you here is two-fold. First whatever he is eating is a big distraction against his dark fur. Second, Although it is a great shot, I'm not sure it realy shows despair.

Background
Background is excellent, the shallow DOF really makes this light background work well behind him.

Camera Work - Technical
Focus and contrast are really super.

Digital Processing - Technical
I don't know if you had the entire top paw before you cropped this or not but it would be nice to see all of it. The shot leans very slightly to the right. If you would have rotated it, the fence could have been lined up with cropping and the subject wouldn't have really been affected.

Fits The Challenge
Perhaps a bit of a stretch but fits the challenge.

My Opinion On The Photo
I originally scored this shot a six which was higher than the majority of voters. I think it would have scored much higher in a different challenge. Good job, and keep up the good work.


I would be happy to talk further about this shot if you would like to contact me.
DougPaz

Frost and Flora
by Kaz

Comment:
I like the shot, it seems like it may have worked even better if the flower were further into the top right corner. And the stem leading out of the photo. Good job.

Into the Sky Blue
by smellyfish1002

Comment:
The color of the sky looks a bit off. Good focus on the tower.

Cloudlife
by xertion

Comment:
Nice job! Neat transformation of white to blue. I like this a lot.

The Sparrow
by ladpupmoe

Comment:
The Sparrow could have been just a wee bit better focused. Nice lines though.

Texas Connection
by crabappl3

Comment:
Simple yet effective, I think this is what the challenge was looking for! Very nice job.