Roasted
by Sonifo

Comment:
One of my favorites this week, the colors are great and the background so nice and white. Focus is excellent. I only wish that I could see a little more of the sides of the pepers, maybe just a little bit lower angle. Super shot.

Growing Up
by jenarom

Comment:
This is incredible! Everything is great, the lighting, the colors, the background are all superb. A sure ribbon winner that stands out above all the rest in my book. The only thing I would remotely think about changing is to have left a bit more room in front of the baby's toes. It may be cropped a little too tight. Fantastic and good luck in the challenge!

Heaven's Gate?
by GeneralE

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Beautiful color, meets the challenge, Fence is a distraction

Composition/ Content
Like most of your commenters, I would have liked to have seen this either without the fence or the fence in a different light. Actually, I like the idea of having the locked gate in front of the church. I think it is a perspective on our world today that needs to be shown. It just seems like a distraction with the light hitting it the way it is.

Background
The sky is nice and adds to the blue colors in this shot.

Camera Work - Technical
Focus seems good and contrast is excellent for the difference in light and shadow you have here. I don't agree that the stained glass window should have been shown being hit with sunlight. I think it would have washed the color out too much.

Digital Processing - Technical
I like the border a lot. I think the colors and gradient really adds to the colors in the photo.

Fits The Challenge
It almost fits the challenge too well. I think the window would have been enough. Hanging over the fence to take the Church window may have worked better here.

My Opinion On The Photo
I originally scored this shot a six. I think that it meets the challenge and I really like the colors. 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

"OCB: Obsessive Compulsive Breakfast"
by KickDrum5150

Comment:
Congrats on the 1st place Ribbon!! Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Very creative, great color,really meets the challenge, light seems a bit bright

Composition/ Content

The composition is fantastic and what really makes this shot. Everything balances nicely. No matter what I do, my eyes are lead to the square eggs which is really the focal point here. The colors are incredible. The square oranges are what really takes the shot over-the-top IMHO. I shows that you put a lot of work into this one. I believe the ribbon probably made it all worthwhile! LOL

Background
I would have never used that striped background but I feel it really works here. It seems just a wee bit crooked on the left side a little lower but not really enough to worry about.

Camera Work - Technical
The only nit I have here is that the lighting might be a little overpowering. Some areas seem a bit brighter, especially the silverware. It is bright and nicely lit but seems like it could have been even better.

Digital Processing - Technical
I noticed that your comments were about equally divided on your border. I personally feel it may have made the shot. It really seems to tie everything together, both colorwise and shape and size. I agree with one commenter that the eggs could have been just a little whiter (and you need to work on those square yolks for next time!) LOL

Fits The Challenge
Definitely fits the challenge as well or better than any.

My Opinion On The Photo
The votes speak for themselves. A "kickin" shot from KickDrum that truly deserved a ribbon. Great 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

Las Vegas Checkers
by keone

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Good color, meets the challenge, lighting seems a bit off

Composition/ Content

I looked at this shot a long time when I was voting. I really like the colors but there are a few problems with the shot that kept it from scoring higher. The most flagrant is the leaning of the checkerboard to the right. Either set it up straight or rotate and crop it in PhotoShop. Or you could have angled it more so that it doesn't look like a mistake.

Background
One of the things that made me look at this was the felt background. I was wondering where the casino background entered in. Was it a real casino? These were things I asked myself. BTW, if the board was straight the stars would be symetrical as well.

Camera Work - Technical
Focus is just a touch soft but more of that in Processing. The biggest problem here is that it appears that you either used the on-camera flash or your lights were not strong enough to light the shot evenly. The back of your photo grows darker andt the front is much brighter which screams "snapshot". A couple of desklamps or clamp ons would help this a lot.

Digital Processing - Technical
I noticed that you only used a little over 90 kb of the 150 kb file size allowed by the rules. The increase would really sharpen the shot (as would increased light) You have a good camera, use all of the file size you can. I think a dark border would have added to the "squareness" and color of this shot as well.

Fits The Challenge
Definitely fits the challenge well.

My Opinion On The Photo
I originally scored this shot a five as did most of the voters. I think that it meets the challenge well but could have been improved a little to finish even higher than it did. 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

Hip To Be Square
by Slimharpo

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club };-)

Initial thoughts
Interesting composition, meets the challenge, seems a bit soft on focus
Composition/ Content

This seems to be a good idea that possibly wasn't carried through as much as it might have been. The colored square shows up well but the other shapes appear hastily drawn. If they had been cut out from black or filled in better it would have made a more dynamic shot.

Background
The background seems to work although a bright color would make the other shapes show better.

Camera Work - Technical
Focus seems a little soft and the whole shot seems pretty two dimensional. Perhaps an angled light or raised shapes would make it more vibrant.

Digital Processing - Technical
Sharpening would have helped. I wonder how you got the colored square in the shot as it seems to be attached to the background. I don't know for sure if it is lying flat or not.

Fits The Challenge
Fits the challenge well.

My Opinion On The Photo
I originally scored this shot a four as did most of the voters. I think that it meets the challenge but wasn't a real big attention grabber. 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

The Sanctuary
by Rackat

Comment:
Congrats! My heroine comes through again. I want to be just like you when I grow up. I know you love blue and purple but is this the actual color of the inside of this church or did you play with it?

Helical Illumination
by crabappl3

Comment:
Congrats on a beautiful shot!!

Louve Ceiling Panes
by peggy

Comment:
It actually looks like a painting. Neat take on the challenge and I like the perspective. It may have been just a tad brighter.

"An Extra Piece?"
by slammin

Comment:
Nice colors and neat idea. It needs a bit more focus but I think that is mostly because you only used 46kb of the 150 kb file size allotted.