Ken Vasoli of The Starting Line
by hsteg

Comment:
Hi Harrison and greetings from the "Critique Club"

Wow...only one comment...what's going on with commenting lately? Seems like commenting has really gone down through out these challenges...anyway, I'll get on with the "critique" now.

Overall this is a very effective documentary style shot. I like the strong contrast and the grain I feel does enhance the image and actually gives it a nice "filmy" quality. I like the tight crop, but I am curious about how this may have looked if you had pulled back just a bit? Who knows right?

Generally speaking I think the masses like their concert pictures to be bright and pretty, most of us have been to concerts and know what magic occurs when there's a good lighting tech around...people love being dazzled by pomp and pretty colors. I don't know if gig shooting is a road you are going to continue traveling down, but might I suggest taking a peek at a couple fellow DPCer's work? My all time favorite show photographer is terje...his work is slick, professional, and simply quite delicious...the guy is truly an artist. Also take a peek at Xion's work, particularly his "Buskers" series which can be found in [B[+]]: people: buskers...Xion is such the master of the street candid as far as I am concerned, his work sings.

If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to drop me a line, I hope I have given you atleast a couple of things to think about and look at...have fun! : }

Pot Pourri
by davidus428

Comment:
Hi there David and greetings from the "Critique Club"...

Ahhh...one of the images I commented one during the "grain" challenge. I still stand by what I mentioned in my previous comment...the grain completely enhances this image for me. Like bpickard, I am not a massive fan of the "flower" picture, to get my attention they must somehow be different, and for me "PotPourri" is just that. The color is delightful and the focus you chose is very effective. I enjoy the pink contrasted against the yellow, I find it very satisfying...delicious.

How might this image have scored higher? That I'm not sure about...perhaps the subject matter? Again...not sure. A few possible "nitpicks"...the longer I gaze at this the more I'd like to see a bit more detail in the center of that gorgeous pink flower, I know that there is some lovely texture there I am just not seeing. And perhaps a different crop? I also keep wanting to see a tad bit more room at the top of the image, that maybe the top of the pink flower is a bit clipped. I am hard pressed to find any other possible "flaws".

Overall this a very pleasing image, very soft and ethereal, actually something one might find on a greeting card, note paper, etc. I think for this particular challenge people were looking for a bit of "rough and tumble" and this image is a complete opposite of "tough". I hope I have offered a little insight/help. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to drop me a note.

Her Serenity Mask
by rwouthuis

Comment:
Hi there...and greetings from the "Critique Club"

Well Richard...I can quite honestly say that I find not a thing amiss with this image...no very helpful...I know. The soft moody light is very effective and quite flattering. The grain is also very pleasing and looks quite a bit like "real" film grain. The lighting, the grain, and Sheryl's expression all come together very nicely to make one lovely emotive cocktail.

Upon further study, I almost detect a bit of a smirk? Am I deceived? This brings a smile to my own face in relating this smirk to the whole "mask" idea...your wife is a tolerant woman indeed, but then again she is working on a masters in education so I should think tolerance is quite a large part of the whole teaching gig...hmmmm...she is definitely due for a bit of pampering, don't you think? : }

I think your choice of B & W was perfect, then again I favor B & W, sometimes color can be distracting...it all depends on the image really, and taste....we all have different tastes. One thing I might suggest, and I use them all the time, are Duotones/Quadtones. This article found at Luminous-Landscape, is quite imformative.

Here are couple of examples of how a quadtone could change this image:





The top example uses a quadtone you can get here, the sepia example is a quadtone I came up with. Quadtones are fun to experiment with, I hope you don't mind my borrowing your image so I could show you just how a quadtone can subtly change an image. I use the top example quite often, it reminds me of how an actual B & W print looks after being Selenium toned, something I did often back in my darkroom days. Anyway, I think I've rambled on long enough, but if there is anything else you'd like to talk about, please do not hesitate to contact me...now go give Sheryl a foot rub! She definitely deserves one. : }

Message edited by author 2005-11-03 13:54:11.

A bugs life
by MQuinn

Comment:
ahhhhhhh...boxelder beetles...I used to have a ton ofthem around my previous house...they sure like that sunshine don't they?

Ice Cream
by denlinkbarmann

Comment:
Love the colors....reminds me of an old polaroid.

Shifting Sands
by aznym

Comment:
Such beautiful patterns, rhythm and light...nicely done.

Not Busy
by Tom

Comment:
...then why is it in the "Busy" challenge?

Wall Walker
by mihaibadic

Comment:
...very intriguing...

Feeding Frenzy!
by quark314

Comment:
I just love the light and colors of this image...such an intriguing little dance they do around the feeder...well done.

Blue Racer
by Jason

Comment:
Excellent show of speed and power...now if we could get some sound with this...that would rock.