The Homestead
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: I messed up on this whole challenge with my voting. After seeing you ribbon, I really looked deeper into the golden ratio, and my understanding was way off. I was expecting to see more flowing curvature in the image, so I did my voting on a wrong understanding of the challenge, rather than the quality of the overall images. With that explained, embarrassingly enough, I was your 4 vote on this one.

My ideas for improvement: Now that I understand the golden ration, I love the photo. The overlayed images really bring out every area of the picture nicely.

Where I would have/did score this entry: Well, aside from being the jackass that didn't understand the challenge and handed out a low score, this SHOULD have been an 8 or 9 from me. My apologies for bringing the scire down. Overall, I probably didn't drag it down too much, but still, I should have had a better understanding. Thanks for sharing another awesome capture!

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Just a Hint of Fall
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: Guess Who! I really am glad you have checked the CC box on your photos! There are only a couple of people who have done it in recent history, but I kinda want to see it revived. Free Studies are tough. I just looked back through the ones I entered ages ago, and mine almost always did poorly. I have one on my front page, but that was an unusually great image that I got while in Arizona at a DPC GTG.I think in an assigned challenge, this one would have been a top 5.

My ideas for improvement: Not hugely noticeable, but I feel like the greens are pushed a little too much. I think that would help the overall image, but there were some really good entries in this one.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I think it scored about where I would have put it. I didn't vote, but this would have been a 6 or a 7 for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

The Trial ~ Pink Floyd ~ Tear down the wall!
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: Me again! Congrats on another top 10 finish! I like grungy type images that show true aspects of life, and this is another good one.

My ideas for improvement: I am guessing you looked at it with different processing, but I feel like I would enjoy this one more in BW. Maybe I wouldn't, but I think I would. I think a little bump in the exposure would have helped it score a little higher.

Where I would have/did score this entry: You were up against some good entries in this challenge, and I think you finished near where I would expect. I think there were two entries ahead of you that I liked less, but all-in-all, I think you did well. Had I voted, this would have been a 6 or 7 for me. I think the voters got it right.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

~ The Asylum ~
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: I really like this one, too, and a well-deserved blue! The textures are fantastic, and the story is even better.

My ideas for improvement: Really nothing I would change. I would like to see another angle without everything centered, but I very well may have chosen the centered composition anyway.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did not vote in this one, but it would have been my top choice, as it was with the voters. This one would have definitely gotten an 8 or 9 from me. Nice work, as always!

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Park Loop Road
by hsteg

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: Congrats on a top 10 finish! Looking through this challenge, you were up against some really strong images. I love that area of the country, and I can almost feel the peace just looking at the capture.

My ideas for improvement: I believe you captured and presented just what you were going for in this one. Of course, a CP filter and some post-processing would have made the sky and ocean really pop, and I believe that would have grown your votes a bit. Even still, nice capture.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did not vote in this challenge, but, after looking through the entries, this one would have probably been a 5 for me. With that in mind, I believe that the entry was scored well. Again, congrats on a top 10, and thanks for sharing it with us all.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Zombie Flower
by talzam

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: I really like the moody feel of the image you submitted, but it seems like the voters didn't find this flora dead enough. I like parts of the composition and the way the plant draws my eye into the image.

My ideas for improvement: Two things. I think I would have opened the frame up a little more for even better composition, and I feel like these would have needed to appear 'deader' to really fit in with the entries in this competition. The tight framing on the right makes the image feel constrained and uncomfortable. The eye is able to go into the image, but hits a wall on the left and stops.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did not vote in the challenge, but I would have probable been a 4 or a 5. Nice color and the start of a good composition, but not enough death to meet the spirit of the challenge. Even still, thanks for sharing!

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Boulder Beach
by hsteg

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: This is an excellent capture, but it seems like the voters felt that it missed the spirit of the challenge topic. Even still, the composition of this image is fantastic! While I tend to agree with bassbone in that the dead wood does not feel like the subject of the image, you still did a great job with the image.

My ideas for improvement: With this image for this particular challenge, I think you would need to fill more of the frame, if not most of it, with the driftwood. Doable, but I am not sure you would end up with the same, high-quality capture that you created.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did not vote in this challenge, but I, too, would have most likely been harsh with my vote. Again, wonderful image, but it doesn't feel like dead flora to me. I would have given this one a 3 or 4. If it had been a more landscape-type challenge, this would have easily hit 6 or better. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

~ Thistle ~
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: This one baffles me. This is one of my favorites from your portfolio, and definitely one of the best 2 in the challenge. I cannot understand why this once did not place higher.

My ideas for improvement: I dunno. I like the composition, I love the subject, I really enjoy shallow DOF. The lighting is nicely dramatic. I guess the only thing I could nitpick is that the bottom center bud seems to be in focus. I feel like I would rather have it out of focus with the rest of the background.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I didn't vote in this one, but this would have been an 8 or 9 for me. I really don't get what put the voters off here.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Window ~ Door
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: Congrats on the ribbon! I like this inside-looking-out approach. It really stands out from the other entries.

My ideas for improvement: I would like to see this one with just a little fill flash coming in on that left side. I guess it could be done with HDR combination, but I am still a little old school. I normally shoot and process a single frame.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did not vote in this challenge, but this would have been my top scorer along with the second-place finisher. Both these entries would have gotten a 9 from me. Thanks for letting us see this one!

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

~ The One Less Traveled ~
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: Another well-deserved blue!

My ideas for improvement: I think I would have liked to have seen the road lightened up just a bit, but that is my personal preference. It may not have worked to make it better, but that is the only thing I can really offer here. It meets the challenge well, and it is a great capture.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did not vote in this one, but I think it scored a little low. It was definitely the best entry into the challenge. For me, this one would have pulled an 8.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric