Breaktime...
by tfarrell23

Comment:
This looks like this image was taken from one of the mirrors in the casino. Am I right? Angle just seems a bit akward, especially since there aren't people filling the chairs in the middle. Also, seems just a tad over sharpened to me. 5

Last Chop of the Day
by sanandan

Comment:
Very nice photo! Definately someone at work. I'm curious as to what she is cutting. I like how she is smiling, like she's proud to have her picture made. The yellow tapestry in the background is a little distracting, but other than that, a well put together picture. 9 Good luck in the challenge.

Rose Magazine
by PHOTOCHlX

Comment:
Hi A M,

Greetings From the Critique Club:

I went to your profile to take a look at your other pictures since I haven't done a critique on any of your photos before. I DO believe that this is your best. I also believe that you were jilted BIG TIME! in the points. I never ceases to amaze me how people vote done cliche shots even though they are perfectly done and meets the challenge head on.

Technical:
In my opinion, I don't think your rose could have been done any better. I noticed with your shots in earlier challenges, you mostly had problems with focus. I think you finally got it perfect. Your DOF is great with the focus on the bud of the rose which I think is the prettiest part. You picked up the textures of the rose nicely. The lighting and colors are perfect.

Composition:
What more can I say, but nice. The only thing that I might have changed would be to have had the rose further up to get more of the stem in the picture. You know, you don't want the address sticker to cover any portion of your beautiful pink rose.

Challenge:
You met the challenge. I can definately see this picture on the cover of a magazine. I'm not a professional in the least, but I would think that if an editor would choose this picture for a cover, he/she wouldn't have to do too much to it. You left perfect space for the title and the other things that go on the cover.

Overall:
I really do believe that this should have been in the top 25 at least. Personally, I scored your picture a 9 during the voting phase. I think you deserve a nice pat on the back for a picture well done. I wouldn't let your score get you down.

Keep up the good work and good luck in the next challenge.

Connie

Highlights for Children - 4th of July Issue
by rj324

Comment:
Hi Ray,
Greeting from the Critique Club:

I think I've done a critique on one of your photos before. I still enjoy seeing your work. For the current photo, I'm very impressed...especially since you didn't use a tripod for this.

Composition: It really is a pretty photo. Although it would have been nice to see a more colorful firework, I still think that the colors are nice. I also like the red streaks that turned out looking like curled ribbon confetti. They showed up nicely. The photo is well framed. The huge firework above the ferris wheel located in the bottom corner of the photo works well.

Technical: Well done for a night time firework shot. I'm still quite impressed of the quality you did get given that it was taken without a tripod. It really would have been better, though, with one. You can tell there was shakiness by looking at the ferris wheel. It really isn't as sharp as it could have been. The firework burst does look good.

Challenge: This is probably the area that hurt you in the scoring, especially with those that take the name of the challenge seriously. Highlights has never used photographic images for their covers. Almost any other magazine would have been fitting for this photo.

Overall: The photo itself is nice...probably deserving a higher score than what you got. I really do belive that the choice of magazine is what hurt you most of all. Perhaps just a little better clarity would have put you closer to the 6 point range if not higher. I wasn't able to vote on this challenge, but if I had, I would have scored it a 6.

Good luck to you and hope this critique has helped you some.

Connie

Travel & Leisure
by brentpaugh

Comment:
Hi Brent!

Greetings from the Critique Club:


Composition: You have a very nice picture here that could definately be on the cover of your selected magazine. However, I do agree with some of the comments that you recieved concerning the towel and railing issue. I do believe that the railing is the most distracting of the two. It really does get in the way of the scene in the background. In any event, the model is nicely posed with nice colors. The clouds are beautiful.

Technical: Is is nicely cropped and the focus is good. I do agree that the colors are bland and could be brought out better by some adjustment to contrast. Otherwise it is a nice photo, in my opinion.

Challenge: Definately meets challenge. With the improvements, I could very easily see this on the cover of a magazine.

Keep up the good work with your photography. I checked out your profile to see some of the other things that you have done. I really like your Fenway picture. Will be anxious to see what else you come out with.

I hope this critique is helpful to you.

Connie

Sports Illustrated
by RiderGal

Comment:
I just knew that this one was yours. Congrats on the win and your first ribbon. Hope this is a sign that you might get the job of your dreams someday. Again, congrats on a well done photo!

1.25 cents
by Jacko

Comment:
Nice detail work on this macro shot. Great focus and depth.

Kissed by a Rose
by StevePax

Comment:
I really do like the effect you used here. However, the position of rose doesn't seem right. Appears to lack detail. Perhaps turning it slightly to see more of the petal folds or having it upright would have been nice. Otherwise a nice shot.

Dreaming of Flight
by Malokata

Comment:
Beautiful shot of body in motion. The shadow is nice. I like the pattern of the circular landscape and how the body aligns. Good job 10

Mushroom News
by LarsPaysen

Comment:
I was wondering if it this would be more appropriate for the magazine if the top of the mushroom was further down to make way for the title. Reguardless, this is a real nice photo and well done. The focus and DOF are great. I like the detail shown here. 9 Good luck in the challenge.