The Land Before Time
by glad2badad

Comment:
6 - Beautiful scene and I really like the way the clouds can be seen behind the first mountain, in almost 3D - however the unnaturalness of the green in the trees, especially on the fore mountain detracts from the overall beauty of the image. Whilst this grows on you a little, I can't bring it into another type of image (eg: surreal, fantasy, etc (perhaps as your title suggests)) while the rest of the scene hasn't quite pushed any similar color/processing boundaries - if that makes sense.

Daftly into the night
by NOO7

Comment:
7 - Very nice - really like the colors and composition - just wish there was more clarity and definition. Maybe a little more height/less width too... maybe. Up to 7 from 6.

Innocence
by Makka

Comment:
7 - Nice and unique capture.

Linden Hall Mansion
by JFrank

Comment:
5 - Those trees are very interesting on the right hand side - especially the one just about laying down. Looks especially interesting in infrared.

Halloween Gale
by Drake

Comment:
6 - Whilst this is interesting with the person widely straddled on the left - the person in front of the lighthouse looks in quite a predicament. If the quality was there - a specific crop on this part of the scene would make a fantastic image/capture/photograph. Some tweaking in post processing too, just to bring out the depth a little more and also clone out the couple of specks on the right. Your call of course, but the title detracts/doesn't seem to suit the image.

D P C, can you hear me?
by Insomniac

Comment:


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
Despite the unusual photographic effects created in these captures, I found the images and triptych of them, uninteresting and quite a 'personal study'. I gave this a 3 during voting.

I also had no idea what the sign language was and did not stop to consider it during voting as the main subject was not my personal viewing preference, so I moved on fairly swiftly.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
An aperture of 2 explains the good and unusual effect produced, however, it also created a rather dark and 'odd' effect coupled with the lighting and 'shirtless' subject.

The composition itself within each photograph and then placed within a triptych would have been better if the torso was aligned in each image.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
85/145 and a score of 5.56 is not bad, considering the subject matter, which may not have engaged many viewers. An average of 6.88 from your commenters reflects their comments and that most knew the sign language being displayed or knew the intent and either way, liked how you captured it. This just reflects how people view photographs and subject matter differently - just because it isn't something that appeals to me, doesn't mean it won't appeal to others.

Summary
If doing the signs for DPC was your main focus then more attention to distractions that would take attention away from the hands/signs - such as if there is person in the background, whether they are in focus or not, whether they are clothed or not, if so what clothing, the lighting, etc - would have allowed your message to come across much more clearly.

PS
I see this is your first DPChallenge submission - welcome to the 'fun' of entering & voting in Challenges.

Congratulations on taking the plunge, this is a good score and a decent quality photograph for your first submission.

Deep DOF, Rule of Thirds and Stop Action
by snaffles

Comment:


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
Surprised there is no 'Leading Lines' in your title, that was the first thing I noticed.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
Whilst I can see stop action in the image, it is not strongly evident and I wonder whether allowing a much faster shutter speed/higher ISO may have created more impact regarding this technique - if the breeze was strong enough of course. The deep DOF is visible, however because of the composition, the eye cannot see too far further than the crop (of corn), which coupled with your extremely fore focal point, minimizes your deep DOF. The Rule of Thirds technique I'm struggling with here, as it seems fairly centered to me all up.

Challenge/titles aside - this image cropped much bolder on the right hand side produces a stronger image in my opinion. A tweaking of colors/lighting would also enhance the image.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
118/140 is fairly low down the pack and I suspect it is a combination of your subject and the way you have presented it, along with your title/choice of techniques - which are not overly apparent in the photograph.

An average score of 5.18 is fairly good, considering the placing. The average of 4.71 from your commenters, seems to mirror the honesty from most in regard to meeting the Challenge and using techniques. You received a couple of exceptionally helpful comments, one sugar coated, the other not, both of which are stating very similar observations.

Summary
Not the strongest contender in this difficult Challenge - which was virtually 3 Challenges in one. A different angle/perspective/crop on this particular subject matter (which is not that interesting in itself), coupled with use of additional photographic techniques, to work with your chosen three, would likely have produced a stronger image.

Another Dam day
by ucanoe

Comment:


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
Ah good, I get a Triptych one.

I remember this one and admiring the uniqueness of it, it was also interesting to look at. I gave this a 6.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
There seems to be a slight yellowish tinge to the images, which may have something to do with your settings. Perhaps adjusting them just a fraction, as the somewhat muted colors do work, in my opinion. Image selection wise: it would have been nice to see a little more clarity and detail in the middle image, perhaps even a little closer cropped. The fishing reel perhaps cropped out, not sure. I only noticed that this time around and didn't pick it up during voting. My first thought on seeing it this time was that it detracted.

As mentioned above, the images are interesting, especially the story that they tell, also the visible 'HYDRO...', etc. A bit of work, but a slight perspective correction in image #1 perhaps, to get the water level straightened. Overall a little more clarity and detail in all the images, some of the darker areas seem to have been lost, perhaps as a result of using curves/general post processing.

The black borders perhaps compete a little too much for attention with the images and the subtlety of some of the elements within them.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
74/145 is a 'fair' score. 5.68 is a decent enough score.

An average of 6.0 from your commenters: you received some good comments, one especially so, and helpful.

Summary
For three very busy images, this still works. Just some finer post processing and this would have had a little extra, in my opinion.

Diocesan Pastoral Conspiracy
by marcusvdt

Comment:


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
It's a bit soft, or is there a slight blur, hard to tell. Either way, the detail needed to be seen for such an intricate photograph is not there.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
Composition wise, it seems a very busy scene crammed into an uncomfortable crop/framing. A majority of the features and elements in the scene are vertical/tall in nature and the framing is not showcasing them well, especially at this angle.

Ok, I see this is a HDR, with all quite slow shutter speeds - explains the lack of clarity. It could possibly work, but the exposure seems wrong - beautiful craftsmanship/art captured here, but the angle it has been captured and the lighting, etc is not allowing it to come to life. I can't offer advice on gaining a better result using indoor lighting technicals, but I would strongly suggest seeking advice from the Forums or elsewhere, as it seems you may have the opportunity to shoot this again.

Cropwise, I think you have 'chopped' some major elements that needed to be whole in a composition such as this.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
55/80 is fairly low down the pack, but your score of 5.58 is quite good. An average of 7.16 from your commenters tells me that most were intrigued with it, especially for this Challenge.

Summary
Bit of a wordy title for this Challenge, one that doesn't instantly seem like a movie type title to me. A variation in cropping/framing, may have allowed more life to the scene and image. I can't also help but wonder about reducing the image to one of your exposures, in this instance - as the HDR doesn't seem to be enhancing the finished image.

On a Canadian afternoon
by snaffles

Comment:


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
A bit of a snapshot, but one of a moment in time and in your corner of the world. Nice relaxed feel to the image.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
Difficult because of the Challenge, but this scene would likely be enhanced by a nice shallow DOF, but again - because of the Challenge, you need the context of 'your part of the world'. In saying that, I think the image/scene is more about a moment and also a slight candid and not really about showcasing your part of the world.

Composition wise: shame the dog's tail is chopped, but the cropping at the bottom, where your knee is visible, could have been improved. Also, depending how much more you had to work with, including more of the background in would have been better for this Challenge, in my opinion.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
132/159 probably reflects that most didn't get a sense of 'your part of the world' strongly from this image, which your score of 4.86 also indicates. However, the somewhat 'snapshootishness' of the image probably pulled it down as well.

Average of 5.0 from your mirrors a few of your comments, but certainly not all of them.

Summary
Not a strong meet of the Challenge and from reading your Photographer's Comments, this image probably has a different meaning to you.