Summer Days
by John White

Comment:
7 - Nice. Good colors and shadow play. Criticism; difficult, but perhaps (depending of course what you had to work with), more of that excellent reflection incorporated, the 'rocks' on the left maybe cropped out (although it does add some more context), perhaps an 'under clothes adjustment' on 'Mother' (but minor) and a slight variation in the shadow capture (to allow for a little more detail 'in between them'), may have made this even better in my opinion. The 'lines' of the waves really set this off. The reflection just seems so good, like to see more of it.

Makes me cookies
by mycelium

Comment:
7 - Like this. I think you captured a good 'motherly' and 'homey' feel in this. Her 'cheery smile' really makes this. The colors all blend together well. I like the use of 'Mother' in the DOF, just the right amount. Criticism; not much, and fairly minor, things like; the finger/fingernail, the plate not 'level', more detail in the cookies/pies/whatever perhaps the napkin/serviette filling the whole bottom of the frame might have made this better and maybe, 'Mother' just a fraction softer, yet the focus still as sharp (if that makes sense) may have all have made this even better in my opinion. Maybe her head not 'cut', but works fine as is so who knows. Perhaps also a background that uses one of the colors in the napkin/serviette, may have given this something extra, but again, minor.

IMG_4338.jpg
by Rando D300

Comment:
Nice capture and 'peanut elements'. 'If only' the bird 'popped' against that very good DOF even more (whether it is the lighting or focus, not sure), but obviously opportune and difficult (especially with that natural, and good, lighting 'direction'). I like the composition. Good simple colors, but again, if only the bird and the 'blue' popped a fraction more, make this an even better shot in my opinion.

DP_Bear3.jpg
by idemaerschalk

Comment:
Another good capture. Some slight tweaking in pp likely help this a lot. I like the paws especially in this. Good composition, perhaps a slightly tighter crop at the top (quality dependent of course), not sure.

Lion Eyes
by hotpasta

Comment:
Nice capture and color. Again, depending what you had to work with, a slight crop variation, perhaps introducing more of that nice complementary colored bokeh on the left, may have enabled the lion to 'pop' more, but this does 'work' as is. Whether it is your lens, or pp work, there seems to be some slightly 'blown' areas in the whites/light colors, but that may be intentional, especially if you've gone for a 'soft feel'. Also difficult to discern at this size, but seems a slight gamma/whatever issue going into the black areas, especially top right near the ear, but very minor. Obviously fairly 'opportune', but a slight variation to 'incorporate' or 'exclude' the other eye, as it is noticeablely 'cut', would also have made this an even better shot in my opinion. Again, the frame is too large for this size, which at wall size likely looks good, but for 'here', takes up a lot of your 'pixel space' but this type of framing may be your intent, your call, obviously. Like to see the color more dominant in the eye(s), as well as that 'character scar', more detailed as well.

Father Kong
by hotpasta

Comment:
Nice capture, especially of the expression, or lack thereof, in his face. Depending what you had to work with (and quality), a cropping out on the right of what appears to be an electric fence and this possibly even with more height, make this an even better shot in my opinion. Like the 'fore bokeh', and the overall softness 'works', but perhaps also a little more detail/sharper in/on the fur may have also made this even better. The thick framing detracts, especially at this size/this 'medium' in my opinion. In the middle of his lips, is a white 'something', whether that is natural or a camera/lens/pixel issue, not sure.

Follow
by Kivet

Comment:
Like this. Imagine very difficult to adjust the contrast/etc here, but if just a fraction more detail could be enhanced, especially in the center of the shot, make this even better in my opinion. Like the perspective and colors (to see them a fraction 'richer' also likely make this even better in my opinion). temporary note: I wonder, 'who lives here?'.... if you could include (if indeed you know), in your notes, will come back 'later' to see.. edit: well there goes that illusion.. nice shot, will check 'later' to see a 'reshoot' (maybe stick an 'inanimate critter' near the hole? (kidding - maybe)), thank you for the info

Message edited by author 2006-01-06 19:23:25.

Balloons1
by idemaerschalk

Comment:
Good and obviously an 'out of the ordinary' perspective. Like the composition, colors and extra element that the haybales give. Presume from your title that this is from a slide. A cropping and possibly also slight 'tweaking' of the colors (and maybe sharpness as well), would make this better in my opinion. The shadow on the land is nice. A slight 'blowout' on the balloon but likely little to be done about that, fairly minor anyway.

Land of ice
by unneva

Comment:
Nice shot. Difficult to tell (and I don't know enough about lenses) if you've used a fish-eye here or some type of filter, or it is just the natural shape of the terrain/land, but a good effect overall. If that 'shape' were enhanced/emphasized more, 'somehow' (crop variation, depending what you had to work with of course), might have made this even better. The only other thing to 'pull apart' about this shot is that the icebergs/ice(?) in the foreground has such appeal, and the reflections look good as is, but either concentrating more on them and the reflections and 'sacrificing' some of the landscape, may have given this extra punch in my opinion. Obviously, just a case of '2 different types of shots', one being more 'landscape' and the other being more 'elements'; the icebergs. At any rate, this size wouldn't do this shot justice as the detail and 'depth/breadth' is obviously going to be seen/realized in a 'wall sized' print. edit:wording & ..still like to see the 'Breaking down' larger...

Message edited by author 2006-01-05 20:35:04.

Trial & Error
by surista

Comment:
I gave this a 2. I did try to look for an 'oops' in this for quite a while (half a minute, maybe = quite a while for the Challenge, usually), but the closest I could manage was the branch of leaves 'oopsed' onto the fencing, to be honest, I went with that and thought it could have been more 'creative'. The quality of the shot itself was good, basically that (and the 'interpretation' just mentioned) is/are why it didn't get a '1' from me. As for your 'intent' here, of the 'focal point', in my opinion, that's a long shot for a viewer to get here during voting on such a Challenge. Your title obviously tried to portray this as well, but again I didn't make the 'connection'. edit:removed temporary note/condensed

Message edited by author 2006-01-06 06:13:40.