Ski Santa & Ski Snowman
by drake217

Comment:
5 - Good DOF. Like the concept/potential. Criticism; seems a little 'dark' overall, especially at this size. Difficult to discern, but perhaps needs a nudge rotation up on the left, seems a little 'unlevel', but apologies if wrong.

Stare Down
by jonnie

Comment:
3 - Mainly for the potential. Criticism; the lighting needs adjusting in my opinion, and seems too harsh. Perhaps 'zoomed out' a fraction more to allow for the eyes to dominate more and not go into the 'shallow DOF' as much, may have made this even better in my opinion. Also including more of the whiskers too, even if they 'fade into' the 'shallow DOF', which could be a good effect, but that potential has not been reached in this shot in my opinion. A slight nudge rotation up on the left too, to gain more 'symmetry' and balance would have likely helped as well.

Lily
by balancedfox

Comment:
4 - Good potential. Criticism; like to see it sharper/more detial on the main focal point, which I find difficult to discern where that is. Bigger (640), and more inclusion of background/DOF (although I realize you've used 'fore' DOF as well), to allow for more context and to 'show' the DOF in the background too, may also have made this even better in my opinion. Seems you have also lost some detail in the texture too, so perhaps this is/was a 'shake/blur' issue and a tripod was needed, who knows.

'the fly'
by suemack

Comment:
5 - Good DOF. Criticism; for what I presume is a macro, the detail on the fly is lacking. At least the eyes in sharp focus would have made this better in my opinion. Perhaps a variation in crop/composition/toning may have also helped make this even better, not sure.

Case in Point
by runin2dson

Comment:
5 - Good. Criticism; not much, perhaps sharper on the points, but might detract from the abstract feel, so who knows. Maybe a slight variation in coloring/lighting for more balance here may have given this something extra, not sure.

Cats and Dogs
by BigK

Comment:
6 - Good perspective. Criticism; difficult, perhaps a bit 'shallower' with the dog in the background, and a little more detail/definition on the cat, especially the face/whiskers, may have made this even better in my opinion. Like the composition, but perhaps a slightly tighter crop on the right may have also made this better, not sure. Toning 'works', but like to see a 'richer feel'/more 'depth' added by tweaking perhaps the contrast if possible (if that makes sense), difficult to do though.

Locked
by vroy

Comment:
6 - Like this. Size doesn't do it justice I am sure. Criticism; difficult, especially given the size, but perhaps sacrificing the frame to get more of the door/frame in may have helped. Also difficult to discern, but perhaps slightly sharper too, not sure, but the 'soft' effect is also nice. The main thing that appeals to me in this shot is the white 'DOF' 'behind the door' that is complemented by the snow/ice on the inner frame and contrasted by the iron(?) grill/bars/pattern, and the overall coloring, which is very nice and simple. The frame does help I think, but again, for 'here'/this medium, the extra pixels used to show your shot may have helped. edit:typo

Message edited by author 2005-12-28 20:43:03.

Ice Blade
by justin_hewlett

Comment:
6 - Very nice. Nice colors. Criticism; 'if only' the tip were as sharp as some of the other areas of the 'blade' appear to be, make this even better in my opinion. Like the composition. Not sure on the frame. Good DOF, still being able to discern that is snow, or at least it looks like it, as the 'background'.

The Marvel of a Snowflake
by paul58

Comment:
7 - Oh. Difficult capture. Criticism; having seen how hard these are to do, but the potential in these types of shots (camera/lens dependent of course), have to say I would like to see this even sharper, but you've likely done very well with what you were able to do. Not sure on the frame, think it detracts from the delicacy. The foreground 'shallow DOF' is good, but perhaps a variation may have helped enhance the snowflake, but again, depends what you had to work with and I presume this is cropped as tight as you could without starting to lose quality. Perhaps a rotate, not sure. edit:typo

Message edited by author 2005-12-28 20:43:21.

Flower
by edekker

Comment:
4 - Good potential. Good colors. Criticism; like to see more of the 'DOF' incorporated 'somewhere'. Technically, while no expert, I suppose the stigma having a shallow DOF has been 'used' here, but in my opinion, detracts a little from the anthers, which seem to have fairly good focus. The contrast control seems fairly good, especially with the red/dark areas, which are difficult to adjust. A slightly different angle/composition, more context and DOF incorporated, would have all likely made this even better in my opinion. Looks like an amaryllis, maybe.