Old habit
by Giorgio

Comment:
I like this. The lighting really draws you in.

What I think could have made this better would be a tighter crop and a wider DOF. The sugar pile is the main issue for me really. I would have preferred that to be in focus and as sharp as everything else. Good image though. Good luck!

Devil's Playing Cards
by manic35

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

I like the idea and the execution came out very well. The lighting is well done and the composition works. I also like the red contrasted against the black, which is very devilish in nature. So really there's nothing technically wrong here.

My only suggestion would be to have a stronger subject to depict the devil. I think the text could work but there needs to be more. Perhaps have something in the background that fills space. For example, a dimmed image of fire as a backdrop with the letters painted over it? I found this graphic online of a burst of flame. When I blend this over your photo (Screen mode) it roughly illustrates what I am envisioning here. Anyway, just a thought.

Edited to fix link. The link will take you to a google search. That first image of a burst of flame is what I am talking about. Unfortunately it won't let me link to it directly.

Message edited by author 2006-05-17 21:27:08.

Dandy Pod Cast
by Techo

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Super image. The color, composition and that wispy look carries that wow factor. I really like that contrast you got going on in the lower left corner. It's got that 3d animation look to it that makes this fit the challenge even more.

Improvements? Not much I can add here. It looks like you already have some in mind so I'm looking forward to see those myself. In terms of the challenge, I think maybe if you shot this in portrait style it may have helped your score with some voters and perhaps would have gotten you in the top ten.

Congrats on yet another sucessful challenge.

Message edited by author 2006-05-17 20:58:05.

For Dinner
by realpdm

Comment:
Damn, you got me hungry. :) Overall that came out pretty well. Good luck!

Port Life
by sharkav

Comment:
You may be just getting comments about this not being still life so I'll suggest things I think would improve this image general.

First, I'd rotate the image a bit so that the horizon didn't have that extreme fall off on the left. Second, an auto levels adjustment in Photoshop would really make this image pop (reducing that haze). Third, to further improve contrast and reduce the haze I'd run Unsharp Mask with the settings like this: Amount=16, Radius=33.0 and Threshold=0. That'll improve the contrast further. Lastly I'd sharpen the image more to pull all the little details in this image. If you don't have Photoshop or the equivalent I'd consider boosting up the contrast and sharpening settings in your camera if applicable.

Semper Paratus
by island_girl1

Comment:
I like the arrangement. What could improve this image is making the whites whiter (maybe just an auto level adj) and sharpening this more to pull more detail in the hat and sword.

An Apple a Day...
by GIS_boy

Comment:
I like it. I would have liked to see the red one a bit brighter so it stood out more but that's about it. 8.

St. James arriving to the temple
by alexgarcia

Comment:
Greetings from CTP2

Good choice on color treatment. Composition-wise, I like how you included foreground and background elements which gives the image depth and interest. I'm not sure I like the perspective of the building but I'm not really sure how you could fix that within this particular composition (with the statues) or using basic editing.

Btw, I do like the statues in there and they are level so it equalizes the building tilt somewhat. Other than that I like the photo. The color and detail is pleasing. The statues themselves add some contrast and a focal point that leads you up the image.

Message edited by author 2006-05-17 16:07:59.

C.H.I.C.A.G.O.
by DigiFotoBuddy

Comment:
Greetings from CTP2

Unfortunately, I couldn't finish voting in the night challenge so I didn't get to yours. :( Had I did I don't see how I could have scored this anything less than a 7. What stands out for me is the color tone. It really sets an nice mood as well as the water reflection, which has a painterly look. I really don't have anything negative to say other than I really like the look you've acheived. The score you got doesn't seem right. My only guess on that is people wanted to see more sharpeness/clarity and a few stars, a moon and a UFO probably wouldn't have hurt. :P

Night Fisherman
by Bear_Music

Comment:
Congrats! I had in my mind that this was an Iceland shot.