Judging
by angela_packard

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::
Hi Angela, this is the in-depth critique you asked for from one of the CC members, I'm delighted I drew it.

First Impression - the most important one:
Interesting but not that gripping. I saw a cutout of a man but I didn't see him as singled-out

Composition:
Even though he's centred, which would normally count against good composition, his framing by the two dancers in identical poses really overrides that. You've also got just the right ratio of judge to background.

Subject:
I find the image appealing because of the contrast between the dancers and the silhouette and I believe in another challenge it would have scored better. Because this was a singled-out challenge, I suppose the expectation is that you get to see the one singled out. I suspect that voters may have gone the same way.

Technical (Colour, focus, and light):
The DOF here is really really good. If it hadn't been so extreme, the risks of the dancers dominating the shot would have been very high. I'm sure just a hint of bounce light onto the back of the subject would have done a lot for the finished product. As it is, he's like a cutout, just a hint of fill would have given him 3D form. It would have still satisfied those who liked the different take on the challenge but also those who had a problem with the silhouette.

To grow its vote?:
A score of 5.5 s not a bad score, nor is a top-50 placing. Perhaps if voters had a bit of a look at the subject you would have jumped a lot of places.

Summary:
A really good imaeg which may have fallen slightly foul of the DNMC crowd but one that I would be proud to have in my protfolio.

Brett

"Hey Culligan Man!"
by Shan2112

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::
Hi Shannon, this is the in-depth critique you asked for from one of the CC members, I'm delighted I drew it.

First Impression - the most important one:
Being from New Zealand, the title didn't mean anything to me but I guessed it was a well-known advertising slogan (check my profile you'll see why).

The first impression was of an interesting slice-of-life shot. It's somewhat appealing being a sort of urban time-stamp. It made me stop and inspect it rather than just breeze past it. Good start.

Composition:
I rather liked it. You have the principal character nicely off-centred with the activity in the background slightly OOF so it's busy but not distracting.

Subject:
I like the cheeky feel of this, using the ad byline, there's a nice whimsy with it. I think you missed the challenge by a bit, but then you already comemnted on that yourself. The intent of the challenge seemed to be to have a crowd of people, one of whom you could single out. Yes it did say with shallow DOF but as the winning shot shows us, that singling out can be achieved in a number of different ways. Your Culligan man is probably a little too isolated from any crowd to have got you a high vote from him.

Technical (Colour, focus, and light):
I love your explanation of the reason for going B&W. Well thought out and well reasoned - good choice. I sometimes have an issue with the amount of gratuitous B&W conversions in our challenges, this isn't one of them.

There is an issue with sharpness. It looks like motion blur on his face because the rest of his shirt is pretty sharp. At 1/60 shutter speed that's not unexpected.

To grow its vote?:
Sometimes I think vote-chasing is an uncomfortable compromise but having said that, it's damned satisfying if your peers like your work. This subject wasn't ever going to score high in DPC because it doesn't have water, sunset, a scarfed woman or Iceland:) Outside of the subject matter, it doesn't really have the drama, quirkyness, humour or wow-factor to ribbon ... BUT ...

Summary:
... it is an important social comment and record of ordinary urban life. Especially where the Culligan Man is known. I don't for a minute underestimate the importance of that - it's the sort of thing you'll see in a 2050 museum exhibition of "Life at the turn of the Century". It will cause people to get a faraway look in their eye as they think "oh yes, I remember that.."

Brett

Tension
by Cjddrum1

Comment:
Great pic. Who's the tribute to?

Sunset of Inspiration
by kingduck777

Comment:
Who's the tribute to?

Henri Cartier-Bresson,1908-2004
by zxaar

Comment:
Terrific tribute to a great photog

Piss Angel
by treenode

Comment:
Who's the tribute to? This is a disturbing image and title, my first 1

Withdrawal (Joel Meyerowitz, street photographer)
by Mark of SRQ

Comment:
This is such a convincing tribute, I for a minute thought is was his work :)

The Pyramids in Indianapolis
by ltaylor

Comment:
Who's the tribute to?

Aspiring Leibovitz women
by Rae-Ann

Comment:
3399 don't understand399e title but the photo is great and the tribute to Annie is appropriate

Changing New York Berneice Abbott
by slingshot

Comment:
Great tribute to Abotts work.