Coffee please
by Tajhad

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

First Impression - the most important one:
Interesting enough to take a second look. Nice colours .. but some really distracting parts to the image.

Composition:
The background elements of the dead plant and whatever is on the left are distracting. Also the white thing slightly detracts although the DOF almost deals with this. I think that it is always a top priority to use clean stuff when photographing. Taken the shot before having the drink .. and shining the cup so no marks of lips of leftover froth would assist with this.

Subject:
Meets the challenge.

Technical (Colour and light):
Nice colours ... good DOF ... and interesting table you have used.

To grow its vote?:
Think about the background of a shot. Try to think about what would make it appealing - a full frothy coffee or a grubby empty cup ... these things will help.

Summary:
Good shot ... you did well ... go out and do more shooting!

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

Child in Tulips
by Photogirl_in_Vancouver

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

Interesting to do a critique on your image but it is difficult if you don't give us any information in your photographers comments. When we do a critique, we go past just the photographic result, that's what voters comments do. The critique looks at what you were trying to achieve, how you wanted it to look and what issues you had in getting the image captured and ready for voting.

First Impression - the most important one:
I think she got the cute vote in screeds. Great top 50 entry for this difficult challenges.

Composition:
I didn't notice the other person till I read the comments ... I have no idea how I missed him .. must by the excellent DOF (hehe).

Her face is really very centred in the picture .. and you could try other crops that may have helped with removing this ... either cropping the pic more on the left removing the boy and leaving more on the right. Problem with my comments is that I have to guess what you have done as you have not included comments.

Subject:
Really meets the challenge in the most lovely way.

Technical (Colour and light):
I love the colours in this shot, the DOF is really good and the sharpness is lovely.

To grow its vote?:
Try recropping without the spare head ... look at the rule of thirds .. notwithstanding every other rule .. there are so many ... but this is great and as your highest scoring I hope you had a bloody nice drink after the voting finished.

Summary:
Well done ... this is a shot to be truely proud of.

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

Whistle Down the Wind
by Artan

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

First Impression - the most important one:
If onyl we all had some interesting subject matters ... and what makes it truely candid is that you didn't know you were going to take this shot.

Composition:
It works .. I don't really know why .. to my eye half the rules are broken... but they should be anyway.

Subject:
Meets the challenge and does so in a incredible manner.

Technical (Colour and light):
This is a lovely image, I personally find it a little wishy washy with the colours, but as with what he is doing this does suit. It is sharp enough ... and I think gives a real feel for the gritty old bugger he is.

To grow its vote?:
Try with another ISO setting and see that you did good this time. Not one of your top scorers but still a lovely human element here.

Summary:
Love it ... I like the energy and from the comments I have seen I like the different emotions it plays. Congrats on achieving that.

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

Psalm 150:5!!!!!!!
by 777STAN

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

First Impression - the most important one:
Ok the title don't do it for me .. the picture has issues .. but this is a candid and meets the challenge.

A few things tend to slammed a bit here, titles that don't work for a picture and are required to understand the story. A picture should in general be able to stand on its own with a title to enhance it ... this title may have confused people.

Composition:
ok this is interesting ...

The two metal things in the front are really badly distracting ... using them instead to assist in cropping the image .. e.g. to the corners of the picture may have assisted.

when taking a shot think about the following:

Composition is about leading the eye into an image (painting or photo). Research shows that the eye enters bottom left and travels up to top right ("Leading Lines Rule"). Once in there, the same research tells us that the eye finds comfort when the point of interest (POI) sits on a thirds line or intersection ("the Rule of Thirds").

When cropping take this into account again .. as it will help.

Subject:
Meets the challenge.

Technical (Colour and light):
This is where you have problems ... drummers move hence motion blur which is fine .. but a higher shutter speed may have stopped the motion better ... its a candid so you are limited in what you can do really.

The colour is a little off ... not sure how to fix ... but trying and playing with it may help.

To grow its vote?:
Did you use a tripod? This would help eliminate the shakes and only leave the real motion blur. also think hard about composition as you are taking your shot - I find this helps heaps.

Summary:
Interesting shot .. don't scare people with titles too much ... you can share your faith without scaring people :)

Keep it up .. you will improve .. take the time to look at others works .. so you can see what make a good pic.

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

Do Not Disturb
by Perfecti0n

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

I'm sorry, but without any input from you in technical details or comments, it's just not possible to critique this image.

When we do a critique, we go past just the photographic result, that's what voters comments do. The critique looks at what you were trying to achieve, how you wanted it to look and what issues you had in getting the image captured and ready for voting.

First Impression - the most important one:
You have been bitten by the DNMC ... don't worry .. we all get that from time to time. I think for me the issue is more of where the focus of the picture is rather than that is a dog ... which btw is really cute and I hate dogs!

Composition:
This isn't too bad .. but here are some hints.

Composition is about leading the eye into an image (painting or photo). Research shows that the eye enters bottom left and travels up to top right ("Leading Lines Rule"). Once in there, the same research tells us that the eye finds comfort when the point of interest (POI) sits on a thirds line or intersection ("the Rule of Thirds").

Subject:
Meets the challenge .. but that is up to interpretation.

Technical (Colour and light):
I am not a huge fan of black and white .. especially of animals .. they have such wonderful colours from nature.

To grow its vote?:
Think inside the very tight sqare and don't challenge it!

Summary:
You done good ... you stirred up good comment.

Try staying a little safer till you build your confidence a little more .. it may help .. but then again challenge the sqaure and make it a triangle

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

The kiss
by kosmikkreeper

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

Interesting to do a critique on your image but it is difficult if you don't give us any information in your photographers comments. When we do a critique, we go past just the photographic result, that's what voters comments do. The critique looks at what you were trying to achieve, how you wanted it to look and what issues you had in getting the image captured and ready for voting.

First Impression - the most important one:
On you little voyeur .. nice shooting.

Composition:
No problems ... here .. the person in the back being out of the DOF is great and adds a secondary interest point for the eye.

Subject:
Meets the challenge .. in fact you slam dunked it.

Technical (Colour and light):
As mentioned by one of your commentators .. the sepia tonings work well here ... the slight flaring on the hair is lovely and keeps the picture real to me.

To grow its vote?:
You came 22 .. I think that is great ... looking at those that beat ya should give you ideas at how to improve. Taking candids is really a difficult skill and you are doing well.

Summary:
Great shot .. keep it up ... I am sure many more ribbons to come.

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

An interesting show
by mknace

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

Interesting to do a critique on your image but it is difficult if you don't give us any information in your photographers comments. When we do a critique, we go past just the photographic result, that's what voters comments do. The critique looks at what you were trying to achieve, how you wanted it to look and what issues you had in getting the image captured and ready for voting.

First Impression - the most important one:
Ok .. black and white works ... not stunning.

Composition:
This is good .. the arm of the back boy creates a leading line ... and takes the viewer to his face and expression.

Subject:
Meets the challenge .. I don't think they even knew you were in the room.

Technical (Colour and light):
The black and white works here, often it is overused. the picture is very badly out of focus .. as mentioned by most of your commentors. This makes it difficult to give high marks and I think that this why you were marked down during the challenge.

To grow its vote?:
Good sharp images score better than soft focus images. Don't understand why .. but that is the way that it works.

Summary:
Nice shot, could do with reshooting to try and correct focus .. but as it is candid .. you just can't do that ... keep shooting you are doing well.

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

Staring mum
by alexgarcia

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

First Impression - the most important one:
This is lovely, it is a truely candid shot, maybe missing a little, but is still a good human study.

Composition:
This is nice, but only nice, the lack of light on the childs face is an issue, but its a candid and we can not control everything. But perhaps adding a little brightness may have helped. The colours of her outfit really help her to stand out.

Subject:
Meets the challenge with full gusto.

Technical (Colour and light):
The lighting is the issue here, but you are outside and using what nature provided ... good DOF usage, and a well cropped pic with the litttle girl on thirds.

To grow its vote?:
It is not a stuning picture and you will note from the ones that won that they were. Keep practising .. you will get there.

Summary:
You have a great buildd up in your portfolio .. keep shooting.

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

S&S
by Sunniee

Comment:
::: Critique Club :::

Hi, my name is Kari and from the critique club.

First Impression - the most important one:
Completely abstract as I have no mechanical bones .. but is lovely and shiny!

Composition:
I think this is fine ... abstracts in general challenges don't seem to do as well as others ... but this is a great example .. and quite eyecatching. Once someone starts to look at it and take it in you can spend a lot of time sitting and staring.

Subject:
Meets the challenge, bang on.

Technical (Colour and light):
Funny that you get the contradictory comments we all get .. DOF great, bad etc. I like the lines in this picture, they take the eye up and then across in a pleasant manner. I just feel that this is incomplete. This is probably just me so no worries.

To grow its vote?:
lots of challenges ... trying different cuts to remove the abstratness, different DOFs to see if it improves to your eye.

Summary:
This is a good shot. You should be pleased. Keep on shooting.

If you've got any questions about this critique, please feel free to contact me via the PM system.

Cheers

Kari

New Ponga Fern Leaves
by train

Comment:
I love this .. .great crisp colours .. and tight new fronds.