Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
by bryskyd

Comment:
FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Hello, Bryan,

I'm so glad I got this picture! I loved Pirates of the Caribbean (I've seen it three times). I've never been to Disneyland, and, if my kids wouldn't have told me, I wouldn't have known that it was based on Disney characters.

I think this was a good entry to the "Movies" challenge. It certainly couldn't be anything but that movie!

Your photo is good technically, although the light could be just a tad better. Your crop is very good. There really is not much wrong with the picture (except maybe the light a bit).

So you ask, why didn't it get a higher score? My guess is that the whole scene somehow looks too unreal, or "plastic", which takes away from the impact of the photo. Somehow the emotion gets lost with the fake figures. It's weird how that happens, but that's what I think happened here. Like my little girl tells me, "Why couldn't he get Johnny Depp to pose for him?"

Anyway, I like your entry, it is very appropriate to the challenge, and well done. Take care,

Ursula (uabresch)
Comments, questions, complaints ... feel free to contact me.

Bell, Book, And Candle
by joannadiva

Comment:
FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB

Hello, Joanna,

I wasn't around for the voting on the "Movies" challenge, and I haven't taken the time to look over the entries, so, this is the first time I see your photo. Also, I don't know the movie this picture is based on. But, on first impression I like your picture! As a matter of fact, I think I might like to look up the movie (I like older movies - this is an older movie, right?)

Your composition is excellent. Everything looks like it should be where it is, and even though it looks set up, it also looks very natural. That is very interesting.

Light and colours are very good. The pure black background is excellent. The only place where it could possibly be improved is on the right side of your face, especially the shadow from the cat.

Focus is a bit off - and that is probably the main reason you didn't get a better score. It looks like you focused in front of the cat, more or less where the bell is, but everything in front and in back is somewhat out of focus. I don't know what f stop you used (or if your camera allows you to adjust f stops), but using a higher f stop (f8 or so) will give you better depth of field.

Anyway, I like your entry very much. I love the smile on the girl's face (is that you?), and the fact that the cat seems fascinated with the candle. Good work!

~Ursula (uabresch)
Comments, complaints, questions ... feel free to contact me.

broken window
by ramone

Comment:
Very nice! I like how the hole in the glass looks like a person, and how you can see the painted face on the wall through the hole. Very good! ~10

The Last Straw
by arnit

Comment:
Beautiful!!! Excellent silhouette picture. The colours and the blur of the background are just right. ~10

A Brush with Decay
by moodville

Comment:
Great title, wonderful closeup! Not everyone can make something like this look so beautiful. ~10

Home Sweet Home
by giants

Comment:
Powerful! Good picture.

Sadness ......
by agwright

Comment:
What strange gravestones! Are they gravestones? Good entry for the challenge, b/w is very appropiate and well done.

The haunted house at the end of the world
by jonr

Comment:
So, where is the end of the world?

Silent Stroll
by AtlantaRockScene

Comment:
This is a gutsy entry! Not everyone dares to enter a "blurry" picture, even when the blur is intentional. It fits the challenge very well. Am I wrong at guessing that the idea of the picture is that the walker is either crying or tipsy, maybe both? ~10

Where no one can live
by russi

Comment:
Beautiful picture! The frame really adds to it. ~9