Kalaloch Lodge Sunset
by wsargen

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Hello!

This is a nice entry. A good sunset always works in a postcard, and this is a wonderful sunset. The colours are beautiful. Meets the challenge with no problems.

The horizon line is straight, but the stone fence line and the columns are not - that is somewhat disconcerting. Straightening out one would make the other look slanted. Maybe if you could have gotten a bit closer and to the right, and lined up the horizon to the top of the stone fence, and kept the columns straight?

The use of the arches as the frame for the postcard is a good idea. IMHO the postcard could be improved if there were not such a big black area towards the top, and if the sides were more similar (one side has a black column, the other not). Again, going in closer and to the right might have helped.

The colours are absolutely beautiful! The sun behind the branches and the reflections on the water really make the picture shine. I love the soft reflection on top of the inner stone fence. The colour is the best part of this postcard. Focus also is fine.

The font/size/color/placement of the lettering is good, maybe a little on the shy side for a postcard, but nice. The only problem with it is the spelling, it should be "Olympic Peninsula", not "Olympic Penninsula".

Keep up the good work!

Ursula I Abresch

Medley
by greenem2

Comment:
Very nice. I guess this would work both for primary and secondary colours :) What is it? Looks like silk in the wind, or ink in water. I wonder if it would look just as good with a white mat. Love the transparency. ~8

last minute flower action
by dan-o

Comment:
Nice border! I love the crop, the colours, and the softness of the picture. ~10

Montreal, Canada
by nathaliedoo

Comment:
From the Critique Club,

Nathalie, hello,

Ah, Montreal, my husband and I love it there (especially the restaurants and the market in little Italy, or to eat at the Cafe Mozart in the old town).

First impression: I loved this entry when I first saw it. The colourful skyline, the reflections, the choice of font and size/colour for the letters - it's a very good entry to "Postcards".

I am having a very difficult time critiquing this, as it is, IMHO, just right the way it is. Did you try not centering the bright yellowish reflection? I wonder if that might make the picture more dynamic. You used an 8 sec. shutter speed? I will try that one of these nights here in Ottawa. I think I'm learning from you here rather than helping you.

This is a good postcard - I was expecting it to place higher, but then, the scores were high all around. Keep up the good work!

Ursula I Abresch

Edinburgh Castle - Scotland
by agwright

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Tony, hello,

My first impression (when voting for the challenge) was, "Lucky person who gets to live in a place like this!"

This is a beautiful entry, and a good postcard. The frame, matting, and the lettering go well with the image. I like looking at this photo, but, to my eyes, there are a couple of details that bother me (just a little):

1 - The cropping, in particular on the left-hand side. The white of the sky meets the white of the matting (about the middle), and makes the mat look wider all of a sudden. Maybe cropping to the edge of the castle walls? Or, maybe making sure the sky is blue in this place?

2 - The perspective, it looks to me like either I or the picture is somehow leaning. I suppose a tall ladder wouldn't help much in this situation.

3 - The slight "halo" around the edge of the castle, most pronounced at the right of the picture - you possibly sharpened too much? The sky also looks a bit oversharpened.

But, as I said above, this is a beautiful entry. I am so glad you didn't divide the picture in halves (half sky / half earth) - the way you divided it works much, much better.

Keep up the good work! Take care,

Ursula I Abresch

Gateway to the West
by kaysriv

Comment:
From the Critique Club,

First impression: Wow, what a cool perspective! And all blue. The words are out of place.

Composition: Unique, different, great use of space. I've been to St. Louis, and up into the arch (long time ago), and this picture captures the feeling of the place very well.

Technical: Focus is good. I would have liked the contrast to be a bit higher (blues of sky vs. blues of arch). Wonderful how you got such a big blue sky with hardly any noise.

Overall: I wouldn't change anything in the picture, except (maybe) to brighten it up just a little. The words on the other hand look a bit "tacked on", and it's the words that probably cost you a higher score in this challenge. Please don't take this wrong, but the picture is bold, beautiful, it reaches out into the sky - the words look kinda "wimpy" by contrast. The good news, now you can experiment with it!

Keep up the good work! Take care,

Ursula I Abresch

BTW - not that I don't like your pictures, they're beautiful, but I hope you get someone else (for variety) on your next critique :)

Black and White
by Jean

Comment:
No smudge!!
Looked at it again - I like the original (with smudge) better, it has more character (IMHO).

Message edited by author 2003-05-18 07:36:31.

Gear Gadget
by LeahStephen

Comment:
The picture is too small, and out of focus. Good idea though. Keep trying!

colors
by sselman

Comment:
The colours are beautiful, but the picture is out of focus and there's a fair bit of noise, especially at the horizon and the waterlines. I think you took this in low light without a tripod? Something to steady the camera might have helped. Great colours though.

Lemon: from primary to secondary color. Naturally.
by deadbrain

Comment:
Where'd you find that?!?! Didn't your mom tell you to eat your lemons before they turn fuzzy? Gret detail here.