Table Talk
by sueshi

Comment:
lovely. 8

Communicate? We don't even make eye contact
by markwiley

Comment:
exactly, which is why not one of them noticed you getting the pic. Great shot, expect to see it ribbon. 8

Urban Cryptography
by HUETH

Comment:
hmm up here we call it vandalism, if not outright desecration as it looks like a masoleum.

Words and gestures: universal languages
by Sisto

Comment:
cleverly done. 7

Stealth - I taste you...
by riksnake

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

First off, congratulations on getting 6th place in a Free Study with a pic of a snake....too many people would simply vote you down just because it's a snake and not a cute'n'cuddly critter (ie panda bear, kitten, puppy) or some big magnificent predator (big cat, grizzly bear, wolf) which are usually what do well here.

Now. The composition is very simple but so effective, which is to be commended. I am amazed at your depth of field, I never would have guessed it was that high...which only serves to accentuate how big and sinuous your subject is. The focus on the eye is just fantastic and the lack of a cluttered background is great for this shot as there are no distractions. I like that you use very minimal editing, it speaks of your ability to get the shot right in-camera and not relying on post-processing programs to *fix* the shot.

Again, very well done, keep up the good work and please continue to enter! Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Susan

Chinatown is my home
by jcho

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Free Studies are notoriously difficult to do well in, as everyone else is bringing their best pic from the whole month, so if your image is not up to par you will soon feel it. Let's take a look at why this pic ended up where it did.

Basically the composition is okay in that it obeys the rule of thirds. But it looks like a snapshot, meaning that it was taken on the fly, without any thought going into it. The lighting is flat and uninteresting, there is glare on the metal railings next to your subject which draws the eye away from him. There is no catchlight in his eyes, which gives him a somewhat dull and lifeless appearance. I honestly cannot even tell if he is even looking at you. I just get a sense of disconnection. There appears to be very little if any post-production work done, which gives this pic a very rough and unfinished appearance next to more polished up competition.

Also, if this was indeed shot in Chinatown...then SHOW us Chinatown!! The setting here gives a very generic look, it could have been taken in NYC, Melbourne, London, Toronto, Los Angeles...but I am not getting a sense of any sort of Chinatown here at all.

You may want to look at the portfolio of librodo. Though no longer active here, he was very active in Asia and I believe still is. You will soon see why his images and in particular his portraits are just stunning and still revered here.

Sorry in advance if this critique is a bit harsh, but that's simply my honest opinion and analysis of this image. Please learn from what I have mentioned her, and do feel free to PM me with any questions.

Susan

Message edited by author 2017-02-15 21:22:09.

Morning Glow
by senthild76

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club Senthil! This is a lovely shot and did very well in a very tough challenge, so you should be proud of it. The choice of setting and time of day are just perfect, the colours and tones harmonious and peaceful, and the towers and their reflections add a sense of the exotic to the shot. Love the leading lines and sense of place you have created.

In terms of nitpicks...honestly I am having a hard time finding any flaws. OK here's one, the horizon is just too much at the exact middle of the pic; either a third higher or lower could have won you a ribbon. Your settings are bang on for the subject.

Hope this critique has been of help. Feel free to pm me with any questions. And in the meantime please continue to shoot and enter, sometimes it takes awhile for us to get through all the requested critiques. Susan

The House
by HUETH

Comment:
very cool old house, love places like that. Congrats on the HM!

These shoes suit me well, when I feel like hell (Blue Shoes. coming from dark to light )
by kiwinick

Comment:
Nick, huge congrats on the HM! Very well done. Enjoy seeing it on the front page for a week :-)

So....what is it?
by Drake

Comment:
rock lobster