Because the Earth is for the Birds
by sfalice

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Great subject, can't fault the dof or filling of frame, colours are spot on...but I think that hot wash of white in the middle of the back cost you in terms of score.

Hope this helps!

Susan

Smile
by mindylue

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Cute model and the white backdrop is definitely a good idea - but as already noted the focus is soft/off and thus no part of her is truly in focus, let alone the eyes. Not that the eyes should be picked out and made to look glassily perfect and doll-like, but you need to learn to adjust your AF so it will track your subject and, when you shoot, never settle for just shooting a couple of frames, especially true with a squirmy subject like a toddle. If you don't get at least a few dozen, you won't have nearly enough to choose from. And once you've chosen the best one or two, where her eyes are tack sharp - chuck the rest!

Hope this helps

Susan

Stalking ~ Black Crowned Night Heron
by Ja-9

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Winced when I saw the placing, esp as you usually do very well in challenges with images like this. But I am afraid that there is just too much clutter going on in the shot (esp that whited-out branch arcing over the heron) to make it a very good entry, especially as Wendy tends to shoot very clean. The comp is just ho-hum, you know that it takes a lot more than a percher to well here!!!

Sorry for being a bit harsh, but you're a strong girl and a strong photographer, I think you can take it :-)

Susan

Apirl Showers
by mindylue

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Very cute pic, great splash capture, but the overcast sky has led to a washiness in all the tones but especially the skin tones. There needs to be some contrast to add depth and realism. The bg is distracting - the roofline of the house bisects her head and the second partial line through her shoulders also draws the eye away from her.

You have the right idea in terms of POV, too many people shoot from regular standing person height instead of eye level with your subject. It might not have hurt to level the horizon of the sidewalk behind her, its offness leads to an uncomfortable sliding downhill sensation!

Hope this helps

Susan

Patagonian Reflections
by CodeShark

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Congrats on a very well-deserved finish, and I am going to disagree with those saying that the hiker shouldn't be there. Brett helps make the shot by adding a human dimension. OK, maybe he is a little dark, and perhaps shooting him from a bit farher back so he would be dwarfed (even more) by the mountains would have helped, but still this is an excellent shot. The chunks of ice make me shiver! The scenery is fantastic, and the peak of his hat is echoed in the mountains behind.

Please keep shooting and entering challenges here, you have an eye and I think you could kick some butt here :-)

Susan

-Coastal-Surf-
by sfalice

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Lovely exposure, great tones, beautiful scenery to die for, wonderful postcard shot...but I am looking for something like a person in the midground walking/running down the hillside to add interest and bring another dimension to this shot. Dare I also say a little too much sky? There is already so much blue in sky/water that the coastline, mountains and even grass almost struggle to be seen.

Hope this helps

Susan

Night Terror
by grahamgator

Comment:
Glad to see this win, grats on the blue! Love that headboard btw ;-)

Possession of the Summoner
by riot

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I am afraid that there is just far too much going on in this image to make it a strong contender in this challenge. Should the challenge have been 'pagan worship' or something similar, it may have done much better. But with the horns, which were meant to be the focal point, having to compete with both a fire swirl and naked women...well...not much chance of anyone thinking too much about horns at that point! It's just far too busy in terms of comp. Also, honestly, 20 outtakes are far too many to show your thought processes. One or two would suffice.

Overall an interesting approach to the challenge, but again, far too many elements competing for attention. Choose one, and only one, and make that the focal point.

Hope this helps

Susan

Message edited by author 2016-05-11 21:45:33.

Eye Level
by tjbel05

Comment:
OK I don't do staffies and/or pitbulls...they're viciousl breeds...just sayin

g r a c e
by Ja-9

Comment:
*eyeroll* Oh great, a ribbon winner wants a critique...;-) Oops you didn't hear that, did you? hehe

Greetings from the Critique Club and you've already made my job an uphill battle, Janine! Lovely exposure, achingly simple composition, utter simplicity in choice of subject and how you shot it - love how there is more feather detail in the reflection than the feather itself.

Honestly can't find any real fault with this image. So rest on your laurels, or rather feather, while you can and enjoy :-)

Susan