33.52 Tourists in Strasbourg
by Melethia

Comment:
Deb, I commented earlier on this one, but will just add again that this is a big hit with me.

Rice Cooker
by pawdrix

Comment:
I didn't get chance to vote in this challenge, but when I scrolled through a few of the images I figured this was likely yours. It had a certain look that I have come to associate with you. And, of course, I think it should have scored much higher.

Message edited by author 2009-01-07 14:20:32.

Three Graces
by Alicia

Comment:
Oh, this is awesome. I love the title, reminds me of home!

The Three Graces of Liverpool

Carousel girl
by Melethia

Comment:
Deb, Well done on the yellow ribbon. Lovely image.

_C6M8242.jpg
by Ecce_Signum

Comment:
Another great one.

_C6M8244.jpg
by Ecce_Signum

Comment:
Andi, this is lovely. You have really got the hang of the LB.

Sad sunset
by Rino63

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

I think is is an image that did not score as well as it could have done. I think the composition is very nice, the tree on the left is well placed and gives an anchor point. The sun is pretty bright so rather difficult to expose correctly. I am not entirely sure a scene such as this really benefits from the Lucis Arts filter. I think possibly the effect this filter has had on the sky makes it look a little unreal.

I do think a slightly different approach to editing this would have given you a slightly higher score. I would tried a levels adjustment layer on the dark foreground only, reduced the brightness/exposure very slightly on the sky and then pumped up the vibrancy/saturation a little bit in the blue/cyan/red channels. I think that would have made a big difference and may have helped the score slightly.

I do think this image had the potential to score much better.

Sarah

Outtake 2
by JimiRose

Comment:
Hi, I just left you a critique on your challenge entry. I have to say, I think this one may have been a better choice for the challenge, but only if you had pumped up the saturation a little bit. I was thinking more of the vibrance in ACR actually than the saturation. It wouldn't need much, just a tweak. This is really a nice one.

A Lonely Wanderer by the Frozen Lake
by JimiRose

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

I rather liked this during voting (gave it a 6) and was surprised it didn't score a little higher.

I think the commenters have pretty much nailed most of the reasons why it didn't score higher. There is possibly too much reliance on the title, as the elderly man is really rather lost in this. The composition is good the way it is, but in order to emphasise the subject (as your title has made the man the subject), it would probably have been better to crop a little tighter. The tracks on the ice are great, but I am inclined to agree with tnun about cropping out the stones.

I think I would also probably suggest a slight levels adjustment to lighten the midtones. You could get a bit more detail out of the trees which I think would have helped. Also, as this was a sunset/sunrise challenge, I wonder if a slight boost to the red/yellow saturation would have helped your score. It's such a lovely wintery scene, I just don't think it has reached it's potential. It may be a tad too sharp as well.

Hope this was helfpul. Give it a go with a slight crop and levels adjustment. I'd be interested to see how it came out.

Sarah

Backdrop for a wine farm
by CarlvanHeerden

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

I think the sunset must have been amazing - would love to have seen it myself.

As far as the composition goes, I think this would have been much better in a horizontal orientation. The mountain to the right is cropped right through the middle and my eye is drawn immediately to that. You've done a great job with Photomatix as you have managed not to increase the noise levels too much (always hard with low contrast scenes) and have avoided the "cartoon" look. The reds are amazing - not sure how pumped they were in editing, but either way I feel like I can imagine the sunset.

A couple of other reasons you may have scored a bit lower than perhaps you would have hoped: in a sunset/sunrise challenge some people may actually be looking to see the sun itself in the frame. Also, in a challenge with such strong competition I think this probably lacks the WOW factor, but largely, I think the main reason is the orientation of the photo.

Hope some of this was helpful.

Sarah