Winter... stage left
by Pipe_Dream

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

I was surprised to see this scored only a 5.1, I think it probably was worth a higher score than that. I have read the comments left during voting and can see that people did not like the artificial lighting you used. When viewing this again, after the challenge, I am inclined to agree with those comments. I actually gave you a six, as I did really like the composition. However, I do agree the person in the shot looks somewhat isolated due to the lighting.

The composition is strong, but the focus looks a little soft. The trees and hill in the background look quite soft. I have to agree with Aliqui's comment about the vignette. I do not think this was probably necessary for this particular photo. I think it detracts from the overall composition.

The colour in the sky looks a little bit unnatural and I think this may have hurt you a bit.

Overall I think this is a nice sunset photo, but given the challenge it was in, certainly does not have anywhere near enough WOW to woo the DPC voters.

Sarah

Early glow over the ridge
by jnenvir

Comment:
Greetings from the Critigue Club

I'm sorry this didn't score better for you, but I think there are a number of things contributing to the low score, mostly relating to the processing.

The composition itself is good and you captured the sky rather nicely. However, as the image has rather a lot of noise in it, which surprises me given the caliber of your equipment, it suggests that you have cropped this image rather heavily during post processing. The image itself does look a little as though it could be straightened, although that is possibly just an illusion due to the angle. The focus also looks a little soft, again, I wonder if that is a product of using a zoom/heavy cropping.

As this was an advanced editing challenge you could probably have cloned out the suspension wire that is visible. It think this may have helped, although, of course, it would be quite a big job.

I think most of your comments received should have given you some pointers on how to improve a shot like this for the future.

Sarah

Golden sunset
by sekarmalathy

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

First of all many congratulations on 6th place. Well deserved, this is a lovely image.

Well, it is, I must say, rather difficult to provide tips on how to improve this photo. Composition is excellent, technically I can't see much wrong with it. The colours are very subtle. The only thing I really am not that fond of is the heavy border. I am not suggesting a border is bad, but these feels just a little bit heavy for such a delicately coloured image. I think if you had a smaller border you may have even ribboned!

I did actually give this a 7 and probably would have given an 8 if the border was more subtle.

Sarah

05:45am sunrise
by ytshuva

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

I think the score you received is probably around about right for this shot. This is indeed a beautiful sunrise, however, there are a number of things that could have improved the score quite easily.

The extreme shadows in the foreground do actually hurt this one a little bit. If the foreground was slightly lighter the viewer would be able to put the excellent leading line more into context. Right now it looks a little out of place.

Composition: if you had perhaps taken a few steps to the right so the subject was more to the left of the frame you could have made better use of the leading line. Also, to my eye the horizon looks like it is right in the middle of the photo. I think including a little bit more of the sky may have helped this.

Overall a very nice sunrise photo that potentially could have scored a little higher with some additional editing.

Sarah

"It is Christmas in the heart that puts Christmas in the air" (W. T. Ellis)
by talj

Comment:
I love composition and the bokeh in this is gorgeous. (Not voting)

Right Before My Eyes
by toddhead

Comment:
What a stunning portrait.

It's Over
by hellfish1066

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

First of all, let me say, I did like your title. I thought it was quite fitting for this challenge.

The concept is very nice, the dying flowers silhouetted against the sky. However, there are a few things that may have contributed to you lowish score. Hopefully, my comments will help you.

It looks very much like the horizon is actually a few degrees away from being level. You can see this if you look at the water, it has an appearance of tilting to the left. A quick rotation adjustment in Photoshop would have helped this. The fence posts in the foreground of the picture do not really add anything to the composition and make it feel quite cluttered. Another potential reason for the score is that voters possibly felt it didn't really portray a sunset (some people literally want to see the sun!).

Overall a good image that probably could have been improved a bit with a little bit of editing.

Sarah

Cow at Dusk
by posthumous

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

So, I get to critique a Posthumous image - good job these are randomly generated. Don't shoot me :)

I am pretty sure you are aware of the reasons why you did not score higher, even without reading others comments or mine. I actually scored this a 6 because I loved the light captured on the trees and it was refreshing to see something other than a landscape for the subject. I do find the area just behind the cow to be a little too dark for my taste, but difficult lighting at that time of day.

I could add to others comments that the positioning of the cow was too central, or that the top of the tree was chopped off etc, etc, but really I believe those comments would be superfluous. It is a pity the trees are slightly out of focus too.

I haven't figured out if you were genuintely going for the brown or not.

Sorry I have not added any substance to this critique, but you know, it's pretty challenging to to critique this one!
Sarah

View From the Valley Floor
by Nforsberg

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club

The first thing I notice with this picture is the wonderful reds from the sunset. Absolutely gorgeous. However, as somebody once commented on one of my photos, you do also need to have a subject, it is not enough just to photograph the sky. In a challenge with so many wonderful sunset/sunrise pics, you would really need to stand out by having an interesting subject and focal point. Here there really is nothing.

From a technical point of view the exposure is good, as are the colours. I am not sure I agree with the sharpening comments, I think the clouds look good as they are. Focus looks quite soft.

I think the main reason you did not score very highly in this challenge, is the lack of a real subject.

Hope you find this useful.

Sarah

Change in seasons
by Melethia

Comment:
Deb, well done on the top 20!