Politics of a Tree
by pointandshoot

Comment:
Leaning to the left - like me. An interesting study, although perhaps a bit too much foreground for my tastes.

Midnight at Furnace Hill
by Maverick

Comment:
Not keen on the foreground grasses, but thoroughly impressed with the detail in the engine and the tonal range of the B&W conversion.

iDog
by bogulo

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club, here are my thoughts on your photo:

Initial thoughts - a good take on the challenge theme with an amusing and very appropriate title thta compliments the photo.

Technicals - exposure was always going to be a hard one to nail, with the large tonal range. I would say that you have very marginally over-exposed: there is some detail in the dog's coat, but the overall brightness of the white makes the detail hard to pick out. The composition is right, given the constraints of candid photography; the diagonal of the path, echoed by the diagonal of the lead is pleasing, although the placement of some elements of the background, notably the bush in the left of frame is, for me at least, less beneficial to the shot. Did you explore any other crops? I masked off below the second row of windows, and found a crop that I felt had more impact, but as with all things compositional, it comes down to subjective aesthetics and opinion. I do find the slight tilt to the right somewhat uncomfortable, although it may be that it gives a greater sense of presence to the woman.

Overall impression - an interesting commentary on a clearly affluent and fashion-conscious lifestyle that is a subtle but very valid take on the challenge.

If you have any queries, do send me a PM.

October 2008
by e301

Comment:
York! I really must get out and about in the city a bit more....

Protecting The Herd
by bobonacus

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!

Your photo is a pleasing study of this stag and his harem - and delivers just what it says in the title. Compositionally, I think the stag taking centre was the correct choice here, and the balance is kept by the does who are all facing right of frame. You have selected a good depth of field for your subject, with the stag in sharp focus and the herd thrown out into a gentle blur, although you might have been able to go softer still (depending on light and lens)and still retain the environmental context. Given there is little of foreground interest, you have made the most of the framing by minimising the amount of grass showing, but whilst still maintaining a sense of distance between you and the stag. There is a decent amount of texture revealed in his coat, although with stronger side-lighting you might have been able to capture more. The catchlights in the eyes is particularly pleasing.

I suspect that it is the light that let this down - flat and dull, and somewhat boring. Bit of a problem for those of us living in Old Blighty!

If you have any questions raised by this critique, feel free to PM me.

Regards, Sara.

Blue Heron
by sfmorris

Comment:
Another wonderful photo from sfmorris? Assuming I am right, not quite as strong as the wildlife entry with it's humour, but nonetheless a superb study with a wonderful atmosphere to it.

Red squirrel
by snaffles

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!

As you already know, I thoroughly enjoyed looking at this photo during voting, and was impressed by it - I am pleased it came up for me in the CC so that I can give it another in-depth view.

Firstly the subject - an excellent choice for a Wildlife challenge, giving most viewers a glimpse of an animal they are likely to see only rarely in their lives, but that has been immortalised by Beatrix Potter in the form of Squirrel Nutkin.

Composition - the log on which the squirrel sits provides a good sense of scale, reinforcing how small the red squirrel is. Initially I was unsure about the inclusion of the tree to the left, but on reflection I feel it was important, providing an anchor; the branch acts as an arrow pointing to the main subject - if I was to be very picky, I might prefer it was a bit higher in the frame but that is perhaps being a little ultra pernickity!

Depth of Field is spot on; the squirrel and tree stump stand out well from the background, with the gorgeous bokeh providing a perfect foil, whilst still retaining enough definition to provide the necessary environmental context. Colour rendition is excellent, with a super autumnal feel which suits the subject perfectly. A couple of comments have mentioned the textures, and this is something that I didn't consciously register in my first viewing - now I see how clear they are, i believe that they are completely integral to the photos success.

All in all, a photo you should be immensely proud of, and certainly one to blow up for framing!

Your Face Here, Inc.
by muur88

Comment:
A tribute to this photo by muur88? There is certainly a slice of life here, and you have made a pretty ood job of getting that cinematographic stopped motion effect - although a bit of a shame there is still some movement in the boy in the foreground. i love the little vignettes - the police talking to the couple in the door way (a hooker and her pimp perhaps); the guy peering in through the window of the pub while the two men in front are making some sort of exchange, and the man to the right of the frame bending down to pick something up - something he has dropped or a coin he has spotted, I wonder.
On a technical note, there is something rather odd about the lighting on the man with the red top, his jeans particularly, although i can't quite work out what. A very interesting photo to view.

A Sketch in Progress
by K3Master

Comment:
I think this is wonderful - would make a great arty card.

"No Where"
by ace flyman

Comment:
Very nicely observed. The fact that the woman is so alone, no people, cars, not even a piece of dropped litter, nothing at all to indicate there is anyone else in the world at all makes this all the more poignant - as though she is waiting and waiting for someone who will never come.