Smart butter
by 308

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi 308 :)

If you think this photo sucks, why did you bother to submit it?

John Setzler

Hell
by abuck

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi abuck :)

Your idea here is a good one for this challenge, but I think the execution of it probably cost you quite a bit. I'm not sure how to suggest improving it because I have never tried anything like it myself. I think the color of the fire is a bit weak and it could possibly be stronger with a faster shutter speed making that sharper as well. A little more detail in the background subject would probably bet nice as well :)

[ WELCOME STRANGER ]
by goc

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi gooc :)

If you request a critique from the critique club, you should always fill out your 'Photographer's Comments' field when you submit your photo. When you don't include your own thoughts on the image, you can't really expect someone else to give their time and effort to give you a critique. It makes me think that you don't care enough about your own photo to take the time to post your thoughts on it...

I like this image quite a bit. It has a very interesting surreal mood, which adds significantly to the theme of this challenge. In the afterlife, things may seem unique, obscure, and dreamy in general. I like to think of it that way. This photo scored over 6 so the general population liked it as well. I read through your comments and the negative ones seem to be on items that would make it less surreal if they were implemented. Take those with a grain of salt :)

John Setzler

The Catcher in the Rye
by Alexuta

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

If you request a critique from the critique club, you should always fill out your 'Photographer's Comments' field when you submit your photo. When you don't include your own thoughts on the image, you can't really expect someone else to give their time and effort to give you a critique. It makes me think that you don't care enough about your own photo to take the time to post your thoughts on it...

This photo meets the challenge but doesn't seem to go much beyond that. I don't see any particular artistic merit or visual impact in the theme or the photo. None of your comments are negative, which surprises me, but the score is below the average. Better luck next time :)

John Setzler

will be the last journey with Jacob to our soul
by tanubiswas

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

If you request a critique from the critique club, you should always fill out your 'Photographer's Comments' field when you submit your photo. When you don't include your own thoughts on the image, you can't really expect someone else to give their time and effort to give you a critique. It makes me think that you don't care enough about your own photo to take the time to post your thoughts on it...

I don't think this image stands on its own very well. I don't care much for the lighting and composition you chose. I also can't draw the tie to the challenge from the image either. In a challenge, the challenge topic needs to be dominating and present in the photo...

John Setzler

Sleeping Duck - Quiet Please
by Cantique

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi AC :)

There is nothing wrong with this photo... the technicals are fine and the composition is ok. The lighting feels a little flat but not too bad. I think the subject/composition just lack interest for me personally. Sometimes a photo has nothing really wrong with it and still doesn't draw much attention. This usually points to the subject choice and/or the composition of that subject. I can't really offer you much on this one other than that. The photo didn't score poorly but it didn't do particularly well either...

John Setzler

At Rest in the Snow
by JEFFJSB

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi JEFFJSB :)

This is a nice study in simplicity. The subject contrasts nicely with the environment and has a nice isolation as well. I can't really offer you a lot of critique beyond my general like for the image. I think it's very well done.

As I look at your camera settings, I ask myself a few quesitons though. Your +2/3 exposure compensation was a good start here for sure with the white background, but I'm struggling to understand the choice of f/14 @ 1/25" on the exposure. It seems like a smaller aperture would be in order since there is no depth to the image and depth of field would not be an issue. Shooting that same image at f/5.6 would have allowed a shutter speed up around 1/200" or so. You don't have any visible camera shake in this photo, but you could have at 1/25". Just some thoughts :)

John Setzler

Scissors and Thread
by CarpeNoctem

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi CarpeNoctem :)

I always appreciate the study of classic photographers in one's own personal journey to improve. Ansel Adams was a definitive master of both the photography and printing process. I'm glad you have chosen him as a subject of study. You will learn quite a bit and delve into some subject matter that you may not have otherwise :) You will find inspiration in Edward Weston's works also.

This photo, as presented, doesn't seem to create much visual appeal. I think your background surface and perspective on the shot may be contributing to that. Depth is important, and this photo is rather two-dimensional. I don't think the viewer found much interest in the presentation...

John Setzler

Soft
by shanksware

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi Shanksware :)

I think this photo is underrated for sure. It's a very nicely done portrait. The reason it is underrated is rather simple though. It's not your soft focus, technique, or composition. It's the subject. Your subject is indeed beautiful and, as I said before, it's very nicely executed. The problem is that the viewers of this image have no attachment to the subject and there is no particular wow factor that creates a link to the unattached viewer of the image. When presenting a portrait to a general public audience, you can't expect much in terms of artistic merit recognition.

My personal opinion of the image is that the color tones are possibly a bit too warm for the image.

John Setzler

Outcast
by labuds

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

Hi Labuda :)

I don't think this image requires any critique. Everything about it is very nicely executed and I wouldn't change anything... nice job with the lighting and congrats on the ribbon :)

John Setzler