Counting Down Time with a Paper Chain
by sabal5

Comment:
This image holds a good deal of 'interest' value for its color and absract nature, but I am lost on the interpretation of 'time' in this photo... - setzler

All State
by thatguy

Comment:
This photo does show 'time', but I believe it is lacking some subjective punch. This photo may have some very strong meaning to you, as the photographer, but for an average viewer, it may not hold a great deal of interest... The image also seems to be suffering from a great deal of jpg artifacting... possibly from compression... - setzler

Bottle Bank
by NeonSpirit

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club :)

Hi NeonSpirit...

I like your idea on this photo quite a bit. I really enjoy a photo that is somewhat abstract where the shapes and textures are the main element of the image. This particular photo offers quite a bit of that.

Compositionally, I think there may be room for a minor improvement by rotating the camera just a little so that the lines formed by the tops of the bottles create diagonals in the frame rather than horizontal/vertical lines. There is a slight diagonal from left to right, but I think a stronger diagonal could possibly create a stronger composition.

This image may also be a good candidate for a black and white image. The bit of amber color that is available here does offer a bit of a unique touch, but there is not enough color to rule out the option of trying this in grayscale. A grayscale version would possibly further enhance the subject of shape and texture by eliminating that small bit of color in the image...

Excellent shot and keep up the great work :)

John Setzler

Shadowgate
by mbardeen

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club :)

Hi Mbardeen...

This is an interesting abstract photo and I also think that the choice of black and white enhances the image... it brings out the contrasts and makes the light/shadows the primary interest in the image. I also believe you had a good eye to catch this as a subject for 'from above'. When I first viewed the image, it took me a while to determine the angle and what I was really looking at. This could be the source of your sub-5 score as well. Unfortunately, I don't believe that a majority of the voters on DPC really give each photo adequate time when voting.

The shadows created by the gate provide a good deal of interest, but there is also a LOT of interest and my eye keeps wandering around inside the photo and never really comes to rest on some specific subject or point of interest. The gate shadow is intricate and detailed. I'm not sure how to suggest any improvement on this particular subject other than possibly working with a smaller piece of the image that you have captured here.

Keep up the good work :)

John Setzler

16 and Bashful
by EJ

Comment:
interesting shot... she doesn't seem too bashful by the expression on her face :) I believe the motion blur got the best of you on this photo and the resharpening process may have complicated that some... - setzler

Floral Time
by boyte1

Comment:
Very nice composition... Time is evident for sure... the lighting is also excellent... - setzler

Long time ago
by hilmarsig

Comment:
This is an excellent landscape idea that shows how time leaves some things behind... I think this composition could be a little stronger if you remove some of the foreground and bring the old barn lower in the frame... the tonal range is also a little flat... maybe some level and contrast adjustments would bring that up a bit also... nice work :) - setzler

falling
by sum1undercover

Comment:
this is a really neat shot... it's one of the first I have seen on DPC where I thought the lack of focus really added a great element to the photo... excellent work... - setzler

daydreamer
by magnetic9999

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club :)

Hi mag...

Anita certainly is a beautiful model and I always enjoy seeing the photos you produce of her.

I really do like the high key lighting on this shot. Her lipstick stands out in the brightness, so the exposure is perfect. The bright lighting gives her skin a beautiful and soft milky tone that looks like something I want to reach out and touch :) The wrinkled background also makes this photo quite inviting... The look in her eye.. the unbuttoned sweater... the theme is quite seductive and intriguing.

This shot, and all of your portrait work is excellent as usual... I don't feel qualified to really critique your photos. I like to use your portraits as examples by which I judge others...

Keep up the great work :)

John Setzler

Simpler Times
by crabappl3

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club :)

Hi Crab...

The challenge is nicely met here with the 'from above' view. The composition is fine. The exposure looks just a tad on the flat side though. Looking at your settings, I would assume that the image may be underexposed by about one stop or so. A slightly longer exposure (one more stop using 1/400" or so) would possibly increase the saturation on the red in the photo quite a bit. The red awning is showing up some amount of noise and i'm not sure where that is coming from. It could be underexposure, but more likely from post processing on the hue or saturation channel.

This image looks more like a 'per chance' photo than something that you planned... Understanding that, I believe that a different time of day may highlight this scene a little more. Planning for the bicycle rider had to be impossible, but a slightly longer exposure on that issue to create a little motion blur with the rider could have created a really nice piece of eye candy in this photo...

Keep up the good work :)

John Setzler