before e-mail
by ursula

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

Awesome shot. I'm not sure I can tell you anyway to improve it, so I'll just tell what i like about it. the composition is really strong to me, I think because it forms sort of a triangle between the lamp, paper and hand. At first, I thought the lamp was a touch overexposed, but upon looking at it more, I like it like that because the brightness of the lamp and the relative darkness of the paper, though it is so close to the lamp, really gives a feeling of past times. Great subject idea, and one that I, as well as others, I'm sure, can really relate to.

Keep up the awesome work
God Bless
karmat

Gate-keeping
by e301

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

Awesome work. This meets the challenge in a particularly unique way, I think, as it makes me feel that I have gone "back in time."

Technically, I can find little to fault. I do think lightening it a touch would help, not necessarily because my monitor is too dark, but because some of the shadowed areas look a little too ominous to me. Though black and white or sepia would have added a different feeling to the shot, I think color is very effective in this instance, and you did well to leave it (or shoot it) that way.

compositionally, I don't know that i would change anything. The sack, while it does vie for attention, also is what makes this seem so long ago to me. I think it provides some effective counterbalance to the shot.

And it does look like a painting.

Great work.

Best to you in future challenges.
karmat

Door492
by nathaliedoo

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

Very well done, technically, and the mono/duotone of this shot really adds some character to it. The focus and exposure are right on as details are easily visible, and though it may be a touch dark at the top, I think that shadow gives it an ominous feeling, thus adding to the "emotion" of the shot.

The crop to me feels just a touch tight on the left and right. I think adding a little more space might help this, or cropping it so that only the door frame showed, not the bricks. OR another potential crop may have been to include something more in the foreground. Was there a sidewalk or anything leading to it. Something to lead the eye from the bottom up may have added more interest.

Just for me personally, I think pictures of windows and doors often appear flat and without a context. You have done well at finding one with some character to it, as this is a difficult subject to do "with emotion."

As far as meeting the challenge, right angles are definitely a major part of the shot. At first glance, I thought, "but are they important to the shot." Then, I tried to envision what it would be like without right angles, and decided that without them, the shot would be totally different.

Good work and best to you in future challenges.
karmat

Secret Garden
by terrentius

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

Very interesting take on the challenge. It is a 'garden' without being blatant about it. I really like the rich colors evident here, and it seems that you have done well at capturing the beauty of the place. My only gripe with the picture is the exposure. The lit part is almost blown out, yet the shadows complete hide any potential detail. I, for one, am not that good at adjusting or compensating for exposure (still learning this aspect), but jmsetzler and gordon are both very good at it. I am sure if you contacted them, they could give you some pointers on it, if you wanted it.

Compositionally, I like how the light on the floor attracts your attention and leads you out the gate. It is an interesting picture that really makes the viewer want to see more of this place, or learn about it.

Good work and best to you in future challenges.

karmat

Under Construction
by stephan

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

I did not vote in this challenge, because of time issues, but I think you have done an excellent and creative job of meeting the challenge. I guess my only beef would be that it wasn't really "in" the garden, but other than that, I think it is an awesome idea.

I do think the reflection detracts a little. At first it didn't bother me, but as i looked at it, my eyes began to cross and it was like part of the picture was out of focus (not the deliberately out of focus part,). I like that the plant is so well lit and visible in front of the blurry greenery outside. It would have been neat to have a cityscape behind it, but I guess we can't have everything.

Something about the shadowed part across the bottom makes it feel unbalanced to me. Perhaps if it were cropped so that just the shelf, and not the shadow were showing this could be helped OR give just a bit more room on the right.

Good work and best wishes to you in future challenges.

karma

Inside Looking Out
by connie

Comment:
Great colors, and you definitely got the cute factor going. Good work.

Beyond The Grotto
by Faye Pekas

Comment:
I love the silhouette, and the lighting on the clouds. The irregularity of the framing of the opening helps the bw establish tension, I think.

Nightly Waiting
by moodville

Comment:
At first, I thought this would be a better setup if you could do it with a real person. BUT, the more I look at it, the more I like it with the little model man thing. Great lighting.

Out of Paint
by barahoo

Comment:
great idea. the simplicity works well here, I think. I also like that the lighter color is not totally blown out everywhere.

the stowaway
by grigrigirl

Comment:
Awesome coloring on this - helps to really set a mood here. Great work.