Bluebells
by mbardeen

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
I think the shallow depth of field works well on this, especially since the background becomes a muted yellow. Though I understand, I think, why you framed it this way, it seems a little static to me because the flowers are in the exact middle, and there is a fair amount of space on either side of them. As a result, the eyes tend to rest on the flowers (which is fine) but then there is no where else to go (except what I assume is a white flower). Maybe a portrait framing would have helped to emphasize the flowers more without detracting from the background.

TECHNIQUE
Again, the shallow depth of field really adds to the impact of this shot. Also, I think you have done well by waiting until the sun was just how you wanted it -- it has a nice dramatic effect. The contrast of the yellow and the purplish blues is very nice. The overall quality of the picture is outstanding. Very well done.

Breaking Free
by FranziskaLang

Comment:
Great details and the bw is particularly effective. I really like how the bottom picture looks like the seed things are blowing end over end upon first glance. Great work

circle of zen
by magnetic9999

Comment:
I really like the dramatic lighting and the deepness of the greens in this.

Southern Tradition
by bamaster

Comment:
I normally don't care for the alcohol pictures, but this one is very well done. Great colors and composition. 10

Stillness
by Natasha

Comment:
I love the solitude this portrays, and the bw makes it particularly effective. If you put it on DPCPrints, please PM me and let me know. This is awesome!!!!

Joy, Comfort, and Love
by dacrazyrn

Comment:
Often times, there are shots in a challenge that make me go "WOW" then there are shots that make me go "WOW, I wish I had done that." This is one of the latter. This shot is awesome!!! The photography is powerful, the composition is powerful. It is wonderful. Hope it is on the "front" page next week!!!!!!

Storm On The Horizon
by Isaac

Comment:
Isaac,

I like how you have captured the sky here. Those are very nice clouds, and you have done well because clouds can be tricky. I find myself wanting to see more on the left, so maybe if you could have turned to your left a little more, and just had one building in the foreground instead of so many, it wouldn't have detracted from the overall shot as much. Having said that, I really like the deep colors in the foreground. You have done a good job, and be careful climbing up on railings to take pictures, okay?

Karma

April Showers, bring May Flowers...
by ericwoodford

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
I like the elements you have chosen to work with here. There is just something special about children and flowers. I think, compositionally, though, it may have worked better if you had tried one of a couple of different things. First, you could have tried a portrait/vertical framing. This would have prevented the top of her little head being chopped off, and it would have allowed more of her arms and hands to show. If you really wanted it horizontal, then I would recommend moving the frame so that the child is more on the left, and more flowers on the right were showing.

TECHNIQUE
The focus works okay here. Her arms do seem a bit soft, but it is also interesting how the flowers on the right are focused, adn those on the left are not. I love the concentration on her face; you have captured a priceless memory here.

OVERALL EFFECT
Though I understand the connection to the challenge here, some may have found it a bit of a stretch. Perhaps a lower camera angle to capture some blue sky or something would have made a difference. I think you have done well. Best to you in future challenges.
karmat

Forgotten Playground
by bluebullseye

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
The tight crop of this shot really helps to focus attention on the water drops, and it fills up the frame so that there is not a lot of extraneous "stuff" competing for attention.

TECHNIQUE
Your focus is very good, and you make good use of shallow depth of field. I think that if you were going to leave it in color, it needed something to make the photograph *spark* for the viewer. As it is, it looks like a bw picture with limited tonal range. Maybe you could have converted to bw and adjusted the contrast to give it even more interest. Or, maybe, you could have found another playground toy that was in color.

OVERALL EFFECT
I felt the grayness of the picture matched the weather conditions you were portraying, and it has sort of a lonesome feeling to it, much like an empty playground does sometimes.

Welcome to DPC, adn I wish you the best in future challenges.
karmat

Find the Intruder
by Jacko

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
I really like the diagonal lines, and the different angles the lines have in this shot. The eyes have something to follow. Normally, I think shots like this are too busy, but this one actually has a reason for being so, and I think that makes it particularly effective.

TECHNIQUE
The focus works here, I think, though it may have been interesting to see what effect a deeper depth of field would do. The colors are wonderful, and I like how the skittle is just hanging out! Like I pointed out previously, the lighting does seem a little harsh to me, but at least it is uniform across the candy. Also, I am not sure what you can do to prevent that, other than using a diffuser or bouncing light off of something.

OVERALL EFFECT
This shot is very interesting, and met the challenge in a creative way. Good work, and best to you in future challenges.

karmat