GrapeVine 9
by kerrywc

Comment:
Wonderful use of a shallow dof. The blurry background really makes the subject *pop*

Sixty Three
by Gotcha

Comment:
Great focus and lighting. Nicely done.

Sunset at six
by mariomel

Comment:
Simply wonderful. The composition is great, the colors are breathtaking. There is nothing in this shot that I would change. Great set up and very well done!

Vegan Egg
by SarahWM

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

Congrats on your first entry!

COMPOSITION
I like the overall composition of this. It has a solid anchored feeling by placing the "egg" in the lower right hand corner, and gives the eye something to rest upon. It seems to be cropped a bit tight on the right and bottom, so I would recommend giving yourself a little more space on those two sides, just to give a little more room.

TECHNIQUE
Generally, (and unfortunately) pictures with soft focus historically do not do well for dpc. I do think, however, this shot would have been more effective with a sharp clear focus. Reading your comment below, I think you did the right thing by having the outer edge, and not the center, soft. It also seems a bit dark, to me. I would suggest using a tripod and slowing the shutter down to allow more light. Or lighting the candle!

OVERALL EFFECT
A great idea. You have met the challenge well, and in a creative fashion. Best to you in the future challenges. Have fun!!
karmat

Hard boiled
by pitsaman

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
I like the overall composition of this. The curve of the plate, with the eggs following it, allow the eyes to travel in a graceful path from one side of the picture to the other. I also think the negative space in the upper part of the picture helps to make the focus on the eggs. It seems a little tight on the right, though. I would recommend a tighter crop on the right or bottom, or allowing more space on the right to give it a more balanced feeling.

TECHNIQUE
The focus in this shot is good, and I think it is lit well. It is bright enough to see the details, but not too bright so that the white spots are blown out. The reflection of the eggs add a nice touch.

OVERALL EFFECT
Great work at meeting the challenge. Looks like maybe you should have boiled the eggs just a touch longer! :-)

best to you in future challenges.
karmat

Easter Eggs
by Sonifo

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

HI SONIFO!!!

COMPOSITION
Your composition has a very stable effect, primarily because of the centered position, I think. The eyes rest on the eggs, then follow the shape of the bowl-container thingy downward. For some reason, the number of eggs bothers me -- maybe an odd number would allow you to form a definite triangle shape or pyramid and this would give a more balanced feeling to it. Just a minor nitpick though, and probably just a personal thing.

TECHNIQUE
Great macro work. Your focus is right on, and the lighting works well. The colors are nice. The one non-blue egg (the greenish one) really sticks out, I think. The bowl thing is blue, you have a blue egg, a pink egg and a blue/pink egg, leaving the yellow one with nothing to "tie it" into the picture. On the one hand, this may have appealed to some by making one element stand out. On the other, it may have made some people feel that something was off. Maybe if there was some green or yellow elsewhere, it would tie the egg more into the picture.

OVERALL EFFECT
A very nice shot. Colorful and well done. Congrats and best wishes in future challenges.
karmat

How eggs are grown
by Dim7

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
The composition in this shot is strong. It is cropped and framed in such a way that the eye is drawn from the tip of the branches, past the eggs, and out of the frame on the right. Since nothing is dead center, it is not static, but it does have a place for the eyes to rest (on the eggs), but the picture does give them a path to travel, as well.

TECHNIQUE
Your focus and exposure is awesome here, as is the lighting. It shows the details of the limb, etc, yet uses shadows effectively to add interest to the shot. Also, it gives a definite feeling of depth. Very nice work.

OVERALL EFFECT
Very humorous and well done. I commend the amount of detail that it seems you paid attention to. Indeed, it looks like the eggs have "grown" there and not placed, because manipulation of the snow is not evident. Great work.

Best wishes in the future.
karmat

Mond, RayMond
by jjbeguin

Comment:
Great picture. Almost missed the 007! Great coloring (or lack there of) on this shot. Very moody, nostalgic.

Primary Oak
by Tarbini

Comment:
Great job and congrats!!!

Thorns of Despair
by gerard

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
I think you have a good idea, and I like that it gives the feeling of lost love, or love gone by. I think the overall picture strength could have been increased by having the stems going diagonally, from lower left to upper right, instead of horizontally. Horizontal, though it gives a stable feeling, also makes pictures feel static and almost stagnant. Also, though cropping part of the subject out of a picture can be effective at times, here it feels almost accidental. Maybe if the rose was placed within the frame a little differently, and not so close to the upper left edge.

TECHNIQUE
I think the limited depth of field hurt you on this one. If you wanted a soft focus, you may have been better having the whole thing with a soft focus. As it is, the eyes want ot rest on the rose, but the thorns are what is in focus, and it is conflicting to look at. The lighting is awesome. Very dreamy and emotional.

OVERALL EFFECT
I think you have an awesome idea here, there were just a couple of things in the execution that kept people from getting the full effect of you shot.