Shapes, Color, and ... Pie?!
by indigo997

Comment:
Awesome contrasts -- colors and shapes. Nicely done.

Stetson Silhouette
by Gordon

Comment:
That's a cool shot. I think I understand why you left the top window in, but I think I would have liked it as well, or better, with it cropped out. Love the silhouette.

Modern Romance
by magnetic9999

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

(hmmmm, didn't i just read a critique on my milk piture by you??? :-))

COMPOSITION
I think the composition of this is very strong. The eyes focus on the roses and then pull the eyes from them, up the stem and out of the frame. What would it look like, though, if it were flipped so that the eyes followed the stems into the frame. I don't think it would be necessarily better, just different. Very interesting choice of subjects --definitely sticks in my head.

TECHNIQUE
The lighting here is excellent. Except for one small spot near the white rose, it is not blown out, and the details show nicely. The focus also works for this. My only "complaint" would be that the red rose looks soggy. Did you pour the milk over, or sit the flowers down in the milk? IF you poured it, maybe you should have just sit them down in it and then sprinkled with milk. If you sat them there, I think you left it under the hot lights too long!!!

OVERALL EFFECT
I really liked this shot -- I thought it was creative and unique. The only detraction was mentioned above, and that was the soggy flower. Hope you didn't give these to you wife or anything!! (wink, wink)

All the Shapes
by DennisF

Comment:
My only suggestion would have been to crop some of the roof and sky out and show more of the shubbery. Also, I think a different perspective (other than directly on) would have made it more dramatic. Very interesting shot, and meets the challenge well!

Heavenly
by Turbotech

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
The composition of this shot is really nice. The milk bottle, cup and plate form a nice triangle which I think gives the shot stability. The light also helps to draw the eye up through the frame. I don't know that I would change any of the set up.

TECHNIQUE
Generally, the focus is good on this shot. The foreground elements seem a little soft, but that is not a major distraction since the focus is the bottle of milk. The color "scheme" is very nice. I think having the blue on the cup and saucer, and teh fact that it basically matches the bottle adds a touch of elegance to the shot. It has a blue cast on it, to me, and ordinarily, I think that would detract, but in this instance it adds to that "heavenly" feeling. I think it is a bit dark on the right and around the bottom. I understand that you were probably trying to get the light to be really significant, adn it is, but it is also blown out a bit. Maybe if there were some more diffused light to the right and bottom it would brighten it up a bit. A smooth background would have been nice, but I didn't notice it the first time around. :-) How would white poster board (or something similar) work, instead of cloth?

OVERALL EFFECT
The overall effect of this is one of peace and contentment to me. It has a very "cool" feeling, and is soothing and relaxing to look at. It met the challenge well, and in a creative fashion. Good work.

Nailed
by jmsetzler

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
Overall, I think the composition of this shot is good. The dude walking fills up the frame, and enough of the sky is included to give it some color contrast. For some reason, though, the little splotch of blue makes it have an "unbalanced" feeling to me. Maybe if there were another color or more blue in another part of the shot. Don't know if it would be better, just different maybe. When I first saw the shot, it struck me as being a little flat (most signs are, duh), but I am not sure what you could do to add context or depth without obliterating the nail. sorry.

TECHNIQUE
The colors here are awesome. the blue and yellow form a nice contrast, and the black stands out. The nail is visible, and casts an interesting shadow on the sign. I like the perspective of the shot. I see in your comments what the line running down the sign is, and it would have added impact, but on the full size picture, it looks like a mistake in lighting.

OVERALL EFFECT
This sign is extremely funny. You have to wonder if they nailed it like that on purpose or if they even realized what they were doing!! The brightness of the sign catches your attention, and the clarity of it keeps it. I like it.

Red Rock, Red Stop
by Yomi

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
I think overall the composition of this shot is effective and strong. The sign is in a good spot to "anchor" the shot, and the top of the ridge leads from left to right and up to down nicely. My only suggestion would be to frame it so that the edge of the sign and the edge of the formation weren't so nearly in line. It almost makes it feel unbalanced to me.

TECHNIQUE
I love the colors on this. The reds and blues provide a nice complimentary/contrast with each other, and it is really attention grabbing. The focus is awesome, with details showing throughout the picture. One thing to consider might have been a lower aperture number that would cause the formation to be blurry behind a crisply focused sign. Don't know that it would have been better. Just different.

OVERALL EFFECT
Very nicely done. It is the kind of picture that grabs your attention then holds it.

Who are you, and what did you do with my kids!???
by dltruex

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
The placement of the kids and the vacuum cleaner helps to form a triangle, which makes the composition of this shot strong. It helps the action to stay in one spot, and the eyes don't go meandering around the photograph. The flag in the background is a little distracting to me, because its colors and "shape" demand attention. However, it does add to the "living room' setting which helps ot make the shot funny.

TECHNIQUE
The lighting here is sufficient to allow for adequate detail to show through. The glares on their "faces" and on the vacuum is a bit noticeable, but obviously natural. If you wanted to get rid of it, (I am assuming it is an overhead light), you could put a tissue or paper towel over it to help diffuse the light. The focus in some areas is a bit soft, but the green fo the "aliens' helps to draw attention away from that. For the most part, the colors seem a bit muted. (More in the background than the subjects). Maybe fiddling with teh contrast/brightness or saturation levels would help some.

OVERALL EFFECT
I found this picture very funny. I have often felt the same way about some of my students at times (my son isn't quite old enough yet). If you are finished with them, send them to my house, I have a lot that they can do!!!!

Evening Tide
by a1leyez0nm3

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
Simply a wonderfully composed shot. The colors on the horizon help to divide the frame, and the fall on the left really anchors the shot well. I also think it is very effective how the water line begins on the left, curves toward the middle, then back to the left at the bottom. That gives the shot a very dynamic feel to it. The ferry in the distance is perfect for giving the picture soemthing other than gorgeous colors to look at (though that would have been enough!) At first, part of me thought you needed to crop out some of the sky, but when I look at it that way, it looses some of its punch. The brilliant blue really makes the other colors have punch.

TECHNIQUE
I really cannot think of any suggestions to give you to make this a stronger picture technically. It is beautiful like it is. The exposure is right on, allowing the colors to be sufficiently captured, while not blowing out the lights, or blurring them in the distance. This would make an awesome poster!

Truly enjoyed it, and look forward to more of your stuff.

He likes it
by lumbus

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

COMPOSITION
I really think the comoposition on this is effective. Teh darker area on the left anchors the pictures and gives the eye somewhere to rest. It also seems to point the eye to the deer. Also, you have three distinct layers, field, trees, mountain. I think you probably could have cropped the sky out as it is kinda bland and almost make the top of the ridge look blown out. My personal feelings would like to see the deer facing the other way, BUT, as a photographer, you can only expect the animals to do so much. Facing into the frame would have made it feel more balanced for me.

TECHNIQUE
I love how you were able to expose it so that the details were visible, even in the darker parts. It portrays a true landscape shot, I think, and the deer in the foreground adds to the interest, as well as giving the shot a focal point. The mountains lack "luster," and sometimes a neutral density filter or polarizer will help, especially in the smokies because there is so much haze there.

Very well done, and I hope you enjoyed your time there!