Take Me to the River
by kandyj

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

Composition -- I think the main thing I would change in the composition is to make it a horizontal framing instead of vertical. I understand that that might not have been possible, because I don't know what was to the left or right of the frame, but you may have been able to get the same effect by cropping some of the sky out. The sky is beautiful, but it is most interesting, I think, just above the hills. I like how the tree on the left frames the shot, adn it is also effective how you have used three elements in "layering" the shot (river, hill, sky), though, again less sky would have made the elements fill the frame more equally.

Technique -- I really like how you have captured the colors in the sky, adn I understand how difficult that is to do, and maintain proper exposure. The hillside and the river do appear to be a bit dark, as a result, and the picture, overall, may have been stronger if you could have captured more of the detail in some way. It is well focused, which is an accomplishment in itself when photographing a tree!

Overall Effect -- You met the challenge well, and I found myself hearing "Billy Bob Bass" singing this over and over and over!! (If you do not know who Billy Bob is, you gotta see one to truly appreciate this song!). The colors are very soothing and it is a very nice shot. With a little tweaking, I think it would make a nice shot to hang on a wall somewhere.

Walk of Beauty
by kathleenm

Comment:
Wonderful colors and good capture of the textures. I like how the road leads from the bottom of the frame, giving an "entry" point. Maybe if it was framed so that the road curved into the picture instead of out of it, it may be more effective, at least to me.

Farmscape
by KrazyKat

Comment:
Good placement of the objects (trees, barn, etc) in the frame. Also, I like how the green trees and red barn contrast. I think there needs to be just a touch more space in the foreground if possible. It kinda feels like the barn is sitting on the bottom of the frame, and it seems off balanced to me.

Mohonk
by davissprague

Comment:
I htink the black and white gives this picture a feeling of desolation and loneliness. Is that what you were after? Also, it seems that the focus is a bit off, it just seems kinda soft. Maybe if there was an object or road in the foreground to focus on, it wouldn't be so noticeable.

Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire
by Refrax

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB COMMENT
by karmat

Composition -- Overall, I think the composition works well because it is off-center. If it had been centered, I think it would have needed to be completely round, otherwise it may have felt off-balanced. I do think, however, that the ring needs to be more to the right third of the picture instead of the left. On the left, it doesn't seem "to have room" to burn, whereas it on the right it would. I like the angle of the "ring," that also adds to the strong composition and prevents the picture from being "static."

Technique -- I almost think you need a higher aperture number so that you could slow the shutter down even more (I do not know a lot about your pictures, so that may not be possible, forgive me if it's not). IThe problem with that approach is that the fire may be blown out. Fire is a difficult subject to shoot, but you have done it fairly well. I also think this is a good use of negative space because it forces the eye to the fire.

Overall effect -- It met the challenge well, and technically, I think you have done a good job, as fire is so hard to photograph. For me, personally, this lacks a little in its interest. maybe a little more context of the shot, or more fire, even some smoke around. not sure. Sorry i can't be more specific.

blue
by niwedimages

Comment:
Very nice colors, but I think if the dark section at the bottom had been sharper, it would have been more effective, and if there was more of it. Also, was the small size intentional?

Cumberland Falls
by RLS

Comment:
Excellent composition, can't think of a thing I would change except to suggest going back in Spring or Summer and reshooting to get a color version!

A Fresh Start
by mprediger

Comment:
Very effective use of shadows! I like the tree on the right, but I found myself wanting ot see more of it.

Prominent Thorns
by smellyfish1002

Comment:
The blur in the background really helps to bring out the detail of the plants. I like the coloring as well, very warm.

Sunset on Lake Ontario
by firstduchess

Comment:
Beautiful shot. I think you have composed it well in that you have the picture divided in thirds, horizontally, which really adds to the interest level of the shot.