1959
by wickedpete

Comment:
Cheeky - just! An interesting interpretation of the challenge.

Physical and Abstract Balance
by graphicfunk

Comment:
This is a beautiful image with an intriguing hint in the background. The colouring is great, as is the ckarity of the main subject, offset by the misty base. An excellent photo on a number of levels. Minor nitpick, the horizontal break between pink and mauve isn't, which is a pity.

Inner Balance
by dan_pendleton

Comment:
Spot on challenge and a great photgraph to boot. Love the warm skin tones and the contemplative expression. Well done!

Goggles
by shutterfly

Comment:
Hello Wendy from the Critique Club,

Composition
Hey, this a nice jokey sort of portrait. The tilt to the head and the expression are great and there is a sense of balance, despite the almost square positioning. A slight change in camera angle might have removed the door in the background, although it is not particularly intrusive. The crop is tight to the head at the top but any less tight might have upset the balance.

Focus
The shallow depth of field is well controlled, providing a good clean main subject and an out of focus background.

Exposure
You have desaturated all but magenta(?) and the black and white image is nicely exposed, with no clipped highlights - the highlights and shadows on the face add to the image, neither too bright in the highlights nor too dark in the shadows. The desaturation was neatly handled with no obvious interference between B & W and colour.

Challenge
It clearly meets the challenge - pity in a way that it came so close after the Desaturation Challenge - but maybe that is where the inspiration came from!

Overall
This is a nice portrait, perhaps all in black and white and with less foggy goggles so that you could see the eyes, one to keep for the subject! I like the happy expression and the way the water drips are caught on the face and neck. I wonder what lighting you used - there is an interesting highlight on the chin and cheek from a different light source - it does not detract! Perhaps it is just natural light and the highlights are reflections from the pool. Well done!
Hugh
Any comments or reactions, feel free to contact me.

purple symmetry
by cmangis

Comment:
Hello Carol from the Critique Club,

Composition
This was shot from below, giving a nice backdrop of the sky. The use of the sun to light the back of the flower as well as part of the front is atractive. The tree in the background is a bit distracting and the buds don't really add to the image. A different camera angle might improve the composition (moving further to the right?) and putting the main subject in the top right 1/3 corner might help but you might lose the backlit petal.

Focus
The shallow depth of field aids the composition and the primary subject is nicely in focus. The sharpening you applied looks just right.

Exposure
The exposure was well handled, the highlights are just clipped but there is no loss of important detail, the same is true for the blacks.

Challenge
One could grumble about what purple is - your image is perhaps a little blue for me but that is nitpicking!

Overall
This image has potential - it could possibly have been impoved a little by trying out some alternative camera angles but the combination of front and backlighting look great.

Hugh
Any comments or reactions, feel free to contact me.

"Purple Rain"
by ladpupmoe

Comment:
Hello Peggy from the Critique Club,

Composition
This is a very attractive image - the contrast of purple against green works really well, as does the diagonal stem. Some commentators have suggested a tighter crop - I have tried it and maybe there is some potential there but you would lose some of the balance provided by the green. It has a lovely soft bokeh - the Pentax Optio S is a remarkable camera and you have shown it off to its best advantage.

Focus
The use of shallow DoF is entirely appropriate, drawing the eye to the shape of the leaf and the water droplets. The sharpening applied is just right, sharp but impercetible.

Exposure
The histogram is work of art in itself! A full range of black to white and loads in the middle - perfect for this image.

Challenge
This fits well with the challenge and the rain looks very natural.

Overall
I very likeable image. Maybe a slightly different crop and moving the rear leaf out of the way would provide an alternative image but these are the most minor of suggestions.

Hugh
Any comments or reactions, feel free to contact me.

Beauty is a Form of Genius ...
by lagavulin

Comment:
Clever idea but I'm not sure Oscar would have wanted his words to be written upon the female form!

Just Watch Me ... Doze Off
by flip89

Comment:
Well spotted, assuming it is a candid. Nicely balanced composition too.

Ringtones
by soccerdad

Comment:
Clever, subtle and well photographed.

Mood for Love
by graphicfunk

Comment:
Brilliant idea, beautifully executed - the light heart was a stroke of genius!
My only 10.