head-wind.jpg
by Ranger

Comment:
Very nice, simple little shot and a well balanced composition. Suffers a bit from too much JPEG compression

Silent reflection
by geewhy

Comment:
Hey you really should have left some good looking genes for the rest of us you know! Nice work Gordon - love the light and tone. I take it he's in a band/musician. Looks like he may have an official photographer on the cheap. : )

A ray of hope
by marbo

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This is a lovely scene - a very typical depiction of hope for many people. It's well composed with some beautiful details but the tones and contrast are suffering an imbalance. There appears to be some heavy use of the shadow/highlight filter which suggests that the shot was rescued rather than a clean original. In such instances I would not submit the shot unless delighted with the results.

I think you've almost achieved what you wanted here, but it's clear to me that the shot you wanted in-camera wasn't quite there. You have still managed to communicate the theme however and it's where I look whenever I hope for positivity to visit me!

Cheers
Jon

Candle
by Newt

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The comments below have already mentioned this image's less than perfect attributes - the focus mainly, but this is actually not an unpleasant photograph. There's a wistful quality to it and the lenticular blurs from the spots of wax would have been lost if this were sharp.

Personally, I prefer it this way - it has more sugggestion of inner thought than if it were pin-sharp, and its warm glow is easy on the eye as if one is daydreaming.

That said, cramming a shot just in time for a challenge is not good practice to win challenges if that is your target! My advice would be don't submit a shot unless you're happy with it - as it stays in your profile page and you may grow to hate it - until you score better with other shots!

Cheers
Jon

Who`s afraid of the big, bad, wolf?
by geewhy

Comment:
I knew this was yours Gordon - was going to come back to it but had little time to vote or comment recently.

Great stuff (if a little too overprocessed for my taste). You have a wonderful appreciation of light and its effects, coupled with a sensitive approach to the processing. Your original has a touch more charm in my view since you left your challenge shot open to the presumption of extensive filter treatments. This does of course only matter if winning is the desired outcome!

3 of 3
by peecee

Comment:
Great shot. Lovely sky tones. A touch more of the grass and slightly less sky would have been perfect.

Algonquin .jpg
by Dim7

Comment:
Beautiful sky and very well composed with the trees delivering some positive imbalance to the composition.

One Last Breath
by sher

Comment:
Beautiful detail, richness and tones. Very nicely observed.

Scarred Beauty
by lagavulin

Comment:
:: Hello from the Critique Club ::
............................................................

Firstly, I think this communicates exactly what you intended with the only exception being that the 'celebration' element is a little played down. For me she looks like she's still a little uncomfortable about life, but grateful for what she has - which is a healthly looking form indeed.

I particularly like the colours - the subdued background works very well. Some reflected light on her face would have been beneficial, which could have been bounced back in using a reflector such as white card or even a creafully placed mirror. Additionally I would have toned down the reds in the flesh tones a little more, perhaps warming them towards yellow using Colour Balance or Hue/Saturation adjustments.

Good work.

Cheers
Jon

Olympic Dreams
by blemt

Comment:
:: Hello from the Critique Club ::
............................................................

This is one of those shots that defies detailed critique in my opinion.

Some valid comments about technicality have already been made below, but suffice to say that this is one of the most memorable shots in the challenge. Its humour is instant and potent, rendering many of the flaws mentioned as secondary.

It's well conceived and as many have said, the model deserves praise for placing herself under such scrutiny and criticism.

Cheers
Jon