Nature's Balance
by melismatica

Comment:
:: Hello from the Critique Club ::
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As always when shooting for a challenge there is the issue of it obviously meeting the brief for most voters. While I don't think this does per se, it really doesn't take much to come round to some form of link to the balance of nature - even without the title. Its weakness may be that there is not much demonstration of the opposite element of the balance, namely the other part of the food chain - the seagulls.

A short glance at this shot without the benefit of a challenge brief would lead me to think that this is a statement of man's damage to the environment - of something unnatural, such as posinous waters or pollution.

Whatever the view on this it's still an engaging shot, however unpleasant and you were right to retain the colour.

Cheers
Jon

glass half full
by slingshot

Comment:
:: Hello from the Critique Club ::
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This is well composed (apart from a tight crop on the right) and it fits the challenge, but it lacks a 'wow factor' beyond those facts, for which there are some clear reasons:

The balancing act is not particularly amazing, and the technical execution lacks some finesse. The colours are slightly old fashioned, reminding me of an old English pub with flocked wallpaper and are quite heavy, yielding an oppressive vibe to the image.

The lighting is harsh and generates many highlights on the glass, and the horizon line is skewed slightly. To aid better lighting on shiney, reflective subjects it is good to aim the light through a diffuser such as a large sheet of paper or a piece of thin cloth. You can also try pointing the light away from the subject and reflecting it back in using a reflector (sometimes the same piece of paper will do) which spreads the point of origin and reduces pinpoint specular highlights.

Yes - this is picking nits, but in order to score highly, so you will have to too!

Personally, I would plan to shoot an image that I would be pleased to hang on my wall after the challenge (I frequently fail in this task myself) but it's something that can help focus one's objectives prior to deciding on a submission.

Cheers
Jon

Yes, absolutely
by shoyles

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!
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While I like this image I do remember wondering why this demonstrated balance particularly - and I also remember thinking that it would look more impressive to show the top of the ball. I had imagined that you had probably kept a finger on the ball (thus rendering the shot quite unimpressive) but I confess to being amazed at the extent of your set-up.

Technically, it is very well shot, richly coloured and beautifully focused, although this scored higher than I thought it would.

Personally, more grassy context at the base and the ball top would have made it for me, but since this was not on a golf course you made the best of it. The text on the ball was not a prominent enough feature for me to make it truly ironic, since it really doesn't matter in golf if the ball isn't cosmetically aligned on the tee!

Cheers
Jon

Simple Elegance
by bmatt17

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!
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When viewing challenge images I like to see shots which work outside of the competition - normally a sign that it's a good shot regardless of votes. This probably suffers in that respect, mainly due to the skewed arrangement, blue colour cast and rather centred composition. The set-up clearly shows balance but it doesn't engage the viewer much beyond this, which ultimately is what may win votes.

I would ask; why the colour treatment and why the background? If it's difficult to answer then it's probably what many voters were wondering too. I would have chosen pure white or even a very dark colour and shot it from lower down, avoiding the shadows on the background too. This would demonstrate the balance element more dramatically. Since you can't easily hide the fact that the fork was tucked under the spoon, it could have looked more impressive edge-on (90 degrees).

Cheers
Jon

City Of Life
by TomH1000

Comment:
Very striking viewpoint with loads of atmosphere lent by the misty evening. Good one.

Chocolate Dessert
by train

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!
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A yummy treat indeed - which means you've got this right in the main.

Your lighting, focus and subject are superb, with the exception of the arrangement of the cake which does look messy (not enough to put me off however!). You have a slight green tinge on top of the cake which is a little off-putting, despite probably being a reflection of something natural. The crop is too tight at the top and too wide lower down, but otherwise it is a good composition. Exposure is also very well spread.

Hope you enjoyed eating it!

Cheers
Jon

A Weta in harmonious surroundings
by train

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!
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A formidable looking insect (bush cricket?). This is well focused and an interesting creature.

As some have mentioned, the flash is quite harsh and, as such, this becomes more of a study of the subject than an attractive, vote-winning shot. The shadow obscuring the top of the critter is its main problem really, although the crop of the antenna is bit of a shame but perhaps unavoidable. It's well composed with plenty of texture too.

If indeed you were after votes with this, then you can learn from the score that many people either don't like bugs or are looking for the 'perfect' picture.

Cheers
Jon

Handmade
by airatic

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!
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Well, that's certainly a hands-on approach to the packaging.

I like this idea, but I find that there is too little context to suggest what is inside other than simply reading the label. Had this been a box with form and shot at an angle - maybe even half unwrapped - perhaps it would have been communicated better without relying on the wording and title.

The cropping is tight horizontally, making for an awkward format.

This is an image which, although fitting the challenge, may not endure well outside of the competition. You may find it useful to consider 'notonline's' comment and endeavour to produce even challenge photos that could grace yours (or other people's) walls.

Cheers
Jon

Ponce Inlet - Florida - Pelican
by TomH1000

Comment:
Very nice indeed. A little more post and less sky would have been good but this is a great study.

Stormy Florida Night
by TomH1000

Comment:
Lovely capture - very crisp which is a feat considering you can't plan this. I'd clone out the cable bottom left.