A Natural Triangle
by dwterry

Comment:
Damn.. you got hit hard by the "can't find the triangle" flower shot too.

I really like this.

In Bloom
by Artyste

Comment:
First of all.. I'd like to thank everyone that liked this photo and scored it well, and commented nicely. You guys rock.

Second of all.. WTF!??! Obviously I got hit by the blind voters that couldn't see a triangle here.. FOURTY EIGHT FOURS!??!!? The triangle is right in front of your face!!! Twenty-Five threes.. OMFG.

I don't rant often.. at least not publically.. but this is absolutely ridiculous. There were shots that scored much higher than mine that even had less of a triangle in them. Stupid flower shots.
I'm never entering a flower shot again :)

Shutterbug
by Pug-H

Comment:
Wow.. that one sure is learning early. A Canon 300D(or is it the silver XT?), at her age.

Jealous, jealous, jealous :)

in the mood for a spring breakfast
by redpanda

Comment:
Hello, and greetings from the Critique Club. Let me get right to it..

Initial Thoughts

Like in my original comment, one of my first thoughts when viewing this is that it has a very wintery, chilly feel. This contradicts your title for me, so I study a little closer. Obviously, those are blossom petals, and not snow or hail, yet the coloring and contrast still say "cold" to me. See what I mean?

Composition/Content

First off, the image is a little small. This will *always* affect a score in DPC. One of the first rules of thumb is to always use the maximum size of 640 pixels to show your photo in the best light. Compositionally, I feel that it's a little off. More centered focus of the bowl and glass, it being your main subject, would have helped. I don't mean centered in the photo, but definitely brought down some more in order for us, as the viewer, to notice it quicker and more strongly.
Also, the full glass, but empty bowl, is a little confusing.

Background

There is a lot going on in this photo, despite the relative emptiness of objects, and there is no real background to speak off. You have the grass in the corner, which seems gratuitous, and the smattering of blossom petals. It all just seems to flow around chaotically.

Camera Work / Technical

You've got a good wide DOF, which is good for this particular shot, but the exposure is too dark for a: spring and b: morning(which is your typical breakfast time). As I keep mentioning, the darkness is just too reminiscent of fall or winter, despite the petals, and it doesn't feel like morning at all. You do, however, have good exposure on the bowl and glass, with just a touch of blow-out evident.

Digital Processing

I can't be sure what you did here, since you didn't list anything, but what I would have suggested is maybe a bit of a soft-focus effect, and warmer, brighter lighting tones, to fit your title.

Fits the Challenge

This is a challenge where subjectivity rules the day, but I feel that you were quite weak on meeting this challenge for two reasons.
a: your title gives us one mood, yet the lighting and feel of your photo a different one
b: You are trying to evoke a mood from the viewer, instead of showing a mood to the viewer from a subject. Now, while this is *purely* a subjective opinion, I felt that it went against the challenge spirit.

My Opinion of the Photo

With the image too small, the lighting too bleak, and the mood not entirely evident, I find this to be a very average entry. You have some good ideas here, but I feel the execution could have been stronger. Remember though, this is just my opinion.

Good luck on future challenges, and I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Chickenpox melancholy
by bucket

Comment:
Ahh.. Hello, I'm from the Critique Club, and I see I'm returning to the scene of my crime (commenting on this during challenge).

Let's get to it shall we?

Initial Thoughts

This struck me as a very "Sally Mann" type photo. The B&W treatment is close to how she did some of her work, and the boy resembles her son Emmett so much, it gave me a double take. I was taken with the feeling of this photograph from the start, and that's always a positive thing.

Composition/Content

For me, the composition couldn't be better. Left side subject with right side negative space in portraitures always seems stronger than the other way. I'm no expert on why this is, but I've always found it to be so, and so do some of the greats, as it seems to be the dominating form. You've given your subject a great presence, allowing enough room for his expression, and to show his malady. Great job, regardless of if this was intentional, or intuitive.

Background

I personally love how the background halos the subject, and fades to black. This is a wonderful technique in keeping the focus on your subject. The background is also nicely OOF, keeping it from becoming distracting.

Camera Work/Technical

A few minor things to work on here.
1. Your focus is a little off, having centered on the boy's mouth and nose, instead of his eyes. The mouth/nose area, and part of his hair, are tack sharp, but his eyes, which should, IMO, always be the center of focus in a portrait-style shot such as this, are out of focus. A deeper DOF would have helped here a little. (Say, closing the aperature to 5.6). This also would have helped the focus be sharper on the chicken pox.. your secondary focal point. That being said, the focus isn't off enough to *really* hurt the image, but it is noticeable, and a few people touched on this.

Also, where personally, I love the subtle graininess of this photo, and believe it only enhances the mood.. DPC is infamous for voter hatred of the slightest bit of grain. Still, you can't always shoot for voters alone.. but just a reminder.

Digital Processing

Your processing is really good here, and kudos on noting what you've done. Makes my job easier. lol. The background, as I said, is very well done. I don't see anything that seems over-processed really, and you did a good job staying away from over-sharpening to compensate for the lack of focal depth. Your B&W conversion treatment is really nice too.. as I said, it reminds me of the work of Sally Mann (look her up sometime), which is a huge compliment, from me :)

Fits the Challenge

This is where you may have fallen off a little bit. While the mood of the photo is evident, the mood of the subject could be a little less subtle. Perhaps a more intensified look of discomfort, or grumpiness, and I'd have really been able to feel it. As it is, I just sort of get a little touch of disinterest. It's not *bad*, but it's not hugely moody either. Outside of a "Moods" challenge, the expression and feel are priceless, and I wouldn't change a thing.

My Opinion on the Photo

I really like this shot, and what you've done with it. You have great instincts, and I expect you'll go far in the future. As I said, this has really good feel, it reminds me of the work of a well-reknowned photographer, and it stirred emotion at first sight. You really can't beat that. Good luck in challenges to come.

evolution
by muckpond

Comment:
Holy Pete did you ever get attacked by the "Shallow DOF Haters Club". Ouch.

For the record, the Shallow DOF really, really sells this piece on a level that tack-sharpness across the board never could have. Fading as the flower fades.. Maybe Roxette's title, "Fading Like a Flower"? Anyway, screw the DOF haters.. I dunno what planet they're on, but it's not this one. DPC winners circle may not be good for shallow DOF, but it sure is good for shallow-thinking.

Five Little Piggie's
by om10

Comment:
Hah! See, told you this was better than mine.. I'm languishing way down in 45th spot. hehe.

It's a shame how many people simply don't appreciate a good shallow DOF photo though, isn't it?

Message edited by author 2005-05-14 00:28:39.

five little pups
by parrothead

Comment:
The bit that the puppies are sitting on *does* look like the image was corrupted.. only the fact that border continues really lets in on the fact that they're just standing on something white.. It had thrown me, but I had just ignored it.

Great shot.. so adorable, and like I said, I don't even like dogs :)

This Little Piggy Went That Way
by Artyste

Comment:
46th.. woo hoo

I Dream of Eternal Spring
by ccraft

Comment:
That does it.. I'm getting a fisheye.. which one is this? 8mm? 10mm? 12?