Shooting Blanks
by JamesDowning

Comment by snaffles:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I found this shot a bit puzzling as I didn't 'get it', til I realized I was looking at a bullet in the chamber of a gun. The comp is basically good, I like the angle as it adds some dimension and dynamism to the shot. The dof works in drawing attention to the bullet. The lighting is OK, though a reflector (you can make one from a piece of cardboard and heat-reflective tape from the hardware store) bouncing light into the shadow under the gun may have helped define the gun a bit more.

Overall an OK image, technically it's quite good and your settings show that you own and use a tripod. But it lacks any real pop to make it really memorable. Another bullet laying to the left of the gun may have helped especially as you're referring to multiple blanks in the title.

But most importantly, you like this shot and to me that is very important. You can drive yourself nuts trying to please the DPC vox populi. Entering images that you like and take some risks often take more of a pounding in terms of score, but when you ribbon, it is so much sweeter if you do it on your terms.

Hope this critique helps, feel free to PM me.

Susan

Fields of Golden Dreams
by JamesDowning

Comment by markwiley:
Stunning.

iFly
by JamesDowning

Comment by Denielle:
A lot of open space in this photo. And lots of contrast. I think if we could have seen both feet, as opposed to just the one, it would have done a little more justice. but I like the idea here.

Shooting Blanks
by JamesDowning

Comment by JamesDowning:
A bit discouraged by how low this scored, but oh well...

If anyone has any feedback on why this scored low, please share!

iFly
by JamesDowning

Comment by tanguera:
Nice, graphic quality

Fields of Golden Dreams
by JamesDowning

Comment by bohemka:
Lovely. Gorgeous light.

Shooting Blanks
by JamesDowning

Comment by IAmEliKatz:
Mike, that you?

Fields of Golden Dreams
by JamesDowning

Comment by Gordon_1:
Nice landscape showing the field good colors and compsition good depth of field well balance image

Shooting Blanks
by JamesDowning

Comment by Tiny:
I,m just not getting this . I see thanks for the info.

Fields of Golden Dreams
by JamesDowning

Comment by LandzEnca:
The contrast between the sky and the ground is remarkable. The texture in this photo is so rich. I particularly like the perfect placement of that lone tree that stands above the crowd of other trees. I'm glad that i am using a large desktop monitor to view this. I hope the tall format of the photo doesn't put it at a disadvantage on other voters' laptop monitors that need to be scrolled down to appreciate the grandeur of this image. I have not seen the other entries so for now i will give this a 9.