Autumn-Berry
by Pangurban

Comment by Revecca:
Nice colors. I feel like a tighter crop would be more efficient with this though.

Preening
by Pangurban

Comment by bmartuch:
Very well framed.

Hydrangea Reflection
by Pangurban

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the critique club*

An appealing image that does not meet the challenge.

I find your image attractive but in terms of the challenge the subject and your title is so obvious that there is no element of surprise that should be associated with something obscure. We should be made to explore your image to find the hidden subject that is obscured in some way. I do like the reflection and the ripples and the shadows its all very appealing. As you say, it is very bright sunlight but I think you have controlled the exposure well, there is good detail throughout.

I'm sorry you didn't get any comments during the challenge I hope this makes up for it, Sid

Simplicity
by Pangurban

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique club*

An appealing image that does meet the challenge.

I'm not sure what your lighting and shadows problem was but I think the end result is most acceptable, in fact a very nice high key effect whose shadows are very subtle and blend in well with the end result. Your exposure is very nice you have got some lovely whites without blowing the highlights. A smaller aperture would have got you a better DOF encompassing the petals in the foreground in a sharper way but I think the nature of this high key image allows you to have some softness in those petals in a way that adds to the end result in a pleasing sort of way.

Whilst I prefer an off centre composition there is sometimes a need for a more symmetrical approach such as you have here. Given the size of your subject, a miniature rose being smaller an off-centre composition filling the frame might not have been possible for you being beyond the closest limits of your lens perhaps? If not then I think this would have improved the image substantially.

Sorry you didn't get any comments during the challenge, I hope this helps. Thanks for your submission, Sid

Folly
by Pangurban

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique club*

An appealing image that meets the challenge

As you say, a beautiful location. The lighting is very harsh and difficult to control but I think -1EC would have given you a better result it would have saturated the colours more and lessened the effect you have identified of the blown sky. You have done the right thing to reduce the amount of sky in your composition but I think you could have gone further and eliminated it completely in favour of the water. I do like the one calm patch of water that reflects perfectly the folly this really adds impact to the end result. Personally, I would have preferred to see some human interaction here, it would also given it a sense of scale.

Sorry you didn't get any comments during the challenge, I hope this makes up for it. Thanks for your submission, Sid

Lunchtime
by Pangurban

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An appealing image that contributes to the open challenge.

From your comments it sounds as though you were shooting in manual mode? I would strongly recommend trying aperture priority which would enable you to concentrate on DOF and know that the camera will at worst get a usable exposure for you. As I'm sure you appreciate the better you can get it in camera then the minimal processing needed will ultimately give you a better end result.

I like your composition with the bee in the lower half of the frame and his lovely iridescent wings against the black background. The colours throughout are quite appealing, I like the soft focus flower background but the buds in the front are not working quite so well but they are not a major issue. I think the heavy processing needed to correct the exposure has given a degree of noise and softness to the detail that lets it down a little which probably explains its low score.

Thanks for your submission, Sid

Happy's Ending
by Pangurban

Comment by LoVi:
Good lesson for a child....

Happy's Ending
by Pangurban

Comment by jomari:
That is fascinating. I can only imagine how well loved and cared for Happy was in life.

No Flies On Me
by Pangurban

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An unusual interpretation that partially meets the challenge.

In terms of the image itself the fly is anything but camouflaged but I can see your interpretation is a clever take on the challenge theme that has fortunately been recognised by a lot of your voters too. The image itself is rather appealing with the submerged leaves forming a lovely counterpoint to the fly sitting on the plant's woody stump with the river flowing all around. You have to be commended for spotting this and interpreting the theme in the way you have, I'm pleased for you that it was appreciated here too, well done.

Anyway, thanks for your submission and apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, 'better late than never', or at least I hope it is, Sid. Please feel free to reciprocate on any of my images, I would welcome your feedbackâ€Â¦

Lava-Bead
by Pangurban

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An unusual image that meets the challenge.

First of all, thanks for broadening my experience, I'd never heard of these before, quite fascinating. As regards the image itself it makes a good record shot to document lava beads and I suppose the ribbon adds some interest but beyond that the image is not really very stimulating.

It stands out distinctly against the black background and the DOF is good giving some softness to the most distant part of the ribbon, the lighting is a little flat but helps to illustrate the porous nature of the rock. It has something of a floating nature to it so that is in its favour but its difficult to get excited about it.

Thanks for your submission and apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, 'better late than never', or at least I hope it is, Sid