Spartacus of Sequim (pronunced SKWIM)
by HUETH

Comment by tanguera:
On the verge of a sneeze...

Exploring the Drought
by HUETH

Comment by sidpixel:
Greetings from the Critique club

An interesting image that meets the challenge

You have definitely managed to convey the sense of drought here. A sensible decision to crop the water out, in fact the darker patch towards the upper right gives a sense that this is the very last remnant of water disappearing before your eyes. Although it has been taken at the worst possible time of day it really helps with your chosen theme. The high contrast also makes it feel a very hot environment. The family is also clearly conveyed with the presence of the two mothers and their offspring. I wish the two ladies were facing the other way you would then feel they were discussing the landscape and where has all the water gone, as it is their posture and position takes you out of the frame prematurely.

I'm sorry you didn't get any comments during the challenge, I hope this helps, Sid

Ocean's Power
by HUETH

Comment by sidpixel:
An interesting and creative take on the challenge brief, well done, Sid

An image that indirectly meets the challenge.

I can see your thought process in your submission but the problem is that the theme of the challenge is not immediately obvious to the viewer and therefore suffers as a result because the photographers comments are not available during voting. I think you have a worthy idea but it is too obscure, the title helps as well as its beach location but it remains obscure. As for the object itself, I like the textures, the focus and the DOF the lighting looks as though it may be during the 'golden hour' which is sympathetic to the driftwood bringing out the textures well, the low viewpoint is good too. I agree with your comments it is interesting and inviting.

Thanks for your entry, Sid

paddle board
by HUETH

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

An appealing image that meets the challenge.

I agree with your comments this is a much more dynamic and appealing image than simply photographing the static equipment. Your timing is good with him riding the crest of the wave but I think the background would have been better rendered in softer focus with a wider aperture it rather feels that he is about to crash into the cliffs. It would also have been a lot better if all three of them had been in action at the same time, as it is it merely emphasises how tame the environment is if it is shallow enough for them to stand up in.

The exposure is generally good with detail in most of the white water but the darl shadow from the cliff is very dominant and overpowers the image as a whole. The composition is appropriate for the content.

Thanks for your entry, sorry you didn't get any comments during the challenge, I hope this helps, Sid

Ocean's Power
by HUETH

Comment by josaa:
Surely ! Well thought. 9

land shark
by HUETH

Comment by Pangurban:
Great van!

land shark
by HUETH

Comment by jnenvir:
I suspect post processing made this low contrast

Light of Day
by HUETH

Comment by tnun:
of course. wherewith shall it be lighted but from carbon?

Transient Pod
by HUETH

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

An interesting wildlife capture that does not meet the challenge.

I am saying that this does not meet the challenge from the point of view of the voter who would not have the benefit of your comments that explain this has in fact been taken during the golden hour. Regardless of the fact that technically it meets the challenge its important that your image alone should convey the feeling that it conforms rather than depending upon a written explanation.

As regards the image itself, its lovely to see what, for me here, is a very rare sight. Judging the size of the three whales it feels like a larger (mum) whale with two younger ones? The plumes also seem to suggest that. With regards to the composition, I think you could have improved it by excluding the rather boring sky, especially as it does not hint at the golden hour, it is not adding to the image at all, I would prefer to see more water instead.

Given your comments about the dismal light, which must be disappointing to have to experience on a regular basis, I would suggest that this is probably one challenge that ought to have been bypassed, your image would probably have fared much better in an open challenge. Thanks for your submission, Sid

FIRST SNOW
by HUETH

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

A landscape assumed to fulfil the challenge brief

Given your description I would say you have achieved your goal with the chosen scene. There are, however, a few things I would like to talk about in order to help you try and improve upon your end result.

First of all your image is smaller than it needs to be which would inevitably go against you with the voters here so always try and make the most of your image through the challenge dimensions allowed.

Your image has all of the qualities you were seeking, isolation, solitude and loneliness being ways of expressing the same thing this location does seem to fulfil that objective. Decay is also represented with the roof of the building, and all of this against the purity of the snow which is unfortunately greyer than pure white snow needs to be. As your camera meter is always designed to give an average result for the average scene (18% grey) it will inevitably underexpose the snow and need brightening up in post processing. The problem here is that you will need to select just the snow as you already have over-exposure in the sky so you cannot simply give more exposure throughout.

Your composition could be improved, the building is very central, it would have a lot more impact of you had used the rule of thirds for placement of the building. The whole scene feels as if could benefit from more contrast it is a little lacking at the moment. There is vignetting which may be deliberate but I think it would be better without.

Thank you for your submission, I hope my comments help, Sid