Reach out and Touch Someone.
by dixonp1

Comment by Kylie:
Great catch and good focus for this. I would have liked a little more contrast/brightening to the colors and a more off-center composition, I think.

Reach out and Touch Someone.
by dixonp1

Comment by andywightman:
Rather uninteresting. It's not really an unusual viewpoint and there's little to hold the attention.

Power of Flight
by dixonp1

Comment by photom:
Hi Philip and * Greetings from the Critique Club *

So what gives - you have a technically "perfect" picture - and it rated fairly low in the challenge?

By perfect, I mean the exposure is right on, image is sharp everywhere, the composition is effective, and the colors are pleasant. It was taken in bright sunlight on a clear day.

If the shot was of a UFO or some other less known object, I can guarantee you it would have scored much higher. You are the victim of taking a shot that everyone recognizes - and in its normal frame of reference.

When you shoot things like this, you need to find SOMETHING that will make it more unusual - like you did with your magical sunset lighting of the bridge across the Mississippi. Some ideas could be:
a) Wait for very late evening light - such as the bridge.
b) Take it with a zoom lens and actually move the zoom during the shot.
c) Using a deliberate show shutter speed to induce some blurring
d) Tilt your camera at a 45 degree angle to give it an unusual perspective - even though one comment said it should be exactly "level."
e) Take it on a day with puffy white clouds - or dramatic storm clouds assuming the airport stays open.

In other words it is now a great "record" shot - but not an artistic one. To score well, it probably needs to do both.

Next time you are in a bookstore - see if they have any books by Freeman Patterson - such as "Photography and the Art of Seeing." LEaf through these books - it will be good for you.

Thanks for shooting something new and sharing it with us.

-Tom-

Nature in Black and White
by dixonp1

Comment by beckettboots:
Great detail and textures for the fur and face. The color is wonderful and the POV is very compelling (eye level). It doesn't feel like it an "opposite" but a great capture.

Nature in Black and White
by dixonp1

Comment by JoelHSmith:
NIce.

Power of Flight
by dixonp1

Comment by orussell:
Composition: Subject Placement, Cropping, Background 6
Technical: Focus, Exposure, Lighting, Processing 5
Appeal: Is it Interesting, Motivating, Etc. 6
How well does it meet the challenge: 8
Total Averaged Rating(Rounded) 6

Nature in Black and White
by dixonp1

Comment by mandyp:
Lovely pussycat. Very nice focus. It looks like he's talking to you. 8

Power of Flight
by dixonp1

Comment by train:
A great image! a little on the dark side but really good

Power of Flight
by dixonp1

Comment by David.C:
Tilting it a bit to straighten it up would have helped.

Nature in Black and White
by dixonp1

Comment by Rando D300:
nice image ,i think it crop to tight ,the front paws would havemade it a better shot .