Search Nectar
by clickodak

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

A well executed image that does not meet the challenge.

Even following the very loose definition provided by the challenge brief your image does not feature any bokeh at all and therefore does not meet the challenge requirements. See the Wikipedia entry for a definition of bokeh. It is very often misrepresented and I'm sure yours is not the only entry in this challenge that fails but for my own understanding of it it requires a shallow DOF and specular highlights.

Your entry fails in several ways, there are no specular highlights just a plain black background which is completely the opposite of what is needed. A larger aperture is normally preferable though this is also dictated by your distance to the subject, the closer you are, the shallower the DOF.

The image itself is good in terms of DOF, lighting and execution but it simply does not fit in with the challenge, that is not to say it couldn't have done but the black background would be the first thing to go. Replaced by a natural background of a pool for example the ripples and sunlight on the water would have given you the specular highlights needed, the resulting bokeh is then very much lens dependant on your lens with some lenses producing more pleasing bokeh than others, its all down to the lens design and number of aperture blades of the lens. Good bokeh can be a very desirable addition to an image that can transform an ordinary image into a spectacular one.

Sorry Marcel, I know you will accept my critique in the manner it is intended, to help you better understand, Sid

Search Nectar
by clickodak

Comment by Revecca:
Beautifully focused image, but not for this challenge.

Patience
by clickodak

Comment by Jules1x:
Amazing detail.

Search Nectar
by clickodak

Comment by jnenvir:
Lovely image, don't see any bokah

Shoes and Laces
by clickodak

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

An interesting image that meets the challenge well.

Shoes and laces do indeed go together and indeed they are not the same so well done with the idea. The composition is excellent I like it a lot, it shows everything off very well, we have all we need of the shoes with an emphasis on the laces with their lovely twining in and out of the shoes and together.

The lighting is good and uniform throughout with some nice tones too. The texture of the laces comes out well with a great choice of aperture that enables you to get just the right amount of DOF. It looks good in mono.

I think the score is fairly representative for the image, well done Marcel for a very good submission, Sid

Shoes and Laces
by clickodak

Comment by illini75:
Nice macro with good details

Patience
by clickodak

Comment by MeMex2:
wow! great shot!!!

Apple Picking in Fall
by clickodak

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

An appealing image that meets the challenge.

Your composition is very good, I like the way you have gone in close with good DOF on the apple and the hand together with the soft focus background of the abundant apple crop. It tells us that the apple is ripe and ready for picking which identifies it with the Northern hemisphere's season. The empty patch of blue sky is a little dominating and would probably benefit from some cropping. The exposure is good and the colours and detail look good too.

All in all, a very good submission Marcel, its a shame it didn't get any comments during the challenge, I hope this makes up for it, Sid

Search Nectar
by clickodak

Comment by Pangurban:
Wonderfully crisp bee!

Shoes and Laces
by clickodak

Comment by Pangurban:
Great subject for the challenge and I like the way you've connected the shoes through the laces. And the crispness.