Lost in thought
by clickodak

Comment by pixelpig:
the eyes are looking inward

Autumn camouflage
by clickodak

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

A straightforward image that fails to meet the challenge.

I think I can understand your thinking behind the concept for this image but a successful entry needs to convey its meaning much more readily through the image itself and the title. Your entry requires the voter to get inside your head and given that they don't have your comments for guidance this is a big ask.

As regards the image itself, the lighting is a little harsh with some blown highlights on the backlit leaves. The black debris at the base of the trunk does not help in conveying a natural scene but it is not a major element. I think this would have more impact if you had adopted a ground level view that emphasised the leaves and their colour with the base of the trunk in distant soft focus. I'm sorry to say, it is just not an interesting enough image to keep the viewer's attention.

Anyway, thanks for your entry Marcel and apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, 'better late than never', or at least I hope it is, Sid.

Every Ending contains a new Beginning (I. Ching)
by clickodak

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

An appealing image that meets the challenge.

I like your interpretation and title, it works well, you have achieved your goal, certainly for me anyway. The branch you have found here is a very interesting shape with all of the dead leaves to the right and the one thriving shoot to the left, you have composed it well with a close crop that is just about right for the subject.

I find the OOF dead leaf in the foreground a little distracting but not in a major way, in any case I think as long as you have all of the living side in good sharp focus the right matters less. I think a little less DOF could have improved it further reducing the background detail as long as the living side can be kept sharp. A plain cloth or card would have been good here. The lighting is perhaps a little on the harsh side but you have controlled the exposure quite well.

Nicely done Marcel, thanks for your submission, Sid

Every Ending contains a new Beginning (I. Ching)
by clickodak

Comment by LoVi:
And she teaches us well....

No body today
by clickodak

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

An original take the fulfils the challenge theme.

Well spotted for the challenge theme, I agree with one of your commenters, I like the shadows too and just wish they had been stronger. As regards the composition, I like that you have it on a slant the way you have but I think you missed an opportunity to make more from it. I would have composed it so that the ends of the wood weren't visible thereby creating the illusion that this was an endlessly long array of coathooks. I would also have made more of the diagonal and the shadows by a closer position to the wood and the hooks that exaggerates their perspective.

Just one point that would probably be considered pedantic but to me rather important, your title if read the way it is written suggests that there have been no dead bodies hung up to dry today!

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¦

Guitar curve
by clickodak

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

An appealing image that partially meets the challenge.

This is more a close up than a macro but it is certainly inanimate. You've made a lovely job of this Marcel, the black backgrounds work well to isolate the detail of the guitar. That same detail is unfortunately part of the problem in that the worn areas of the instrument are quite prominent, I think for this sort of image to work at its best it needs to be a new or an absolutely pristine guitar.

I like your composition with the three strings on the right leaving sufficient room for a balanced background on the left. Given you comments there is also the possibility for a vertical composition just up to the outer edge of the sound hole embellishments, in that way the top curve could be included and our attention would be concentrated purely on the classic curved shapes ithemselves against the black. I think the simplicity of such a composition would have had more impact.

Nicely done, 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

Backhand Power
by clickodak

Comment by bmartuch:
Wow, great catch.

Berlin Wall
by clickodak

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

An interesting image that fulfils the challenge perfectly.

There can be no mistake that this most certainly is a huge lump of concrete, but not just any old concrete, it is a very important part of recent history. It is brought alive by the colourful graffiti and your title during the challenge and post challenge with your very helpful comments.

I know one of your commenters likes the inclusion of the background, I am not so keen, or rather I love the irregular left edge of the concrete and this should be preserved by the inclusion of a minimal background, I think where the brown structure becomes black would have been the ideal amount to include and I would have dodged or cloned the part of the canopy that would intrude to make it more uniform. The bright lights of bokeh in the window are very distracting and spoil the overall result especially as we are excluding some more of the lovely graffiti on the right. The positioning of your red sunburst is good.

Nicely done, 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

Nightlife downtown
by clickodak

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

An excellent night cityscape that contributes well to this open challenge.

The detail throughout is excellent, there is certainly plenty to grab your attention and therein lies a problem in that there is not one specific focus point but several equally competing for attention.

That is one good steady tripod you have there! The DOF and clarity of detail is a key element of your image and by taking the shot on a dark night as you have we can even pick out detail in individual windows. It has created a kaleidoscope of bright sharp detail that is a pleasure to observe, well done Marcel.

Apologies for the late critique, but as they say, better late than never, Sid

Exceed speed limits
by clickodak

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

An interesting image that meets the challenge well.

Ah, the things we have to do for our craft! Well done and thanks for enduring the hardships, your image is very well composed. I like that you have gone for the red light dominating the image with the bright headlights clearly an evident but insignificant element overall. Its also enabled you to get the road signs well illuminated. The tilt adds a quirky element to the overall result. All in all, a good effort, well done marcel.

Apologies for the delayed critique, as they say, better late than never, Sid