The End of New Jersey
by BeeGee

Comment by drgsoell:
Smoggy background makes picture overexposure a bit distracting. Would it have helped to add a bit more foreground?

The End of New Jersey
by BeeGee

Comment by tfarrell23:
LOL...Jersey never gets the Vote.........

The End of New Jersey
by BeeGee

Comment by SandyP:
This is one of my favorites! I just love the hazy skyline in the background. Good luck, I love it!

choices, choices...
by BeeGee

Comment by Artyste:
Hello, and greetings from the Critique Club. The critique you are about to recieve is tailored for DPC challenges alone, and is not intended to be seen as an artistic critique per se.

Initial Thoughts

Oo, nicely done. Love the lighting and a great angle.

Composition / Content

A rather nice composition here, it has some great symmetry while also being rather asymmetrical. The shine of the individual signs is great.. I assume they were lit from within? Nicely captured anyway.

Background

While most of the photo is nicely black.. there's a little spot in the lower left where we see background lights. While a minor thing, I'd suggest keeping an eye open for little things like this and cloning them out when you can. It just helps keep your photograph tidy and really helps it with voters, who will always find *something* to nitpick.

Camera Work / Technical

A great job capturing the exposure of these signs. They are nicely exposed, and that's not an easy task with self-lit subjects. Your focus is also great.. nice and crisp.

Digital Processing

You included no information on this, so I cannot comment. However, I do have another cloning suggestion. See the black spots on the "Chur" and "City" signs? Again, tiny little minor things, but cloning them out would have helped a lot I think. Remember that voters are a rabid clan, and tend to grasp "imperfections" big-time. Tiny little things like that can actually cause a full point or two difference in a voter's vote. Also, on the "Affoltern" sign, there's a black mark on the bottom that, with careful cloning, could also have been fixed.

Fits the Challenge

This fits the challenge in a wonderful way. A great choice, and very well presented.

My Opinion of the Photo

This is a great little photo that is pretty clean, well shot, and strong on the challenge. While the subject matter may not be exactly awe inspiring, it isn't boring either, and the light and color really stand it out from something that may have been more mundane. Great job, nice score, and good luck in future challenges.

choices, choices...
by BeeGee

Comment by wshieh:
lovely

Con-spiracy?? GIRLspiracy!
by BeeGee

Comment by sfalice:
Greetings from the Critique Club

Gee, BeeGee, I'm beginning to feel as if I know you. Greetings again.

These models are shown engaging in a delightful conspiracy and that's a pleasure to see after all the 'downers' elsewhere. (But maybe that was a factor in the scoring.) I like the lighting; it seems to add to the 'conspiracy' factor. However, and I know you couldn't help this, I think there's some distraction and busy-ness in the straps and clothing in the bottom of the picture. If these models had been dressed in black, for example, it would have set off the center of attention, the interaction of the faces, perfectly.

All I can say, is keep up the good work, and to heck with the scoring.

choices, choices...
by BeeGee

Comment by Sherri1209:
A couple of these in the competition and both are well done. I like yours best because of the lighting and the various colors. --10--

choices, choices...
by BeeGee

Comment by CLarson557:
Nice. Would have cloned out the amber lights in the background, though.

M.P.H.
by BeeGee

Comment by sfalice:
Greetings form the Critique Club

Well, first off, you have a goodlooking sister. She has a great determination streak that shows in this image.

If I were to try to "improve" anything in this photograph, I'd make two suggestions. The hand with the wristband should be closed (or clenched) rather than have the thumb out at an angle. Don't be offended, but that thumb outstretched as it is, reminds me of someone hitching a ride rather than one making a statement. Then, try cropping fairly close to the fist. I believe the story is in the model and the wristband, not the negative space.

I've read the comments you've received; the story you were telling wasn't obvious to some voters and then, some found the story difficult to deal with. Frequently, when people are uncomfortable with an idea, it creats negativity. That's the way it goes sometimes.

You created a moving image here, and I, for one, am pleased to have the chance to inspect it more closely. Thank you.

Con-spiracy?? GIRLspiracy!
by BeeGee

Comment by Nald:
I think this shot would be much better if you were to capture the face of the girl on the left, and shift your angle down to eye level. 4