Down by the river
by Pixelstate

Comment by dsterner:
I believe you were down by the river - awesome "out of box" photo!

Down by the river
by Pixelstate

Comment by louisp:
where is the river?

Down by the river
by Pixelstate

Comment by pjangel:
Where's the water???

Down by the river
by Pixelstate

Comment by wanjun:
I love the pretty bokehed background, but something seems a little off to me, I think I'd preferred it if there were only one person, or if the two figures weren't so symmetrical. but then again, to each their own.

Down by the river
by Pixelstate

Comment by wardmac:
Creative, but it doesn't jump up and say river. SO as a picture says a thousand words, this photo would not say "river" without your title.

Down by the river
by Pixelstate

Comment by xianart:
o, the bravery. a lovely, quiet, mysterious image. the subtle blue, the bowed heads, the golden grass. well done indeed.

Down by the river
by Pixelstate

Comment by DistantColours:
If it wasn't for the title I'd have no idea that this was in anyway connected to the challenge.

Pidgeon Lady
by Pixelstate

Comment by KaDi:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Just my luck...my 13th critique of the day and I draw a high-scoring, well-placed image from a two-time blue ribbon winner! Well, it's no holds barred, baby! ;)

First impression: An interesting image that makes me pause to consider the relationship of the woman to the pigeons. She's standing there passively looking at the birds on the pavement. The pavement is old and worn. The wall looks like it's been shot at by a machine gun...or just pitted by weather and neglect. Where is she?

Because the birds are contentedly milling about one can gather that they've been fed. But, to me, she doesn't seem much like a "pigeon lady"...there is a lack of interaction between her and the birds. Her posture is so disengaged with the "event" that one could think she'd just wandered out from the local train station on her way to somewhere and has paused to contemplate the urban birds. She doesn't seem particularly homeless or street bound to me...

Technically this is a fairly competent image. I like the choice of B&W but wonder if it was actually necessary...even sepia (or some other toning) could have injected some life, some drama(?) into this image. I agree with the commentators who point out the blocked blacks...I don't think the lack of detail in those areas really adds to the image. The vignetting is obvious and, though probably needed to contain the image within the frame, feels a bit over-done.

Overall, it's a good image. Had I voted in the challenge I likely would have given it a 6 (as many other voters did) because it is a clean image...there's just nothing else to raise it above average for me. More emotion! More engagement! More story or "reason to be"!

(Sorry if it seems that I'm being unduly harsh but I'd rather call it like I see it and take on argument than give you some kind of smiling nod of approval.)

The Entertainer
by Pixelstate

Comment by gjumi:
The faces of the spectators, they're valuable.

Pidgeon Lady
by Pixelstate

Comment by Alain:
Black & White works really good here, well done.