Nature Trims Her Tree
by DougPaz

Comment by Chaszmyr:
Nice vibrant colors, the bottom left looks a little out of focus though.

eBay Entrepreneur
by DougPaz

Comment by Fibre Optix:
Thanks for the laugh.

Christmas Apple
by DougPaz

Comment by byetko:
Very creative. Wish the glare wasnt there on the red slice of the apple. Good job.

Christmas Apple
by DougPaz

Comment by Yellowpeep:
Very creative! :)

Blue Genes
by DougPaz

Comment by stephan:
Hello Douglas, don't wonder why you get another critique. Your your photo was assigned to me in context of the Critique Club. So here it goes:

Composition: I agree with John, that a portrait orientation would look better. I would have cropped out the left arm (left as seen from the viewer). It looks a bit strange because you can see the arm belonging to the left hand but then the right hand looks like it is "glued" to her hip. I think you should either show both arms or none.
I also agree that the background is distracting. Maybe if you tried to let your wife stand a bit further away from the background, that would have helped.

Lighting/Colours: You didn't tell it in your photo details but some other people said in their comments that you used black light. I'm not sure about that because when I adjust the hue in my photo editing program by about +160 it looks pretty normal to me (normal skin colour, black jeans, blue shirt). But I never used black light and maybe that is the effect of that type of lighting.
Anyway, while I like the effect in in general, the blue is a bit too much blue for my taste. It looks too unnatural and like you played too much with your image editor. I would like it better if it would be a more faint colour tone.
The drop shadow of your wife is distracting. I thik the suggestion above, to let your wife stand futher away from the backgound, would have helped with that, too.

Focus: As far as I can see everything of your wife is in focus. That's good.

Art: I got the wordplay "blue genes"/"blue jeans" a bit late ;-) I guess that's because the jeans seem to be play a totally unimportant role in this photo. The effect of the blue skin dominates.
Anyway, it's a creative effect and I really like the concept. Also you fulfilled the challenge perfectly but personally I would have liked a less smurf coloured version ;-).

I have a different version (different crop, colour hue and saturation) of your photo. I can send it to you if you want.

Stephan

Sunny Side Up
by DougPaz

Comment by chrysalis:
Interesting to see how this one was done.

Christmas Apple
by DougPaz

Comment by inspzil:
Very interesting concept. The choice of photos here was a winner for me this time of year. Nice job with this pic - Inspzil

Sunny Side Up
by DougPaz

Comment by Turbotech:
1)Does the photo fit the theme?(8)
2)Color(7)
3)Composition(7)
4)Focus(5)
5)Background(7)
6)Lighting(6)
7)Title(7)

Overall Score:(6.71 rounded to 7)

This is a great shot. There are a few things that would make it better. I think the focus is a little out. That is understandable as I think I am Familiar with the method you used to set this up. The light might be a little harsh. From the reflection you have on the bottle of oil I can assume you used the on Cam flash. I would personally put a sock over it and close the Apperture just a little more. Just off to the left of the pan there is a yellow color. Is this Egg Yolk or reflcetion of something. Can not figure it out. Anyway you have a great shot here.

John (TurboTech)

Christmas Apple
by DougPaz

Comment by Alecia:
hehehe, how cool is this?! awesome idea and very well executed. perhaps cropped just a tad too close on the right, but not that big of a deal. i love it!

Christmas Apple
by DougPaz

Comment by lisae:
Interesting idea and a technically strong study. The only thing that doesn't work for me is the amount of shine at the base of the apple. It has an odd effect that draws my eye away from the holly on the top. The photo doesn't grab me, but is objectively very good.