The Unknown
by arnit

Comment by LanSnake:
Greetings from the Critique Club --

Arnit,
Very nice image for the Free Study challenge. I like the effect you've achieved with the lighting (and it's impressive that your model held this pose for 3 seconds!). One of the comments below mentions that additional negative space above the model's head might help the composition. I agree with this; I think extra space above the model's head would amplify the mystery of the image. What IS up there? What does she see?

I notice that you've entered this image into the Black and White gallery. Did you intend to enter a black and white version of the photo, but grabbed the color version by mistake? Just curious as this image obviously makes use of color...(I'd like to see a black and white version if you have one available).

I like the left/right crop that you've chosen. There isn't much distance between the model and the left/right side of the frame, but this works well here. It tends to increase the feeling of discomfort for the viewer....

Great photograph Arnit!

LanSnake

Faith
by arnit

Comment by rogerspaul:
WE "BELIEVE" .....YOU CAN'T TAKE CHRISTMAS FROM US.

Faith
by arnit

Comment by jmsetzler:
This is a GREAT candid shot but I don't understand how it ties into this challenge at all... - setzler

Faith
by arnit

Comment by FranziskaLang:
challenge not met (according to my interpretation of the rules, no humans, or obvious signs of human presence should be visible). sorry. having got that out of the way, i still would like to critique your photo. i just love the total look of faith and awe (you titled your photo well) on the little girls' faces. i also like your overall composition of only including santa partially. another nice touch is the amount of reds and pinks in the photo, they kind of round the whole thing off. a couple of things (not all of which are in your control) that i would've contemplated doing differently. i don't like santa's hand position with the thumb sticking out much, did you get more shots (hoping he's moving his hand), or did you try moving a little further to the left (if that was possible)? that might also have included the third little girl more in the photo. i would like to see the girls shoes, and i would also have cropped a bunch off the top of the photo (probably just above the head of the man behind the woman dressed in black). the space above adds nothing to the photo and just distracts a little from your actual main subjects. just my two cents.

Faith
by arnit

Comment by alanfreed:
While I like this shot an awful lot, especially the expression on the kids' faces, this seems like a bit of a cop out for this week's challenge in my opinion.

Music
by arnit

Comment by Anachronite:
ooo very nice shot... I like what was done here.. not sure if it was post processing or camera settings.. but it's great... good use of negative space... and this is accutually one of the few times I have enjoyed submissions here with such a soft focus... well done!

Faith
by arnit

Comment by DougPaz:
What great looks on their faces! Priceless! I only wish the woman in brown behind them wasn't there. I almost think you could have cropped right above their heads and still got the Santa effect. Really nice, especially for the season. I'm just not sure how well it meets the challenge. DPz

Music
by arnit

Comment by f-32:
1)Does this Fit the Challenge? (2)
2)Color:(7)
3)Composition(7)
4)Focus:(7)
5)Background(7)
6)Lighting(7)
7)Does the Title fit Photo:(1)

Music
by arnit

Comment by Froober:
Excuse the pun...but this rocks! Great lighting, composition, and on topic. 10!

Faith
by arnit

Comment by autool:
I bet you got a lot of comments on this one. Its terribly hard to show the kid's emotion without missing the challenge. Sorry!