Dead Man's Curve
by SJCarter

Comment by SteveJ:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

The challenge was Image Grain and the use of grain or noise to enhance your photo.

Technical:
Thanks for including your steps for processing. I have spent some time studying this shot and something bugs me about the overall effect, whether it is too much grain, sharpening or Neat Image, I'm not sure. The trees at the top look too sharpened, as do the bones on the sleepers.

Composition:
It has a real old feel with the sepia toning and the tilting angle of the tracks. It does a good job leading the eye, past the bones and along the sweeping track. Nothing really to comment on with your setup and execution.

Personal:
I would like to see what the shot looked like with less grain and sharpening. It could be a little darker to bring the trees into the picture. However, the lighter top end of the shot does create an old world feeling. The bones are a nice touch. It is certainly more effective having the horizon tilting in the direction of the curve and the title is very apt. A worthy entry which was let down by the artifacts already mentioned, perhaps most of these are due to saving for web. If so, then you have suffered in your final score. As submitted I feel you scored around about the right mark. Hope this proves helpful and constructive.

Steve

Don't Shoot!
by SJCarter

Comment by espy2:
Kind of creepy, but its nice!

Babbling Brook
by SJCarter

Comment by Jammur:
very delicate composition

Babbling Brook
by SJCarter

Comment by PhotoRyno:
Lots of water shots. a little over sharpened maybe

Don't Shoot!
by SJCarter

Comment by Mr_Pants:
I quite like this shot, but the moire pattern in the forehead region detracts somewhat. This could be corrected by a little blurring.

Don't Shoot!
by SJCarter

Comment by alih:
i dont really like this picture...there isnt much of a focus

Beyond the Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by susi:
Your pictures all provoke thought and mood which is essential if we want out work to 'speak'..
Thanks for the conversation :)

Dead Man's Curve
by SJCarter

Comment by susi:
Great angle and mood, I can hear the whistle coming!

Traditional Jack
by SJCarter

Comment by arsenal:
cool i like how it is up on that post

Don't Shoot!
by SJCarter

Comment by DrAchoo:
Hmm, creative, but what is the photographic intent of the picture? I'm not sure. Political? Artistic? It's too bad the compression left that moire pattern on her forehead. 5