Wistful
by SJCarter

Comment by Tammer:
For me, this tranquil perspective might be even more dramatic if the merge point in the background didn't end up in the center of the photograph. Color seems a bit dark on my screen, but I do get a sense of perspective.

Beyond the Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by Wilson Low:
This is a nice shot and the timing is just right ! Great shot ! ;-)

Beyond the Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by dahkota:
very pretty. excellent lighting, good composition, tones work well. 7

Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by skief:
Greetings from the Critique Club

On first glance, this photo really stands out. It has some very good potential. The way you used the sunglasses almost as a filter to give the eyes the normal exposure while blowing out the rest of the face is a great technique. The eyes themselves have come out very good.

In saying that however, it falls short of becoming a good photo. Here are some suggestions that may help:

1. Polarizer Filter: The eyes as I said before are fantastic, but the reflections off of the sunglasses really ruin their impact. While they should be nice and clear, both eyes suffer from something reflecting right in the middle of them. A polarizer would remove this reflection and give them added impact. It would also allow the color of the eyes to come out a little stronger.

2. Exposure: While I appreciate what you've done with this, a couple of things would help. First the lips. If you added a little lipstick (I know, you're a guy) to make them darker to start off with, they wouldn't be quite as washed out in the final. Second is the forehead portion to the top left. Most of the face is left without any details, but then the forehead in the top left produces a fairly dark (respectively speaking) section that is disjointed from the rest of the face, which produces another focal point which then detracts from the real focus of the eyes. Dodge it out or clone it out, so that it matches the rest of the 'missing' left side of the face.

3. Facial hair: I've read the comments that others have said, and I must say that I personally think the facial hair helps to give it more texture. However, it needs to have a more defined shape to the beard or a little more to fill it in. Also, it does seem to add some focus to the nasal hairs in your nostrils which is not a good thing. The hair to the left of the mouth (as we are looking at it) gives your face a little bit of a 'chipmunk' look as we have no other dimensions to the face except that little bit of facial hair.

All in all, this was a very creative take on the challenge. However, I think that this being a "Color Portrait" challenge and by removing almost all of the color from your face in the overexposure really hurt the score overall.

I did not vote in the challenge, but if I had, I would have scored this a 5. With the polarizer in place to remove the reflections, may have been bumped up to a 6.

Feel free to PM me with any questions you might have.

Wistful
by SJCarter

Comment by desertdoc:
Nice title, nice pic

Big Brother is Watching You...
by SJCarter

Comment by zarniwoop:
This might be a first on DPC but I would say Add more Grain.
The photo is just too smooth for the green effect to work

Beyond the Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by Jutilda:
I love the graphic sense of the railing. The blue tones are terrific. The clouds make the moon shot so interesting and not the typical one. The composition is good and the minimal light really works here!!

Beyond the Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by CalliopeKel:
This is really lovely. Taking advantage of the full moons we've had lately I see. The way the moon is shown thru the clouds and casting the blue moonlight onto the wall is intense. 10.

Beyond the Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by Tammer:
I like the composition. I wish the moon and clouds were a bit crisper, but nice photo.

Beyond the Blue
by SJCarter

Comment by MPRPRO:
Is this Yankee Stadium? good idea.