Periplaneta brunnea
by Simms

Comment by Chuckie:
Good job, i like the photo.

Periplaneta brunnea
by Simms

Comment by tiff:
very nice

Periplaneta brunnea
by Simms

Comment by Remie:
Great shot, I just wish the bug's head was better visible like the rest of the body though.

Periplaneta brunnea
by Simms

Comment by kiwiness:
Nice effect. The lighting on the bug's back is a tad too harsh though.

Periplaneta brunnea
by Simms

Comment by adine:
The reflected light off the rock works well to highlight the back on the bug - would be good see the head and legs more clearly. Wish you;d picked it up and put it higher onthe rock.

Under the Bridge
by Simms

Comment by FranziskaLang:
A Comment From The Critique Club

Hi Mark!

My immediate reaction was 'Home'! I lived in London for six years so it was exciting for me to see a photo of Tower Bridge :)

You've chosen a great subject, and you are doing it justice. Tower Bridge is very impressive and the angle that you have chosen is nice. I wonder what your original looked like, if it allows it I would suggest a slightly different crop: Leave a little more room at the top so that the tip of the tower at the front is visible. Crop the right side a bit more to remove the beginnings of the entrance sign. This would achieve a couple of things in my mind: balance the shape of your photo a bit more (at the moment it is squarish but not quite square, and that just feels a bit off when I look at it). It would also remove more white sky (which doesn't add anything to your photo) and the half-legible word (the viewer's eyes are always drawn to writing which in your photo is not the main subject). I do like the angle that you've chosen (not having the tower straight), and I noticed that the voters are divided on it. I think you did well choosing this angle because that avoids the converging lines issue by making non-vertical lines a feature rather than a problem. :)

Was it the sky that made you choose to go b&w (or slightly toned, I think, at least on my monitor here)? Whatever it was, I think the choice is an excellent one. Color photos of Tower Bridge are much more common and your choice of b&w sets your photo apart from the rest.

The tonal range and detail you have achieved in your photo is exemplary, you have everything from pure black to pure white and all the details in the bridge itself are nicely visible, and there are no blown-out or underexposed areas. The white sky is nice and simple and works well, but I still think it wouldn't hurt to see less of it (see my earlier comment above). Everything's nice and sharp, too. Good work.

The photo definitely meets the challenge, the bridge is the obvious (and only) focus of your entry. I like it very much, and overall, the voters did, too. This was a tough challenge with lots of good competition and I think you held up really well with your entry.

I just checked out your portfolio, b&w is obviously a favorite of yours and you do it well. I'm looking forward to seeing more of that from you :)

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments about this review.

Franziska.

Under the Bridge
by Simms

Comment by tcherring:
What a cool bridge! It seems cropped a little too tight at the top with too much white space to the right - I would love to see a full photo of this bridge, as it looks magnificent. I love the tonal finish and your angle is very original.

Under the Bridge
by Simms

Comment by mk:
Interesting angle.

Under the Bridge
by Simms

Comment by rainbow:
I love the composition of this shot. Altering an angle of view can add a lot of impact to a photograph.

Under the Bridge
by Simms

Comment by abh1:
Nice perspective, great detail