Christmas Lily
by kari1

Comment by GuGi:
The top right corner is cut to close, cut off. The center of the picture, the open lilly on the right, is very dominating. A shame, because the lily on the left is so many things. Seem both shy and wanting to know more. I love it. I think I would see what happens if you play with that one a bit. The one on the right is a good one also, but in a different way. I really like that little detail of green at the bottom. Good luck.

Reflections of blue on blue
by kari1

Comment by GuGi:
Well, first of all. This being a Basic Editing, I can't wait to hear what you did to it. What a catch. It is a joy to look at the different angles, they seem so right. And then the colours, lovely blue and then the red to make a wonderful contrast. It gives the blue extra depth. Reflections add icing to the cake. Well done.

City_2818.jpg
by kari1

Comment by Phil:
I like it a lot Kari. So much in here to grab my attention. Very nice!

Christmas Lily
by kari1

Comment by persimon:
How wonderfully soft. I love the sharp detail even for the soft velvety looy of the flowers. Great black background.

Wistful
by kari1

Comment by kiwinick:
what a good looking chap, I like the lighting patterns 10

Bronzed Koru - "symbol of new life"
by kari1

Comment by kari1:
Further information on koru

found this on google:

The koru shape is a scroll shape and is linked to the New Zealand fern plant. The shoot of the fern has a curled-over tip which unfurls and becomes a fernleaf.

The koru reaches towards the light, striving for perfection, encouraging new positive beginnings...

The koru, represents the unfolding of new life, that everything is reborn and continues. It represents renewal and hope for the future.

Spiral, geometry of life, sacred creation...

Cheers
Kari

Bronzed Koru - "symbol of new life"
by kari1

Comment by pidge:
Salut from the Critique Club!

My first impression was, this is a neat abstract!

I wish you would elaborate on what a koru is. I will be the first to admit that I'm a bit ignorant when it comes to New Zealand culture.

On to the picture! Best of is a bit more difficult to critique, since there is no challenge to adhere to.

There are a few things I notice. I think the fact that the background is clsoe to white on the bottom, and gray on the top is a bit distracting.

As pointed out already, there are a few hot spots where the highlights area.

I'm not terribly fond of the crop. The tighter crop on it doesn't seem to add anything to the photograph. I don't know what the whole thing looks like, or what the circumstances are for you to crop it like this, but nothing is added with it. One reason for this is the dark area on the left of the photo. It look arbitrarily cropped.

The oiling was a nice touch. It adds a nice luminosity to the picture.

I think the reason this didn't do as well as it could have is because it was a best of. If this had been submitted for an abstract challenge, it would do much better. While this a nice photo, there is nothing to catch the eye, so in voting among hundreds of photos, this could easily get lost.

Please remember, much of this critique is personal opinion, especially since it more of an abstract, and everybody has a different opinion on an abstract.

If you have any question, feel free to pm me.

Cheers!

Christmas Lily
by kari1

Comment by kiwinick:
I like the composotion it comes to meet you 10

A "Living Fossil" - Tuatara (Sphenodon Punctatus)
by kari1

Comment by sfalice:
Greetings frm the Critique Club

Nice job here. You have good definition, good color and a nice composition. And, while not a great score, certainly a decent one.

IN this crowd on nature photography, that's hard to do. I have just one suggestion for you in this very nice image: because this was an advanced editing Challenge, you might want to consider either blurring out or otherwise obscuring those reeds to the right of the critter's head. They are the brightest part of the image, and the viewer will look at them first instead of the guy's form and face.

Of course it doesn't help his cause that he lives in a mess, but you probably couldn't exaactly reach in and pose him. ;>)

All in all, a nice image that scored pretty well.

It looks as if you are enjoying your DPC experience and I look forward to seeing more of your work.

Alice

A "Living Fossil" - Tuatara (Sphenodon Punctatus)
by kari1

Comment by phreak:
wow that is verry close good job on having the photo turning out clear