Mystic River
by Nuzzer

Comment by marxus:
spooky tree... absolutely believable... 8

Mystic River
by Nuzzer

Comment by hesitant:
a few spots and specks to be cloned out after the challenge but apart from that this is simply wonderful. Like a water color painting.

Mystic River
by Nuzzer

Comment by SandyP:
Ooooooooh. . .Good one! This is certainly one of my top picks.

Shadow Walker
by Nuzzer

Comment by jmsetzler:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

This is an excellent photo as shown by the score you received in this challenge. I love the silhouette exposure and the overall high contrast of this photograph. Compositionally I can understand your own comments on this image with the subject being centered in the frame. In general, the rule of thumb for centered subjects is just like the rule about centered horizons. When the primary point of interest is in the center of the frame, it needs to be supported by either zero interest surrounding it or have equal amounts of interest all the way around it. Whether or not your clouds are supportive of this subject is probably quite subjective. My personal subjective interest in this image is mainly in the lower half of the frame because the leading lines all point back to your main point of interest. I wouldn't really consider the clouds as a point of support for the subject.

I think there is a very strong square composition in this photograph. This square would be created by cropping at the top just above the sphere of the sun and just below the patch spot in the pavement.

Another trick you might want to explore sometime in situations like this one is to create a 'sun star' with your exposure. They are relatively easy to do but they require the use of a polarizer and a much smaller aperture than you chose in this exposure. As you can see, you have the beginnings of this 'star' forming from the sun, but that technique will create a really nice star for you if you give it a try sometime...

Nice work and congrats on the excellent score :)

Shadow Walker
by Nuzzer

Comment by rinac:
Wow, got a 10 from me. Maybe you should edit on your laptop more often. Outstanding work and you fussed over the comp for nothing. Congrats on an awesome finish!

eta: do we get to see more UK pics soon???

Message edited by author 2009-08-03 02:41:24.

Shadow Walker
by Nuzzer

Comment by tnun:
Excellent.

Shadow Walker
by Nuzzer

Comment by salmiakki:
My top pick of the challenge. Love it.

Shadow Walker
by Nuzzer

Comment by vawendy:
congrats on the top 20! I thought this was wonderful!

Shadow Walker
by Nuzzer

Comment by posthumous:
nice lighting and composition.

Shadow Walker
by Nuzzer

Comment by jdannels:
I like how the clouds are like a curtain pulling back to reveal the sun and introduce this character to its audience.