A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
by xianart

Comment by blackenedwhite:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression:
Clever, could be better. 5.
Composition:
5. The composition's okay, but could be better. Maybe a more skewed angle?
Subject:
6 or 7. Clever. Prolly more than most of the entries in this particular challenge.
Technical:
5. Lighting works. But could be better. I guess a better or brighter lit entry would've placed you higher.
Summary:
All in all, a great take on the entry. There's room for improvement, but doesn't it apply to all of us?;p

Edit: Coding.

Message edited by author 2006-05-12 03:35:42.

Smoking Bullet
by xianart

Comment by blackenedwhite:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression:
NOOKlear! Not quite Warholia, but I don't think that's what you were gunning for. 6.;p
Composition:
Centered vertical. It's a bit too compositionally static for my tastes... would've looked for a more dynamic composition for such wild colors. 5, which is the center of all things.
Subject:
Ah, cuban? 8... Viva la Cubanos!XD
Technical:
6. For curves and levels overkill.
Improvement:
A more dynamic composition, I guess. Off center or diagonal works, for that fuuunky munky effect.
Summary:
Nice photo, all things considered. Keep it up!

New Disclaimer: I'm not on crack.

Message edited by author 2006-05-12 03:12:41.

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
by xianart

Comment by alexgarcia:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: wonderful idea, very good cliche selected.

Composition: I like it, you use quite properly the rule of thirds.

Subject: very nice clock. The thread is a bit too thick, IMO.

Technical: I like you have nore light in the nine, but I don't like the shadows, they are too intense for me. The upper side of the clock is a bit too black, without detail. The focus is good.

Improvement: use a softer light.

Summary: wonderful shot. Good job.

�lex

Through a Glass Darkly
by xianart

Comment by blackenedwhite:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: God, the PP on this shot f-ing rocks. But guess what? The title f-ing rocked more! I don't know if you got it from the bible (1Cor 13:12) or from the movie (SÃ¥som i en spegel) or wherever, but such photos with such titles make my day. 10. No, 11.;p
Composition: Minus minor nitpicks, I would have it no other way. 9.
Subject: Hey, I just realized I'm not too wild about those boots... damn. I think I would've liked it better with naked feet. Eh, whatever... it still rocks. 8.
Technical: Spot on exposure, IMO. Blown-out window borders worked for me. 8.
Improvement: Remove those goddamned boots! Hehe. Besides that, nothing from me.
Summary: How do you youngsters say it again? I heart this photo -- is that about right? Good work, man. Congrats on the top 40 and the PB.

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

P.S. Please pardon the f-word. It just occured to me that it might be offensive to some people. Can't help it. Sorry in advance.

Message edited by frisca - language.

My Grandmother's Christening gown - 1911
by xianart

Comment by blackenedwhite:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: Product shot!;p If it was, I'd buy one. 6.
Composition: 5. It's pretty square, and square doesn't do your subject justice, IMO. Square = Straightforward = Does not do well, sometimes.
Subject: 10. Because it's old and creepy and from the early 19th century. Hahaaah... this rocks.
Technical: 6. The highlights are blown-out, but the important details aren't. You did good, ma'am.
Improvement: Spiders, skulls, cobwebs, other creepy stuff. Or your gramma, if she's still around.
Summary: Product shot! Product shot! Product shot! I like it, though. I can just imagine what that gown's been through...

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

Never alone with a book...
by xianart

Comment by xianart:
the whole point of the image is the fact that the reader wasn't playing with the other kids. he was isolating himself with a book. hence the children in the forground happily playing, framing the reader, isolating him visually from the viewer. thus, also, the glow on the book, bringing more power visually to the object of his attention, over that of social interraction.

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
by xianart

Comment by Oddfrog:
Hi! From CPT2

The lighting is a bott dark I think.
The colours are great and I like that you only have the quarter of the clock in the shot.
Well done, you did a great job:)
Edit: Added the CPT2

Message edited by author 2006-05-11 03:16:32.

Never alone with a book...
by xianart

Comment by blackenedwhite:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: What's with all the kids in the foreground? What are they doing for the shot? 5, because of those pesky kids.
Composition: 5. The foreground elements take a lot of attention from the subject. A tighter crop would've done your subject justice.
Subject: Your subject's a kid. Reading a book. You should've showed a lot more of just that, and a lot less of what it's not.
Technical: 6. Tonalities are fine, but a little bumping up of the contrast wouldn't hurt.
Summary: This is Candid, not Photojournalism. It doesn't have to speak volumes to be appreciated as one. Crop the hell out of it and it's a great photo.

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

Message edited by author 2006-05-14 22:52:31.

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
by xianart

Comment by Rebecca:
Hi Christian -

I scored this one pretty high, a 7. I think it suffered from being too dark for DPC tastes, and from the needle curving around the nine looking more like a scythe - I wouldn't have recognized it as a needle, to be honest, and the shadow blends with it so well that it makes that identification that much more difficult.

However, I definitely appreciate that this photo actually meets the challenge fully, as opposed to many high scoring images that only met it halfway.

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
by xianart

Comment by loseme:
::Critique Club::

Subject::

"A Stitch in Time Saves Nine" was a clever idea for the Cliches and Sayings challenge. This was a very creative idea.

Technically::

The image itself is a very nice shot. I really do like the lighting, you have drawn direct attention to the subject we are supposed to be focusing on. You might have just stretched the lighting a little bit more so that the center spot was a little bit bigger. The clarity and focus appear strong. I would be curious to see the shot if you were able to make the stich line tight, at first glance I just thought it was a string before I read the title (during voting). I can understand that it was probably pretty hard to set a tight string without having a hand in the photo which might cause more shadows. You might even try something like the clear fishing wire, just a thought. I also like your cropping and placement of the subject, we as voters know exactly what the subject was.

Summary::

Overall this was a nice entry and very creative. I look forward to your future entries.