Private tunnel
by snaffles

Comment by PGerst:
** Hello from the Critique Club **

Of all the photos I have critiqued or commented on, I find my opinion of your photo to be far different than your score and different that others have commented on. In short, I really like this one and I think it fits the challenge description right on.

Composition
The challenge is tunnels and caves. The composition of this makes me feel cramped, trapped, looking for a way out. In other words, your photo has what I have in mind for caves. Certainly, your composition is different than all the others, but that is why I like it. First, the negative dark space and limited light provides the atmosphere I mentioned. The light, pipe, and rock, suggest a crawlspace, a personal cave, as you suggest. The photo is slightly tilted, which provides an added feel that you're trapped, pushing to get out. Very well done.

Technical
Exposure, focus, DOF, is right on. This is strictly a compositional photo. The technical aspects are minor and are secondary to the strong composition.

I'm sorry to see this scored so low. I think it is underrated. I'd be interested in seeing a discussion on this.

The Headstones
by snaffles

Comment by JuliBoc:
Black and white suits this image very well. I like the composition and contrast. It's quite sad to think of a family losing three young sons. Can't do it in basic editing, but now that the challenge is over, I'd recommend reducing the sharpening effect around the tree tops.

Leaving home
by snaffles

Comment by organic:
too dark

Leaving home
by snaffles

Comment by ineedauniquename:
Could use one of those classic bag of belongings on a stick (ala Tom Sawer) to connect better with the title. I like the angle of the shot.

synchronizedsleeping.jpg
by snaffles

Comment by ErikV:
Cut how they are so nicely lined up!

Private tunnel
by snaffles

Comment by rlewis:
I have a light just like that, but I really wish it wasn't in the image; this looks like a unique place but somehow this isn't calling my name, no focal point, no story to be seen.

Circularity
by snaffles

Comment by Chinarosepetal:
Critique Club

Hi Susan, I love the thought of critiquing an image that was created in the Closet of Doom!

First impressions
A bright, graphic image.

After some time with the picture
I started to feel a little as though your glass was trapped in a box, the composition gave it no room to wriggle or roll, I felt uncomfortable for it. However the tight crop did fill the image with the circles created by the glass and so it was fulfilling its brief. I puzzled over the dark lines above the glass and wondered if they were folds in a cloth and you'd gone high key to lose them within the basic editing rule. Then I realised the image has gone through 180 degrees and those are shadows on the ground/surface. I think without these the image would float better, but basic editing leaves you a bit stuck on that one!

Overall
A good idea and the high key creates drama and provides a graphic image. The tightness of the composition hurts the image and the rotation with the shadows still evident is disorientating. Keep going with this set up and plenty of experimentation!
:)

The Headstones
by snaffles

Comment by Magnumphotography:
Your going to do much better for sure!

Overload
by snaffles

Comment by JulietNN:
Hi from the CC CLub!!!!

Well, I am not sure what the closet of doom is, but I think I may have several of them in this house. Mostly under my kids beds!!!

I like your idea of an overflowing glass. I think what killed your shot here, was the darkness. Because the glass is black you would need a fairly bright light to see what is going on in the shot. Maybe a little more spot metering would have helped with the light. In Post processing, adjusting the exposure may have light it a bit more and then playing with brightness and contrast, but I still think this would have been fairly dark

Now if I tilt my screen, I can see your shot fairly well.

Your high ISO is giving off a lot of grain, you are a little tilted as well and the bottom bit of the glass is cut off and out of focus.

But the focus on the oil pouring in and the top of the glass is sharp. Your shot is very centered, maybe having only half of the glass showing on the right with the oil pouring out of it, would have given you more depth and POV.

I would retake this shot and see what you can do , cos I think with the black glass it could be stunning!

American Bittern bokeh
by snaffles

Comment by colorcarnival:
What I liked about this was the blade kind of bisecting or merging with the beak. Then as you stare at that, the two eyes pop out at you. Then you start to wonder where the beak really is lol. Cool capture.