Home Alone
by OneSweetSin

Comment by joebar:
A bit underexposed -- all detail is lost in the eyes, face has weird black spots. Looks kinda blurry too. I think I woulda taken a wider shot for this, include a bathroom sink, shaving cream, etc...

Home Alone
by OneSweetSin

Comment by sonnyh:
Not a happening event. Sorry

In For Repairs
by OneSweetSin

Comment by Koriyama:
*critique club*

Hi Anna,
it seems that we meet again through the critique club. Well, here goes...

Overall
You certainly meet the challenge. The subject fills the entire frame, and I think that this is where the main problem lies. Unless the subject is scintillatingly exciting, the end result will be a tad dull. Your title suggests we'll see something broken down, but it's difficult to get the context just from that part only. In your comments, you point out that the serial numbers are worn. That's fine. However, I can't really see anything more than an old piece of machinery.

Conceptual
For this to work for me, I'd like you to have captured the actual broken bit, or presented some of the emotion, the nostalgia of what the machine was or did.

Technical
I see no problems here. You've caught realistic colours well. The image is sharp, and your dof is just right.

My impression
As I said, I feel that it's a touch dull, the subject matter, that is. Otherwise, you've done a good technical job.

Suggestions
My last question before I press the shutter release button is always 'is this image one that I'd want to hang on my wall'? What's special about the image that grabs me? Why is this image unique? Are other questions that I need to answer when I like something that I see. If I'm faced with photographing a dull subject, I need to ask myself how the image can be enlivened.

For this shot, there are a few ways which spring to mind. The first is to use the Dimage's macro function and focus in on just one tiny part of the scene. Candidates might be the bevelled lettering which might produce an interesting viewpoint if shot flat on, or a single nut. There is a strong light source coming in from 2 o'clock. Maybe you could use that somehow in photographing how it hits a chosen part of the image. That suggests using the shadow, too. Even combining the shadow and the lettering and macro ideas.

Another suggestion is to move further out and provide some context. Show the actual broken bit. If no broken bit can be found, then you need to treat the object purely artistically. You might concentrate on the concentric circles in the image. You might change the camera angle to place the nuts on the same line, or create lines using the existing objects. Photographically, you might think about how texture is created by looking at some of the very good entries in this challenge and seeing what kinds of texture were captured there.

Best wishes,

Jim

Home Alone
by OneSweetSin

Comment by gerdagrice:
This is a fun picture and it certainly does recall the movie. I'm a bit bothered, though, by the colour cast that makes parts of the boy's skin look quite blue. Also the little spot at the end of the boy's nose is a bit distracting. I would clone it out.

Home Alone
by OneSweetSin

Comment by Fayech:
hahaha. this made me laugh. you must have woken him up at night to do this cause he looks more sleepy than surprised. cute.

Done in the Garden
by OneSweetSin

Comment by banmorn:
the focus seems to me to be a bit soft on the work bbots....may it's the dust and dirt, not sure....like the monotone, comp and texture contrasts.

In For Repairs
by OneSweetSin

Comment by Artifacts:
I like this one a lot, must be the attraction of heavy machinery.

In For Repairs
by OneSweetSin

Comment by Gracious:
Good detail, lighting and subject...meets challenge too.

Done in the Garden
by OneSweetSin

Comment by amsmyth:
A little sharper would have been nice, but I like it and like the overall tone.

Done in the Garden
by OneSweetSin

Comment by Olyuzi:
While exposure and tone are good, the eye is lead to the pair of softly focused boots at the bottom, which IMHO should be in better focus. Also, I would have liked to see this image in sepia and the shovels and boots not so centered.