Pondering at the Ponderosa
by WonderDude

Comment by sidpixel:
Hello from the Critique Club

A portrait that meets the challenge

A quite straightforward portrait made more distinctive through the use of selective desat which although it separates the subject from the background very effectively I am not personally a fan of this technique. Without your comments and given his clothing I would take him for a cowboy as opposed to a musician especially against the background with the sheriff’s star symbol. It would be more representative of his profession if he was holding an instrument he uses.

The DOF, focus and exposure are all good and whilst your image is perfectly acceptable and competently done it lacks the sort of impact needed to elevate it to the front page but it has been respectably received here so well done.

Thanks for your submission, Sid

Hidden Slide
by WonderDude

Comment by MichaelC:
Certainly in your face diagonal which I feel could have benefited from better light (earlier or later in the day) and a shallower DoF.

Piped Graffiti
by WonderDude

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique club*

A failed attempt that does not meet the challenge.

Although the challenge brief does not specifically state low contrast with or without post processing the essence of the challenge is to find in your surroundings a scene that exhibits low contrast characteristics. To take an initially high contrast scene, desaturate it and reduce the contrast is not, in my opinion what this challenge is about and I think that is reflected in your voters reaction too.

I find it interesting that you have chosen to include the drainpipe as an important element within your composition but I am unsure why you have done it. I would imagine the original artistry was very impressive and would have made a good study on its own, its not apparent to me how the pipe adds to the overall end result in any beneficial way.

Well done for trying and do keep on contributing and learning, Sid

Being Green
by WonderDude

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique club*

An interesting image that meets the challenge

Power is clearly conveyed through your choice of the solar panels and their inferred generation of electrical power. I like that your father is positioned to allow the rest of the image to be filled with the solar panels but I am not so happy that he is wearing one of 'em! I think it would have worked better if you had him a little more to the right obscuring the building in the background and looking in to the scene towards the panels.

The colour saturation is bordering on being a little too much for my preference but still reasonably acceptable. What is much less desirable are the blown highlights in the clouds they are detrimental to the end result. I don't think you should be too concerned about your high ISO modern cameras such as yours have continued to make significant improvements in the sensor's ability to handle ISO well and at these levels this really shouldn't be an issue.

Thank you for your entry, Sid

Being Green
by WonderDude

Comment by tvsometime:
I'm grinning. Should I be?

Pondering at the Ponderosa
by WonderDude

Comment by stevieian:
I like your use of selective desat

Being Green
by WonderDude

Comment by digifotojo:
Solar panels are an excellent choice for this challenge. 8

Being Green
by WonderDude

Comment by Tiny:
Who's dat

Being Green
by WonderDude

Comment by pslyons:
Very cleaver. I can see right away why it's called "Being Green".
Vote Yes

Being Green
by WonderDude

Comment by JMALHS:
Great photo!