Years of Neglect
by splidge

Comment by posthumous:
First Rule of Critique Club: Do Not Talk About Critique Club!

Second Rule of Critique Club: Do NOT Talk About Critique Club!

Third Rule of Critique Club: When a photo scores less than six, there must be something wrong with it.

Hmmm... let's see.... it meets the challenge. Rust is bad. Anybody who's ever had to deal with rust knows that it destroys expensive things, and once it starts you can't stop it.

Let's see... a beautiful abstract composition. Lots of energy! Mostly straight lines, but with one elegant curve, plus the implied curve of the wheel we cannot see, and the rusted gears. A lot of strong diagonals and lines radiating from the center.

Wait! I know! No subject!

Fifth Rule of Critique Club: One subject at a time. I know what you're thinking, you DO have one subject. But where does it begin, where does it end? Gear and spokes and cable all compete for the title, as does the implied wheel. Composition trumps subject in this photo. We are given a feast of abstract energy instead of a straightforward (yawn) depiction of a something-or-other.

Fourth Rule of Critique Club: Only two guys to a photo. That's right. Only two. The photographer and the viewer. You and me. Ultimately, you are creating an experience for a single person, whoever is looking at the picture at a particular moment. The score is an average, but there is no average experience for your photo. Some will get it and some won't. That's the way it is for all photos. I got a kick out of your photo.

Sixth Rule of Critique Club: No shirt, no shoes. Okay, I only gave it a 6. I liked the energy but it didn't give me the thrill I needed to give it a 7. 7 and above means I would put it on my wall if I had space for it. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what would make this a 7 for me. It could be done any number of ways, perhaps by giving it a certain mood with the lighting. But the joys of this photo are subtle. I like it more the more I look at it. It really does get to the heart of photography: the joy of seeing.

Okay, there are two more rules but I'm out of gas.

Flute Practice
by splidge

Comment by sevilduvarci:
very nice DOF.

Flute Practice
by splidge

Comment by rayg544:
VERY nice! :)

Flute Practice
by splidge

Comment by KarenNfld:
Good DOF and clarity in this

Flute Practice
by splidge

Comment by bassbone:
From a technical viewpoint - Nice perspective, good use of shallow DOF, and good conversion to B/W. From an emotional/ story point of view - it is a little static. Simply by adding some handwritten notes onto the music for an area that needs to be 'practiced' would have really helped. It almost seems too clean, if you know what I mean. Cheers and good shot. 6

Flute Practice
by splidge

Comment by TCGuru:
I played the flute too :) This is a lovely B&W!! I like the shine on the instrument and the clarity of the notes on the paper :)

Years of Neglect
by splidge

Comment by dsterner:
First, I really like the photo - such clarity. I think you have a creative take on the challenge. Given that I believe the rusty sprocket to be the focus, I think the calipers (is that what they are, right?...the mechanism that changes the gears?)divert attention from "neglect" of the image.

Walked away, came back - I DO really like this photo! Questioned the cord and the calipers, but I still like the focus...So I thought about it and the calipers and cord are required for the change of gears, but since the sprocket is so rusty, the change of gears would (in fact) be BAD. Glad I took the time to think about it...seems to a good composition after all. :) 10! BTW get some WD-40!

Years of Neglect
by splidge

Comment by bood:
a spot of oil will sort that little beauty out!
Not so bad

You know, the drill...
by splidge

Comment by cpanaioti:
Colours and shapes are nice however I feel you've chosen a DOF that is too shallow. Also, a perspective that is more direct (straight down the drill bit) may have more impact.

You know, the drill...
by splidge

Comment by bassbone:
great use of pun