Dead(wood) Calm(water)
by GREENMEM

Comment by ScottK:
Don't be so blunt in your title. You made a simple picture more complicated. Let the viewer make the connection. Nice simplicity shot though.

Dead(wood) Calm(water)
by GREENMEM

Comment by Neil:
A very simple shot, using the rule of thirds. However, since there's so few elements here, and so little form in the frame, I think it might have worked better without using a sillouette approach (that would of course, depend on how the wood actually looked!). Or maybe just not quite so dark, so we could see some of it's texture and detail.

Dead(wood) Calm(water)
by GREENMEM

Comment by Mona:
Lovely.

Dead(wood) Calm(water)
by GREENMEM

Comment by Natator:
Great composition and nicely taken in general.

The Fall of Freddy the Leaf
by GREENMEM

Comment by Manikz:
Greetings From The Critique Club...
-composition-
The composition of this photo is good, but I would have liked to have seen a closer shot with more attention paid to the details of the leaf than the background, especially the spots on the leaf, and the jagged edges which provide a unique opportunity to create shapes with the negative space (look at the shadow on the tip of the leaf)
-color-
These colors say rainy day to me, overall I think they work well, but I would like to see more saturation in the color of the leaf.
-contrast-
The contrast of the sharp yellow edges with the dark gray is good, I believe that the leaf could stand out a bit more if you were to focus on the details a bit more. Things to try: Get a little closer, experiment with different angles, experiment with use of different lighting.
-focus-
The focus works well for the angle that this was shot at.
-depth of field-
The photo comes off as flat.
-lighting-
Again, the lighting makes this photo scream rainy day to me.
-any other element of the photo that stands out or is lacking in some way-
If you have the chance I reccomend that you go and take a shot of the same subject matter from a different angle, and a bit closer/tighter...this may involve getting down flat on your stomach, or placing the camera at a lower angle. Really try to focus more on the details of the leaf more than the texture of the background. Overall I think you are on the right track, but when I am shooting a photo I try to portray my subject from at least 3 different points of view.

Please, don't move!
by GREENMEM

Comment by Neuferland:
Hi! This is my first time doing this, so please be aware! :) I'm with the Critique Club.

I left a comment on this in the original challenge, now let me be a little more detailed as I really take some time to look this over.

As I'm sure you are aware, there was a lot of discussion if this type of shot even fit the challenge since it included something that was alive even though it was being very still. That decision is entirely up to you in my opinion, if you think it fits, it fits.

As for the shot, as I said before, the framing seems off a bit, if you had something that had come across the top it would have made a very natural frame, if there was a branch you could have moved? Also the DOF is well done with the blurred tree trunks in the front and the sharper focus in the back ground though the duck still looks just a tad soft to me. The light on the trees is also very bright and almost looks blown out on the right side, a slight adjustment on the contrast might have helped that. Also a tighter crop on the top and bottom would cut out those branches all together and be less of a distraction.

The shadows on the duck are very subtle and look very nice, you can see the sharper one going down his/her back and it's a nice contrast. I'm guessing this was a lucky shot and you probably didn't get too many shots off so overall it's a very nice shot and could probably be tweeked a bit more in photo shop and even put up for a print!

Good Luck in future challenges!

Deannda
DNeufer@stny.rr.com if you have any questions :)

Message edited by author 2003-11-18 00:19:13.

The Fall of Freddy the Leaf
by GREENMEM

Comment by Mireh:
not great

The Fall of Freddy the Leaf
by GREENMEM

Comment by adine:
the bright yellow against the muddy gray is eye-catching. Wish there were moe definition to the leaf.

The Fall of Freddy the Leaf
by GREENMEM

Comment by WesF:
Kind of a plain shot, but well composed though.

The Fall of Freddy the Leaf
by GREENMEM

Comment by Neil:
Good aesthetics!