Autocross
by Bagpuss

Comment by karmat:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

That looks fun. Dirty, but fun. :)

Compositionally, it feels that the car is just a bit too centered.I keep wanting to see more to the left. That said, the white car in the background does provide a nice counter-balance to the primary car.

Technically, the focus, exposure, etc. is great. I really like how you have captured the dirt flying, and the blurry background helps to isolate the subject, and keeps it (the background) from being too distracting. I think boosting the colors (especially the yellow) *just a touch* and maybe just a bit of contrast boost, would really help this shot to *pop.*

Overall, nice work, and great action capture.

If I need to further explain myself, or clarify anything I have said, please feel free to contact me.

Karma

Autocross
by Bagpuss

Comment by vikas:
love the flying dust all around, would be fun riding one of these cars! A closer crop would have worked better imo - 6

Autocross
by Bagpuss

Comment by jsc9306:
Oh Yeah! 10

Autocross
by Bagpuss

Comment by Venom:
Love the dirt, nice action!

Autocross
by Bagpuss

Comment by Rasai:
A scrunched 'Bug' not at all like the 'Autocross' we have here in the states ... none the less it looks like a ton of fun! I'm a bit lost on what the course might look like but that dirt being launched make me want to try it ... YEAH! Great shot!

Biena and the bubble
by Bagpuss

Comment by dr rick:
Greetings from the Critique Club.

I like the idea here of a woman absorbed in a simple activity: blowing a bubble. It makes you wonder what she is thinking; perhaps reminiscing on her childhood (the phase of life most commonly associated with bubble-blowing), or reflecting on her life (suggested by the house reflection). The photo does have a nice contemplative feel.

The viewpoint is perfect. A head-on shot wouldn't have shown the bubble well, and a complete profile wouldn't have flattered the model. The partial profile shows both well.

The composition is simple and has a lot of strong points. The background is nicely blurred with great bokeh. The model is an essential element of course, but is nicely placed so she doesn't overpower the image. The bubble is the clear focal point, with diagonal lines in the nose and middle finger pointing to it, and framed nicely by her shoulder. But it's crowded; there needs to be some negative space to the right. I agree with tnun's suggestion to crop just above the eyebrows, but want to go a bit further. This photo would have worked much better in a horizontal format, with Biena's forehead cropped off and some space to the right of the bubble. That would also better match the overall feel of the photo.

The colors work well here; the predominant greens and browns go with the mood, and the splash of complementary purple adds some excitement. (I think the photo could work even better in black and white, but that's really a personal choice.)

Focus and exposure are perfect. But contrast is lacking. Simply increasing the overall contrast greatly improves the photo; using curves would allow more precise adjustment.

Finally, I keep wishing I could see the model's eyes. The apt title is "Biena and the bubble", but Biena doesn't really stand out. Seeing her eyes, and perhaps some makeup would fix this. But then again, that may well change the whole feel of the photo; her lack of expression lets viewers use their imagination, perhaps putting themselves in her place.

Overall, a so-so photo, flat (due to lack of contrast) and compositionally weak. But it has a nice feel and an interesting subject

Biena and the bubble
by Bagpuss

Comment by Shaman:
Great relflection. Colours are just a bit flat, I find. Perhaps a quick Hue/sat pass might have bumped them up a bit. I do like the crop. Overall a 6 from me.

Biena and the bubble
by Bagpuss

Comment by zool:
Cool refelction of the house. Nice job.

Biena and the bubble
by Bagpuss

Comment by tjbel05:
Nice reflection in the bubble

Biena and the bubble
by Bagpuss

Comment by Bud:
Nice image.