Love -- Mah Jongg Style
by karmat

Comment by cq107:
I don't think the background is a good color for the "pastel" colors of the hearts... perhaps pink or plain white would be better...

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by GeneralE:
I had no trouble seeing this, but think given the topic it would have been better to turn the ring, or try and hide it completely. I realize you probably wouldn't have an unmounted diamond lying around, but I think for this the ring is more a distraction from the theme, and if you could make just the diamond and coal visible would be a little stronger.

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by justine:
CC: hello to Karmat
Fits The Challenge-Yes.
Composition-Good but could of been better.
Background-Too dark, can't see the ring.
Digital Processing-Fine
My Opinion-Karmat this was a great idea, and it works with charcoal just fine. Who need coal? The problem is that the charcoal is so black that we can't see the ring well enough and the angle keeps us from the beauty of the ring. How could this be corrected..? Maybe with levels. I saved this and adjusted the levels...this is a good shot.
I also note that some of the folks that left comments made no mention of it being too dark. _Different_ monitors? I guess so.
Thanks for letting me look over your shot. It's a not bad, it's just dark.

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by lisae:
The diamond is actually quite difficult to see from this angle. Other than that, it's a cool idea and well photographed.

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by Frank Beckman:
Cool Coal....7

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by KarenB:
awesome idea. i think the composition is lacking in that the ring could be facing a bit more to the lens.. maybe more of a 3/4 view rather than profile. nice use of dof.. a bit dark. but I generally like it.

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by inspzil:
One of the best ideas of the week. I think there are a few things that would make this picture much better with not much work. Firstly, put the ring where people can really focus on the gem. Show its good side. Secondly, a little more creative lighting to show the gem off would be the icing on the cake,. Again, good shot - Inspzil

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by Annida:
Is this Redfig? If it's not. oops! Very very lovely picture. I would have made it differently by turning the diamond toward the camera. It would probably have added a million problems though. Good work. 9 -Annida

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by Gracious:
Excellent concept. I think this would be even better if the diamond was turned more toward the front. Good contrast.

Coal to Diamond
by karmat

Comment by Anachronite:
great idea! lighting angle is good giving some nice shadows in the coal.. too bad you could not get a way for the light source to refract through the diamond... with the angle of the ring the light is a bit bright on the stone