Helium "He"
by mbrutus2009

Comment by jessy_pesce:
interesting perspective.

Helium "He"
by mbrutus2009

Comment by J-Me:
Well, what can I say here? It's a challenge fitter, but, can't say much about the "depth" of meaning to this shot. *smile* I thinketh that you may be a bit fed up or just didn't have any other ideas???? *smile*

Helium "He"
by mbrutus2009

Comment by rlewis:
Too many people followed this and the aluminum theme. Good color and exposure but the concept doesn't stand out.

Helium "He"
by mbrutus2009

Comment by aplomb76:
This is the best damn helium balloon shot in the challenge. 8

Helium "He"
by mbrutus2009

Comment by Anachronite:
would be better with a floating balloon so we didnt need a title to know you met the challenge.

Helium "He"
by mbrutus2009

Comment by bspurgeon:
I've already seen three red helium balloons! Good execution.

Flowers: $8.99 Falling in love: priceless
by mbrutus2009

Comment by SaraR:
Hello from the Critique Club.

I am sure that this photo ended up scoring far worse than you had expected. I am quite sure that the end score was as a result of what many viewers clearly perceived as, at best, a tenuous link to the challenge theme. Had you entered the same photo in to the monthly Free Study I suspect you would have finished a full point and more ahead.

Technically the photo is competent, although there are things that could be worked on to bring it up another notch. Focus is sharp on the centre and near petals, falling off with distance. Exposure is on the dark side - if you were going for a low-key look, you achieved your aim, if not, you may want to try exposing more to the right of your histogram. The black background provides a sombre and somewhat harsh foil to the rose, although it does allow the red to be seen to good effect. My main problem with the photo is with the composition - and this is just my personal, subjective view - which feels to me somewhat awkward. The stem is just visible, and I actually find myself trying to follow it out of the photo, there either isn't enough of it therem, or there is too much. If you are to include part of the stem, I feel that a more diagonal composition would be worth considering.

All in all, a competently taken photograph that missed the mark in terms of the challenge. I look forward to seeing more of your flower photographs as you develop further.

Regards,
Sara.

abandoned house...
by mbrutus2009

Comment by bvy:
House doesn't look terribly abandoned. The wild processing doesn't add much.

The sky's the limit!
by mbrutus2009

Comment by andrewt:
too much of a snapshot kind of feel. The composition is too busy. Try simplifying like only including 2-3 tree silhouttes that are more cleanly seperated.

abandoned house...
by mbrutus2009

Comment by NikonJeb:
Great effect here with the grain/overlay thing......looks suitably forlorn. 7