s e a • p e a r l s
by Ja-9

Comment by MeMex2:
wonderful !!!

Nuccio’s Cameo - Camellia japonica
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An appealing flower study that meets the challenge well.

A very competent image of the camelia composed in an appealing off centre way. I disagree with one of your commenters I think the chosen aperture is most appropriate giving you a DOF with just the right amount of softness and detail.

I wouldn't mind seeing the occasional flower study without the seemingly obligatory water drops! It looks like you have used flash which is illuminating the front of the floor a little too much for me. I would prefer to see the natural hues and shadows, a lot of the natural delicate detail has been lost here through the use of flash.

Please forgive the long delay in this critique, I hope you feel the image and critique are both still relevant, Sid.

F A C I N A T I O N
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A flower study that meets the challenge fully.

Whilst I have to own up to the fact that the end result of these filters rarely, if ever, appeals to me, I also acknowledge that the challenge probably dictates their use to achieve the painted feel of the challenge. I would imagine you could have some success trying to achieve a painterly feel in-camera which would be the challenge I would be attracted to but I suppose the voters may be swayed by those that appear the most painted and they are probably most likely to be the result of the use of filters.

I quite like the macro and composition with the heart of the flower off-centre. I find the shadows the most intriguing element of the image, very appealing. I think the edges appear sharper than would probably be the case if this had been painted, for example, the sharp diagonal of the top left corner I think this would be a softer transition without the boundary line running through it. The pinkish splodges do not appeal, for me they detract but they are not a major part of the image except towards the centre which is also where the eyes are drawn.

An understandable but unappealing use of filters, thanks for your submission, Sid

~ Christmas Berries ~
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A very seasonal image that meets the open challenge well.

An appealing image that reflects the festive mood of the time of year (not long to the next one!). I scored this a 7 at the time and would probably do so again, it still has the sort of appeal that goes with the season.

It looks as though you have included a texture layer to give it a bit more uniqueness as opposed to a straightforward shot, and it works because it does make it the sort of shot you will take a second look at. The composition is good with the berries coming in at an angle from the corner, the diagonal works well. Although I like the background it is a little confusing and may have benefited from a little more DOF.

A rather belated Merry Christmas! Sid

Ready to fly? Varoooom
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A fairly pleasing portrait that meets this open themed challenge.

A portrait of a child at play that in itself will naturally have appeal to most viewers, and it does but there are several things about it that set it apart I assume intentionally but it doesn't work that well for me.

The moment you have captured is one that feels more posed than natural and his expression does not convey the sort of pleasure I would hope to see in this situation, there seems to be a degree of apprehension in his face. He is too central in the frame I would prefer to see him further to the left but I think this side on viewpoint could have been improved upon with a change of position looking up the seesaw towards him with him against a much less distracting background. Talking of which the chosen aperture has given you more DOF than is desirable for this composition.

The thing I have the biggest problem with is the processing, and again I assume you have deliberately chosen to present it in this way but I don't know why. I find it much too contrasty and grainy. I can only assume you have tried to emulate an old box brownie type of snapshot? This would make it a lot more understandable if you have and is starting to make a bit more sense to me now. Together with the other aspects I have commented on it feels as though you intended it be interpreted much more with the snapshot theme in mind, in which case well done.

As you can see that interpretation was initially lost on me and I'm sure, most of the viewers here, but well done for approaching it in this manner, (if you have), Sid

w a t e r s • e d g e
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

Congratulations on your second placing for a very appealing image that fully meets the challenge.

Your landscape is most suitably chosen for the challenge being all about the quality of the light. Not only do we get the benefit of the lovely skies but we get the lovely reflections too.

The exposure is good throughout with nice detail and tones. Your composition is good though I think I would have given slightly more emphasis on the water and placed the horizon a little higher to take advantage of more reflections and plant silhouette shapes.

Another very pleasing submission Janine well done, Sid

r e f l e c t i n g • p o o l
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An interesting shot assumed to meet the challenge.

A great composition of an interesting location. Well done for looking for the puddle and reflection to add that extra interest to your image and placing it in one of the hotspots to complete your composition. The colours and patterns of the rocks are what make the image stand out and you have made these a major element of your image to good effect.

For some inexplicable reason I have problems with the buildings, they feel like cutouts that have been added after, I know they haven't but that's how they feel, particularly the nearest red building. It's a shame because it is an appealing image but the feeling is so strong it is detracting from my overall appreciation of it. I can only assume its down to the processing, it feels as though its somehow lost its natural look.

I'm pleased for you that most people here appreciated and enjoyed it, scoring well in a highly contested challenge, well done Janine, Sid

Waiting to be wheeled in....
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

An image that fits the challenge in an obvious sort of way.

I like that you have chosen to concentrate on a viewpoint that makes it immediately obvious what we are looking at but it just doesn't seem a very inspiring sort of image. As one of your commenters has pointed out the focus is on the second wheel throwing the lead one into soft focus which somewhat spoils the effect.

I think the repetition of the wheels would have been enhanced by cropping the front one so that we don't know its the first one but we have the illusion of a never-ending line of trolleys that just goes on ad infinitum. I like the diagonal of the composition but what I think would have also improved it would have been to go in close on the wheels looking up towards the rest of the trolley structure, this may have made it more interesting and engaging. The debris on the floor doesn't add to the shot and would have been better cleaned up either before or after the shot.

A good attempt Janine but not one of your best, Sid

breezes
by Ja-9

Comment by sidpixel:
*Hello from Sid and the Critique Club*

A lovely nature shot that tries to meet the challenge in a different and interesting way.

Given the specifics of the challenge brief that the shot should be taken during the golden hour of dusk or dawn I'm not sure that your image exhibits the qualities of light that are to be expected at those times. Don't get me wrong, I do like the shot and the way it portrays a golden feel through the lovely colour of the crop. I also like the golden bokeh and the shapes that the crop is being blown into slanting across the frame as it does.

What I don't like is the overexposure, in particular on the crucial area of the topmost head which is probably the most important of all of the heads. One or two of the bokeh circles are also burnt out which detracts in an important part of the image. The top of the image is horribly burnt out too which detracts from the overall result somewhat. It is this area that signifies to me that it was not taken during the softer and more amenable light of the golden hour and therefore fails to meet the challenge directly, the light is just too harsh.

I do like your interpretation, thanks for the submission, Sid

breezes
by Ja-9

Comment by jmritz:
sweet grass