s p r i n g • r a i n
by Ja-9

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

A vibrant image that could be found in a stock library, thus fulfilling the challenge

There's no doubt that flowers, complete with water drops, has been done many times before to the extent that it has become cliched but in the context of the challenge your approach is perfectly understandable. You have chosen a plant with some very colourful flowers and given us plenty to look at which is part of the problem for me.

Given the large aperture I feel we have too shallow DOF for the subject, there are several appealing petals that are too out of focus and those that are are not placed at the best points to increase its impact. The front plane of the flowers would work better together if they were all in focus with softness appearing in the darker background flowers. I think either you ought to have used a smaller aperture and increased the DOF for this image as it stands or gone in closer on a smaller portion of the flower again with a smaller aperture.

I tend to disagree with your sole commenter in that you are already verging on overexposure at the top of the image and in one or two drops, anything further in that direction would be to its detriment so I personally wouldn't recommend doing that.

Thanks for submitting, Sid

r i p p l e s
by Ja-9

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

A pleasing image that meets the challenge

Swans are always a popular choice and in the context of this challenge a very suitable one. I like the mono processing with a full range of tones. The ripples are very enticing though I think I would prefer a little more sharpness in the ripples behind. I assume you were at the 300mm end of your lens given the aperture/DOF result?

The composition is good using the upper third but this is not the most flattering timing and we are unable to see its eyes which, with a magnificent bird such as this, is disappointing. The one thing that lets the image down is the overexposure particularly on the bird but also in some areas of the water behind it. You have retained a lot of detail in the birds plumage but there are significant areas on its tail, back, wing and neck where there is no detail which unfortunately mars the end result.

Thanks for submitting, Sid

F O R E
by Ja-9

Comment by Abra:
Very impressive.

Au Natural
by Ja-9

Comment by annabc:
Beautifully sharp detail on the flower, and the soft echoes behind it are very effective. I'd be interested to see how it worked flipped horizontally, so that the eye could follow it in from the left.

BIG FISH
by Ja-9

Comment by Neat:
Hey two sets of bling, nice. Your grandson is getting to be popular around here.

BIG FISH
by Ja-9

Comment by bohemka:
An explosion of activity is coming, but here we are, stuck on the edge, with a boy not quite accustomed to the balance between breathing and drowning. It's a startling moment, and he'll smile and relax or come bursting out, and we don't know which, and -- aside from the beautiful processing, the flecks of white scribbles -- that's what has me hooked.

BIG FISH
by Ja-9

Comment by bvy:
Excellent.

Team Spleen crowns this image with our highest award.

Queen Spleen

BIG FISH
by Ja-9

Comment by jmritz:
catch of the day, beautiful tones

Oh, to be three again.....
by Ja-9

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

First impressions, a delightful and very appealing portrait, very well handled within the rules of the challenge and justifiably rewarded with a top ten placing.

Its all in the eyes! They're really nice and sharp and vibrant they're directly engaging with you. It's also in the smile and the natural expression. It's in the pose, looking over his shoulder.

The lighting is very well handled and I'm assuming its all natural with perhaps a little fill-in?

To try and be constructively objective I find the brighter areas either side of him quite distracting and I feel there is a bit too much empty space above his head. These are minor criticisms but I think they would have improved the image. I'm aware that you had to construct this within the restrictive minimal editing rules and may not have had too much control over the bright areas but the area above his head you could have reframed in-camera.

To be able to produce this sort of quality portrait straight out of the camera proves that you have great control over your technical handling of the camera, very well done, Sid.

F O R E
by Ja-9

Comment by Lydia:
Brilliant.


Truly. :D