p e a r l s
by Ja-9

Comment by MeMex2:
How original and fabulous !!!

• f l u i d •
by Ja-9

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

An interesting image that meets the challenge

Please don't be so hard on yourself! You certainly weren't alone in misunderstanding the idea of the challenge.

I like your image it has intriguing qualities about it that encourage you to question what, how and why. I like the subtle pastel colours and abstract nature, unfortunately, I am confused and distracted by the curious wispy black marks, especially in conjunction with the title you have so generously provided, I just cannot tie it together. I assume it is an added texture? I feel the image would have had a lot more impact without it.

Given the soft nature and the long shutter speed I assume there was deliberate camera movement during the exposure? It has produced a very appealing effect (without the overlay!)

So, what am I gonna do for a title? Being so abstract it poses a problem, I think the best I can do is;
ephemeral flames
Thank you for submitting an appealing and interesting image, Sid

BIG FISH
by Ja-9

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

A good interpretation that meets the challenge fully.

A clever and different way of fulfilling the challenge, your subject was obviously very co-operative in holding his breath and a static position while the surface returned to calmness so full marks to him. His expression borders on serenity, very womblike, but instead the cramping of his lips introduces an element of tension too.

Unlike your commenter, I find the white ripples very distracting and detrimental to the overall effect. I presume these are the result of the use of flash? It would have been good to see the result without flash. I like the dark background which for me enhances the result.

A respectable score and appreciative comments so all in all a good result, well done, Sid

A Little Crooked with Your Straight?
by Ja-9

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

An interesting image that may have challenged voters interpretation in respect of the challenge brief.

Although I like your interpretation, 'Skewed horizons, twisted perspectives' was the essence of the challenge, in that respect your image does not meet the challenge. However, I can see that you have chosen to make the viewers work a little harder than the immediately obvious with your juxtaposition of the prominent foreground tree that got last along the way in its straight growth to the sky as shown by all the rest of the trees. Personally, I like images that get the grey matter working.

I am assuming your overexposure was deliberate? It gives the image a sort of ephemeral feel with the resultant loss of detail concentrating the mind more on the straight trunks themselves so in that respect it works. Being a minimal editing challenge you weren't able to use perspective control which would have been good to straighten all the trunks perfectly and then tilt them. Given those restrictions I think I would have deliberately tilted in camera to more clearly fulfil the challenge brief and thereby, hopefully, attract a better score, but it was still respectably received.

Well done for your interesting take on the subject, Sid

p e a r l s
by Ja-9

Comment by quiche:
Nice. The droplet on the rightmost seedling, where the stem joins the wispy bits, is a little distracting. But other than that it's a pleasing shot.

A Little Crooked with Your Straight?
by Ja-9

Comment by tnun:
delightful, even delicious.

A Little Crooked with Your Straight?
by Ja-9

Comment by bvy:
Nice find!

Au Natural
by Ja-9

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

A well executed image that meets the challenge well

The main thing that hits me about this image is its stark simplicity both of composition and colour, I find both very appealing. There are so many boldly coloured flowers in nature it is instinct to choose one, I like your choice in boldly going against this tendency so what you end up with is effectively hues of more or less, just two colours, it works well.

I think your exposure is just a little on the high side, a little less exposure would have given more detail in the whites and saturated the greens more too, probably just a third or half a stop is all we're talking about. The soft focus flower in the background is a little close to the edge of the frame, I think moving everything just a little to the right would have improved the overall end result too.

I'm not sure about your commenters suggestion to flip it horizontally but it led me to thinking hmmâ€Â¦ what about vertically? It might be worth a try just to see if it alters its impact.

Anyway, an excellent image, thank you for submitting, Sid

w a v e s
by Ja-9

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

Congratulations on your ribbon, an excellent result for an excellent image that meets the challenge full on.

I love motion blur so its natural I would love your image. Even so, this is a lovely image in its own right, the amount of blur is good, and the colours are also good, the end result is an image that has enormous impact and appeal. I don't really think I can add any constructive critique except to say that the left of the image feels slightly weaker than the right but its a very minor criticism.

I love it, thank you for submitting, Sid

F O R E
by Ja-9

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

A very impressive shot that meets the challenge well.

What a fun challenge this was! I have not come across this concept before, I have to say what a great idea it is to introduce a fun element into your images. Your images have taken two straightforward ideas and transformed them into something with a completely new dimension.

The lower image is a quite standard landscape with what looks as though it may be the base of a wind turbine? I agree with one of your commenters there are some distracting elements but in the context of the combined images these are quite minor and do not impact on the end result. The upper image is very well done apart from some overexposure at the top of the ball which again in the context of the end result is quite minor.

The idea is quite simple and straightforward but very effective and has been well received here with a very respectable score and lots of positive comments all of whom I agree with. Well done and thank you for an excellent submission, Sid