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

Au Natural
by Ja-9

Comment by Barroness:
nice and it meets the challenge!
Good luck

g h o s t • t o w e r
by Ja-9

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

First impressions are of a fairly unconventional approach that subtly meets the challenge.

What I like most about this is the sense of mystery that remains once I have climbed those steps to, what? Whatever lies on top or inside the structure and thats where the mystery remains, so it is intriguing and any image that can do that to me will always appeal to me.

However, having said that about the composition I am not at all keen on the processing which has left most of the image looking fake, plastic and unappealing with significant areas of overexposure. I am aware that I appear to be in the minority here with some very positive reaction from your commenters which just goes to show how subjective this wonderful hobby of ours can be where it can elicit such diametrically opposed reactions which is part of what makes photography so exciting and challenging. Keep intriguing me, Sid.

F O R E
by Ja-9

Comment by clickodak:
One of my favorite. 8 for me

F O R E
by Ja-9

Comment by quiche:
Looks like God is looking to get 18 holes in before dark :-). A good pair of concepts.

e x p a n s i v e
by Ja-9

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

First of all, many congratulations on your blue ribbon.

What an impressive location, the avenue of trees are quite amazing. For a shot that is dominated by those trees and the path it says a lot about the overall impact of the shot that it has won this challenge brief of lawns.

I see you have received a comment about it being a rather too central composition but this is one of those situations where this is really the only viable composition, I don't even think a lower viewpoint or reducing the tree canopy would have worked, that would have placed far too much emphasis on the path itself which is obviously a complete no no here. Regarding the path, I see you wish you had put more detail and emphasis on the path, personally, I think the exact opposite especially in relation to the challenge theme I would prefer it even more subdued to reduce its competition with the lawns.

I have to say I'm not keen on the pink that pervades throughout the image, apart from the most obvious areas of the path and the pillars of the house it also seems to be present in the tree trunks too which just gives the image a rather unnatural look. The inclusion of the people, even as minute as they are, adds a welcome human element to the image.

Anyway, once more well done, keep 'em coming! Sid