Like Sands Through an Hourglass
by TooCool

Comment by tsheets:
I really like this one. It definitely grabbed me right off. I really don't have any suggestion for improvement. Framing/cropping is excellent, as well as exposure.

April Showers
by TooCool

Comment by tsheets:
I think this is a really great capture. You only get the chance at this kind of photo once or twice a year at best. The suggestions I would have here (and I could be wrong) are the outline of the flower/stem looks to suffer from some sharpening (the hard edge). I saw a post in the tis/tricks forum by librodo that had a link to "Luko's sharpening". Luko used a process that gave some definition and pop to the colors, but not the harsh edge. May be worth playing with... Also, and this you may have done, but not posted, I wonder what it would look like with the snow as the background for the flower. Overall, nicely done I wish I could get a capture this good! :-)

City Street at Night #2
by TooCool

Comment by SteveJ:
This version works much better than the colour version. There are not many faults I can find to comment on, apart from the speckling in the right top corner, but this could be light coming thru the trees. I like the off centre lighting and the reflecting ice particles in the snow.

Friday-IMG_5099.jpg
by TooCool

Comment by SteveJ:
This is a good photo in so much as the colour of the plant stands out from the background of the rocks. However, I think the focal point of the photo should have been the flowers and not the leaves and rocks.

Twilight
by TooCool

Comment by Shannon:
Wow I really like this image, the sky adds such a powerful element as well as the slightly illuminated tower. Black and white is an excellent choice for this as well, I know your seeking negative constructive comments but with the quality of your images you make that hard to do. :-)

Twilight
by TooCool

Comment by shadow:
it might be the angle, for i dont think the building is rotated in your photo. it may have been better if i can see more of the building's details rather than the boring sky (which simply serves for effects in this shot). the cropping needs some work, eg the base of the building is badly cropped, and too little photo estate after the building's tallest point. should have left some extra room there. if u have the original with you, maybe i can show u wat sort of cropping i'm talking about.

Exposure
by TooCool

Comment by sammy_stecchino:
You could have done better with the subject matter. Look at this shot compared to your other work -- not at the same level (your stuff is great by the way).

Friday-IMG_5125.jpg
by TooCool

Comment by ShutterPug:
A bit too contrasty for me....or perhaps too sharpened. Some of the trees almost feel as if they are poking my eyes out. Not trying to be mean, just something here hurts.

Four Trees
by TooCool

Comment by stormy:
I think this shot was taken from a boring angle - I dont like the way the path just goes off at the side

I don't usually give blunt comments - but you asked for it :-)

Sewer Pipe
by TooCool

Comment by HBunch:
*constructive (negative) criticism. ;)

First off, without your title, I wouldn't even know what this is. The shot just doesn't scream anything that I would really like to look at for a long period of time and, while technically well done, it just isn't interesting.
While the opening of the circle is positioned to the left of the photo slightly, the entirety of the circle shaped area is dead smack dab in the center of the photo. No dramatic angle, no strategic placement, nothing.
The division of the right 1/2 and the left 1/2 of the photo is also odd. See the strong vertical line with the darker 1/2 being the right side? There is no shadow there and gives kind of an optical illusion that you cannot tell if the dark part is in front of, or behind the lighter side.
The partial blades of grass really don't do much for the image except to tear straight through the one somewhat interesting part of the photo. The circle is broken at the bottom by the stick of grass.
Focus is ok. The grain is ok for the image.
Just seems more like an abstract to me. I'm not a huge fan of abstracts admittingly.
The thing in the center of the circle seems like an actual distraction since we can't see it and since it's not the sharpest focus of the photo.
Overall this seems technically well done, good lighting on the pipe, nice focus (could have come up with different crop/angle I think) it's just not drawing me in and keeping me there.
Hope I'm not too harsh, Maybe this is just a 'love it or hate it' image.
Now, if this ribbons, I'm gonna feel like an ass.

PS...Forgot to add that the 'tilt' of the object seems like an accident. It's not off enough to be 'dramatic angle' in my opinion, but off enough that we know it's not level. I think I'd prefer if this were maybe MORE at an angle. Maybe even a strong diagonal. I like diagonals.

Message edited by author 2005-06-11 02:44:23.