My Best 2009by
subject22Comment by salmiakki: Greetings from the Critique Club
I am sorry you didn't score higher for your Best of 2009 shot, but I think the Best of Challenges are very hard to score well in.
I think there are a number of things you could have done to improve the image and increase your score in the challenge. Starting with the assumption that you had the time to do this (and chances are you due to the nature of the shot) I will mention the things you could have done at the time of shooting, then the post processing steps.
I believe a shallower depth of field would have enabled you to really isolate the biker from the background. This I feel would have given much more impact. There are parts of the back that blend into the trees which may have been avoided. Somebody else already mentioned this, but I will say it again, maybe crouching down and taking this from a lower point of view would also have helped isolate the bike. By the way, I think it is awesome that you captured the shadow of the bike so clearly. it really is a bonus.
As far as composition goes, I'm afraid I do find the placement of the bike to be a little too centered. Unless you were about to step into an abyss, I think a few steps to the left when you were shooting would have resulted in a slightly more interesting angle. As I said, I am assuming you had the time to think of all these things, when I'm sure the reality was you saw the moment and just snapped quickly to make sure you got the moment. (At least, that is what happens to me, I forget about everything technical in my quest to get the shot).
When it comes to the post processing, again I think there are a few things that could have improved the final score. As I mentioned above, the composition is a little bit too centered for my taste, so in this case I think cropping the image square could have helped a lot.
Additionally, the B & W conversion could be better. This feels a bit flat and could use a bit of a boost in contrast either via a levels or curves adjustment. To be honest though, and remembering I haven't seen the original, but I can't help thinking this may have worked better in colour. (This coming from someone who mostly does B & W)
Anyway, I personally gave it a 6 during voting, but I think with slightly different processing it could have gone up to a 7.
Feel free to pm me about this critique if you want.
Sarah