Mind's Carousel
by posthumous

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

A great photo. The curve-blurred background gives a definite impression of spinning very fast, and the gaze fixed squarely on the viewer provide a strong focal point. The smirk provides interest. The stripes in the shirt contrast nicely with the lines in the background, and lead the eye to the face, and the sweater keeps them from being overbearing.

I'm guessing you used a flash to avoid motion blur on the face, and it works well. Except it is a bit bright, washing out the right side. The rest of the face is great; the form shows well. And the catchlights in the eyes are perfect.

The composition works well, although I personally like just a bit cropped off the left side. I also think it could use just a bit more sharpening. But these are both personal preferences; the photo is fine as is.

In a perfect world, I'd want to get rid of the really bright streak in the background. It's distracting. And the right arm is blurred, but what can you expect from a 1 second exposure? But certainly neither of these ruin the photo.

Overall, very well done. I enjoy this photo.

The London Eye
by Pixelstate

Comment:

Originally posted by photochild405: Originally posted by noisemaker: this reminds me of dainmcgowan shot Woaaa I'm confused that looks like the same exact shot

Like Chris said in his description, it's a rather clichéd shot. A lot of people take similar pictures of this landmark. It just goes to show that even clichés can win ribbons if very well done, as this certainly is! It's a great example of how useful Graduated ND filters can be. Most London Eye At Night photos have a much darker sky with overexposed foreground lights. The exposure here is perfect. I also like the unlit trees, which don't detract from the subject like the typical photos do.

The Captain
by Falc

Comment:
You've captured his soul. Perfect.

Fairy Gift
by gurlwithapen

Comment:
A great idea, but it doesn't quite work for me. Too much reality, I think. Perhaps monochrome or duotone would help. Or a more idyllic background.

Sugar & Spice & All Things Nice...
by btuck

Comment:
It crowds the right side just a little, but a great portrait nonetheless.

Fishermen's Cove
by AlexSaberi

Comment:
Wonderful depth. And beautiful.

You're Out!
by thegrandwazoo

Comment:
Nice. Just enough motion blur to tell the story.

Brotherly Love
by chrissycampbell

Comment:
Precious. Way beyond a snapshot!

Black Mount
by Tallbloke

Comment:
The vertical format belies the peaceful feeling that the subject matter exudes.

Harley Davidson Dyna Glide
by fauxtography

Comment:
The high contrast works really well for this photo. I like the composition.