The Old Coal Plant
by TommyMoe21

Comment by salmiakki:
Greetings from the Critique Club

We have run out of fresh images to critique at the moment, so catching up on some older ones from the queue.

For the challenge topic the building hits the mark, no question there. I find the composition could be improved a bit. The dull colour of the Chicago River does not really add any value to the image. It's not very interesting and I would have cropped a bit tighter to place a bit more emphasis on the building yet still retaining Similarly with the trees, I would have cropped some of those out.

I'm not sure about the grain (and neither I think were most of the voters). I totally get why you added it, but it feels a bit too artificial. Main thing for me is the flatness - I think a contrast boost would have helped a bit, quite often after using HDR software images tend to look a bit "flat" and I think this is one of those cases.

Take this with a pinch of salt, just one person's point of view, but maybe explains the 5.2 score.

Goodnight Joshua Tree
by TommyMoe21

Comment by buzzrock:
Love the location.
This one is strange to me. It looks like there is alot of Noise in the trees and bushes yet the sky has none?

Goodnight Joshua Tree
by TommyMoe21

Comment by illini75:
Lovely light

Goodnight Joshua Tree
by TommyMoe21

Comment by Zeus:
Sure looks like a nuclear detonation in the background. I remember these from Lancaster, CA.

The Old Coal Plant
by TommyMoe21

Comment by Zita:
The grain is perfect. The smokestacks appear oddly flat, but it is probably a function of the processing and is really not a large fault. I like the leading line of the green trees to the subject. Well framed. Good composition.

The Old Coal Plant
by TommyMoe21

Comment by bmartuch:
I love the grain.

The Old Coal Plant
by TommyMoe21

Comment by streetpigeon:
Adroitly handled, this massive structure is tucked behind the wedge of greenery and beside a large river to diminish its tendency to loom rather than participate in the whole. Now we can admire its implacability only partially diminished by its unfortunate (well, not to the environment) decommission. The grainy sky seems to be one last sooty fling. The background to the left of the coal plant adds a delicate frill to the almost pointillist scene. Has a subtle beauty.

Soaring
by TommyMoe21

Comment by Ivory:
Wow, what a great capture!! Congratulations on your yellow.

Soaring
by TommyMoe21

Comment by RianBotes:
Beautiful. Congrats on the Y ribbon

Soaring
by TommyMoe21

Comment by SandyP:
OhhhhMY! It looks like there's an eagle poking right out of my monitor screen! How amazing! Congratulations on a yellow ribbon. So deserving!