Burning the Midnight Oil
by photokop

Comment by mefnj:
i think a candle (or even an oil lamp) in the scene would have made it better

Burning the Midnight Oil
by photokop

Comment by BubBroad:
Maybe needs abitmore contrast from background and subject

Burning the Midnight Oil
by photokop

Comment by FlexPix:
It looks like the "midnight oil" is all gone.

Burning the Midnight Oil
by photokop

Comment by Lydia:
7 (voted earlier) I wish the face were totally to the side for the profile.

Burning the Midnight Oil
by photokop

Comment by Bensted:
What a great capture, there is such a story in this shot, my favourite so far.

Cousins Catchin' Crickets
by photokop

Comment by FrankRobinson:
Hi Mike,

Welcome to the Critique Zone! Please remember that this is all entirely subjective...

Technicals

It's a nice, sharp photo and fairly clear. You have all the key points in focus etc. However, given your proven skill in managing the DOF I am surprised that you did not go for a shallower DOF to bring my eye onto the kids and blur out the background which is not that interesting. While there is generally plenty of light, I also would (20/20 hindsight!) have used a little fill flash to light up your grand-daughter's face a little and kill off that unfortunate shadow.

Artistic

I would guess that this is a candid snapshot from the look of it, which is fine as far as it goes but for me the composition doesn't quite work - I find that cutting off the edges of the bodies is a little visually uncomfortable. I would suggest either capturing the entire body or focusing in more tightly and really making me focus on their faces and the great expressions of interest and playing. Perhaps moving away and using your 70-210 racked out to blur out the background and tighten in the field of view?

Overall, it definitely fits the challenge and, as a candid, works quite well but I think that driving the viewers focus more specifically could have resulted in a truly great shot here.

Cheers,

Frank.

View from the Tower
by photokop

Comment by hotpasta:
nice light hitting the bridges

Cousins Catchin' Crickets
by photokop

Comment by nam:
Delightful expressions and nice tones. Voted earlier.

Symmetry of the Glass Grid
by photokop

Comment by Venser:
Giving this my third highest vote along with two others.
It's driving me nuts the building isn't level. It's slightly higher on the right hand side, but it was different enough from the other entries that I thought it warranted a higher vote. It'd be really cool if more room lights were on on the sides of the building, but that's out of your control.

Cousins Catchin' Crickets
by photokop

Comment by RyanW:
ahh, youth. when bugs were fun things to chase girls with...