Window in Puntarenas
by Rgarcia

Comment:
***Greetings from the Critique Club!***

I must agree with ChrisW123. The cropping/framing is a bit distracting for me. I find the bottom edge to be particularly "loose" with the slotted rail, the blue tabletop, and the backs of the chairs. It's got alot of elements when compared to the heavy simplicity of the sides and the top. I like the heaviness of your borders, I think it provides a good stopping point to the trees and water of the background. But because it IS so heavy, I would like to see the edge of the awning perfectly horizontal rather than the slight slope down to the right. In case you aren't aware of it, the measure tool in photoshop (pullout the eyedropper to find the ruler icon) can be used to straighten things pretty quickly.

//www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=21

or try the "crop perspective" tool since you do not have much of a tilt... (crop perspective can create MASSIVE distortion - if you're interested, let me know, i'll elaborate :)

If I were to re-shoot the photo, I might try to get closer to the railing and aim the lens more skyward. This would allow you to meter the sky and would probably give you a bluer sky and more detail in the boat (assuming that you use auto-exposure). You could also try dropping out the color and see if you get a nice "classic" shot.

I will sent you a few moves that i just played with. :)

Great shot, although I think it could be pushed further.

the-O-ster

Wheel Peep
by lasuzie

Comment:
***Greeetings from the Critique Club!***

i realize that i commented on your photo during the challenge, but was somewhat obtuse as all i said was "interesting". :) let me elaborate!

first off, i really like the framing of the shot (as opposed to the subject). the use of the wheels "cut-out" (or whatever you want to call it :) sets up the alignment of the shot. i'm a big stickler for what the edges of your shot are doing, and i think you've handled your edges well. actually i think the "alignment" aspect is the meat of the shot. the "wheel" subject comes afterward, which i like. its not a straight-forward "wheel shot".

further, i think that the sepia tone helped to both reduce the amount of distracting elements and to focus on the darkness of the wheels.

as a side-thought i also find the layering to be fairly effective.

when i look at a photo i usually run through a bunch of alternate "what-if" questions. and with yours i have a hard time coming up with anything that i might have done differently. usually i think of things such as point-of-view, contrast, colors, edges...perhaps the only thing i might have an issue with would be the amount of texture...maybe its too textured... (honestly i dont think it is, but i'm trying here;). I wonder what would happen if you turned the camera a bit more to the right and got more of the sky and thus pushing the line of sight to the left of the shot...you might get more white-space (the sky) and the holes would then appear to "expand" (from left to right) - email me if this doesn't make sense :) i'll send you a diagram of what i'm talking about.

overall a very "interesting" shot ;)

congrats!

the-O-ster

Through the Door-Glass Peeping
by Katspetkat

Comment:
i think this title should have made reference to the effect that one of these was your "other", even if its just the neighbors. like "She Lied" or something would have made it a bit more of a gut wrencher. :)

Pure strength
by Mundi

Comment:
just stupid

Carlos
by Deboh

Comment:
"look at me... i'm 'strong'"

The Ultimate Power
by CVTJan

Comment:
is that a Heart of Gold?

Balance of Power
by KaDi

Comment:
nice.

Titanic
by sigma

Comment:
where'd all the buildings go???

24-7
by autool

Comment:
neat that you got orion in the sky

Strength
by HighLight

Comment:
in the thumb, it kinda looked like rock