Rusty pipe
by BikeRacer

Comment:
Hi Ara and *Greetings from the Critique Club *

Congratulations on your first challenge! You have received a good collection of valid comments that pretty much agree. So let's just summarize and add a bit of "reason why."

1) When a viewer looks at a picture - the initial tendency is to find the area of greatest contrast. That could take the form of a bright area next to a dark, or an area where two colors "clash" - that is they are opposites on a color wheel, or where there is an abrupt change in focus - all depending on the image. If that's where you want them to go, that's great. If not, something should be done to change it.

2) In your image, there are three areas of "contrast" - a) The white sky in the trees at the top and b) the red next to green area, and c) the yellow next to green area (which has both a color contrast and a focus change contrast.)

So - what the comments have said in summary it that you could remove two of these areas either by cropping, or by changing the camera angle, leaving just the one you want.

I'm not sure I agree with the comment that the DoF works really well. You shot this a f11, but since the yellow pipe subject is pretty much on the same plane - I think it may be better shot a bit more open, (say from f 2.8 - f 5.6). That would tend to make the background a bit more blurry - which I believe would be a help to the image.

All in all - a very nice entry - especially for a very first. Please keep sharing.

-Tom-

The Hollows
by MJENNI

Comment:
Hi Mark and *Greetings from the Critique Club *

Well your prediction of the score was darn close - 4.37 vs 4.29.

As you know [and said] after some 20 challenges, folks don't often get past the WOW factor. Unfortunately, that's true not only on this site but in many other artistic venues.

Your image is indeed fun to study, it has a lot of hidden but interesting shapes - and sparkles with a great range of colors. As I look at it with an open mind - it suggests different emotions, most of them rather somber.

So, I guess the bottom line is whether you want to share your vision as it is - or learn how to incorporate some of the WOW factor, while still being able to share your unique eye with us.

That's a very tough choice - but I've found it works best for me to NEVER shoot for the "judges" - but instead shoot for myself and hope the judges can appreciate the image.

Keep up the good work.

-Tom-

Brownian Notion
by GeneralE

Comment:
Hi Paul and *Greetings from the Critique Club *

As a pretty new member to DPC and the Critique Club - let me thank you for the work you do on the SC. I can tell by the recent activity, it's not an easy task.

Your image is an enjoyable one - a nice abstract tapestry that is made a bit mysterious by the title. Unfortunately, I would call it a "Howard Cossell" image - people will either LOVE it or HATE it because they are looking for something it doesn't have.

Since it's an abstract - all the "rules" are pretty much null and void - but I hope you played around with color enhancement. I really like the areas where a subtle blue tint sneaks through.

May your worst shot in the future be better than your best shot of the past. (A toast, slightly modified.)

-Tom-

Peak and Valley
by goinskiing

Comment:
Although a nice scenic with great lighting - presented well, it's a real stretch to get "opposites." I know the title tries to convince me, but it doesn't. It still a nice image - thanks for sharing it.

Intermingle
by elsapo

Comment:
Interesting, nice high key - and would make a good image for the reception area of an office building. But dummy me, I just don't get much "opposite" - even tho the primary colors are complimentary on a color wheel.

Adult - Child
by lightpro1

Comment:
It's very cute, well exposed and definitely meets the challenge. Make it better by moving your subjects off-center and by removing the white traingle top right. Even so - it leaves a warm feeling in this viewer.

Still Growing
by mariomel

Comment:
There's just something about this image - this is about the 4th time I have come back to make comments. It's captivating and very well done. The pose of the model is precious. It shows "big" and "small" very well. You have reduced the effect of the terrible sky by placing the trees in optimum positions. I'm not fond of the border, but try not to let that influence my voting.

I guess my only reason for not giving it a 10 is very subjective - and something I can't explain. It doesn't really have a "wow" impact on me - but it's darn close.

Girl & Boy Hydrangea
by Jude

Comment:
Nice colors nice idea - if you assume blue is opposite pink. Get rid of the date...

Cubs Win! Cubs Lose!
by toddhead

Comment:
Idea is great, execution is ok. Expressions are just right. Focus is like the Cubs - "almost". Stilll - an enjoyable take on opposites.

Ice Flame
by anireno

Comment:
Definitely opposite - and definitely used by a lot of others! But yours is a very nice rendition of the ice/fire theme. Colors are wonderful, composition right on, exposure near perfect. Your border show depart the scene though - especially with the white halo at several places in the main image. Nice patterns and textures in the ice.