The Optimist and the Pessimist
by L1

Comment:
Great take on the challenge! The image is very effectice - nice composition (but a bit crowded at the top), nice DoF. Lighting could have been a bit better.

Chess Anyone?
by Chefboz

Comment:
Nice idea.

The Exorcist
by labuds

Comment:
Nice colors = and the black background make the red and blue really pop.

sheet rust
by beckettboots

Comment:
* Greetings from the Critique Club *

cybele,

First - Congratulations on being in the top 10% on only your 3rd challenge! There are many, many members who have only dreamed of a finish that high.

Your image is one I commented on during the voting, with "Your image, intentional or not, is an optical illusion. Sometimes it looks like the rusty area is the object and other times like the green area is the object. Nice rust and texture therin. If you rotate it 90 degrees counter clockwise it may be a stronger image - kinda like a human figure. If you re-shoot try to tone down the background a bit by making those bright yellow / orange objects fall into a shadowed area."

I stand by my earlier comments - and note that most of the commenters have positive comments about your entry. So, having said all that - it's time to take a great submission into a ribbon winner. How can we do that?

a) Most of the suggestions for improvement revolved around composition. Studying the image objectively - as if it were someone else's image - you may note that: 1) There is a stranded triangle at the bottom right corner, which means the image doesn't have much of a "base" to work from.

b) Maybe more importantly, a few felt like the image would be stronger if the left edge became the bottom.

But - hey - don't lose the fact that this image was rated better than nearly 400 other submissions. Now it's not a matte of starting over - but instead - just "tweaking" what you've already done.

Keep up the great work.

Shadows of your light
by ostrogotul

Comment:
* Greetings from the Critique Club *

The proportion challenge had an exceptional group of entries. Competition was very strong.

The idea to show how a shadow that's cast from an object can take many shapes and "lengths" based upon the position of the light is a good one. Here, the length projected is about 1/2 of the object casting the shadow.

Your image has very subtle colors which adds some interest.

Unfortunately, there's not a lot of impact in the image. It just doesn't seem to have anyplace when the eye "lands" initially - and then starts exploring.

The bright area in the front is a bit harsh which makes it difficukt to explore the nice cracks in the floor tile.

I see this is your very first challenge entry. Congratulations - and please keep sharing your vision with the DPC group.

New reflections on my vacation
by ccraft

Comment:
A very peaceful image - that lake is so still. Colors are nice but you've lost a lot of detail in the shadows on the right side.

A Surprise in the Garden! :-)
by Gracious

Comment:
Wonderful colors! Composition is pretty much dead-centered - but I think that's ok for this image. I'd like to see more of the clover leaves under the left side of the image, instead of the busy stick like things.

Kiss Me
by ddmckinney1954

Comment:
Great colors and exposure. Nice composition too, but the lighest area in the bottom left corner is a bit distracting, mostly since it's out-of-focus.

Just Born Waterdrops
by Mona

Comment:
Subtle and relaxing. The black background is just right for your subjects. I like the way the lighings goes from shady at the back to a bit brighter on the right-most petals. It could use a bit more DoF. Not sure that the white border is needed.

Lest We Forget...
by doctornick

Comment:
Sepia was the right choice for this image. Nice repeating shapes and shadows. Composition well thought out.