Freedom Flight
by marbo

Comment:
Howdy from the Critique Club!! :)

WOW! This shot just bowled me over when I first saw it. This was probably my favorite shot in Freedom II.. I really don't at all feel qualified to be critiquing this shot, but I'll do my best!

The composition in this is fantastic, probably one of the better setups I've seen in my days. I love the clean lines of the kite strings, the smooth perspective really helps to draw the photograph together. I also like that it's not quite a perfect diagonal, everything is shifted just slightly towards the middle. This gives it a very subtle sense of being off-balance, which in my eyes makes it much more interesting. The only thing I could suggest is that I think the clouds in the upper right corner are a bit distracting. I would prefer to see that patch left blue, giving a stronger emphasis on the kite. However, I'm sure there are just as many (if not more!) people who like it just the way it is. :)

Exposure is superb, the colors are great. The light pink and yellow seem to contrast with the bold blue and red. A little more saturation on the kite make bring out those colors and add an extra punch to an already great photograph.

In the context of the challenge, this photo can be seen several ways. My first impression is that the kite will never get its freedom because it was always be held down by the strings of THE MAN - er, the boy. ;) However, from the perspective of the child, he could be living out his freedom vicariously through the kite. Strictly on the sense of meeting the challenge, I'm surprised this photo did as well as it did, but obviously the great quality of the shot more than made up for any possible arguments against it.

Overall an amazing photograph, and very deserving of its high ranking. Keep holding out for that blue - judging by your portfolio, it's inevitable! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail or PM me.

-Stacy :)

Phone Sex
by melismatica

Comment:
Howdy from the Critique Club!!

The initial mental image I got off of this shot was...unsettling, to say the least. ;) I don't think I'll ever look at a payphone the same way again!

Let's start with composition. Judging by your title, I'm assuming the focal point here is supposed to be the sticker to the left of the phone. However, due to the size of the sicker in relation to the phone, it kind of gets dwarfed and overlooked. The first thing I see and study is the phone, which leaves me wondering what this has to do with words. It is further emphasized by the angles of the metal cords, which subconsciously lead the voters' eyes, again, to the phone. This probably contributed to some of your lower scores, as many people only give a photograph a quick once or twice-over before voting.

Perspective is probably your biggest enemy in this challenge. The angle of the metal plate to the right of the picture points down to the lower edge of the photo, as does the angle of the phone, which makes the entire photo seem off balance in comparison to the straighter lines in the center and to the left of the actual payphone. With so many vertical lines in so many place, it can be tough to not get perspective distortion.

If this were my picture, I would try some more creative cropping. For example, I might try cropping off the top half of the picture to take the focus off of the phone and placing it back on the sticker. If a reshoot is possible, I would suggest perhaps taking the phone off the hook, getting closer to the keypad, and recomposing from there. This way you can get a larger view of the sticker while stile maintaining those aspects of a phonebooth to keep it all in context.

The lighting in this photograph also poses some problems. The point of highest contrast falls, once again, on the phone, leaving the muted sticker fading away in the background. From the angle of the photograph, I suspect that your shadow blocked some of the light on the left half of the picture while leaving the right half still in full sunlight. Perhaps next time you could mount the camera on a tripod and use a timer or remote switch to take the picture while standing to the left, essentially reversing the light paths of the original picture.

The strongest aspect of this photo is the grittiness and detail. Many photographers choose to smooth out scratches, dents, and any other minor imperfection, but you've chosen to leave those present, and I think it adds a very realistic, interesting element. :)

Last but not least, the theme. That's probably the weakest aspect in this particular photograph. Because the theme is "Words," voters are going to expect words to play a very prominent part in your photograph. In this shot, words are certainly present, and they do add a humorous touch, but I don't feel like they are central to the image. Sometimes subtlety can go a long way, but in this case, I think it falls a little too short.

You've got a lot of fantastic pictures in your portfolio, so I know you've definitely got what it takes! Good luck on future challenges, and let me know if you have any more questions or concerns!!

-Stacy

"Un croquis vaut mieux qu’un long discours."
by mffnqueen

Comment:

Originally posted by heida: Does it mean something that he has men on his forehead? ;)

Actually, I didn't even notice that until I got it in my computer! I tried to make him stand in a position where no one word stood out, and I found that it was pretty much impossible. I also printed off the poem "Desiderata" onto a transparency, and I was going to use that, but it just didn't have the same effect.

Surprise Proposal
by tyt2000

Comment:
Congratulations!! Fantastic job :) I feel honored to be in the top 3 with you!!

Earth From Above
by hopper

Comment:
congratulations!! you were robbed!!! ;)

"Un croquis vaut mieux qu’un long discours."
by mffnqueen

Comment:
the title means "a picture is worth a thousand words"... but it sounded much prettier in french!

by the way, heida - my model's head hasn't stopped growing since he saw your comment during the challenge! thanks a lot!!! ;)

"Un croquis vaut mieux qu’un long discours."
by mffnqueen

Comment:
There's no way.. I thought top ten, MAYBE.. how cool :)

Fields Running to the Skies
by goodhart

Comment:
absolutely amazing, i could stare at this picture for hours and admire its simplicity and beauty.. great job :)

Silence
by heida

Comment:
two blues at once!! WOW!! very impressed! great job :)

Come and Visit the Lone Star State!
by paganini

Comment:
as a fellow texan, I love this picture.. but I know I've seen it before (or one that's very, VERY similar). I'm not sure if it was here, or in a magazine, but I definitely have seen this pic before.. Hmmmmm..