Big Blue
by Zoomdak

Comment:
Wasn't there a blanket ban on using this beach in any more challenges? :-).

0608020122sm.jpg
by KiwiChris

Comment:
:-)

You wanna see it when the other couch is in there!

IMG_0042v-4x6-4.jpg
by dwterry

Comment:
Nice...

But (I know, I'm picky)...

The dark shadown in between her fingers is slightly detracting, possibly if her hand was lying flat rather than bunched up? Dunno...

Great lighting, and excelent expression in this one, she's got to be happy with this.

Is that a warming reflector she's flying on? Or did you by chance find a gold reflective surface flying next to a window?

IMG_5606a-5x7.jpg
by dwterry

Comment:
Awwwwwwwwwww.... Cute. :-)

IMG_0123.jpg
by dwterry

Comment:
This is one 'confident in her skin' lady.

As always the technicals of your pic are great, but to me this one looks slightly awkward. She is obviously comfortable with her hand there, but it isn't working for me...

Partially because of the texture of the skin I suppose, and partly because it almost looks like someone elses hand had to be used to hold up her head.

I always miss what hands are doing in portraits, but have a consious thing I do when ever hands and faces get close together, and I ask the person to move their hand around a bit, putting the thumb under the chin, chin on the back of the hand... None of it ever looks right, but I suspect that means I'm being picky, and should sto typing now... :-).

Cheers, Me.

IMG_0156a.jpg
by dwterry

Comment:
Brothers?

I like the PP you've done here, and the fact that you've 'got down' to take the shot. Interesting angle, and very relaxed chaps..

I'd have been moving a bit around to your left, to get rid of the hot-spot where the sun is shining on the grass, it' draggs the eye in quite a bit, as does the kneeling boys white shirt, but you can't do much about his clothes, the background you can fix.

Nice work as always...

IMG_0129.jpg
by dwterry

Comment:
:-) What Leroy said...

This is a nice pic, but an odd image for mother/son... It looks more like a BF/GF shot.

To me It's more 'normal' to see the mother behind with her hands on shoulders, or in another more 'supportive' pose. The slighly arched back, chest out, head on a tilt thing is going on here, which dosn't say 'sportive soccer mom to me.

Having said that, If I were either of the models I'd be proud to have this on my wall, The son to show his mates (ref American Pie) and the Mom because she looks great..

Shipmate's View
by jessie

Comment:
Greetings from the critique club...

First impressions first:

Cool looking subject, but the photo just doesn't do it for me...

He's staring straight at you, and wondering why you're taking his photo, which is a great candid in that respect, but we can't really see his eyes, as the sunglasses obscure them a bit.

His Head is also slightly detached, as his overalls and the background are so dark, which is a little off-putting with the flat lighting you've caught here. Solid dark backgrounds tend to work better when the subject is lit more from one side, to give more shape to the person/object.

The other slighting distracting thing is the earmuffs. Candid pictures should tell a wee story, give us some insight into the person. Without reading your comments I have no idea why he is wearing the muffs, who he is, where he is etc. If you look at the images that did well in this challenge you'll notice that most (There are some exceptions to this rule!) tell a more complete story, they have the person(s) and some other stuff. They have background that tells the story, or the people are doing something.

I'm not sure how much you cropped out of this, but if you had kept some of the door frame, which would no doubt be metal with lumpy paint, and possibly some fittings or some sort, then I would tell at a glance that this chap was working on a boat, or at least somewhere industrial. I'd get a connection to why he is wearing the muffs and overalls, and I'd know he was an 'old sea salt' sort of person.

From a technical aspect you've got a colour tint which I suspect is reflected light from the deck.. Again without seeing some of his surroundings this is a little off-putting, although not a major issue.

It feels also looks a little under exposed to me, and I think you've tried to boost it in post editing to bring it up a little, which is where the noise comments have come from during voting.

The focus also seems slight soft, or you've cropped out a small section of the middle, and it was only scaled down slightly. Combined with the pushed exposure this would give you the soft looking feeling to the image.

A few people complained about the border as well, I dunno about that, it keys with the red on the muffs, I'm not fussed either way on borders, although I would have preferred to see the door of the boat, as it would have made a far better image to have the environment described in that way.

Don't be discouraged by this, it's only my opinion and Candids are tough if you're not a keen people photographer!

Cheers, Chris Hellyar.

Special Autograph
by sfmorris

Comment:
Greetings from the critique club.

First impressions first... This pic didn't really jump out at me when I opened it, The exposure, color and focus are all OK, but I don't find it that interesting to look at.

What's missing for me is some sort of human interest or interaction. To make a candid interesting there needs to be interaction, either with the viewer/photographer or between the people in the photo. None of these people is looking at the camera, and although it's obvious what they are doing, they are not actually doing it together, if you see what I mean.

A better moment would have been when the ball player took the ball, and was looking down at the child, or when he handed it back, then we would have a connection, and possibly some emotion and obvious connection/interaction. Another advantage would be that we would probably see the ball players face, which would hold some interest as well.

Because I can't see any interaction, and I can't see any faces I find myself hunting around in the photo for a point of interest, and there isn't really one, although I am left wondering if the child on the left is doing up his shoe or not.

Technically the exposure etc is good, as I said, you've got the bright whites of the uniform well under control, and you've framed in around your subject tightly. The color is pleasing, and you can never go wrong with red elements in a photo, it holds the viewers attention well.

The only thing from a technical aspect that could improve is that I feel the depth of field is a little big, and the fence detail behind is a bit distracting.

You've said you're using F/10.0 at 1/640th. Not sure what mode you were shooting in, but for a shallow depth of field with your lens I would have picked Av Mode, set to F/5.6, which would have softened up the background nicely.

So overall, this is technically a good photo, but the moment just doesn't spin my wheels. :-).

Cheers, Chris Hellyar.

New Zealand - 100% Pure
by KiwiChris

Comment:
Tar muchly folks, for an occasional dpc'er I'm really happy with this result..

And it was just a one day trip zoom, so I didn't get any sunrise/sunset photos, but it's only 1hr from here, and I'm planning on going back later in the winter when there is a bit more snow about...