play on
by gtp1164

Comment:
Critique Club

Hi Gina. Well as you know, your score was well below your average and I can name several reasons. Firstly, it really looks like you grabbed this shot at the last minute and threw it into the challenge. If you put alot of thought into this photo, I apologize but that is the way I see it and likely the voters did as well. I can comment on the rest of the elements of this photo though it will not diminish the fact the the shot is weak. I hope you can appreciate my candor as I'd rather be truthful than inflate an image that is not indicative of the work you are capable of. Good luck in future challenges.

Ivo

Waiting for Orders
by A Shrubbery

Comment:
Critique Club

AHA!! With a username like that, you must be a Monty Python fan. Congrats on a decent score for your second challenge. This is a very creative shot and I think you did an admirable job. It appears that you had illuminated the chessboard from the botton, hence the effect. This is a tough shot to get perfect focus unless you have a tripod and even then, you run the risk of camera shake by depressing the shutter with your finger. Had you set your camera on a tripod, or a flat stable surface, set the timer to activate the shutter, your focus would have been much better........oh well, live and learn. I see that you had the camera set at f8 as the shot may have been blown out otherwise. Good thinking. The composition is good but as you know, the shot is tilted slightly. Other than that, this is somehwat of an advanced technical effort and all in all, you executed it very well. It will be interesting to see how your work advances as you do more challenges and build up your portfolio. Well done!

Ivo

Hurley yawning
by bwsiart

Comment:
Critique Club

Hi Bruce and welcome. I see you didn't do as well as you may have hoped but do not fear! There is a definate learning curve here that is at times not pleasant and on the positive side, you got a reasonable number of comments for your first time. The difficulty with a shot like this is the subject. If you are not a cat lover, you will likely score this shot very low. That aside, I can see your perspoective on this shot though not many will take as much time as I am. On a shot like this,you want to draw out greater detail by playing with contrast and sharpness. It would be interesting to see this in color as that would give you another element to help enhance this shot. It is good that that you chose a quirky image like this and I'd suggest you use your "eye" for more shots along this flavor. Hope this helps and good luck in future challenges.

Ivo

CAVALIERS' CITY PERSPECTIVE
by elite

Comment:
Critique Club

Hi David. Not a bad score for your first entry. My first challenge entry finished with 4.blah blah. I like your perspective in this shot and I also think the composition has alot of interesting elements. Good use of sepia and I'm really not too bothered by the wires, though you might bring some wire cutters next time. ;-) You may have fiddled a bit more with the contrast as to draw out great detail and maybe fussed a bit more with the focus. I also realize your hands are somehat tied in a basic editing challenge. I'm seeing some noise in the shot and I'm not a huge fan of it. Might you consider using noise reduction software like NeatImage, it makes a big difference. I really like the angles and how they compel me to look for greater detail. Well done. Hope this is somehat helpful. Good luck in future challenges!

Ivo

No Title
by kyebosh

Comment:
Critique Club

Hi Logan. Good shot. You've captured a really nice expression on your subject's face. The shot looks like it is quite natural and has a good feel to it. Now for the analysis. The colors are somehwhat drab and the placement of the subject within the image is not very flattering. I find the drainpipe and the turquise paint between her legs to be distracting. I might suggest sharpening the image and playing around a bit with shadows and highlights. Though the angle is different, it makes your subject appear quite small. Looking through some of your other shots, I'd say that you could do better though it is not really "that bad" but it is really not "that great" either. This is just my opinion. Hope it is somewhat useful.

Ivo

The Sparkle Of Innocence
by sajin

Comment:
CRITIQUE CLUB

Hi Bobby. Great shot. You've captured the essence of what these little creatures are all about. I have a daughter about the same age. As far as the image goes, there are several things I really like and some I think could use enhancement. The expression is priceless and the tones are quite gentle. Your lighting was well done and the focus is golden. I'm a little thrown off of the placement of your subject but you may have been stuck by not having the room to allow more room in your original. I also find that the hardwood floor could have been darkened since it is a bland background. Though I like borders, it has crept into the shot and empasized the weak placement of the image. I'd try cropping tighter on the left to compensate for that. This would eliminate some of the background as well.

All in all, it is a great capture as your sore has clearly indicated. Go get more now ......... and tell her to go clean her room!! ;-)

Ivo



Message edited by author 2005-09-23 13:48:37.

Veiled
by labuds

Comment:
Howdy Aleks from the critique club. Firstly, an excellent submission. The final score clearly indicates that many voters found this image to be among the best and this why, I would say, it is so. On a technical side, I think you've nailed it. The sharpness is excellent as is the coloration and and use of shadow. When I look at the composition closely, I see that you've cropped off the very top of her head and her chin as well. Good choice as it draws the viewer's attention to the eyes. Had I had to edit the photo, I would have slightly increased the saturation in the blues of the eyes as to create an bit more of an exotic feel to the shot. That being said, all other elements are really well done and I'd say the reasons I can figure it doid not rank higher are:

1) Either you love it or you just like it. I'd be hard pressed to say that you can really not like this shot. It simply is a very good photo.

2) This genre of photo has been used fairly often and this shot had to compare with some stiff competition. Now, yours will be one of the shots subsequent entrants will need to out-shine in order to get a high score.

Hope that provides you with a bit more insight. Peace.

DSC_2532.jpg
by MAK

Comment:
Yup. Das is veeeery guud!! Did you stitch this?

Nap
by LevT

Comment:
Niiiiice! The highlights are slightly blown out. Soften them up a smudge and you have a golden shot.

Lighthouse on the Hill
by ShutterPug

Comment:
Looks like a postcard. Good luck!