Flying High.
by Lewisell

Comment:
From the Critique Club

First off let me say you have a very nice stop action shot here with nice focus. Very clean shot even though you were shooting in the bright sun light; no dust spots, lens flare, etc. However I do have to agree with most of the comments in that your photograph is overexposed. Seems that you had good lighting to work with that day and the colors are great especially the sky.

The balance of your photograph is good everything seems to be aligned well. I believe (if possible) your photograph could of benefited from a different angle. Even though your subject is strong, at this angle I find the background of spectators distracting. Visually the are competing with your subject.

You photograph does keep my attention but does not have that wow factor. As stated above the distraction in the background and the overexposure hurt in wowing the voter (are at least in my case). I do find that your photograph exhibits excitement because you picked a sport that is exciting and takes talent.

Good job and a well-done photograph I love the graffiti and the realism to your shot. Keep up the good work and I hope you find this critique helpful.
-SDW

The Gift
by holdingtime

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Hi,
Very interesting take on the challenge, it̢۪s a shame that you̢۪re subject (both bubbles were not in focus). If both bubble would have been in sharp focus it would of helped the bubbles over power the plant instead of the bubbles having to compete with the plant. The plant is nice however. Your focus seems not to cover your elements within the photograph. The forward most part of the plant and the leaf and bubble in the back or out of focus, I believe it was from a close up shot and using f/4, it did not give you enough depth of field. But your photograph is nice and clean with the exceptions of the reflections in the bubbles they are a bit distracting. I like the exposure, lighting, and colors; they all are nice.

I like the balance of your photograph and you have a nice broken background and I feel you arranged your elements well. The center of attention, the bubbles, is a little weak because your focus point seems to be on the flowers below the forward bubble. But I do have to say you were very close on this photograph it only had few distractions.

Your photograph did grab my attention but it was with the flower not the subject interacting with the flower so it didn̢۪t give me the wow factor I was looking for. It also is a very calm image not releasing emotion but I do have to give you props for using and unusual plant in an effective way. I just wish you could have captured all the elements in sharpness at the same time putting some pop into the bubbles.

I hope you find the critique helpful and keep up the good work. I think this shot is worth a retake. It would make a nice print.

maracsun.jpg
by hanae

Comment:
Very well executed photograph. As stated below, if anything, I would of lightened the silhouette to give it more depth (pop). Wonderful sky and colors. Another Fav....

The Order of the Towel strikes again
by thomaspeople

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Hi,
First off I have found on this site along with others that political and religious photographs tend not to score as high as other which if find a shame. I think no matter what statement is the photograph should be judged as a photograph. With that said the focus on you photograph is great on the hand and film rolls but very soft on the letter with in my opinion is the point of the conspiracy that you are trying to show in this photograph. That became a distraction to me. The photograph is pretty clean, that̢۪s a plus. I don̢۪t see any scratches, dust spots, stains, lens flare, etc. but do see some blue fringing around the right side film roll and top of paper. Your exposure and lighting is good. The colors are good but I can̢۪t help but wonder if maybe a black and white or duo-tone would of worked well with you photograph.

You have good balance within your photograph but the arrangements of elements (paper) seem to split the picture up into two half̢۪s causing my eyes to jump from one side to the other. The center of attention seems to be split between the paper and the hand with film and they are competing with each other because of the split feel of the picture and the bright colors on the left and toned down (almost B&W) on the right. So in my opinion you had several distractions.

You photograph really does not capture my attention and hold it the way it̢۪s laid out and with the color scheme and does not have a wow factor to increase it̢۪s value. However it is provocative and makes one think and that counts a lot. I think another composition could of made your statement stronger.

To sum up things you have a political/religious motivated picture that has a few distractions and does not really hold the voters eye. You did however use a usual objects portrayed in an unusual way giving your photograph creativity.

Keep up the good work and I hope you find this comment helpful.

Picasso Tower
by Redsnap

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Nice perspective of a tall building but find the focus to be a bit soft especially on the right side. You had a few distractions (lens dust) that were visible in the blue sky, which was a distraction. Your exposure, lighting and color are good and works well within your photograph.

The balance of your photograph is slightly off in my opinion. The top of the building is tilted to the left. And by the building being off to the side a little affects the balance. Your subject is interesting especially the line to the left; the lighting seems to bring them out more that on the right. I like the simplicity of the shot and think it worked well other than the minor distractions.

Your subject is not very strong lacking the wow factor to me but it is an eye-appealing photograph. I like the leading lines. This type of photograph is very common and demands an unusual effect to make it effective. With your photograph scoring right on the average score shows that fact.

You have a good shot and with a little tweaking it could have been even better. I see this is your first challenge entered (good score for first challenge). Keep up the good work and I hope you find this critique helpful.

The Face of Mental Illness
by L1

Comment:
From the Critique Club

A very powerful photograph and I believe the focus to be great on the mask and soft on the remaining photograph to work well. It makes the point your trying to make effective. The shot is relatively clean, however I do see some noise due to the 800 ISO but not anything in my opinion to take away from the photograph and I do believe it adds mood to the shot. Your exposure along with lighting and color is great. A good technically presented shot.

The balance seems to be off just a little to me. I think it would have been slightly better if the mask would have hid the ear on the left and the green seems to brighten up an otherwise dark mood picture. The arrangements of elements are good and visually effective to portray your mood within your work. I like the simplicity of the photograph. No extra elements to distract from the point your trying to make except as stated above the green shirt I feel is slightly to bright.

This photograph grabbed and held my attention during the voting period. I can’t say it had the ‘wow’ factor but it did have the emotional factor. For all that suffers from this illness could relate to your photograph without having to see a title, that to me is effective. Your shot is also creative, stepping out side the box in this challenge and doing a good job in doing so.

I hope you find this critique helpful and keep up the good work.
-SDW

Wading into eternity
by graphicfunk

Comment:
What a wonderful shot Daniel. You always seem to pull an amazing shot off making it look simple when in fact it takes planing and a creative mind, which you have. Your talent is impressive to say the least.

Congratulations on the Red ribbon.
-SDW

Up
by Joey Lawrence

Comment:
Joey you never cease to amaze me with your talent. The effort you put into some (most) all your shots is great and it shows in your photography. I believe as you put the same effort in life you will go a long way. A well planed shot and nature worked out to your advantage with a wonderful sky and lighting.

Congratulations on another blue.

I Got Mine
by idnic

Comment:
From the Critique Club

I loved this shot from the first time I viewed it. And I also feel it̢۪s a great take on the challenge. I love the way you put the sharp focus on the book at the same time keeping the remaining photograph in soft focus. Your picture is very clean without distractions and the exposure and lighting is good. The use of black and white worked well with this photograph keeping color from distracting the photographs intentions.

Your photograph has a nice balance, makes me feel that you have just been handed the book and the pose looks natural along with the facial expressions. You arranged the visual elements in your photograph very well. The position of the book, it̢۪s picture, writing, and warning all laid out great for the voter to view. The hands and person as a whole does not distract from the subject. I feel the book is the center of attention and you did a great job keeping it simple but powerful for this challenge. You did not clutter the face of the book keeping it clean and free of distractions.

This is on of those shots that grab your attention and keeps it. Makes me want to look around my monitor and see what your reading [can I borrow the book when your finished?]. I feel your photograph to be creative and show̢۪s preparation in your work using a familiar subject and using it in an unusual way to create an effective and in my opinion powerful photograph for this challenge.

Great job and keep up the good work. I hope you find this critique helpful.
-SDW

Caught in the Act!
by LadeeM

Comment:
From the Critique Club

First off let me say I love your capture in this image. I think we all have done this. Wake up in the middle of the night and click the update button. The expression on the face looks authentic of someone getting caught. The black and white effect added to the image in my opinion especially with such a smooth background without any distractions.

The light from the monitor reflected on the face is just about perfect in my opinion, not blown out and a nice job of using light to bring out the facial expressions. The Monitor is a little to blown out. I think it would be better toned down where the writing could have been viewed, a drop in brightness. This may have caused you to use a secondary light source but I believe it would have made your picture easier to keep some ones attention. What I mean by that is I think the face and expression makes the picture but with the monitor so bright my eyes are drawn back to the monitor. Your composition and focus is good as well.

There is not a lot suggest other than maybe the use of the secondary light source and lowering the brightness on the monitor. And with all that said I feel your work here is above average. These types of shots are not easy to pull off and you did a good job.

I feel your photograph scored slightly lower than I though it would be but that could be due to the photograph vs. challenge link. I believe it fits the challenge but some may have had a hard time seeing a conspiracy within the photograph. I̢۪m married I have been caught getting up late and clicking the update button and surfing DPChallenge. My wife has asked me not to, so I can relate to getting caught.

Keep up the good work and keep shooting. Great take on the challenge and I hope you find this critique helpful.
-SDW