California State Capitol
by Seanranney

Comment:
Bit of a sharpening halo visible around the top of the dome.

When the Rain Starts to Fall
by Ja-9

Comment:
Would have scored this higher if it weren't for the strange blur on the sky, especially around the top of the tower and the gull - looks like excessive noise-reduction or some other effect gone wrong.

Highlander's Castle
by Alex_Petrini

Comment:
Would have scored this higher if it weren't for the sharpening halos.

Eye of the storm
by Alex_Petrini

Comment:
This was my favourite shot from this challenge. Surprised there aren't more commenters.

Shift
by riot

Comment:

Originally posted by smardaz: Love the lecture followed by the confession that you also Photoshopped your entry.

It's not a "confession", the entire point is that EVEN WITH JUST PHOTOSHOP you can create a lot of other "tilt shift" effects than the brain-dead "fake miniature city" thing. Grow some imagination.

Highrise: Gold Flecks
by riot

Comment:

Originally posted by sidpixel: I just wonder why you had to shoot at such a high ISO? My interpretation from your notes is that you were using a tripod? In which case why not ISO 100 or a much lower one than the chosen one? The subject is static and lends itself fully to a long shutter speed.

Thanks for another great critique, Sid. This was shot handheld - the view was from a busy bar, with no possibility of setting up a tripod. Otherwise I'd have loved to shoot the scene at 100. It's a wonder the noise is as low as it is, at 6400 - with the thunderstorm and encroaching dusk, it was getting pretty dark.

Extinguished but not Forgotten
by riot

Comment:

Originally posted by tanguera: Taking a walk through your great port. Love the fantastic notes you've provided. Nobody does that anymore. Quite the setup!

Thank you. This shot was over a decade ago, now! It's a shame that nobody does that here anymore, but maybe I can bring it back ;)

Old Friends
by riot

Comment:

Originally posted by snaffles: Greetings from the Critique Club! .. Hope this critique has been of help, feel free to PM me, Susan

Thanks for the detailed critique, and the welcome! You're right, I've returned after being mostly away for the past four or five years - this place has changed a bit, but hopefully I'll hang around :)

By the way, this image is actually naturally lit and full colour, not black and white - just a very naturally low-saturation scene. I was going for a flat look, but you're right, to get the votes it would have needed a lot more pop!

Dreams of the Sea
by riot

Comment:

Originally posted by posthumous: I would love to see this series.

Well it's been four years, but better late than never, right? Here's the next photo in the series, Called to the Sea:


I've been away from photography for a while but now I'm back and I intend to complete them.

The Hunter's Rest
by riot

Comment:

Originally posted by PhilXT350: I would want a shot like this in sharp focus still a nice shot for the theme where and how did you locate a Barn Owl? plbillings@charter.net

This is a wildlife sanctuary owl, shot indoors in a large white marquee with the sun to backlight it.