World-weary heart
by snaffles

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image the meets the challenge well

A lovely find for the subject Susan. The natural heart shape fits the challenge brief perfectly. The lighting is good bringing out the delicate details well. I like the diagonal of the heart that you have chosen for your composition. There is a little background distraction but it is not significant enough to adversely affect the end result. I hope your own romance is still thriving?

Gotcha
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Perhaps not ruckus in the strictest sense of the word but this certainly captures a moment of conflict as detailed in the description. A great capture Ronnie, the timing is good and the poor crawfish̢۪s demise is perfectly illustrated. The water drops add a dynamic to the moment. I do feel there seems to be a bit of over saturation it detracts somewhat, the colours throughout would benefit from some subtle desat.

Mean Streets
by Skizzorp

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Mother nature in all its savage beauty, in itself a good capture. I like your timing with the sparrowhawk caught with some pigeon feathers in its beak this really adds to the savage nature of the moment. As has been commented on unfortunately there is a softness throughout which is unfortunate. The most important element of this image is the sparrowhawks eye, if even this was sharp it would have saved the day. I don̢۪t know if you have used a teleconverter too? If so, the shutter speed would account for what appears to be camera shake throughout, regardless I would say that is still part of the problem. The high ISO is also compounding the problem with a lack of detail. As I say, your timing is good this is essentially a very good image just lacking a little technique but let me welcome you DPC we look forward to more from you soon.

Let the Eyes Do the Talking
by riot

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Another very appealing animal eyes study Eugene. If I hadn’t already seen ‘stray’ I would probably be more impressed with this but of the two I prefer the other. As you say, the DOF is probably a tad too shallow but I am not too bothered about the nose it’s the eyes themselves that I’m referring to. The lower half of the eyes is not as bright and sharp as the tops, this is a little detrimental to the end result. I do love all the soft focus areas, in particular his lovely soft ears but I also like the abstract quality of his rear end.

Care for a Lollipop
by gintay

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

What a great creative entry Gin Tay, very appealing. However, I have to agree with Mike as indeed I think you do too, his comments are constructive. I do like your choice of subject it makes for a wonderful abstract that is full of dynamic energy. With the suggested cropping you have a unique and dynamic image that would grace any wall, well done.

Standing in the Night
by CtW

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Welcome to DPC Christopher, and what a first entry! This is a lovely study both in composition and timing. You have positioned the man well to the right leaving room for that well-timed exhalation of smoke to form a strong diagonal in the left of the frame. I like the mono processing it really adds to the atmosphere of the scene. It could be argued that the lights in the top of the frame are a bit distracting but the wide aperture has left them nicely soft and less obtrusive. Overall a competent and pleasing image, well done, we look forward to more form you...

Escalated
by Gordon_1

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Ah Gord, this is just my sort of shot! I love the motion blur and abstract nature of the image but most of all I like the close cropped composition that focusses attention on the sheer dynamics of the motion. There is an other-worldliness about this that is just so appealing it works really well for me and obviously did for many others here too, well done Gord.

Joshua Tree Cholla Garden by Moonlight
by wbanning

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

A lovely night exposure. The lovely soft moonlight gives the scene an ethereal atmosphere that is very appealing. I do think it could have been improved with a larger DOF to get the foreground cactus nicely defined too, I have to agree with your commenter it does rather detract rather than add to the end result. Alternatively, using the cactus as a strong focal point with a softer background would have worked better.

It's Friday I'm in love
by booboo_goon

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

What a dynamic explosion of colour! This is an interesting composition with the red hearts dominating the right with all the other colours and detail of the left converging towards it. I assume you have rotated the zoom during the exposure? This usually works best where you have a strong dominant sharply defined centre but I like what you have done here with the off-centred composition, especially with the nature of these bright lights it works very well indeed. Wherever you̢۪ve been, I for one would like to welcome you back...

No Fear
by Phocal

Comment:
Hello from the critique club

An appealing image that contributes well to the challenge

Another of your excellent ‘gator studies Ronnie. I love the reflections in his eye and the duplicated and reversed reflection of him in the water. Whilst it is perfectly acceptable to use symmetry for this type of image I prefer it using the upper third with the emphasis then placed on the calm waters refection. Other than that another lovely image.