kate fixes her ipod
by muckpond

Comment:
While possibly a real late night candid, evidenced by the blur factor and seriously underexposed sleeve, background and hair, combined with the grain/noise, blowouts in the forehead and I-pod and the distracting lamp/light sources in the background, I can offer little good about this image. Well, not quite.

On a solely artistic level it has a lot of interest and I think it has a ton of potential, but there's a bunch of post processing work that needs to go into it to bring it fully onto the level of abstract art. You could have some fun in PS with this, think Rocky Horror. Abstract Art considered, I am left with offering a 3

Revisiting this image again remembering to 'catch the mood of the moment' as the challenge details have suggested and find I must bump this again as the emotion of the moment is by far very present here. Pushing to a 5.

Long Trip Home
by sparkly

Comment:
Exposure is perfect. Details in the shadow are not dropped because it is too dark, and the face has no highlights that seem blown out. There is a somewhat yellowish cast to his face that may be a result of a spectacular sunset or sunrise as the shadows seem here to be low and long. Overall not an abundantly interesting piece of art, but a nice picture that would often be shared within the family and friend circle. Moving from the 4 holder to an average 5.

A visit from the neighbor's children
by camelotnorth

Comment:
Neither child appears to have not anticipated this shot, in fact, they both seem posed and ready for the flash. This does not seem candid, but may have some elements of candidness. What is most unfortunate in the presentation of this image is the save and upload.

If at all possible, DPChallenge images should try to fit the longest side on a 640 pixel range. This gives the art more presence and smaller images often take a beating simply becuase they are small and tend to not present the finer details to the rushed audience. If you click the LEARN menu option and choose TUTORIALS, you will find an article on how to save and upload a picture so that your image size is not the factor forcing you into the below average categories.

Its a nice capture, but too small to evaluate properly. A five.

Love & Laugh
by ramevi

Comment:
A very nice capture. Does not come off as candid. He appears to be anticpating the shot, however the infant could not and the expression is the redeeming piece in the challenge validity. Some backlighting here would go a long way to adding points on the scale. The older child's hair is lost in the shadows and it would be nice that it not 'seem' that his head is cut off where the hair begins.

I see nothing else in the capture to speak on, but would like to offer some post procesing ideas if you have the software. A slight dodging in the whites of the eyes on both children may be something to play with. I think this would enhance the beauty of the shot. A great wall hanging for the family as is tho. Bumping from the 4 place holder to a 5

In momy's arms
by dimitrii

Comment:
A great scrapbook capture, enhanced by the choice of a scratch and peel border that I find helps, rather than hurts. Does not seem artsy, but is well executed with the top corners blurred and shadowed so as to drive the eye to the subject. The infant's face is Perfectly exposed and no elements distract this viewer from the true focus. This image moves from my 4-holder to a 7!

Snowbody
by LevT

Comment:
While this image may be considered candid, the blurred action is far too overdone, the main subject is placed exactly in the center of the shot, so the art aspect is lost and the sky has been way overexposed. One of the few that upon review I regret that I must reevaluate down to a 2.

Brother's Passing
by stupidcat

Comment:
I like the capture but not the loss of detail in the shadows of the black coat. There should be a collar in there somewhere I think. On the other end of the spectrum, the shirt seems overexposed. In this case, the photoshop SHadow/Highlight tool would help to brind some detail back into the whole. A slight counterclockwise rotation to level off the pitcher/sill and railing and the image would shine. Bumping from 4 to 5.

Flower Girl in White - Everywhere!
by photom

Comment:
Intentional or not, there is a softer focus at play here that can lend well to the overall, but the blacks are all shadow and this detracts somewhat from the whole. A slightly tighter crop removing some of the left and foreground would greatly enhance the feeling of movement into the wedding lawn and the crossing of the bridge. It would also eliminate the forked tree which being shadowy adds nothing to the composition.

An up exposure with levels to unhinge the shadows and reveal a minute amount of detail on the bridge and black coat and then probably some curve to return the snow to a textured would move this up a point for me. For now, a slight bump to a 5.

dolly caught
by spease

Comment:
Seems candid enough, almost says, "Hey, can't ya give me a moment of privacy, here?" The natural features of the dog lend well to a sense of frustration or embarrassment. The stick crossing the body and face detracts seriously from the whole. Too bad. You could not control that, such is nature.

A couple of blown highlights on the fur (leg and chest), but not seriously distracting, could be corrected with minor burns in post processing. Overall an average shot. Moving from 4 to 5.

Fire Play
by aznym

Comment:
This is a nice blurred motion capture. The crop however does not do the subject justice. In a vertical crop (removing most of the dark wall on his right - left side of pic), the subject would be emphasized and much of the shadowy nature of the surroundings would be lessened. The alley in the background does not seem to be distracting to me and the face seems perfectly exposed. Bumping from 4 holder to 5.