Complimenting Blue.
by Tej

Comment:
Hi Tej, & greetings from the Critique Club. Sat siri akal.

It's good to be able to do this for such a keen member of the Critique Club. I'm afraid I'm not such a good member - my critiques are less frequent than yours. Also less structured, which I hope you won't mind.

This type of photograph demands a high level of technical competence. In fact, it could really be said to be about technical skill as much as anything else. So the execution must be good, and yours is. It looks flawless to me. Beautiful focus, lighting, exposure and processing. And of course, from a challenge point of view, you have been very clever - in three ways:
1. You avoided the revolting strident blue colouring chosen by most people.
2. You used the blue to emphasise your subject, rather than as the subject (the gradient is an especially subtle touch).
3. You chose a subject in a colour complementary to the blue.

And of course the use of the water droplets is a further irresistible bonus for the ever-thirsty DPC voters.

So, although this is not my kind of photograph, I must acknowledge that it is a very fine entry in this challenge, and deserved its high placing. In fact, I'd have been happy to see it place even higher, because it was more subtle and thoughtful than most.

Now, because I really have nothing more to say about this photograph, other than it's beautifully executed but not my cup of tea, I'll close by showing one of your images that most certainly is my cup of tea.

That is a brilliant photograph. Filled with interest, and beauty of a quite different and more ambitious kind. While the Blue image that is the subject of this critique can be seen and appreciated in a couple of seconds, this "Calm" photograph is a much more demanding and absorbing proposition for the viewer. It is deceptively simple, but rewards the viewer prepared to invest a minute or two with hidden details and potential meanings. That you can produce two such worthy but totally different works is a great testament to your ability, and I hope that anyone browsing this critique will be encouraged to spend a few minutes enjoying your excellent portfolio. I did.
Cheers,
Paul

Mentoring -- Snapshot by Anonymous
by Germaine

Comment:
Germaine takes the "road less travelled by" again. It's a wonderful tribute, although yours is really a much better shot than the many celebrated works produced by your Inspiration. But I'll forgive you for sneaking some quality in there; at 160/188 you probably got away with it. Bravo!

speedo
by Skip

Comment:
What a striking photograph. The swimmer's expressionless face, the reflective goggles, and of course the trail of air bubbles combine to create a slightly alien feel. The composition/crop is terrific as well. I can't work out why the pattern visible between her arms is not seen in the general background. But I don't particularly care about that. 9.

Lines
by sigrun_th

Comment:
Beautiful, soaring semi-abstract image. The structure may have provided the lines and the inspiration, but the photographer's composition and processing did full justice to the opportunity. You've found a very organic point-of-view of this mathematically interesting curve. The effect is to equally suggest both design in nature, and nature in design. 10.

Fraser Floodplains
by zeuszen

Comment:
Beautifully structured image. Nice composition, excellent exposure and really fine processing. The result is, to my admittedly non-expert eye, perfect tonal control. 9.

Jeune Femme
by Keith Maniac

Comment:
Beautiful portrait. I think you've replicated all that's great about some of the best B&W film images. Model's pretty impressive, too. 8

Flat Rock Beach
by Firsty

Comment:
Nice composition and a really interesting study of forms and tetures. 8.

Nicole
by GIS_boy

Comment:
Love this portrait. Instead of just showing us what the subject looks like, it tells us something of who she is. That's rare and welcome. 8.

...Lend Me Your Ear
by rscorp

Comment:
Such a wonderful, unusual image. The totally engaging expressions on the two faces make it possible for the protagonist to live happily right in the centre and with his back to the camera. That's quite an achievement. 8

Storm Chaser
by Brad

Comment:
This is one of my favourite images in this challenge. Brilliant composition, and for once the use of moderately stark and dramatic post-processing is justified. The effect is a little reminiscent of one of those heroic posters much loved by the propagandists of the old Soviet Union - hope that doesn't offend; they were often masterpieces of graphic design. It's a beautiful work. 10.