Gazing Eyes
by Drummerjd356

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!
This is an interesting image. You're certainly right in saying that it captures the feeling between the girl and her horse. In that respect it has a lot of charm and it engages the viewer's emotions. That to me is a sign of a good and lasting portrait ... giving the viewer a glimpse of the inner nature and feelings of the subject (in this case, both subjects). So, a charming photograph of a worthy subject. The difficulty, in my view, is in the processing. It has a too-yellow cast and the blown highlights in the girl's face have diminished what would otherwise have been a lovely portrait. I appreciate that these processing choices were forced upon you by the High Contrast theme. If you'd processed it a little more sympathetically, you would have had a zillion "Where's the contrast?" comments. I'd like to see the same image processed again, this time with a wider tonal range, and retaining the natural colours. Stick a reprocessed version of it in your portfolio - the portrait has too much potential to overlook.
Cheers,
Paul Martin

Frog and Sun Contrast
by 4ROGGYCHEF

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!
This is a spectacular image, and certainly loaded with all sorts of contrasts ... there's contrasting colours, contrasting tones, and even a contrast between the two subjects (maybe that one was your intended primary contrast, given the title). I am particularly pleased to have the chance to consider and review this image in detail because it is the sort of photograph that usually doesn't appeal to me on first impression (I'm not a fan of photos of toy ducks, gnomes, frogs, etc). However, a few moments' study reveals some very impressive qualities, and forces me to eat my words. First, the composition ... it's really very good indeed. Not just because of the relative weight you've given your two subjects, but also because you have managed to suggest a genuine relationship between the frog and the sun's warming rays. The hint of strong yellow light on the edge of the sun is powerfully reflected on the frog's chin & belly. It's more than just cute, its very clever. Next the actual photograph ..it's technically very sound; clean, accurately exposed, sharp and with nicely balanced colours. Finally, the processing ... it's here that I think you've stumbled just a little bit, and probably because you were so keen to emphasise the High Contrast theme; I think the tonal contrast is just a bit too strong, and perhaps it's sharpened a little too much as well. Overall, a very nice image that taught me a worthwhile lesson about hasty judgements.
Cheers
Paul Martin

Lightwave
by owen

Comment:
G'day Owen. Greetings from the Critique Club!
Odd co-incidence; my first CC critique and the shot was taken quite close to where I live.
The image is undeniably High Contrast, and yet it's not really that particular quality that first engages the viewer ... it's more the deft composition and the beautiful transluscent nature of the breaking wave top that establishes the initial impression. That slight subordination of the challenge theme is no bad thing, in my view. You have instead used High Contrast with more subtlety than most, as a natural extension of your vision for the subject. In other words you've avoided using High Contrast as a drunk uses a lamp post - for support rather than illumination.
Your composition is ultimately the most impressive and instructive aspect of the image. I applaud the fact that you have resisted placing either the rock or the sun at one of the classic 'thirds' intersections. Your photograph is all the more harmonious for that decision, because your slightly 'weaker' placement of those two elements means that attention is not unduly deflected away from the wave top. For the same reason, the placement of that wave top at the vertical half-way point is apposite - we therefore don't see the usual stretch of wet sand at the bottom or big sky with seagull at the top ... you knew exactly what your subject was, and you confidently eliminated everything that wasn't it! This is a fine image; beautiful and, if the viewer will take a few moments, also highly instructive. Among other things, it is a very powerful example of when it can be appropriate to bend the conventional compositional rules.
Cheers,
Paul Martin

Perplexed
by wsteyn

Comment:
Nicely captured expression. She looks concerned and uncertain about something. You've established an emotional connection between the viewer and your subject ... essence of a good portrait, in my view. 7.

Comparison
by e301

Comment:
Probably no strictly a portrait, but who cares about strict? It's interesting & provokes thought rather than barfing. 7

Anarchy
by Sherri1209

Comment:
So much more interesting than the Barbie & Ken portraits. 7

Bit of the Irish in her.
by BrennanOB

Comment:
Beautiful image. A seamless & sympathetic fusion of model, pose, composition and photographic technique. 7.

Lady With A Pearl Earring (An Interpretation of a Classic Painting)
by JunieMoon

Comment:
And a good interpretation, too. The lighting is especially good, and I like the deliberate softness; makes your tribute all the more 'authentic'. 7.

Victory
by idnic

Comment:
Terrific image. I'm an old military guy; I love the haircut, love the flag, love the cigar. It's a simple, "F-You" kind of portrait, and all the more powerful for that. The pussies will hate it, which is yet another thing I like about it. 8.

Mesmerizing
by gaurawa

Comment:
A technically flawless photograph and indeed it is a mesmerising result. My only criticism is that is seems a contrived, set-up image (as I'm sure it was) ... it just doesn't feel real-world to me, but that's Steve McCurry's fault. Still, an expert job. 7