Daaaad!!
by cbeller

Comment:
Sunday Night Critique Club Special

Altogether a good and fun picture with surprisingly good lighting for a snapshot.
Composition wise a few flaws: To bad your subject is positioned dead center; putting your model on the left of the frame would allow more of the toilet to bee seen (I did not notice what your son was actually doing the first time I saw this image) and would strengthen the composition. Also avoidable: the scalping of your progeny shows in what haste you took that one but does not improve the overall appearance of the picture.
This was a �near great picture�. I know it is hard to think of all those things and also succeed at clicking at the right time.

I have always been amazed at all the parameters seasoned photojournalism pros can think of in a split second when they are capturing in style an event in motion.

All the best, JJ

Bread and Wine
by e301

Comment:
I certainly hope you will be gratefull that I spared you from the worst possible ranking.

No Way!
by FullyFocused

Comment:
Critique Club Time

Nice genuine capture of a surprised look, probably the only one in this challenge.
(I wonder why a crowd so intense on the topic of challenge conformity scored you so low�)
Subject probably a little too central, moved too the right a bit would strengthen the composition. I personally would have zoomed in to keep just the eyes and mouth in the frame or zoomed out to have the full face featured.

The white patch behind her shoulder could now be easily cloned out. To avoid having to do this you could have chosen a lower angle for your shot.

Hope this helps, JJ

Shocking Message
by oskar

Comment:
Critique Club Time

This, I must say, is usually a surprise! The occurrence that this type of news would be announced this way though, is a little beyond what I am ready to believe.

The way you have stages your image situated it long after the original astonishment. I would fist have to recover from such news for a while before thinking of taking my ring off...

The good point of this image is you are telling us a story that will keep us wondering for a while. And there are not many entries this week that will do that.

Technically, the background is a little dull and the more than soft focus does not add to this image�s appeal. You would have been better off, I think, capturing the phone hand held (to situate the scene at the �surprise moment�) and having the message occupying more of the composition.

Hope this helps,
All the best, JJ

It's not always what you expect
by Bela45

Comment:
A brief entry from the Critique Club

Good idea that probably would have worked better on a darker background and with gentler lighting on the apple part. There is probably a question of timing with this idea that does not quite work: the fact that you chimerical fruit has been neatly cut and that part of it is already disposed of situates this scene way after the moment of original astonishment.

Keeping in scene the missing quarter and possibly the tool that cut it would have meant more work, I know, but would have depicted convincingly this impression of sudden surprise.

All the best, JJ

Don't forget to leave your tooth under your pillow for the toothfairy...
by WILDBLUE

Comment:
Hi, I will be your Critique Clubber this week.

I don�t quite agree with the critique below that considers this image uninteresting. This is altogether quite intriguing. Probably shows my ignorance but I have no idea what this baroque object is all about. Is it children equipment? Fairy gear of some kind? Hairpin? A ballroom dagger?

The composition is harmonious but I personally would not encourage the tonal choice you made.
�Don't forget to leave your tooth under your pillow for the toothfairy...� probably lacks of the minimum brutality a slogan does require.

Had a look on you portfolio, you have a good sense of composition and seem to have mastered the technical side of things quite well. My advice to you would be to start worrying a little less on the aesthetic aspect but make yourself a point of allways telling a story with your photographs. Try also introducing more physical humanity in your images. This is maybe not the direction you want to go but I am sure this would make you progress.

All the best, JJ

NO SMOKING
by speirini

Comment:
...

NO SMOKING
by speirini

Comment:
From the critique club / Franco-Swiss section

I like this image, nice movement in this portrait, an intimate setting with a contemporary flare to it.
Even though your camera does not have very high definition don�t be afraid to show your picture at the maximum size authorized.

As you may have noticed, this type of un-academic picture will not get unanimous recognition here.
Considering your low score, it is only fair to note that this woman, eyes half shut, obviously enjoying herself, does not illustrate quite adequately the slogan you decided to depict.

All the best, JJ

Bull S***!(Literally)
by train

Comment:
Hi, it�s me again your Critique Clubber

I remember the French had one planned a �crap tax� for the Britton cattle and pig farmers because they were poisoning the water table with nitrates. As it turned out, there was a logic flaw in perceiving a tax on one hand and then offering subsidies too help them export their meat and milk on the other hand.

The information is amusing and interesting, the photographic qualities a little less so.

One easy improvement: adding a little depth of field to have the cow�s head as sharp as the rest.

All the best, JJ

Left out in the Cold
by Nazgul

Comment:
Good morning from the critique club.

Nice setting impeccably composed with strong lines, rhythm and good textures.
Unfortunately, I think the young person and his shade do break that strong rhythm in the middle of this scene.
I would have suggested to move your character slightly to the left of the composition where light and shade meet. Or maybe having him sit on this window opening.
Also, having your main subject a little less visible would have been an enhancement meaning wise.

Good photographic work,
All the best, JJ