Marshall Point Lighthouse
by Ja-9

Comment:
First of all, thanks for requesting a comment from the critique club! I scored this one a 7, so, in my opinion, I think you finished a little low. I think this one was in my top 5 through that challenge, but votes seemed to have changed since I was last active here. Other than a little more exposure on the lighthouse itself, there really isn't much I would have changed about this one. Even with that, you may have lost the rays from the shadows. The tradeoff would have probably not been worth it. I think it is a nice capture, especially with the backlighting you were working with. I like how the walkway draws me into the image, and while I am not a big fan of photography 'rules', the rule of thirds makes this one very pleasing to the eye. The whole scene feels inviting to me. Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to more in the future. Very nice image.

Balloon at Dawn
by Jutilda

Comment:
Very cool capture, and thanks for sharing it with us in the challenge. I think this one scored fairly appropriately. It looks like some HDRish post processing, which was pretty well done considering the lighting you were working with. I bet the experience was awesome. Of course, different lighting angles would have been preferable, but not bad at all considering what you were working with. Thanks for the chance to critique.

The Majestic Tetons
by Ja-9

Comment:
Man, I love the Tetons! Probably one of my favorite places in the world. I agree with your other commenters, that this is a great use of texture and layers. You point of view works very well to draw the eye deep into the capture. While you clearly met the challenge in rule of thirds. this one, in my humble and often distorted opinion, does not serve the challenge well. There is a lot going on in the photo, and I am drawn deep into the image, rather than to a subject represented at a "thirds" intersection. It is always a pleasure seeing your work on here. You always seem to capture the spots I would rather be. Thanks, too, for the chance to critique the photo. This one is my first one since around 2009. I hope this is meaningful in some way, and thanks for sharing the image!

"Oh, thanks! ... I LOVE cheese..."
by Lydia

Comment:
Funny how a dead, pesky, disease ridden rodent can stir up such an argument. Nothing surprises me here anymore, though. For the record, I am much worse than Lydia. I kill these little bastards every chance I get. Anyway, awesome shot there Lydia. Wonderfully creative and the story still has me chuckling. Congrats on the ribbon!!

My favorite chocolate. . . I love it!
by glad2badad

Comment:
I HATE woody shots....well, except for this one. Well-done and this one gave me a good chuckle. Very nice!

Luxury
by Rino63

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

First of all, congrats on the new personal best. Very well done.

My thoughts on the image: This was one of my favorites during voting for this particular challenge. The wide angle, deep depth of field, and point of view are all spectacular. Your cloud cover and bright sunshine adds a wonderfully dramatic feel to the image as well.

My ideas for improvement: I may have adjusted the crop just a little tighter on the left hand side, but that would have been one of the only things I could even imaging changing.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did vote on this challenge, and...no surprise now...I was one of the 12 voters that believed that nothing needed changing or adjusting with this particular capture. This is a beautiful capture and a well-deserved finish. Congrats.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Eastern Bloc
by George

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

First of all, congrats on a new personal best, as well as a top 10 finish. Also, thanks for providing the detailed information on the shot. This helps a ton when trying to offer a meaningful critique.

My thoughts on the image: You lighting and tonal range here is fabulous. The range does a wonderful job gently leading my eye deeply into the entire frame. I also like the flow of the composition that you presented, but that could also be improved on a bit. There is a wonderful amount of detail in the image that kept me busy for awhile during voting. I especially like the evil face that my eye sees on the left hand third of the image relatively centered vertically. It also adds nicely to the mood of the image. The cold, dark, hopeless feeling that you were apparently after is well presented and wonderfully conveyed.

My ideas for improvement: Shift your point of view to the left a little. The protruding building on the right hand side of the image competes strongly for my eye's attention. There is plenty of interest throughout the frame to help overcome this, but the image would be even stronger with this portion excluded.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did vote on this challenge, and I voted this one a 6. Overall, looking back through the images, I do believe that this one fell into place well with the voters. Nicely seen and very well presented.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

MEN
by picklenose

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: I tend to agree with most of your commenters here in that this is a fairly uninteresting composition. The centered yet awkwardly tilted building leaves me with an feeling that this was more of a snapshot that an intentionally composed image. I do find that the building appears to hold a great deal of interest, and I think the composition possibilities here are near limitless.

My ideas for improvement: Put more time into the initial composition of the capture. I am not sure if tighter or wider would be better with this one, but I'd like to see combinations of both. While I am no stickler for the 'rules' of photography, this particular structure presents with far to many possibilities to be closed in with a centered composition. I'd also like to see more contrast to the overall image. Perhaps shooting this one at a different time of day would have presented you with some great shadows and more highlights that the flatness that this particular lighting yielded.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did vote in this challenge, and you pulled a 5 from me. I do think that it meets the challenge perfectly, but with some better execution and composition, this vote would surely have grown.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Crosswords On The University Wall
by MArteSi

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: This was one of my favorite voting challenges as of recent history here. I like the vast array of options and situations that the challenge lent itself to shooting. Here, you have a great start, but the image is lacking in my opinion. I think that's I'd like to see the crop a little wider, as my eye wants to think so much more exists to the decay portion of the image. Your lighting is a bit harsh, graduating from the dark, near-under exposed left hand side to the bright, near over exposed right hand side.

My ideas for improvement: Open the crop up and show me more decay. I do get the feeling of the withering structure, but I don't see enough destruction to make me really love this image.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did vote in this challenge, and I was one of your 4s. This one could have easily grown in my mind with a different crop and composition.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric

Evolution. Just a theory?
by snaffles

Comment:
Hey there from the Critique Club

My thoughts on the image: Nice combination of interesting elements that cover both sides of this 'argument' between science and religion. I like the left-to-right flow that you created with the books, but overall, the image is a bit to dark for my personal taste.

My ideas for improvement: I think that this one would have made a stronger entry with a little more exposure, as well as a black and white conversion. I'd also like to see the cloth underneath your subjects the same black color as your background.

Where I would have/did score this entry: I did not vote in this particular challenge, but I would tend to agree with the voters here. I would have most likely scored this one in the 5 range, perhaps 6 because I do like the subject matter. I think that a black and white conversion would have given this one a little more pop.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a critique on your entry,
Eric