daddy, next year will I be old enough to play?
by slickshooter

Comment:
Nice idea.

Focus on the challenge
by diablo2097

Comment:
Interesting bokeh effect. Nice shot.

Boquet (pronounced Bo-keh)
by mvp

Comment:
I really like the bokeh, but maybe the composition could have been strengthened. The two vertical flares seem to distract a little, and a sharper foreground would have emphasised that interesting background even more.

Demonstrating Photographic Customs
by dwterry

Comment:
I really like this photo. Handled the backlighting so well. Such a strong, sharp silhouette. I think it deserved to place a lot higher.

Urban Angles
by elemess

Comment:
I think this photo deserved a better placing. Maybe it did need a bit more contrast/wb tweaking, but it still holds tremendous impact. Well done.

A desolated beach... just the way we like it.
by Tygerr

Comment:

Originally posted by TheMegalomaniac: You mean deserted don't you ? Desolated implies misery...3 (sorry).

Initially this comment upset me quite a bit. It criticizes my knowledge of the English language, rather than my photography (and in the forums I even posted the various dictionary definitions for "desolate" which include "deserted" as a meaning - in fact, it was that definition that gave me the idea for the photograph).

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the photo deserved a better score. I wouldn't have voted it higher than a 5 myself (but I'd still rather enter a less worthy photo, and receive comments and learn from it, than abstain from a challenge because I wasn't happy with any of my shots).
I was just unhappy that the comment didn't have anything to say about the photograph, and rather focussed on semantics.

But after thinking it over for quite some time after the voting ended, I actually realise that this comment is just as helpful as all the others. See, a lot of people complain about the fact that the DPC voting process is very subjective, and that only a certain style of photos are "fashionable" with the voters.
But that's just part of getting people to respond to your photos. Even professional fine art photographers have to deal with this. You have to make people feel something before they're willing to think about a work of art.

And that's what Megalomaniac's comment is all about. The lack of a real feeling of desolation in the photo is what leaves the viewer underwhelmed by the image.

I will remember that in future. In order to connect on an emotional level with a viewer - to get them to feel something about a picture - you have to address the hidden implications and connotations of the subject. Meeting the dictionary definition simply isn't good enough.

So my view on comments remains the same: "Any comment is a good comment."

edit3.jpg
by mecfcosta

Comment:
I like this photo. The only tweak I might make is to crop the ear off, although it's not a massive problem, because I do like the wide feel of the photo.

And then I have a slight concern about the lighting. That dark side of the face distracts me a bit. The eye feels a bit wrong - it's either "too there", or "not quite there enough"... Does that make sense? What I mean is, I'd prefer to have it a bit darker on that side, or have a bit more light definition - like classic Rembrandt lighting - with a triangle of light on the cheek, and have a slight glint in the eye.

But still, love the subtle colour and the striking pose.

New Growth...
by littlegett

Comment:
This one's composition is a bit cluttered. Needed to isolate those cone buds a bit more. The two vertical branches on either side are distracting.

Also, more saturation would have made the colour more vivid, which would add impact.

Great focus and DOF though.

Successful Breeding
by littlegett

Comment:
Not a bad pic. The composition is decent - strong subject. A level shoreline might have made a stronger impact though (parallel bands of colour behind a subject usually emphasise the subject well). And there is good focus (although you could probably sharpen it up a bit more in pp).

Two things probably hurt your votes - firstly the lack of a more solid connection between your image and the theme. Most people tend to overlook the title...

And secondly, the overall tone is a bit flat. Needed to pump up the contrast and the colours a bit. On this site, photographers usually talk of getting their images to 'pop'. That's a good description of what I mean - if it was more vivid it would burst out at your eyes more.

Cute chick though... ;-)

Potatoes are in
by Titia

Comment:
Beautiful shot. The landscape would have been incredible even without those furrows: the trees are so well composed and finely textured.

But the furrows create such and incredible band of textured colour - it elevates the shot to absolutely amazing.
I can't believe this didn't get voted higher.

One of my faves.

I can only think that maybe people wanted more contrast, slightly more dynamic lighting (seems to be quite popular on here).

I like the tone though - it gives it a clean, wholesome country feel.

Message edited by author 2006-06-21 19:17:11.