...is whatever comes next.
by ericwoo

Comment:
Critique Club

First impression: What joy! I love the look of shock that can be interpreted in various ways, too me it's joy. I know it's probably for Dad, but the son can't wait to dig in and start building!

Subject: obviously meets the challenge

Composition: Very well balance, with strong diagonal lines that keep me focused on that wonderful face. You stated this is a candid, so I'll mention the placement of the couch as it appears out of place when taken in to the context of the top right corner on first glance, but in reality it grounds context of the image as a "gift opening gathering". Well done.

Lighting/Color: The highlights are well used, and the the boy and gift are well lit, regardless of whether it was placed in processing or initially. With respect to color, I find the top right corner very bothersome, because I don't know what it is, and why it's there. Too bad it's not brown.

Excellent photograph, and congrats on the high finish. Personally, I would like to thank you for not cloning the white fragments in front of the box. If you had, you probably would have finished in front of that spectacular, one of kind, highly imaginative, 7th place photograph! ;)

Cheers,

Ben

Time for myself
by Rino63

Comment:
Critique Club

First, congratulation on a wonderful photograph and high finish. I love the concept and execution of this image to convey "happy time" for yourself. Good composition with the focal point in the bottom third intersection, strong use of negative space helps to convey your desire for personal time by my interpretation. Colors are vibrant, and not oversaturated.

I do believe you pushed the limit with the sharpening, and in is overdone in my opinion along the rim of the face of the clock and petals.

I like the DOF you chose, but I wonder how this would have looked at f/11, thus bringing the foreground in to greater focus.

I gave this a 6 during voting due to the sharpening. Cleaner processing would have recieved a higher vote from me.

Nice work. Cheers, Ben

01 Shilo's Girl
by SandyP

Comment:
Charming photograph. Love the soft feel.

A White Christmas
by acoppola

Comment:
Critique Club

First impression: Warm, cozy, eggnog and rum, all while smelling pine. You captured the emotion well.

Comp: I happen to like it, although I can see why a couple of the comments referenced a tight feeling. But, as is, the composition draws my eye to the tree then across to door, before exploring the snow and trees.

Color: Good, but the white is not white, and you forgot to desat the area of the house just to the left of the tree

Overall quite nice, I gave it a 7 during voting (not handed out lightly!), but to be honest if I saw the missed areas of the house I would have scored it a 5. ;) I consider the processing part of the artwork, just a slight ding to an otherwise peaceful and warm photograph. I do believe it would have scored higher with whiter snow.

Congrats on the high finish! I enjoyed looking through your website.

Cheers!

Ben

Eye to Eye
by roz

Comment:
This is excellent. So cold and creepy. I'm guessing this is a Roz classic.

Joy in an Ice Storm
by colorcarnival

Comment:
Michelle? Very good! Happy Joy Joy.

CSI: The Case of the Shadows
by Lydia

Comment:
I think Art is correct. This shot is all about the dappled light. Very moody. Well done Lydia.

The Old Song Man
by SandyP

Comment:
This is great capture, I'm bummed by the sharpening artifacts. Probably did not need that much sharpening! Oh well, lovely portrait otherwise.

Here's to . . . Good Friends, Good Fun, and the DPC Site Council
by Lydia

Comment:
Excellent photograph. Three cheers for Lydia!

Sinless
by bnilesh

Comment:
Love the light and complementing colors. Very well done.