Please......... We are ready.
by smstone

Comment:
Critique Club

Initial feeling: Sweet, gentle shot of Eeyore, Piglet considering some mischief. I like the feeling, but the angled line of the corner, the blue clips, along with the constant search for what they are waiting for, is distracting.

Composition: Not bad, I like it with one exception. As a suggestion, cropping out the right blurred third would help.

Color: The selective desat helps to bring out yous subjects, but the blue on the wall is very destracting. Also, I would suggest bumping the brightness to bring out the colors of the bed and animals.

I like the idea, and I believe I understand what, and who, they are waiting for!

Keep shooting. Cheers! Ben

I Am My Work -- the Thorn that Weeps, & Holds the Sky Entire...
by Bear_Music

Comment:
This is a wonderful photograph, and I'm intrigued by the use of it for a self-portrait. I was not around in 2005 to vote, but I'm sure I would have given it a 4, which is what I give to all technically sound, etc., photographs that don't meet my expectation of the challenge. Now if it was late at night, and I was enjoying a nice stout, then I would have stopped to consider why the photographer entered this photograph. So, I'm embarrassed to say that I would ordinarily considered this a DNMC. I think I will reconsider that practice. This a beautiful photograph, that in the context of an abstract self portrait, is contemplative and emotive. Well done. Cheers! Ben

Once, back in ol' Ireland...
by geinafets

Comment:
I like the pose, but I get the sense the WB is off and the background is distracting rather than complementing. I like the use of the pipe and his smile.

Shhh...Don't Tell the Kids Daddy is Santa!
by bspurgeon

Comment:
@Ken and Deb...thanks, actually that helps. That was my intent as it is a fantasy. Although I must admit, I gave my neighbors hell for not having a wooden Santa shaped like me! ;)

Carousel girl
by Melethia

Comment:
Congrats Deb. This is great.

Waiting for her lost daugher since 1831
by chandru0072

Comment:
Critique Club

Thanks for your request. At first glance, I feel the emotion of grief, and that is captured well by your perspective, but is the result of the statue rather than the photograph. It probably did not meet the challenge expectations for the average voter, and thus that is reflected in your score. I gave this a four because I felt it met the challenge, although not what I was expecting. Technically, the statue is soft when compared to the background. I find this to be an illusion created by the very bright, confluent, bokeh. This creates a bright visual line through the top of the statue, making it distracting. I like the subject, and hopefully, you can go back and shoot it again maybe as the sun is setting casting a nice warm glow to match the mood of the statue, thus adding your own touch to the statue.

Good luck with your next challenge entry!

Ben

She's an Angel
by Brent_S

Comment:
Congrats. I was just in Seattle, great town. You did a great job with the exposure.

Fallen Vases, Breaking News!
by Paul

Comment:
Critique Club

Congratulations on the high finish and a fantastic set up photograph. I loved this shot during the voting. I commented during voting as well.

Composition: Beautiful concept and staging. I still feel it is a bit tight superiorly and on the right. Mostly because I'm imagining a broadcast!

DOF and focous: I suspect manipulating the distance between your anchor and the TV would have allowed geater DOF to pull in the forks, but keep the monitor blurred. However, as is, it works quite well.

Color: Always a fan of black and white. Works very well here to give an old feeling.

Lighting: This is the one area that I think kept this from scoring higher. IMO, it needs a second strobe to light from camera right. Even lighting across the face would have gone a long way to improving the photo.

Overall: Very good, love the humor, particularly since I'm in SoCal and remember that day like it was yesterday.

Cheers and happy holidays,

-BS

Bronzed Tree
by RubberDucky7147

Comment:
Critique Club

Hello Tess. Congrats on your first entry and welcome to DPC. Overall, you did well for your first challenge. This happened to be one of my favorite shots in the challenge due to what I see as a strong composition. You used the tree to provide framing for the ornament, but left room to display the bokeh. However, I scored this a 5. The ornament is the subject based on your composition, and would have benefited by more DOF to increase the crispness of the orb. It appears that you focused on the most anterior portion of the orb, as the remaining portion is quite soft. The downside to more depth of field would be less bokeh, so I think the focus should have been further back on the right side. I hope this is clear! I love the light, white balance, and color, although the orb could be brighter. The bokeh works for me, although the bright portions take the eye away from the orb and dominate the photograph. If the orb was bright and in focus, it would not have taken a back seat to the blown out bokeh. Finally, I like the warmth that you captured. One last thing, in your editing steps you did not mention sharpening...unsharp mask, or it's equivalent, is very important to bring most digitally captured photographs to life.

Cheers, and Happy Holidays,

-BS

Bronzed Tree
by RubberDucky7147

Comment:
Critique Club

Hello Tess. Congrats on your first entry and welcome to DPC. Overall, you did well for your first challenge. This happened to be one of my favorite shots in the challenge due to what I see as a strong composition. You used the tree to provide framing for the ornament, but left room to display the bokeh. However, I scored this a 5. The ornament is the subject based on your composition, and would have benefited by more DOF to increase the crispness of the orb. It appears that you focused on the most anterior portion of the orb, as the remaining portion is quite soft. The downside to more depth of field would be less bokeh, so I think the focus should have been further back on the right side. I hope this is clear! I love the light, white balance, and color, although the orb could be brighter. The bokeh works for me, although the bright portions take the eye away from the orb and dominate the photograph. If the orb was bright and in focus, it would not have taken a back seat to the blown out bokeh. Finally, I like the warmth that you captured. One last thing, in your editing steps you did not mention sharpening...unsharp mask, or it's equivalent, is very important to bring most digitally captured photographs to life.

Cheers, and Happy Holidays,

-BS