Knockout Blow - fly!
by bcenu

Comment:
Critique Club

I found this to be interesting take on the challenge.

Composition: Somewhat stagnant, but the center composition works to express the nature of death. Nice placement in the lower third to meet the challenge and demonstrate bokeh

You met the challenge, but the bokeh is quite harsh, and is often most effective, when pleasant. However, the harsh nature of the bokeh complements your subject.

What I don't like about this image, and it may reflect many voters, is the harsh color/processing. I can't comment further without knowing the details, but it looks like a color negative. I believe that this also negated the focal point and softened the fly.

I think your method of presentation kept the score low, but I'm quite impressed with the uniformity of the image in conveying death. You did that quite well, and probably had no chance at a high finish! ;) Take a look at the top end of the challenge and you will see creamy smooth bokeh with pleasant colors. That's what your fly was compared to in the context of the challenge. I scored this a 5 during voting for all the reasons stated above.

Thanks for your submission to the Critique Club.

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

-BS

I'll Toast you!
by Ragnav

Comment:
Critique Club

Welcome to to DPC, and congrats on your first entry. Good news is that it's all uphill from here! ;) I know it's a rough way to start, but as you stated...live and learn.

First off, the composition is stagnant. Center composition photographs are tough, and usually are served well by symmetry. This book is outstanding, and I've recommended it to a few friends. It's a great read, you will grow as photog just by reading and practicing the techniques of composition he discusses. The information is not unique, rather, it is presented very well.

The lighting is lacking given the multiple shades of white to gray in the background. Taking care to smooth foreground helps as well. Sticking a strobe/flash behind the backdrop will often create a nice white background.

Focus and depth of field. I suspect the point of focus is the front of the toaster. This is fine, but I think a deeper depth of field would improve the subject by bring more toaster in to focus. The small file size may or may not be playing a role here, I don't honestly know. An aperture of f/11 would have worked well here for the subject. However, without a lot of light, your ISO would have been quite high, and this may affect the image quality. I'm guessing you used a tripod given the shutter speed.

Finally the post processing. You have significant artifact around the tape. What steps did you use to process this image? It looks like you used a mask or extensive shadow/highlight adjustments.

Again, congrats on the first entry! I hope you stick around and continue to enter challenges.

summer rain
by roz

Comment:
Well done Roz. I love the droplet "hat" ;)

Formal Portrait of Mr. ZacharyToad (for his Wife and Kids)
by Lydia

Comment:
LOL!!!!

No Joy Boy
by Art Roflmao

Comment:
Classic face! I love it.

Expert Editing
by posthumous

Comment:
This one of my favorites. Bumping to 9

.... is You !
by hesitant

Comment:
You just want a new lens! ;)

A White Christmas
by acoppola

Comment:
Wonderful. Love the selective color. I would have liked to see the color in the windows as well, but it is enjoyable as is. Well done.

A Full Frame Nikon
by WalesP

Comment:
Glad I did not do this for a 5DmkII! I like the placement of the camera, but I would like to see more detail in the body, needs more DOF IMO.

All I Want for Christmas are Real Lights
by GreatJobBob

Comment:
Merry Christmas! www.alienbees.com