All I Want....Is A Friend
by Piratefx07

Comment:
Good idea and pose. Composition is weak, as is the lighting.

A Room With a View
by Blackbox

Comment:
Great composition. Looks like a HDR or heavy S/H image. The wall is surprisingly soft, and I'm guessing that is from the HDR or S/H processing. Either way, without the peeping, this is a wonderful photograph with a strong composition IMO.

Santa's Cookie Collection
by GeneralE

Comment:
Too much noise.

What I really want is a DPC Ribbon - could this be it?
by scooter88

Comment:
Wow! Fantastic detail. I love the negative space in the lower half. Strong entry for BokehV as well. This has the flavor of Roz, no pun intended, although I suspect that this is not her shot given the crop/magnification. Excellent.

Stress
by obgynluke

Comment:
Interesting take. I definitely connect with this photograph. The white balance appears be off, and I think you would have been better served with a smaller aperture for DOF. A second light would help with the shadows. The towel should have cropped out, or not used. It takes away from the photograph. I really like the emotion and tension you have created.

The mask
by Rino63

Comment:
Critique Club

Thanks for your request. This is a tough shot to critique, as abstracts tend to be open to interpretation. I still have no idea what this shot is trying to convey! Hopefully after this comment you will post more context in your details. The simplicity of the composition is a strength, but for the moment, I don't understand the use of the sky, and that drags down my enjoyment of the photograph. I disagree with the comments below about the lighting. Yes, fill flash is demonstrated and evident, but it seems a bit too much, as contrast is lacking. Finally, the focus is good. Overall interesting shot, I hope you post more details. If you do, please PM me.

Cheers!

-BS

Before and aftermashed
by snaffles

Comment:
Critique Club

Hello, thanks for submitting your image. First, off I think the subject clearly meets the challenge topic, and it is easily understood. In your details you mentioned difficulty getting "everything" in to focus. The main dish is clearly the focal point, and there is a subtle blurring of the surrounding dishes in the back but not in the right third. I happen to like this, but if the goal was to have everything sharp, then a smaller aperture would have helped. Areas of improvement...lighting. As mentioned below, I agree that the white balance is off, as it appears to have a heavy yellow cast which is easily fixed in post. Overall, I like the composition and perspective. Looks delicious!

Cheers!

BS

Urban sunset
by skari

Comment:
Critique Club

Ironic that your image came up for me. I was conflicted about the processing. I absolutely love the composition despite the horizon bisecting the head of the duck. It is a bit top heavy in that my eye goes directly to the sun then to the duck's face, and then right back to the sun. Overall I think that works in this image as the sun and face are separated by an interesting middle third with the various water birds.

Although post processing is part of the art, and is open to interpretation, I believe that you went too far with the noise ninja. The main duck and the ground look fake, and as suggested in a comment below, cartoonish. If it is not via noise ninja, then you left a step out of your details. Maybe it is from curves. Now, on to a more objective critique, there is a very prominent halo around the duck. This is a sign of over processing or less proficient processing. It is suggestive of heavy shadow/highlight manipulation or poor masking, etc.

I happen to think that you have a spectacular photograph here, and it would have scored much higher with improved or less heavy handed processing. If you are willing, I would love to see the original photograph.

Congrats on your high score and finish.

Midday sun -13:26 (pm)
by Glanni

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club.

I think you did well with the light at hand. I love the color and glow in the background trees. Based on your chosen composition, these particular trees appear to be the subject. Therefore, they should be more in focus, I get a sense that that the focus is a bit off, but this may be a consequence of the snow. I suspect that that this was taken hand held given the aperture of f/4.5 at ISO 100 and shutter of 1/320. A tripod would help tremendously if it was not used. Detail in your chosen subject may be enhanced by a smaller aperture and greater depth of field. I happen to like the composition as you have chosen with the exception of a slight tilt down towards the right. The color in the sky is subtle but effective; I really like the sky in this image.

With respect to the challenge, I believe you shot yourself in the foot with the title! The title confessed that this was not a sunset or sunrise. Furthermore, IMO, the expectation was for a photograph that directly involved a sunrise or sunset. This definitely affected your score, and is reflected in the in-voting comments. Without the title, it may have finished higher.

Thank you for submitting your photograph.

Cheers!

BS

"Take Me to Your Leader"
by Lydia

Comment:
Funny, but just not enough DOF. Back for more, I think I'm being fooled by the texture or shape of the back with regards to the DOF. I like it that the frog is ignoring the cable, probably getting ready to resist all forms of interrogation.