Buddha's head
by falvey

Comment:
I really lilke the off white flowers that add just a touch of peaceful whites to your shot. The Buddha seems to be the same tones as the tree.

Dreaming of Flight
by Malokata

Comment:
Very nice capture! The curving lines really accentuate the lines of the dancer. Well done.

Morning Coffee
by Mitonski

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

In this engaging image, I see two main objects: a coffee cup and a pencil holder with a few pencils in it. They are backlit, which puts emphasis on their sillouetted forms, creating an artistic interpretation of these objects rather than a straightforward candid shot of them. I think this was a good choice.

Though your title is "Morning Coffee," my eyes go right to the dramatic lines of the pencils, and they want to stay there because the basic shapes are so exciting, so pointy and with angled lines that create a sense of drama. Some of the comments below noted the lack of interest in the coffee cup, and this may be where the problem lies. It's not that the coffee cup is not interesting, it may be that the pencils are simply stealing focus from the coffee cup. Pesky pencils! Actually, the pencils show your skill at providing elements that do add drama in your photos!

I must also compliment you on your use of light to bring the attention to these shapes. Though I'd prefer, perhaps, a brighter background, I enjoy how we get a peek at some detail, even though the objects are mainly sillouettes.

In terms of composition, I suppose hindsight is always 20/20! If those pencils command so much attention so effectively (wonderful arrangement of the pencils, by the way), you might be able to use them to draw my eyes to places in the photo where I'm supposed to look. Perhaps rearranging the objects so that this happens might be fun to experiment with.

In terms of getting rid of the grain, here are some things you could try. First, don't sharpen until you are finished with the photo. Sharpening adds grain by adding complimentary color pixels to darker areas of the photo. It does not actually sharpen; it just gives you an illusion of sharpening. (I learned this in the sharpening tutorial). Your shot might have turned out better in terms of grain had you followed this order:

1. Convert to B/W right off the bat before you mess with levels or colors. I often use the contrast feature to provide slightly LESS contrast before I desaturate, then I get more even grays with less grain. You're right: the channel mixer is a good place to do this, especially with colorful images.

2. Manually adjust levels and contrast rather than use the autolevel feature. You can see the grain happen as light areas get darker.

3. Try going to Select Color... and select the whites and Neutrals and Blacks and fiddle with the Black level. This often gives me interesting results: darker darks, brighter whites.

4. When you're all done, save the image as a full sized image, then change the image size to DPC specifications.

5. Now use the Unsharp Mask feature.

6. Add any borders you want and Save for Web...

In sum, I find the photo engaging and well done. You have a fantastic sense for arranging things to be interesting and lively. It's always good to experiment with arrangements and point of view in a still life to get its best advantage.

I kind of rambled on here. Sorry! But I hope it's been slightly helpful. I always appreciate others' eyes with my own photos. I look forward to seeing your good work in the future! Good luck with the challenges.

David

Very Liquid Paper
by DougPaz

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I'm surprised this shot didn't do as well as it did. I think it shows an originality and cleverness to it that really makes it whimsical and a bit quirky.

The idea itself is great. The double visual pun works fantastically. I think you made the right choice in centering the subject, as it is not in your implication to suggest that the scene goes beyond, or that this part of any other world other than the world of the photo, which is what I feel happens when one uses the rule of thirds.

The lighting is nicely done, too. I like the many highlights and underwater textures you've managed to create. Your pont of view is just right, too. Straight on seems very important here, and I like how the bottle is tilted just a little.

Some folks below have mentioned focus, and I also feel that the shot would be enhanced with sharper focus on the bottle, even if only some of it ends up in focus because of the moving water patterns. I think t his would actually increase the sense of water here, and enhance the sense that the image was being distorted by the water. I'm not even sure that getting the bottle in focus is even possible.

Some mentioned that they'd like to see it a little brighter, and I think this is a taste issue. I don't mind darker shots, but it is certainly something that you may want to experiment with.

In sum, this is a fun, clever shot that made me chuckle, and I think you used most elements to your advantage here. Nice work!

Good luck in the challenges, and I look forward to seeing more of your excellent work in the future!

David

Rods of Steel
by agwright

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I concur with all of the positive comments below!

As has been mentioned many times below, it was a stroke of genius to single out that paper clip. Perhaps more genius, or at least as much, is your use and feel of randomness you created with the silver paper clips. Having gone through other shots in your portfolio, I think this is one of your great skills as a photographer: directing our eyes to where they should go.

The lighting is pretty straightforward, which works for this image very well, though it may be fun to experiment with more moody or interesting light, too. But this lighting seems appropriate.

Your composition is marvelous, too. Having the colored paper clip on a third suggests that this scene goes on and on outside the frame. It increases its isolation even more, which I find very effective.

Your point of view so close up is necessary and a good choice. Closer, and we wouldn't get the sense of isolation that you are trying to convey. Farther away, and it still would not be evident.

To improve the shot, I would experiment with the brightness of your whites in the photo. All of those paper clips would stand out more if your white background were really white and bright, I feel. I think that may improve the crispness of the shot too. Your title confuses me, slightly, as it does not refer to your communication much and to the subject of the photo very effectively. But these are small gripes. I'm glad this got a good score for it is a really nice shot.

I wish you all the best in future challenges and look forward to seeing more of your excellent work!

David

United States Navy
by Chiqui

Comment:
LIght seems just right, but the photo is very grainy, when I feel this subject should be quite clear. This happens to me when I adjust things too much after camera.

Hand on my heart
by Kavey

Comment:
Lighting is really nice here. I'm not sure what this says about you, but I do find the photo well composed and with many effective elements.

All the Guys See Anyway
by shareinnc

Comment:
Give some of us a break, anyway! Certainly a cynical view, which would be enhanced with some kind of "cynical" lighting, perhaps....still--clever shot, and appropriate point of view, of course!

Anger
by hawkida

Comment:
Nice emotive quality to this image. I like the tones a lot. Lighting to match your lovely expression might enhance the photo, perhaps. Nice work, though.

Almost Ashes
by sagestudio

Comment:
Perfect shot for this challenge. The ashes not only describe this tragic event, but also add mood to the image. The border, oddly enough, makes this seem like a work of art rather than the journalistic photography that is perhaps really is. Nice work!