I love you.......
by Neuferland

Comment:
Hello and greetings from the Critique Club!

This is a fine portrait of this lovely dog. You have chosen a close up and unique point of view, which grabs our attention quite nicely. The depth of field chosen works nicely to bring all the attention right to the dog.

The background is a bit bright, but that doesn't bother me so much as it looks like it bothered a few other commenters. I think the reason for the low score is the fact that there's so much color in the photo, when most perceived that the challenge was to take a b/w photo, but in color mode.

To improve the photo, you might try leaving just a bit more room in front of the dog's nose, so it has room to "go" somewhere. Though this is a unique point of view, depending on your objective, you might select one that creates more mood: is endearing, perhaps, or makes the dog seem friendly, sad, vicious, or some other very clear or very perplexing emotion. This is quite a neutral expression, and so doesn't inspire me to think about it much.

Think also of light when shooting, for the more interesting and moody the light is (happy, sad, mysterious, etc.), the more our interest will increase.

So nice work! Keep on shootin'!

David

Hidden Daisies
by sacredspirit

Comment:
This is a clever idea, and well executed. Not only is this original, the textures and simple shapes really work well. 8

Finished
by rjkstesch

Comment:
I really love simple and evocative images like this. This still life is very rich in tones and textures. Its composition does indeed evoke a peaceful feeling. 8

Unfolding LIfe.
by docpjv

Comment:
Focus is spot on here. I also like how you've positioned the center of the succulent. The radiating petals are restful.

Countryside
by marbo

Comment:
Man, I gotta get me an IR filter. This is a fun effect. The tones turned out so nicely here. I like the placement of the tree and horizon here.

Absolute stillness
by json

Comment:
This is a lovely scene. Have you tried b/w? It stands to really shout in duotone. Nice work.

Balance
by aberration

Comment:
Nice work! I like the composition here with the rocks off center. The background is inviting and peaceful.

oliva olio linguina
by PurpleFire

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

This is a fun image, and I think it's pretty effective in trying to "taste" a bit abstract. I like the strong light from the left, which implied a negative space and endows by its overexposure in places the noodles with some special-ness. The fork is also well placed in the frame, on a third, and there is some negative space at lower right that helps to take my mind beyond the photo to think of profound things.

This is a high key photo, and a duotone. The high key does help sell the product, but the duotone, while creating some interesting lines and textures for the abstract food challenge, does little to make the noodles appetizing (of course, that was not your aim here).

The depth of field is well used, though you could even open the lens wider if you wanted to create more blur, and add more negative space--and hence more thought--to the photo.

All in all, this is a nice shot. Congratulations!

David

Screwing down the color
by russi

Comment:
Howdy and greetings from the Critique Club!

This is a bright, vivid image that is simple and effective in its communication.

I imagine that this would have scored higher if it were more, well, abstract. But outside of that, it's a fine image.

The red apple is well placed in the frame, and you chose the colors well. I can also appreciate your lighting, which adds a bright, cheery glow to everything. The fruit looks appetizing to be sure!

It's an interesting concept to have a screw going into some fruit. To be even more clear, you might try using more familiar or "archetypal" tools, like a screwdriver instead of the bent screwing tool you have here.

The cropping is also good, since it implies that the scene goes on and on.

So nice work and it looks like a fun shot!

David

Frozen Delight
by KHolt

Comment:
Hello and greetings from the Critique Club!

This is an image full of colors and texture. It certainly is abstract, and I find it lovely and engaging.

I like how you've used various diagonals here, which give the photo some dynamism and increased interest. The colors also work well. The red in the middle is framed by the berries at upper left and corn (?) at left.

Your depth of field creates an area of sharpness right in the middle, then it slowly tapers off. It might be more evocative to decrease the depth of field by adding some more drastic blur. At F13, that's a small aperture, and it might be fun to experiment with a larger one. Often, blurry areas seem to help the mind go beyond the photo, as it were, and think of profound things....that's the thought behind it, anyway. In any case, your choice here isn't enthusiastic either way, so we have a sharp area and an area that's not sharp, but also not very blurry. Sorry to make a big deal out of this, but with no negative space to speak of, it would be nice to experiment to see if you can either create some negative space by adding blur, or make everything perfectly sharp. Starting to ramble. Sorry!

Your sharpening here shows some good skill, and this is a difficult photo to sharpen with all those white ice specks.

I also love the various shapes and textures here--it really is a good offering for an abstract with so much to look at and experience.

Nice work!

David Sidwell