Rainy Day Reminder
by originalsphoto

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I concur with all of the compliments below!

In this photo, I see a very close up of a rose, with all of its lovely colors and textures. The petals create interesting shadows for me and the water drops add even more complexity to this perceiveably simple subject. Your superb lighting brings out colors, textures and shadows quite well. I see in your photo a comunication, however deliberate or subliminal on your part, that beauty is all around us, even up close. I also infer a sense that nature can be lovely despite the weather. This is made even more effective by your close and from-the-side perspective. So your image works for me.

For improvement, you have a lot of comments to sharpen your focus, and it is true that doing this would enhance the loveliness and impact of the photo. Other than that, this is a really nice shot. It is amazing that focus would lower your score that much, but we're a persnickity group when it comes to that, I guess.

Good luck! I hope to see more of your work in the future!

David

Lookin through the Raindrops
by PHOTOCHlX

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I concur with all of the compliments below!

In this photo, I see first of all rain on the window, which is probably just what you want! The drops are in focus, but they do not prevent my eye from looking beyond to the landscape of the city. The cityscape is nice because it has a lot of interesting lines to keep my interest like the prevalent one going from the lower left almost up to the upper right. The staggered diagonal lines next to this main line is engaging, too. The rest of the image adds little details that keep the eye moving around, so it is an engaging picture. The whole image has a feeling of, well, scientific gloom(?): on the one hand, there is nothing there that really evokes any emotion, but the sky and rain do add a subtle sullen feel to the whole photo.

To improve the shot, take the emotion you wanted to convey and see if you can enhance that through drama: try different points of view--closer perhaps to the raindrops, or a steeper angle or ????. The drama could also increase, perhaps by different lighting, taking the picture later in the evening, for instance. This is not intended to be a "DRAMATIC" image, for sure, but the feeling that you are trying to communicate could probably be enhanced. One comment below suggested moviing closer to the rain drops, and this may be, perhaps, the best option to explore, especially considering your title.

You should feel pleased with this interesting image. Keep up the good work! I look forward to seeing your future images.

Thanks,

David

Uninvited
by sher

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I agree with all of the compliments below!

This is a fun image that is very clear in its communication. The mass of yellow candies and the solitary red one makes a nice juxtaposition that is clever and fun. The lighting, along with the use of the bowl, further indicate the clique nature of the yellow candies. In a way, the fact that that they are all kind of blurred together gives them even more of a group mentality in the photo. You've chosen a very dark background, which really makes the Lemonheads and the red candy stand out. While it's a dark world, the yellow candies seem to be having their own fun! The solitary red candy is still enshrouded in darkness. I also like the little glares of light coming from the candies. This harsh lighting was, I feel, a good choice.

To improve the shot, many of the comments below are worth exploring. The main thing I would suggest would be to sharpen the focus on all of the candies--especially the yellows. Though being muddled together does give them a groupish feel, I think that this feeling would be accomlished even if they were in sharp focus. Other things to try: a lighter background may give a happier, tongue-in-cheek feel to the image while still making your "lonely" point, and a wider cropping may make the image easier to look at and navigate with the eye.

Hey, nice work! I look foward to seeing more of your images in the future!

Thanks,

David

Taste the Rainbow...
by RiderGal

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

I concur with all of the compliments below!

This is a fun-filled photo with a lot of color and action to keep our interest. The dark background helps to set the candy apart, and also helps to add a bit of mystery to the photo. Using four bags of candy really worked here: I think the mass of candies at the bottom really help ground this image visually. The photo gives me a happy feeling, and makes me want to reach out and grab a handful! I love the falling Skittles. This sense of motion wakes the whole image up and makes it more than just a photo of candy; it makes it an action shot. The harsh light is effective, as it gives some little points of light that add depth and "magic' to the candies.

To improve the shot, my first suggestion would be to simply make sure something is in focus. The motion blur could work here, but I think it needs a counterpoint of focus to be really effective. Although I like the dark background, a lighter background might enhance the feeling of joy in the photo. I can see that you wanted the depth of the candies to be evident, but that lower section with the bowl or bag(?) does tend to distract ever so slightly. I think you could probably retain the feeling of depth if you cropped it; it's hard to tell and you'll have to explore.

In sum: this is a fun image, but not as fun as it appears it was to make it! A bit of focus would really enhance this photo.

Hey, keep up the good work! I look forward to seeing your work in the future.

David

Striking Resemblence
by inspzil

Comment:
Lovely Daffs. I like the two in pair here; they balance each other well. I kind of wish there were a bit more complex tones in the daffs themselves. Still, nice work!

Primavera
by mariomel

Comment:
INcredible focus, and the gradient lighting really makes this photo stand out as a little unusual. Nice work!

The Romantic Era
by Jean

Comment:
The droplets of water on the petals give these flowers an almost satinny look. The light adds a deep complexity to this otherwise simple image. Nice job.

Thistle
by DennisF

Comment:
Feeling Scottish today are we? Good. This is a bold photo. Just right to have the flower right inthe center with those dramatic lines radiating outward. Super work.

Tulip Times Two
by alanfreed

Comment:
Simple, but the lighting adds a complexity that makes this image really engaging!

Osteospermum ecklonis / South African Flora
by jjbeguin

Comment:
You celebrate the beauteous weirdness of these flowers well through your excellent cropping and composition and by setting them in front of a black backdrdop.