Desert Sunrise
by pncowley

Comment:
The words in the center of this shot can be found on the DPCprints version of this shot at DPCprints

Salt Lake City Temple
by dsidwell

Comment:
Fantastic shot, David... very nicely done! I especially like the nice lines created by the angle you have shot from, particularly the spires. Also the rich, dramatic colors and the silhouette of Moroni.

Campfire at Night
by magnus

Comment:
Critique Club critique:

First, just some general comments. This would be a very tough subject to capture, and it definitely fits within the challenge. I have often done just as you mention in your comments-- sitting in front of a campfire and watching the flames and embers and the night sky.

That said, I'm not certain the inclusion of the moon (as the frame was exposed) necessarily benefits the shot. It is almost indistinguishable as the moon, and while there is some merit to including it in the shot, it detracts from what I see as the essence of your shot in the flames and embers of the fire itself... unless you were able to get the moon in focus and cleanly exposed. And I doubt that a title change would have significantly increased your score.

Technically, the shot is quite nicely done, particularly the length of exposure and the resulting ember trails. The color and exposure impart a nice, peaceful feeling to your shot, accentuating the theme of the challenge.

I hope my comments are helpful-- if you have any further questions or would like clarification on anything here, please let me know!

Paul.

Seeking Forgiveness
by dsidwell

Comment:
David,

I've been meaning to comment on your shot for a few days now... I just haven't found the right words! You have created a truly powerful, emotionally evocative shot here. FANTASTIC!!!

RightTurn
by Quadrajet

Comment:
Wow! 351 seconds is like... let's see... 5.9 minutes! Great shot, and something that would be great to try if I ever get a camera that I can hold the shutter open.

How did you reduce the noise in the shot? Obviously you've got a better camera than mine, but even at ISO 100, I would imagine there should be a significant amount of noise with a 6 minute exposure, especially in the sky areas.

Fall Pear Galette
by jas0420

Comment:
Critique Club critique--

I missed this one during the challenge voting, but would have given a score of 9 had I voted on it. In addition to looking absolutely mouth-watering, you have shot the subject quite nicely, in my opinion.

There were obviously a number of ways you could compose this shot, and no doubt you probably did that during your shoot. In any case, I find the composition you selected both unique and interesting, showing enough of the dessert while still leaving enough to my imagination to keep things interesting.

I think your choice of white balance to create a warmer tone worked very nicely to create a complementary atmosphere and overall improves the tone of the shot.

A couple of points for improvement, in my opinion, would be to:
1) Select a backdrop that is a bit less "busy", perhaps a solid color that complements your subject. While the colors and patterns in the tablecloth match nicely, there is enough going on that it detracts from your shot somewhat.
2) While the bright reflections on the dish work well to accentuate the shot, there is a small anomoly in the main reflection on the inner portion of the dish (at the 2 o'clock position) that I find distracting. My eye is drawn almost immediately to it.

Illinois Fields
by pitsaman

Comment:
I'm jealous! Absolutely fantastic shot! I especially like the overall subdued tones of the corn and trees against the sky and clouds. You have captured the scene well!

Greenbriar
by pitsaman

Comment:
Great use of negative space... and a beautiful shot!

Castle Hill
by BobsterLobster

Comment:
I love the rich colors and subdued tones. There is just so much of interest here... you have captured the scene well!

Monumental Sacrifices
by pncowley

Comment:
Thought I'd add a few comments about the comments after the fact...

No flash was used for the shot-- perhaps the levels adjustments were a tad harsh on the bronze figure, though.

Tried very hard to get the "K" in the shot, but was unable to with the camera without losing so much of the bronze figure that it took away from the shot more than losing the letter K.

Thanks for your comments and criticism of the shot!