The Dragon Boat Racers Come To South Haven Again
by Drake

Comment:
It's a shame that big white boat is in the background. It kind of detracts from what is otherwise an interesting scene. I would suggest a rephrasing of the headline, "Dragon Boat Racers Return To South Haven".
The subject has relevence as a human interest or weekend section story.

U.S. recession forces trucking industry to slow
by ChasSourek

Comment:
This photo is far too abstract to be good photojournalism. In journalism, the emphasis is on clarity and informing a wide public. I just have to take your word for it that this photograph somehow involves trucks. I can't tell what it is.

Immigrants' rights: A forgotten agenda
by ramevi

Comment:
I would rephrase the headline, "Migrant Worker Rights: A forgotten Agenda?"
A headline needs to be very direct and to the point. There are many kinds of immigrants and some are treated better than others. I have to assume this is a migrant worker because of your headline.

I added the question mark because unless this is an editorial, there needs to be some objectivity. It is debatable that the rights of immigrants (or migrant workers) is a forgotten agenda. Journalism should not state opinion as fact.

This is a really nice photo but it has more of a travel feel to me. There isn't any real conflict evident. It just shows a man doing his job. He looks healthy and decently clothed so I'm not convinced he is suffering injustice. I'm not suggesting he isn't--I'm just stating as an objective observer, given no other context, this photo doesn't indicate that he isn't well-paid for his efforts. His load looks heavy but that doesn't really indicate much about the working conditions. If he were a small child, or a frail elderly person I would be more concerned that questionable ethics were involved.

Leaving the challenge for a moment, I think there isn't much wrong with this photo. I would like it much better in color. The vibrant colors of the peppers against the pale basket, the green fields, and his warm brown skin would make this much more captivating.

Elderly folk have computer lessons.
by chookie

Comment:
The subject has a human interest slant that has potential relevence to a wider audience. The title could be improved. Something like, "Library Offers Computer Training for the Elderly". An editor would not use the term 'folk' in a headline or refer to computer training as 'lessons'.

Unfortunately, even with a title improvement, this really just looks like a snapshot of someone's grandma taken in a home office. It would be nice if we could see the other person and not just the back of her head. Since the viewer is effectively looking over the shoulder of grandma, the main focus winds up being on the computer monitor which is out of focus. A better approach might be to shoot from behind the computer (we all know what a desktop looks like) and show the faces of the people since they are the interest of a human interest story.

Juneteenth Parade is Success
by kposey

Comment:
had to look up Juneteenth, I'm sorry to say because I had never heard of it before. Perhaps your headline should have read, "Juneteenth Parade Celebrates 142 Years of Emmancipation" or something less subjective. How does one qualify the success of a parade? One would think it would be the number of onlookers attend.

There isn't anything about this photo that indicates the parade was anything more than this one float. If I saw a crowd watching more then one float, I would be more convinced by this photo. As it is, the people who live in that house apparently couldn't be bothered. Each year in Rhode Island, the town of Bristol hosts the oldest and one of the largest 4th of July parades in the U.S. The sidewalk, yards, and porches of the houses along the parade route are crammed with onlookers.
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The shot is a bit underexposed. Not one of the girls faces is clearly visible. Since there is nothing else of interest to look at in the photo this is a major technical problem.

Toxic Haze Blankets City; Stay Indoors, Mayor Warns
by flip89

Comment:
Your headline is a bit awkward, although relevent. I would suggest, Mayor Warns Stay Indoors as Toxic Haze Blankets City. Or simply, Residents Warned to Stay Indoors...

But on to the photo...It works pretty well as photojournalism. It is a bit underexposed in the foreground. I realize you were shooting under less than ideal conditions. Perhaps a tripod and a longer exposure?

Recent rain poses problem for boathouse.
by daneagleton

Comment:
Your headline isn't great (to understated and cutesy for photojournalism) but the picture works well. The subject has relevence and captures a timely event, yet it is also an interesting composition. A human element might add a bit more immediacy to the event.

Shakes With No Quakes
by soheil

Comment:
Your headline doesn't jibe with the photo which indicates quite a bit of destruction. It is a bit obscure for photojournalism which requires clarity and immediacy for impact. This looks a bit soft focus to me. It is an interesting subject but needs a better headline. I feel kind of neutral about the composition. It records the destruction of this building but not in a way that draws me in for very long.

Local man found dead after hit-and-run
by animes2k

Comment:
I'm sceptical that I would ever see a shot like this in an American newspaper. The headline, yes.

Perhaps this isn't for an American paper?
I truly hope this is a set-up and you aren't exploiting an actual tragedy for the sake of a contest. I realize this is a photojournalism challenge but some boundaries shouldn't be crossed.

On to the critique. The composition is odd. I'm not sure why the subjects are posing for you this way. One is apparently a cop (what is he holding up?) but the other guy is pretty random. Is he the one who found the body? If this were real, why would these people agree to pose like this, as if you asked them to say cheese, with a corpse lying 10 feet away? At any rate, they are out of focus. My biggest question is, what is the function of all those numbers?

Reaching for the Win
by eswik

Comment:
I'm not sure about your headline but I don't read sports sections or magazines so I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. At any rate, this works as photojournalism well enough your headline isn't a big deal.

This is a really good, clean capture of the decisive moment (particularly if she did win). The fierce expression of concentration, the strain showing in the arms, the motion blur of the ball very effectively portray the moment. There is a nice crisp definition between the subject and the simple, dark background. Good work!