Silk Flower Rhythm
by chalice

Comment:
trading post

I'm not really sure what i'm looking at here... and this puts me off a little. I get that its mirrors, with a repeated reflection, but I still keep trying to figure out how the metal bars all fit in...lol I think it works compositionally, but I personally get distracted by trying to figure out what's what.

The rhythm of the repetition works well, but I get a kind of clinical feel from it, I think from the greens of the sheets, and the metal bars.

It is quite busy, I think it may work better with a lower angle, and cropping out the bars in the top half so that it is simpler, and the reflections recede further into the distance.

Every Day Rhythms
by tngrndream

Comment:
~trading post~

I think this would have made a much more interesting composition had you focussed on just a section, maybe a quarter of this view, to make it more of a study of the patterns & curves rather than a set of dinner 'things'. The lighting seems good, but could maybe do with a touch more contrast to bring out the colours, or maybe hue/sat.

The idea suits challenge fine, but I think the square-on centred format makes it a touch static.

Rainbow Rythm
by timfythetoo

Comment:
~trading post~

Congrats on the ribbon. This is one of those shots where you think "damn, I need those ideas let alone the ability to execute them well"
I didn't even notice the title was misspelt til you pointed it out, and the border doesn't really bother me.

I love how you've captured every texture in the 'q-tips' (pfft, americans :P) and got that sense of colour and movement.

The only things I'd hazard to suggest for improvement would be
1- grain in the sky. A perfect sky would have made this even more awesome. 2- A teensy bit of a lower crop at the bottom, just so that the purple drips don't touch the frame (yeah i'm fussy, but its hard to critique a ribboner lol)

Staccato stilled; bass line lingers
by Melethia

Comment:
trading post
This is a well-executed, clear, crisp image. I like how the the eye is drawn from the top left corner, right across the composition to the vanshing point halfway up the photo.
The converging lines are very effective, its very much helped by the empty rail in front of the train. I don;t know if you used a polarizer here, but if not then one could have really helped to bring out the clouds, which would echo the white graffiti which stands out a lot.
Everything is technically good, fwiw I don't think you used too much USM.
Meets the challenge well, and I like the title. The rhythm works in many ways, with the vertical lines along the trucks, the lines of the
sleepers along the track, and the converging lines bringing it all together.

Let sleeping bears lie...or else!
by Kelli

Comment:
~trading post~
As I'm sure everyone's pointed out, the background does hurt this entry - but you probably couldn't avoid it. He's got a great expression, meets challenge well (with a bit of license with the bears lol, but that doesn't bother me. The composition works fine for me, although possibly a little tight on the left hand side. (of course i don't know what was out there though)

I think this could do with a touch more contrast and a tiny bit of sharpening to make it less "zoo snapshot"-ey. When entering zoo shots you are in danger of people being turned off - imho you need a bit more 'punch' to make more of an impact.

Careful, I spit
by Kelli

Comment:
trading post

sorry, just realised I missed this one - thought I'd done you after your photojournalism.

I really like this one - very fun. Definitely deserved more than a 4.7 in my book.
The composition is perfect, and the timing/expression great. I think all it needs to really boost its score is some careful postprocessing - a touch more saturation, and Unsharp Mask.

Actually, I found the PP a lot harder than I imagined...here's my attempt, marginally different to yours. Made the most of advanced editing:

messed about with levels manually
darkened yellowy greens with hue/sat and eyedropper on trees, tweaked blue
selected camel, copy into new layer
adjusted levels a bit, upped saturation, applied USM (camel layer)
applied gaussian blur, 0.5px to background layer, darkened b/g layer with levels

Just my take on it, not saying its "better" or even "more dpc", just interesting to see how other people interpret the same image.

PS - interesting to notice, my PS elements gives a different result with auto-levels than what you had.

Message edited by author 2006-05-14 14:58:15.

'Til I'm Blue in the Face
by nards656

Comment:
~trading post~
The composition and format work well here, but the lighting doesn;t seem all that interesting imho. I definitely think you should have gone for all-blue, so it looked less haphazard and more comical.
But yeah, I think the lighting is the main thing that needs improvement - its just all very flat and this makes it more snapshot-ey.
Also, it could have benefitted from a deeper dof - the focus is fine, but narrow dof makes some features (eg eyes) soft.

The idea is great though, and if you had gone all blue I think it would have done much better. You beat your prediction though! lol

Actually, now I look at it more I'd personally suggest a slightly lower crop, so your chin isn't cut off.

Senior
by nards656

Comment:
~trading post~
Good lighting, but in the end its just 'a picture of a toy' to me (sorry!)
I find it hard to know what to suggest, because you've got the technicalities right, good focus, expoosure, clean backdrop... but it doesn't really 'say' anything.

No place to lie his weary head, but $5 richer this day.
by ericwoo

Comment:
~trading post~
I do think this should have done better. You've captured a great expression, in an appropriate environment. I guess had he looked more dishevelled it may have suited the theme better.
I like the format and composition - wall cutting image in half, but focus on face and feet at either end. The focus is spot-on, with good dof to give a recogniseable but not distracting background. The monochrome suits it well, but I think it could have done with slightly less saturation in the tone you chose. Mayeb it could have used a touch more contrast - the white point seems a bit 'dirty' rather than white.

Definitely a candid to keep - nice little story to accompany it too.

Kook sets fire to Coney Island
by Kelli

Comment:
~trading post~
Nice and quirky, definitely meets challenge fine, but I'd prefer to see him actually breathing fire, rather than just 'drinking' petrol.

Composition seems a little stifled. Exposure seems good overall but his face seems pretty blown-out. Colours are good.

Sorry, its hard to comment on this challenge. All I'd suggest to improve would be a less-centred composition, and a capture of some action.

Message edited by author 2006-05-09 11:34:01.