Swanning Around
by AlexSaberi

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Well balanced photo. The foreground is nicely colored and out of focus. While the bird is in sharp detail and toned well. I like the wide aspect of the photo.

The background is nice and does not compete with the main subject. The reed on the right wrap around over the head of the main swan nicely.

I am not sure why the submission did not do a little better. Probrably just over saturation of swan's in the challenge in general but I could find nothing wrong with your shot.

The Sleeping Beauty
by purelandstudent

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Highly detail capture. Cropping might have been to tight. Would have liked to see more of the bird but it is always not possible with the original file.

The background is a bit distracting in the sense their is green which compliments the whites and pinks but then the other bird just add's the same colors again.

Definately on the right track. And an overall nice shot.

81/18
by Tranquil

Comment:
Wow looks very abstract. Cool technique. I could never do anything like that. Makes the viewer look deeper into the photo. Searching for anything that they can resemble. I found an eye in the top right corner...I could stare at this for a long time.

Water silk
by arpita

Comment:
Very luquidly, almost like paint running off a canvas. Makes the viewer try and figure out what the actual image the water is reflecting. Nice angle.....not to much over top of the water yes enough tilt to bring the water into play with the reflection.

Alone_029 copy.jpg
by KaDi

Comment:
I find this to be very exciting. Almnost as if you do not know where the water starts and stops and what is reflecting from where. But alone in the middle is just a frog. The business of the background frames the frog for me. Like most of us the business in our lives and sometimes we are all alone.

Why you taking my photo? Did I say you could take my photo?
by Donaldo

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Very strking pose, the smoothness of the front/wings makes it looks fake in some way. But not in a negative way. I like the framing of the bird on the right. Enough room between the side and the bird and then space to the right.

Very high quality photo. Nice color and brightness. Nothing to overpowering. Only thing I personally find a little distracting is the background. It goes from dark to light. Some may like it but I had to really search for something I did not like about this photo.

I think it is a great capture and not sure why it did not place higher.

White on Blue
by reemas

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Very classic looking photo of a swan. To me for being as close as the subject seems to be the lack of detail. Their are some nice details in the neck/head but none in the eye beak area. The bird is pretty white on the tail end and that may not make for very much detail.

The water is nicely colored without being harsh or to busy. I would have preferred the photo to be cropped with more room on the right and more of the reflection.

The bird has the right size to fill the frame. And still draws the viewers attention.

Mikisi
by Coley

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Very striking image. Very nicely detailed, well put together. Fills the frame nicely and the background does not compete with the subject. The background does has a weir horizontal line but I am sure you could not change it.

Very nice expression on the face/eyes/beak. I do find their to be some noise on the entire image. Nothing that hurt it because I personally do not mind it on the entire image. it does give the image a nostalgic look and feel to it.

who put that boulder there?
by Donald

Comment:
From the Critique Club

I think either a closer zoom or closer crop would have worked better. Being darker colored birds on pretty dark water they tend to be hidden.

The left tree leaves are a bit distracting. The coloring seems find for what colors are present but the lack of any detail overall hurts the image.

The framing to be is a bit off as well. The leaves on open side then the birds then the boulder. It does draw the viewers eye right across all of that in a diagonal line. But the birds get overlooked.

Extinct in the Wild
by flip89

Comment:
From the Critique Club

Right off the image seems a little soft on focus. I do find the image very well put together beides that. Proportions are well balanced.

Their is a but of a blurry highlight(for a lack of a better word) on the background right in front of the birds beak. I think the colors need a little pop but with added detail of it being slightly more in focus it could have solved the problem.

The lighting seems to be behind the bird and on the right. The side you photographed just does not pick up any of the light besides the crown of his head.