From hopeful to hungry
by electina

Comment by briantammy:
i don't get this

From hopeful to hungry
by electina

Comment by psart:
Different but makes a point. psart

Bike
by electina

Comment by dr rick:
Greetings from the Critique Club

An interesting subject with enough symmetry to meet the challenge, and enough asymmetry to be interesting. The centered composition has the intended effect of emphasizing the symmetry.

Technically, there are good points and bad points. Focus is OK, as are levels and contrast. Colors are realistic. But the horizon isn't level and it's overexposed (burning out a lot of the sky) and oversharpened (putting halos around some of the edges). You didn't mention sharpening as one of your steps; but Neat Image has this feature as well as noise reduction. (And an SLR at ISO 100 should not have had significant noise; I'm not sure why Neat Image would be needed at all.)

But the focal point of this photo, where at least my attention is repeatedly drawn to, is the box in the background. I can see why you want to get rid of it! But without the box, there isn't a real focal point; the viewer's eye still tends to see right through the bike and focus on the background. Part of the problem is that the bike is mostly a silhouette, so it's like looking through a fence or something that we do everyday without thinking about it; that's just how our eyes and brains work. But the distraction of the bright white sky is also a factor.

Three suggestions for improvement. First, crop off the top third or so of the photo, eliminating the white part of the sky. Second, convert to black and white so the colors of the background aren't so attractive. (The bike is pretty much black and white anyway.) Third, shoot this from a lower angle. That's not something you can change on this photo, but putting the chain guard closer to the ocean would help focus attention on the bike.

Beach cruiser
by electina

Comment by rosiehall:
Hi from the critique club
I am not sure what you are trying to say with this shot. Is the focal point the tandem or the totally deserted beach?
I think your intention was to lead the viewer into the shot with the path, with the tandem being your focal point. The idea is good but the tandem is just too far away to create interest.
The sky looks a little contrasty and I wonder if you had used the selection too to select the beach/sea before adjusting the contrast that it would have left better definition to the sky
I think that changing you position would improve this shot, get closer and lower to the ground to give the shot depth and perspective. You may need to adjust the aperture depending on how you want the beach to feature within the composition. I do think that the sea seems very flat, getting low may only leave a very thin line of sea. What is really needed is to get high, but you probably do not keep a 10ft step ladder in you kit bag.
You mention that the shot was taken at dawn so make use of side light maybe angle the bike to make use of shadow. Turn the wheel into the path so that the wheel also leads the viewer further into the shot.
If I have miss judged your intentions please feel free to email and I will gladly take another look.
Above all experiments and go with your own feelings. It is originality that gets noticed.
I hope you find this critique useful and I wish you good luck in future challenge entries
Regards Rosie

Bike
by electina

Comment by eamurdock:
They sure hate the wonky horizons around here... ;)

Don't sweat it. It's a great picture, and, in my opinion, deserved to do better.

Beach cruiser
by electina

Comment by sevilduvarci:
i like the composition.

Bike
by electina

Comment by eamurdock:
Beautiful colors and subject. Really great. You're going to be hammered for the non-level horizon, but otherwise it's really well done. I'd be interested to know more about how you achieved the sky effect.

Beach cruiser
by electina

Comment by krnodil:
Very zen - I like it.

Bike
by electina

Comment by d56ranger:
the horizon is a little out of whack

Beach cruiser
by electina

Comment by codfish:
nice shot, i would have like to see the bike closer to the top of the photo (rule of thirds) rather than the middle.