I can see better with glasses
by edmeng

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

This was your entry in the Transparency II challenge and it fits the brief very well.

Technical:
Good use of maximum size allowed. Good DOF and focusing. None of the processing or sharpening seems overdone, although the arm of the glasses on the left of the photo seems a bit over bright. The centre of focus is the glasses and so is sharper than the child's eyes.

Composition:
A well composed image. The glasses divide the image 50/50 and I don't quite see the connection of the text with the child, unless it is the words highlighted. It is a clever move to include the child's eyes in the one frame of the glasses and it looks like the child is actually looking at you.

Overall:
Not the most original idea but it works. There are some nice touches, the focus is great as is DOF and it is not easy to get a clear shot of a page and through glasses. Nothing has been overdone in the processing stages and your score reflects the opinion of voters. I will watch your future entries. I hope this is helpful and constructive.

Steve

industrious
by ursula

Comment:
Stunning, atmospheric, grimy and busy! A worthy 3rd...I thought it would get 1st, it deserved to be Number One, and that Sigma lens rocks!

Steve

Colour Abandoned
by Coley

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

Colour Abandoned was your entry in the Transparency II challenge and it is one serious photo.

Technical:
Good use of the maximum permitted size, beautifully focused and good DOF. The desat works superbly and there is no sign of oversharpening, although there appears to be a hint of noise/grain in the frame, however this adds to the overall effect. I could be really picking and start inspecting ever detail, but I won't because the image stands as it is.

Composition:
I like the positioning, it is not quite central in that big square format which makes it feel even more quirky. The reflections in the glass look ghostly and fit the abandoned house very well. My only criticism is that the bottom of the window frame appears to be resting on the ground. I know it isn't, but that is the impression I get, due to the rising ground behind and the long grass. But it doesn't spoil the image in anyway.

Overall:
A stunning image with great imagination. I can't find any faults, other than my brief mention of the hanging bit, and that isn't a fault. Your past images are well scoring and this 7th place is well deserved. A great image for prints. Well Done and I hope this is helpful and constructive.

Steve

Paper wave
by aKiwi

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

Paper wave was your entry for the Delicate challenge, and I think you made the right choice moving this to Delicate instead of Light On White II.

Technical:
Excellent focusing and DOF. The lighting and cropping is superb. You have made good use of the maximum size allowed. The texture and shading of the paper against the white background works really well. I have just one comment of criticism and it is very minor. I wondered what the image would look like if the crop was not so tight at the top and showed the curve of the paper against the background.

Composition:
Superb! Nothing else I can say other than my last comment in technical about the crop.

Overall:
This would have creamed a Minimalism challenge. Judging by the scores I don't think a lot of voters really understood or took the time to study your image and so it scored far lower than it should have. It matches your other high scores but suffered unfairly during voting. A top 5 image, well done. I hope this brief critique is helpful and constructive. I would normally say more, but why should I? It is a winner in all but votes.

Steve

Vine of Lace
by lyta

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

Vine of Lace was your entry in the Delicate challenge and this meets the brief very well.

Technical:
The first thing I noticed when the image appeared was the branch at the bottom right of the image. It is shame this could not be cropped out, but that have meant losing the flowers/seeds at the bottom of the image. Your DOF drops off really quickly, suggesting that the main branch was coming towards your camera. There is noticeable noise/grain on the bottom left, which is unusual for ISO 100, I feel this is probably due to the amount of USM used as the fully in focus flowers/seeds at the top of the image are suffering from slight oversharpening. The lighting is very effective as is the light purple in the bottom right. Good use of portrait format and maximum size. Thanks for putting in your processing steps, makes life a lot easier.

Composition:
Using portrait format and maximum size really brings the image alive. The main subject is central in the shot and some viewers do not like this, but here it worked very well. I think you could have cropped tighter to lose the bottom branch, even at the expense of the lower flowers/seeds.

Overall:
The branch at the bottom is distracting probably cost a few tenths on points, still a good score though lower than some of your others. Just a little oversharpening which has introduced some noise/grain in the lower third of the image. A really good photo that suffered slightly from the already mentioned points. If you have time, try cropping and using less USM to see what the effects are like. Well done. I hope this is helpful and constructive.

Steve

Dew
by bamihoo

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

Dew was your entry to the Delicate challenge and it works quite well, though a closer shot of the droplets would have improved your score, but then is grass!

Technical:
As you have no processing steps included in your comments, I have to assume you used very little. Perhaps sharpening and curves. The image appears a little dark due to it being predominantly green. You managed a good DOF whilst using f2.8. The largest drop is the focusing point and the veins of the grass show quite nicely at this point. When entering a challenge or posting on DPC, please use the maximum size allowed 640x640, or 640 on the longest size. It looks as though you have used on-camera flash.

Composition:
Due to the nature of the subject, the background is a little messy. The focal point in central to the image and some do not like this format, placing the main subject off centre is more appealing to viewers.

Overall:
As previously stated, the messy, dark background fails to lift the image to its full potential. Try reshooting using a larger leafed plant, the results will be easily visible to you. Ensure you use maximum size for entries, your score will be better and your images will have greater impact. There are no major faults and with more experience of challenges you will develop an eye for those tiny things that can make or break an image. This image must have been close to what the viewers were seeking as the score is better than average for this size image. I hope this is helpful and constructive.

Steve

Guiding Light
by bbright

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

Guiding Light was your entry in the Light On White II challenge and you have met the challenge with an unusual image.

Technical:
AS you haven't shown your processing steps in your comments, I will have to try to guess your steps. You have made good use of the sizing allowed. Your choice of aperture has given a good DOF. There appears to be a hint of sharpening and use of curves. With so much white in your image, you have done well to avoid getting blown out areas.

Composition:
Using landscape format, you have placed your main subject to the right, upper corner of the image. This allows the background to encroach upon the main subject. The main distraction is the fence leading from the left bottom corner to the subject. Whilst some will complain about this, I think it helps guide the eye across the image. Without the fence, the shed would have looked too isolated in all the snowy scenery. I am glad you resisted the temptation to crop this image, that would have killed the shot.

Overall:
I did have reservations when I first saw this image, but after studying it, I see an unusual subject for the challenge. It works well, but some of the snow does have a slight grey tinge to it. The orange shutters by the door are dominant, but without them, and the light, the image would have had a bland feel. You don't say what lens you used, I would guess at the 18-55mm kit lens and it gives a nice open feel to the shot. Your score is a fair one, but lower than some of your other entries. I hope this helps and constructive.

Steve

A Bloom of Grace
by catn

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

A Bloom of Grace was your entry for the Delicate challenge and it fits well. It appears to be a Water Lily? no too sure though :)

Technical:
Focus is spot on and by using f2.8 you have obtained a shallow depth of field that produces a sunburst of petals as a background whilst bringing the centre into clear focus. I think there is a hint of sharpening. It is a useful tip to include your processing steps in your comments, these help other replicate your process and help when doing a critique as CC can follow your steps and understand more clear if there are things that need working on. A lot of voters do not like centred images, but this works in that format. You have wisely used maximum sizing to increase the impact. Perhaps, at another time, try using fill flash to open out the centre of the plant more.

Composition:
A central weighted format using a single flower as the focal point. The background is very natural, but the two green areas visible through the petals tend to pull the eye away at times. Very good overall.

Overall:
There are few things more delicate than a flower head. This is a very deceptive image as it has to be studied carefully to get the full impact. I have a feeling that you have a leaning towards Macro photography, a very rewarding genre to aim for, it is my favourite as well. Your score is about what I would have expected for the image and now you have the task of matching it the future. Over 5 is good and even if you drop below, use every challenge you enter as a lesson in your hobby/work/torture. I hope you didn't get your feet wet getting this shot! I hope this helps and is constructive.

Steve

Amanda
by casm

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

Amanda is your entry for the Delicate challenge and whilst being a portriat of a very attractive woman, I'm afraid it does not convey delicate to me.

Technical:
The backlighting is lovely on her windswept hair, but it does cast deep shadows at the nape of her neck and side of her face. I have looked for traces of fill flash, but see no highlights in her eye. The background is really distracting and messy, you must be careful to ensure your horizons are level with such a closely cropped portrait. Focusing is really good as is DOF. I don't know what processing steps you have used, perhaps a hint of USM/sharpening. Including processing details in your comments prove really helpful to others.

Composition:
Her pose is very good with her hair leading the viewer into the centre and to her face.

Overall:
A good effort and you are sure to get better with more practice.

Steve

Christina
by ajgardner

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club:

Christina was your entry for the Light On White II challenge and your image does fit, but would not be to everyones' taste for this challenge.

Technical:
By using a small aperture and high ISO you have introduced an amount of grain/noise into the image. Judging by this combination, I would guess you were handholding the camera. If you were using a tripod, you could have backed off on the ISO and produced a much crisper image. The use of a single lighting position has created a distinct cut off between the sides of your model's face leading to blown out detail on left and unflattering shadow around her nose and cheekbone. Sharpening has created artifacts on her hair. Cropping is extremely tight and brings the viewer's focus on to her lovely eyes.

Composition:
Nicely composed with maximum impact on model's eyes and the slightly downward tilt of her face makes for an interesting portrait, using landscape format.

Overall:
Your second challenge entry and not a failure by any stretch of the imagination. Being a new camera and eagerness to enter challenges mean we sometimes overlook faults that at any other time would be corrected. My technical comments may seem over critical but if I didn't comment on these things there would be little point doing a critique, this should give you tips, ideas and help for future images. On the matter of your score, I expect voters didn't like the contract between light and dark. I didn't vote on this challenge and I think your score was pretty fair. I hope you find this helpful and constructive.

Steve