Stacked
by enmck

Comment:
Greeting from the Critique Club!

First of all my impressions.

Well done on your first entrie, a score of 5 isnt bad for a first score.

Nice close up, but the d.o.f is a little too shallow.

for an on camera flash it isnt bad lighting, not to harsh, but it could be a bit better without the shadows.

Silver wear always works well with bright and cool colours, such as blue, so good choice there.

Technical factors:

The composition of the image could be better, the eye draws you to the out of focus area of the image, because of the shape.
Also if you cropped the slightly dark part at the right, it would draw less attention to that area.

Focus, it could be more crisp, im guessing you where going for a really shallow dof look?
Although it would be much better if atleast all four prongs where in focus

The tones/white balance are perfect, not too blue, or yellow.

Also the border is too thick and ugly, which may not seem to have an affect but it does unfortunately, if you are going to have a border with bright colours white is usually better, but if you stick with black make it thinner than this, and as this is your first image, im not sure if you are thinking of going to give all your photos a border, only give an image a border if it isnt "framed" in the picture itself, and if the subject is sort of going of/near the edge of the photo like the forks.

Overall:

Its a well executed photo, decent lighting, nice d.o.f in my opinion, and good idea putting it on blue. i think the reason you didnt do better is becuase of the border, d.o.f (in others opinions) and because the subject and idea isnt too interesting.

Hope this helps, for future images, good luck!

Samir KASSIR, Born 1960 Assassinated 2005
by HighNooner

Comment:
Greeting from the Critique club!

Now, first impressions of this image, i'm not sure if i like it or not, im moving towards liking it, i see what your trying to do, leaving a busy background to show the statue in the environment, and making sure people know he is a public figure.

Technical aspects,

the lighting, is a ittle too harsh, but as your outside it's hard not to have, and the bright areas, are too blown out, and atrract way to much attention. I would have also liked to see the face of the statue more lit up, maybe this could of been done in post processing, using levels.

I think the blue/yellow tones are good, but give it an odd feeling, and also looks as if you have used topaz or something similar.

Composition of the image, i would rate 4/10 the image is too centred and in my opinion, if the building in the background where level it would look more pleasing (even though it would give your figues a tilt, which some people like) one good thing is the wall/line the model and the stature is on, it draws your eye from one side of the image to the other, making sure you dont miss any details

The "feeling"
the pose of the man, and statue together show that he was a good figure amoungst his population and he had supporters.

the mood it gives is slightly less appealing, the processing is gloomy and strange.

Overall, i think the low scoring was down to processing and composition, altough personally i like the tones and hdr/topaz etc type look, others obviously didnt.

To be, or not to be
by gyaban

Comment:
Told you you'd be getting a ribbon ahah.

Arrrghhh! stop being so dam good! ;-)

au naturel
by pointandshoot

Comment:
Fantastic, i bet we'll be seeing this in the posthumorous thread :D

Three-toed Woodpecker, male
by hahn23

Comment:
Not really a macro, no but a good close up, look at chriophe's in second place, not a macro a close up.

This should of done much much better IMO

monster
by blad

Comment:
This is brilliant....IMO it should of scored much higher, its one of those, odd yet amazing pictures.

ebb and flow
by leonedavis

Comment:
Really underrated :/ IMO i love this, good job on the focus, the colors are beautiful!

Snail Express
by gyaban

Comment:
Absolutely fantastic!

Nut Hut
by robinssong

Comment:
Knew this would win! its fantastic! well done :D

Airhead
by nico_blue

Comment:
This is currently on the front page of istockphoto :D