The Solitary King
by Alex_Petrini

Comment:
Absolutely gorgeous! I love the warm yellows and cool whites. I really want to go visit that little spot of land back behind the tree. I'm convinced that fairies live there.

Falling
by hsteg

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

The challenge was a free study so your entry was definitely on point. ;) I love the creativity shown here. My eye was drawn straight to that weird shadow and it definitely looks like a falling person. Nice use of leading lines to bring attention to the shadow. I also like that your live person is looking in the direction of the shadow ... although if someone was falling maybe he'd actually be looking the other way? But I digress. The geometric, repeated patterns bring interest and height to the picture that add to your "falling" concept. The colors and tone convey a touch of sadness and mystery that works well with your theme.

I do wish the man's face was more clear and that he had some sort of emotion showing (shock, sadness). I agree with previous comments regarding a need for context. I have to wonder what that blob the falling person is about to smack into actually is. Of course making the viewer think and look harder at an image is a tricky job. One that you accomplished quite well here.

innocence • purity • beauty • cheerfulness
by Ja-9

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

You absolutely captured the essence of the Sherpet Tribute. (As reinforced by that shiny new yellow ribbon. Congrats!!) The colors are vivid and the details of the flower are a mix of sharpness and softness that add depth and wonder to the image. I'm torn about the minimal contrast between the flower and the background. On one hand it creates a seamless image where the flower tends to melt right into it's surroundings. On the other I would love to see more of those beautiful petals. But that's just me. Your submission is gorgeous and aptly named, as others have mentioned in their comments. You've said so much with a simple flower and wealth of vibrant color.

Hey humans! We are doing our part, how about you?
by Chris_Ang

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

What a wonderful image for an earth-friendly challenge. You've got green representing the environment, insects that play a huge role, and collaboration in getting the work done. It's no surprise to me at all that this image received a ribbon.

The details on the bugs are sharp and I love how the colors work together to soften the overall feel of the scene. The ribbon-like waves of the leaf add depth and interest. As I stare at the scene I can almost hear two co-workers bickering back and forth over the idiot humans who are always disrupting their progress by trying to step on them. Beautiful!

Making 'em Gold
by sns

Comment:
Very clever!

Christmas Abyss
by jerowe

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Challenge: Black and white? Yep! Abstract? Yes. I recognized the railings as such but it took me a bit to figure out the boxes. I guess the holidays are well and truly over in my mind. Voting landed you about middle of the pack ... probably as the railings and boxes are a little too recognizable for a true abstract.

Image: I love how the railings are not square in the composition. The extra angles add interest and increase the abstract nature. The support beams, along with the dangling boxes help to add depth and draw the eye. My favorite piece is that there is nothing at the end of the line. Just a rectangular abyss (as you aptly named it) that allows the viewer to imagine what might be found in its depths. Details and contrasts are very nice. The depth you captured, as the railings fade away into darkness, is terrific.

In terms of constructive feedback ... You have a bit of a blow out (hot spot) on the left of the image. This may have messed with your ability to get a bit more white in the mix. The intensity of that area tends to capture attention though so something to watch out for in the future. All in all ... very creative!

Street Architecture
by Pangurban

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

First things first ... I'm glad you did eventually get that beer. :)

Theme: In terms or architecture, your image definitely covers a lot of bases. From steel girders to the crumbling brick you've captured the mix of old and new. That being said this is a tough picture to compete with the classic shots of buildings and bridges submitted in this challenge.

Image: I love the earthy colors of this image and how you've shown the steel supports holding up the older failing walls of the previous age. The bits of green popping out add contrast and the soccer players at the end draw the eye. You've framed them perfectly between the supports and the depth creates interest. Lots of detail shown in the textures of the various materials and the neglect of the chair offsets the life in the children.

All in all this is a great image and I am struggling to offer constructive feedback. Forced to pick something I would say its possibly a bit busy (there is a lot going on) but again I like it so ...

World's Fair 74'
by MWallitner

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Congratulations on taking the leap and submitting your first entry. I've learned A LOT (directly and indirectly) from the folks on this site and I am confident you will too.

Theme: My first reaction is that the steel and structural elements do fit with an architectural theme. The competition seemed to focus more on whole structures so this piece of your entry's history may have been overlooked by the voters.

Image: The color and contrast of your image are quite nice. You used leading lines to help draw attention but there isn't a focal point at the end/top of the supports to draw and capture the viewer's attention. I wish some piece of the canvas you mentioned was fluttering in the breeze at top for me to focus on. There are a lot of lines and shapes happening in the top third of the picture and without your comments I would have been completely in the dark as to the subject. (I thought maybe roller coaster at first glance.) This entry may have benefited from pulling back a bit to allow us to see more of the structure; some bit of context that would enable us to understand.

Your focus is good, the lines are crisp, and you can see the texture and details of the rust. Don't let your score discourage you ... this was a tough challenge for a first timer. Some of the photogs on this site have access to some truly amazing scenery (as I am sure you've seen). I look forward to seeing your next entry. Keep clicking and learning!
~Cia

Golden Peaks
by docjonny

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

What to say regarding a Blue Ribbon entry ... Congratulations!! Clearly everyone agrees that you isolated your subject and used great contrast to show it in its best light (quite literally). Getting up early is hard but I'm very glad you did so that we could see this beautiful vista. I love the transition of day and night captured in such rich colors. I even like that the peak is centered in the composition. I know some folks frown on that but this just works.

Congratulations again on the little blue Christmas present. You've earned it and encouraged me to make plans for early Saturday morning with my camera. ;)

"There's a great future in plastics." ~ The Graduate (1967)
by Luciemac

Comment:
You managed to make something so small look very big. Appropriate for this challenge given the large impact plastics are having (both good and bad).