Flowers
by LKMote

Comment:
*Critique Club*

Hello Again. What really stands out to me in this shot is the focus and DOF. Very nice focus on the front flowers, fading into a DOF that not only provides something neat in the background, but also helps to prevent anything in the background from being distracting from the subject.
This is definately contrast. I'm thinking it might be on the border of being just contrast and high contrast though. There is enough bright areas in the background, to make the black seem like an afterthought, and the flowers themselves, while being white could definately be brighter to help add to the contrast. So while it's contrast, I think there is possibility to be higher contrast. If that makes sense.
I think someone else mentioned the placement of the flowers within the frame. They are a bit too centered for my taste as well. I'm thinking I'd like to see them maybe just a tad lower into the lower right corner and have a bit more of the background negative space showing toward the upper left area.
I think the black and white works well here.
~Heather~

On the way to different ends
by puzzled

Comment:
*Critique Club*

This is a neat looking shot. Definately not something I would see every day. Or ever in my life actually. Don't have bridges like that around here.
There are a couple things bugging me about this. The first has been mentioned, the glow around the lady. It seems that she's an odd color. Not really sure what caused this, so not really sure how to suggest fixing it. Not knowing your editing steps doesn't help either.
Focus and clarity seem really good. Nice crisp lines on the bridge.
The other thing bugging me is the placement of the two vertical beams. They are very close to being in the center of the photo, but slightly off. They aren't off enough to look like you meant for them to be off center, so it kind of looks like it was suposed to be in the center, but you goofed. I would like to see them further off center, thus creating a bit of interest and kind of extra space to one side or the other. Right now, it seems kind of bunched to both sides. If that makes any sense at all.
Love the coloring of the photo. While it definately doesn't look natural, it still looks really neat the way it is.
Overall a great capture of an interesting place.
~Heather~

Lotus Mood
by librodo

Comment:
*Critique Club*

Wow...not really sure what I can add that the 56 comments haven't already mentioned.
Definately high contrast. whites are white and blacks are black. Love the lighting on the background, I think it adds to the shot in my opinion.
The focus seems a tad soft, but with the feeling of the photo, I don't think that hurts this shot at all.
Her face seems blotchy. Not sure if this is editing, or lighting, or what, but seems to have some un uniform tones on her face.
Can't really see much of the flowers except the color part, but they do look good. I think maybe the whites there are a bit too white, but that's just my opinion. I'd like to see more detail in the flowers.
Overall an excellent image and not really much to improve on here.
Congrats on the placing! ~Heather~

WAITING
by Philos

Comment:
*Critique Club*

This is a very lovely image. The feeling and emotion in this photo is very high.
Focus and clarity are really good. Nice detail in the background and nice crispness of the model. The detail shown here is awesome.
The wrinkles in the skirt part bug me a bit though. Maybe a bit too much detail there. Wonder if they could be cloned out or if maybe ironing was just the better option.
Lighting seems to be wonderful. Lovely color throughout and no distracting shadows or hot spots.
I'm not sure if it's an editing glitch, or just something that is there, but on her left side (our right) right where her waist is, there's kind of a fuzzy white glow. Also down that same side of her skirt. Looks like it might have something to do with the background right there. Maybe the background bleeding into the forground and it's making a fuzzy combination.
I love the angle and framing/cropping. I like how the model is off to the side here. I don't think it would have nearly the same effect as if she were in the middle or the other side.
This is a really awesome photo and my only complaints are the white fuzzy glow to her left (our right) and the wrinkles. Otherwise, this would be perfect in my opinion. Congrats on a job well done.
~Heather~

Spinning Circles
by kyebosh

Comment:
*Critique Club*

I have studdied this shot over and over. Parts of my brain want to like parts of it, and parts of my brain don't want to like parts of it. I'm confued on weather or not I actually do like it.
Technically I believe it's pretty well done. Focus is crisp on parts of the photo, other parts aren't due to the motion blurr, but that was intentional obviously.
I think what's bothering me here is that most of the leg and shoe are see through but the end of the shoe doesn't have that same effect.
Also I think that the photo is rather flat in tones. There's no darks or lights. It's kind of all mid tones. I would like to see some contrast.
What I like really is the gear thingy. The center looks really neat and I could look at that for a long time and not be bored. There is a softness and a pattern there that draws my attention. Actually drawing it away from the shoe.
Background is great, nothing distracting there. Overall a good take on the challenge, but lacking something to really make it pop. Maybe that contrast?
~Heather~

Used
by sz1_

Comment:
*Critique Club*

I really like this. I'm not sure what it is about an old shoe that is so fascinating to me, but it is. *shrug*
I love the Contrast between the background and the shoe/leg. I think that the background is nicely out of focus and contains nothing distracting to the subject at all.
I'm wondering how this would have looked without the leg in the back? Seems that I'd like to see that as just a one leg kind of deal.
Lighting is great. White sky doesn't bother me at all in this image.
Focus and clarity are good as well. I like the detail in the shoe and the textures of the pants.
The subject matter is actually pleasing to look at. Really neat shot. Overall something to be proud of really.
~Heather~

Morning Trap
by LeeD

Comment:
*Critique Club*

While there is a spot to the center left that has both black and whites, the majority of the photo is similar in tones. I think that the main are of the photo is not quite high contrasty enough for the challenge. Really the only are of black is the left side of the tree line.
I think it's still a nice image. I like how it's seperated by the curve of the sand area. Textures are nice, although it seems to me that maybe focus is a tad soft, since there should be even more texture in the grass, however, it seems in spots to just be blending together.
Lighting seems to have been good for the shot, no horrid bright spots or distracting shadows.
Overall, not a whole lot to look at in the image, but somehow seems to still be interesting enough to look at.
~Heather~

Waiting For You
by mandyturner

Comment:
*Critique Club*

Very nice portrait. The eyes are just piercing. I think this is an excellent shot for the challenge. The lighting is really what makes the photo, obviously because of the darkness around the face and the way the light directs attention to the beautiful eyes. I'm really glad you didn't leave just the eyes in color. Lately, that's what we 'expect' of a photo similar to this, and I'm glad that this is all black and white.
Focus and clarity are excellent. Really great focus on the eyes and lips.
The skin seems a bit odd to the left of the photo and the tip of the nose. Seems to almost appear flat.
There is a necklace or shirt collar in the lower left of the image and that is a bit of a distraction.
Overall the image is great. I love how she looks like she's staring at something, but we can't really see what it is. Kind of like a 'there's something out there' image.
Congrats. ~Heather~

Reach
by Jutilda

Comment:
*Critique Club*

Well look who's photo I get. :) I saw this one during voting and really liked it. I'm not sure what really it is that I love about the shot, but I think it's the sheer simplicity of it all. Dark shirt and skirt and light background and skin. I think it really works for the challenge.
The pattern on the skirt is pleasing and I love how you placed the subject to the right of the photo leaving the negative space to the left. I think that works really well here.
The lighting is perfect for the shot as well as the challenge. I think that the darks are perfect, and the whites are also perfect. Great contrast and nice range.
Focus and clarity are also right where they should be for the feel of the image.
I like the vertical grain filter. I'm not usually a fan of filters, but this one is so subtle that it looks like it could have came right from the camera itself.
I really do like this. My only nit pick is that we can't see the other foot, so it almost looks like it's been cut off at the bottom, although one can assume that the foot is just covered by the skirt, it also doesn't look like she's standing on anything, so kind of hovering. Still an A+ image. Great job.
~Heather~

Dive 'N Lake
by Coley

Comment:
*Critique Club*

I try to guess before looking at the titles what the D and L are. I had guessed 'Duck and Launch', 'Dive and Lowered'. So I think you have a lot of D and L's in this pic. Great photo for the challenge.
You have captured a great moment. I personally like the DOF. Focus is perfect right where it is. In all the right spots. We don't need to see her feet in focus, so having just her 'diving half' in focus works great for me.
Color is also good. I like the way there is not much color in the shot, but her red bathing suit tie really stands out. gives us that tiny something to add extra interest to the shot.
I like the positioning of the subject even though she is directly in the center of the shot, she is kind of coming out of the left side of the photo, making it a left to right photo and we aren't looking directly at the center.
Nothing distracting about the background.
Lighting is excellent.
Overall a great shot, nothing that I can see that I'd really change here. Very pleasing image.
~Heather~