Darkness over Liberty
by nico_blue

Comment:
*Critique Club*

'wow, thats a neat shot'
Really though, this is stunning. You know, there really isn't anything I would like to see differently here. I think you captured a moment beautifully. (even if it IS edited, I can feel this moment)
The color is perfect in my opinion. Focus and clarity are great. I love the softness of the clouds and the crispness of the silhouetted Liberty.
Having Liberty in the dead center of the photo was a concern for me, however, upon looking at it in depth, it's perfect. I wouldn't want to see it moved to either side or anywhere. I like it right where it is.
I love the large amount of sky you put in here. Works really well with the small amount of silhouette.
Again, there is nothing I'd like to see differently. Great shot. Would have gotten a 10 from me. Congrats on this beauty.
~Heather~

Dog & Leash
by LKMote

Comment:
*Critique Club*

I'm sitting here trying to figure why this didn't place higher than it did. I love it! Definate link to the challenge. Could be dark and light too...but Dog and Leash is just perfect!
Focus and clarity seem great to me. I love the textures we can make out in the dogs face. Oh what a cutie.
I think the part I really like the most is his eyes. They are dark, yet we can still see them very clearly. they give him such personality in this photo. Just kind of relaxin in the sun.
Speaking of sun, the light on the wall behind him gets a little bright toward the right side of the photo, and the shadow is a little bit distracting.
I love how the leash is sitting in front of him. Looks well placed and not sloppy, but not set up either.
I wonder how this would look if you straightened up the tilted horizontal line of the wall? Would it benefit the photo by straightening it up, or would it make the dog look crooked then? Hard call without seeing it, but maybe something to try.
~Heather~

Playing Dress up & Loving it
by twm122

Comment:
*Critique Club*

Without looking at the title I had guessed the D and L to be 'dressed up and lovely', so I was almost right and you got a message across. Excellent photo for the challenge in my opinion.
She is such a lovely girl too. Congrats!
The lighting on her skin does seem a little harsh. Hot spots on her left (our right) arm. She appears to have beautiful colored skin, but it seems a tad yellowish on her face and left arm from the lighting.
Focus is good. I like how her eyes stand out. I would like to see more distinction between the dress and the background. Not sure if some back lighting might help this? Maybe would also give her some light coming through her hair so that we could better see that from the background. See how it looks like she almost doesn't have hair cause it blends in so well? I think placing a light behind her pointing toward her back might help. Careful though that that doesn't light up the background. May be harder than it sounds.
~Heather~

Despair & Loneliness
by glad2badad

Comment:
*Critique Club*

Add me to the list that doesn't like the red tones of the image. I think this is really my only complaint about the image as a whole. It's a personaly preference really, some will love it, others wont.
By looking at just the photo without the title, I wasn't able to guess the D and L. I had guessed Dark and Light.
Now, the image itself is great! (setting aside the red) Focus and clarity are really great. I love the textures of the window. The specks of dirtiness really do contrast the girl and it works.
The angle and framing/cropping are good too. I like how she is to the right of the photo staring out the left of the photo with the neg space being the window it works really well.
Light coming from the window is great on the girl and surroundings, however, looks a bit bright in the window itself. As I look at that further, I think that only adds to the image.
What I really think hurt this, is the color. Everything else is excellent. Great shot.
~Heather~

Dictionaries and "L"
by 2hoo

Comment:
*Critique Club*

Hi there. I really love the idea behind this image. Very clever and excellent set up. I think the only thing that really hurts the image for me is the lighting. Kind of harsh toward the bottom right and a bit dark on the book in back.
The book not having words on the bottom half seems odd to me also, but nothing that impacts the image. The L is excellent. By looking at your image, I would be able to know the D and L without looking at your title. Focus seems a bit soft toward the back, however on the books in front it is pretty good. I like how the glasses are off to the right of the photo and not dead center of the photo. Makes us look around and notice it subtly. The window in the back makes for a neat background in my opinion as well. A solid background would make this seem TOO set up. As is, it almost looks like an accidental find. Really neat job.
~Heather~

Deep Longing (to join a game with the big boys!)
by troberge

Comment:
*Critique Club*

I'd have to agree that the neatimage (or similar effect) looks a bit overdone. By looking at the photo itself, I would not be able to guess the D and L. This is a shot that I feel relys on the title to help it through the challenge. I like the look on the skin, but I think it makes the hair look odd that way. Nice crisp focus on the shirt. I like the texture there. The background is ok, nothing distracting there, although maybe a tad bright near the top. I like where you have placed the boy within the photo. This creates some good negative space, and the fact that there is neg. space in front of him does add appeal. Good job avoiding shadows/bright spots on his face. Overall definately a great shot for the photo album. I would try lightening up on the neatimage just a bit, and maybe editing the hair seperate, so that it doesn't seem so much different than his face. If that makes sense.
~Heather~

Bathroom Grunge
by Jutilda

Comment:
I like the crop on this shot better than the crop for the one submitted in the rooms challenge. I think it works better because the door isn't in the way. The filter on this one is also more appealing to me, simply I think because it makes the bathroom look so gosh darn aweful. Definately looks like I'd not be peeing at this stop. The toilet paper looks bright among the rest of the image, but i think it works in an odd kind of way like that. Ironic kind of. ~Heather~ (7 of 10 comments given to Judy)

Roadside Restroom Circa 1958
by Jutilda

Comment:
Lighting seems a tad bright here. I think it might work well with the feel I think you were trying to accomplish. While it's not my personal preference, I think the grain also works with the feel I think you were trying to get. Overall the image works nicely together, but it really isn't my cup of tea. The stall door on the left is a bit distracting since it takes up So much space in the photo. Love the floor. Overall nicely done. ~Heather~ (6 of 10 comments I'll be giving Judy)

ShOe aRt
by senoj

Comment:
Not quite sure what I'm looking at. If this weren't in a shoe challenge with the title shoe art, I would definately not know it was a shoe. There is nothing in focus, and really nothing to look at. It might be easier for you to see cause you know exactly what you were taking a photo of. The colors are dull, can't really see any texture, the shadow doesn't add anything to the comp. I'm just not feeling this photo. Sorry.

Old Balance
by HOOlovesdrums

Comment:
Definately old. I cannot fathom anyone actually wearing this shoe, but it looks like they have!! Focus and clarity look good to me. Lighting ok. Seems a tad bright on the lace, and maybe just a bit dark toward the back of the shoe, but neither is terribly bad. Seems like a bit too tight on the crop in my opinion. Otherwise, definately different.