Buick Sweep
by Tuckersmom

Comment:
Wow! I love this one. The curves, with the shadows and color, is very emotive. It makes me want to run my hand along the glossy smoothness of it. Definitely a favorite! :)

This Won't Hurt a Bit...
by trtfeasor

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

Now this was one that I liked! This was one of my favorites. You met the challenge head on, and gave us all a great photo to chuckle over. The contrast and colors are what make this photo, and I'm surprised to see that it didn't do as well as it should have. I know I wouldn't want to meet this guy in a dark alley!

I'm curious to see what your original looked like. The top of his head is slightly over-exposed, and really the only distraction to me. My eyes constantly go to his eyes and the "probe", which I think are the strongest points of this photo.

Overall, I really liked this photo, felt it was well thought out, and fit the challenge to a "T".

Keep up the good work!
Tara

All in a Book
by kmbr2001

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

I like the feel of this photo. The peacefulness, the serenity, I can almost feel the breeze blowing through her hair. The colors are great, and I always love a good water and sky shot.

The look on her face is a real distraction. It might supposed to be a look of concentration, but her face looks a little scrunched up, like the sun was in her eyes. Other than that, it was a nice take on the challenge, and I think you did a good job. I remember it gave me a chuckle when I saw it. The juxtaposition of a peaceful setting and reading up on how to "conspire". :)

Keep up the good work!
Tara

Day 1 Portrait
by okiesisi

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

Newborn babies are always a hit in my book, and this one is no different. I love his sweet little face in peaceful repose. You have a great subject, and that is a start. Seeing as how it is a "Day 1" portrait, I'm assuming your lighting is harsh hospital flouresent lights. Not the best to work with, I know, but it looks like you made the best of it.

What I would work on: Obviously, as others have mentioned, the filter didn't work for you as far as the challenge went. It adds a texture to the photo that takes away from the softness of the baby.

Overall, I think you have a great photo here, very touching and loving. Keep up the good work!

Tara

The Branch Hotel . . . . available by the hour.
by glad2badad

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

Let me just say that any one handed shot while trying to herd a couple of grasshoppers deserves a high vote alone! :) Aside from that, this image is great! It is clear, sharp, the colors and contrast are great, and you have an interesting subject. Your focus and DOF is spot-on, drawing the eye to your subject without it wanting to wander elsewhere.

Aside from that, your humor displayed in the title is an added bonus. By the photo alone, this really isn't what I would have thought about, but it makes me take a second look and chuckle. Overall, you have a great photo here, technically and aesthetically. Keep up the good work!

Tara

Just Being Me
by smilebig4me1x

Comment:
You go girl! :) You did better than me! I just don't recommend trying to calibrate your monitor before doing the next challenge. Otherwise, you'll get this! :)
//dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=230290
(Didn't want to post my pic in your comments, thus the link.)

And hey ... I'm always one for goofyness! Just check out MY stuff!

Branch and shadow
by HVGB_photos

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

I like the crop, and how you chose to include the shadow of the branch as an integral part of your photo. This adds a great deal of interest to it, without taking anything else away.

What I would work on: Your center of focus seems to be the intersection of the branches that are in the middle of the photo. Because it is so near the center, this is what draws my eye. The next thing I want to look at is the grape, because it is out of character with the rest of the photo. However, the grape is not in focus and this really takes away from the overall effect. A wider DOF would work to include the grape and other leaves into the entire photo.

Overall, it was a great idea, and as I said, I like the fact that you chose to include the shadows, rather than trying to darken them or avoid them. I just wish more of the branch, leaves, and the grape were also as in focus as that center branch.

Hope this helps!
Tara

Branching Out
by bucket

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

Now this has everything ... including the Cuteness factor! The colors and contrast are great, and I love the composition. As you noted in your own notes, you know that her face is not well lit. It's awesome that you love it anyway, and so would I. It is a clear, sharp photo, that meets the challenge and beyond.

Overall, this photo is pleasing in every way. The only thing I would correct (the shadows), you already know about. Keep up the good work!

Tara

Branch of Jewel
by mcrochip

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

Very nice! The DOF is great, the colors are nice, as well as the contrast. Great composition. The only thing I would have to say is going against it is the beetle. Having it there confused me, because your title tells me the subject is the Jewelweed, but the beetle draws my eyes away from the yellow blooms. Along with this, the focus seems more on the beetle than the branch.

Overall, this is a very pleasing photo, technically and compositionally. Keep up the good work!

Tara

When the Tree is Dead
by jseyerle

Comment:
**Greetings from the Critique Club!**

I really love the colors, the textures, and the contrasts in this photo. The blue of the waters is awesome, and really works as a background for your capture. Technically, the image is sharp and clean, and very pleasing to the eye.

A few things to work with: The roof in the bottom right corner is a distraction, making my eye wander to it over and over. I also want to look at the blue of the water, rather than the man with the thatch in his hand. As for meeting the challenge, I like to give credit for "eye candy", and I don't generally vote down if it's a stretch on the challenge. However, I can see how people would vote you down, due to the challenge being "Branch" not "Wood", and the two are not the same.

Overall, this photo is definitely an attention getter. Keep up the good work!

Tara