Mo Money, Mo Problems
by toddw62

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

First impressions of this are that it's just a shot of a picture. Indeed the title tells us it's money. This accounts for the low score, it's DNMC for many people.

As for the shot, the shallow DOF works well. You've chosen the focus area wisely although I can't help thinking this would have been even better if the mouth were OOF too (maybe focus just down the left corner where it currently is do give the shot some dimension?). The eyes and nose have a certain mystique to them that I like.

Overall good use for shallow DOF but missed the challenge for the most part.

* Bubba Smurk *
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

When this came up I thought why does someone who is in the top 5 want a critique? I guess the comments since voting have been of the "good one" style rather than a critique so here goes...

First impressions are that it meets challenge well and looks like it was a find, rather than contrived. The cropping/composition gives a feeling of being tilted at first but then we glimpse the other boards at the side and then it seems to take on a lifelike feel - like one in a crowd.

The tones are nice, the nose adding a much needed element of colour to the otherwise bland wood. DOF seems to be a little shallow, the mouth is in focus but the eyes seem to be getting a little fuzzy.

Overall its a nice shot with a good whimsical face showing.

smile for the camera
by Eagle40Fox2

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

First impressions of the shot are that it meets challenge and is composed well.

The plain white background helps with the interpretation of a face but it also makes the shot quite sterile. I think this is the main reason the score was under 5.5. On a technical level there isn't much to say about the shot other than that the lighting could be improved on the camera body a little. Other than that it's fine.

For DPC it's just lacking a bit of "wow" that would get it up to a 6.

Reaching For The Sky
by Drake

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

First impressions are that the shot is done well. There is nothing overtly wrong with it. It has interesting composition and leads the eye well. The tones are nice.

For DPC there is a lacking element in the shot, that's the "wow" that a lot of your lighthouse shots display.

As for meeting challenge I think it lacks in that looking at your profile you don't see a shot like this easily. If you had taken a wide angle shot then yes, it would yell Drake. I am assuming this is a lighthouse.

This shot may have been a candidate for a dramatic B&W processing perhaps?

Juggling The Creative Energy
by Coley

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

When I saw this shot I knew it was yours. Your style was written all over it. I feel that the B&W is a bit harsh, especially when compared to your other B&W entries - maybe it's just because there is so much black in this one.

Other than that I can't find much to comment on regarding technical elements.

Overall this is a good shot that meets the challenge well but other than illustrating your style fails to grab the viewer in the same way that many of your (ribbon winning) shots do.

Stranded
by phoozt

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

First impressions are that the processing is over the top. That may sound strange given DPC often likes that but in this instance it feels wrong. Perhaps because the image is so narrow. Why is that?

The subject feels crammed into the frame, although general composition is good.

Once I look at the shot for a while (something many voters may not do) I see that the tones are good. It's really just the reds in the shipwreck that seem too much. I know it's a shipwreck because you said it was - otherwise I'm not sure it's that obvious. That would have hurt the score a bit.

I feel that if the shot was another inch or so higher then you'd have got a much better score.

arithmetic decay
by GiorgioBaruffi

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

My first impression is that the shot is that it is busy and I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking at.

Composition is not great as there are two major elements fighting for our attention.

Lighting, as observed by your one comment in voting, could be more flattering.

For DPC the trick is not to just get a shot the meets the challenge but also to make it interesting so that we stay and look a while. You've managed this in some of your other challenge entries, but not in this one :(

Gerry

Horse of a thousand dreams
by snaffles

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club

My first impression is that the shot is nice and clean but something feels "off". I think that the negative space is not used to good effect, the subject feels small in the frame and we are drawn to look around but the nothingness isn't helping us get into the shot.

The lighting is very good. The focus seems a little out as the horses head seems OOF.

It's not obvious (to me) at first glance that the leg is missing and the horse is broken. Does he have it tucked up in some prancing fashion perhaps? In any case, some voters may ask "did it work to start with" - you can never tell what voters think!

Overall a good shot, probably deserved a higher score than it got.

Gerry

Look Mum, No Hands
by 3DsArcher

Comment:

Originally posted by rinac: He's such a cutie!

Just like his dad ;)

Deep In The Rain Forest
by 3DsArcher

Comment:
Hey, if you were only 94 steps from my place you should have stopped by ;)