Smoking Bullet
by xianart

Comment:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression:
NOOKlear! Not quite Warholia, but I don't think that's what you were gunning for. 6.;p
Composition:
Centered vertical. It's a bit too compositionally static for my tastes... would've looked for a more dynamic composition for such wild colors. 5, which is the center of all things.
Subject:
Ah, cuban? 8... Viva la Cubanos!XD
Technical:
6. For curves and levels overkill.
Improvement:
A more dynamic composition, I guess. Off center or diagonal works, for that fuuunky munky effect.
Summary:
Nice photo, all things considered. Keep it up!

New Disclaimer: I'm not on crack.

Message edited by author 2006-05-12 03:12:41.

Through a Glass Darkly
by xianart

Comment:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: God, the PP on this shot f-ing rocks. But guess what? The title f-ing rocked more! I don't know if you got it from the bible (1Cor 13:12) or from the movie (SÃ¥som i en spegel) or wherever, but such photos with such titles make my day. 10. No, 11.;p
Composition: Minus minor nitpicks, I would have it no other way. 9.
Subject: Hey, I just realized I'm not too wild about those boots... damn. I think I would've liked it better with naked feet. Eh, whatever... it still rocks. 8.
Technical: Spot on exposure, IMO. Blown-out window borders worked for me. 8.
Improvement: Remove those goddamned boots! Hehe. Besides that, nothing from me.
Summary: How do you youngsters say it again? I heart this photo -- is that about right? Good work, man. Congrats on the top 40 and the PB.

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

P.S. Please pardon the f-word. It just occured to me that it might be offensive to some people. Can't help it. Sorry in advance.

Message edited by frisca - language.

My Grandmother's Christening gown - 1911
by xianart

Comment:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: Product shot!;p If it was, I'd buy one. 6.
Composition: 5. It's pretty square, and square doesn't do your subject justice, IMO. Square = Straightforward = Does not do well, sometimes.
Subject: 10. Because it's old and creepy and from the early 19th century. Hahaaah... this rocks.
Technical: 6. The highlights are blown-out, but the important details aren't. You did good, ma'am.
Improvement: Spiders, skulls, cobwebs, other creepy stuff. Or your gramma, if she's still around.
Summary: Product shot! Product shot! Product shot! I like it, though. I can just imagine what that gown's been through...

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

Never alone with a book...
by xianart

Comment:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: What's with all the kids in the foreground? What are they doing for the shot? 5, because of those pesky kids.
Composition: 5. The foreground elements take a lot of attention from the subject. A tighter crop would've done your subject justice.
Subject: Your subject's a kid. Reading a book. You should've showed a lot more of just that, and a lot less of what it's not.
Technical: 6. Tonalities are fine, but a little bumping up of the contrast wouldn't hurt.
Summary: This is Candid, not Photojournalism. It doesn't have to speak volumes to be appreciated as one. Crop the hell out of it and it's a great photo.

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

Message edited by author 2006-05-14 22:52:31.

Morning Glory
by yanko

Comment:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: Niiice. 7 or 8.
Composition: 9. A tighter crop wouldn't've worked for me as much as this one. It's fine as it is.
Subject: 10. As far as I'm concerned, it rocks in this department.
Technical: 8. A little more saturation, I guess. Then again, maybe not.
Improvement: Sorry. Don't think there's something that could be added in this regard. At least not from me.;p
Summary: It's not a photo that can be appreciated in one glance. One has to linger for a bit to really see this photo's merits. Congrats on your personal best.

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

Message edited by author 2006-05-11 06:25:12.

Backlit Under Clouds
by Rebecca

Comment:
From the CTP MkII

First Impression: 5. Dang, this photo's hard to crit. It's a nice shot, mind you, but looks raw. Nothing that a little PP won't fix, but still...
Composition: 5. The rock's okay but the background's bugging me. I don't think it does justice to the rock thing. Methinks you should've tried shooting from a higher or lower angle, so as not to "cut" the rock lip.
Subject: 5. Like my comment above, the rock's doing just great. It's the sky this time. Never shoot bald skies. DPCfolk don't like bald skies.
Technical: 5. This is where you failed, I guess. Subjects with dynamic range are pretty hard to shoot. Still, some PP like some contrast masking, selective saturation and desaturation, some levels and curves, and you're good to go.
Summary: Your photo's got a lot of potential. But a reshoot would be better.;p

Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

Message edited by author 2006-05-10 01:35:46.

~ Rhythm ~
by yanko

Comment:
From the CTP MkII
Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

First Impression: Hookay, 5. The first thing that got to me (and I apologize for having to say this) was the sloppy application of selective desat. That, even more than the model (great-looking girl that she is), caught my attention, um, forcefully I guess.
Composition: 6. it's nice that you gave the subject "looking room" but methinks there's a bit too much black space for "looking". Cropping off just a wee bit from the right could make the shot better, IMO.
Subject: 6 or 7. The girl's great to look at so I guess that's all there is to it.;p
Technical: 4 or 5 because the color and desat spills make me uncomfortable. As a "fan" of selective desat, I would've preferred a more careful selection so as to avoid these color and desat spills. And I guess leaving a bit of color (say 15% to 40%) would've sufficed.
Improvement: As I have stated above, a wee bit of cropping from the right and a more careful application of selective desat would've worked wonders for it.
Summary: Dude, 6+ isn't so bad... it's even at the top 20s. So "Grrr" no more, okay? Okay.;p

Message edited by author 2006-05-29 00:40:41.

The Circus in town
by DigiFotoBuddy

Comment:
From the CTP MkII
Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

First Impression: Haha, amusing.:) 6, disregarding the technicals, because it amuses me to no end.
Composition: 5. A wider crop, which would've showed more of the ring, would've worked for me. Didn't like that you clipped the ringmaster's feet and the whole thing feels a bit too heavy at the right.
Subject: 9. Because it's fun.
Technical: 5 or 6. The less than stellar focus has done you in, IMO. I'm not sure I like the light disparity between the subject and the background but it's nothing a little selective desat won't fix.
Improvement: Recompose to the left and below, some burning and dodging, and a bit of color tweaking, I guess.
Summary: It's not that hard to imagine seeing it in a small town daily and it does jolly one up so good work. I'm a number too short on screws in the head so please do not be offended.;p

The old House by the Sea
by Gunnsi

Comment:
From the CTP MkII
Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

First Impression: Dang, this is nice. 6 because the colors're flat and a bit washed out BUT given the right PP, it could hold its ground up there with the big guys.
Composition: 8 here. Because it WORKS. And I know YOU know why it works so no more from me on this regard.
Subject: 6. Not really a fan of this genre, but I think you did good with it.
Technical: 5. Colors are bland and exposure's a bit under. But really, it's nothing a little PP couldn't fix.
Improvement: Nothing (from me) with regards to the shot, a wee bit of dodging and burning and bumping up contrast and saturating AAAND some sharpening for PP.
Summary: It's a good shot, really, with the potential of being a great shot. With proper PP, that is. Aaaaand I'm a number too short on screws in the head so please do not be offended.;p

Palistinians go to Work in West Bank and Gaza again
by Gunnsi

Comment:
From the CTP MkII
Disclaimer: The following crits are personal opinions, not photographic dogmas. Please see them as suggestions, not claims of mastery nor a show of hauteur.;p

First Impression: Whoa, 6. It's pretty powerful. With proper pp, it could very well be on the front page of a daily, IMO.
Composition: 6 or 7. Composition's fine with me, even with the tilted horizon (or whatever that is:p).
Subject: 8. Because social realism rocks.
Technical: 5. This is where you screwed up, pare. I don't know if it's too much NI or the JPEG compression but the fuzziness really bugs me. Which was too bad because I liked the almost duotone look of your photo.
Improvement: I guess a little sharpening or a bit more contrast would do the photo a lot more justice.
Summary: I, for one, liked your photo. The less than stellar output is no fault of your photographic abilities, but of your pp skillz. Also, I'm a number too short on screws in the head so please do not be offended.;p