In The Event Of My Demise
by arnit

Comment:
There are those amazing eyes again...
This is the first image in this challenge that seems to tell a story, and it is very emotive.
I like the selective use of color...
The cross is a nice touch as well. (are you of Christian faith?)
This gets a 10 from me... I think you will place well this week.
The only improvement I can think of would be to clone out the stray hair on the right side of her forehead in the center image. Not a big deal, though.
Nicely done, great work.
JD Anderson

ROCKem SOCKem
by scab-lab

Comment:
This is way cool...
I'm 38, so I had a Rock em Sock em robot set when I was a kid!
This brings back memories, not to mention your photos are great!
Nice work, and I give it a 10
JD Anderson

Characteristics
by Paige

Comment:
This reminds me of a shot I did of my 4 year old son. I did a compilation of 12 shots that won a POTD at www.digitalphotocontest.com. I love this series of images... Her eyes are wonderful!
JD Anderson

Sunset Blue...
by andrewlr

Comment:
Stunning photos, and a very creative idea for the compilation.
I give it a 10, my first one so far. Nice work!
JD Anderson

Salt & Pepper
by severin

Comment:
Not sure, but looks like a Setzler...
A very nice image, regardless of who you are!
Nice work.

Looking Down the Barrel...
by briphoto

Comment:
Hello from the Critique Club!

With regards to despair -- this image says more 'fear' to me than it does despair, two very different emotions. I wouldn't lower your score, though, because this could result in despair afterwards (ie, the victim's widow would despair).

At first glance, this is a powerful image. It gets your attention right away! After that initial reaction, I think some improvements could be made with the composition. In general, I don't like the main subject to be in the center of the frame. I would have liked it better if the barrel of the gun were more to the left and up a little (maybe in the upper left 1/3). That would bring more of the hand into view. I realize the end of the barrel is the main attraction here, but I feel the photo would have more balance if more of the hand were shown. It seems 'cutoff' to me.
I really like your choice of focus and depth of field. As I said earlier, the end of the barrel is the main attraction, and your choice of focus and DOF really succeeds here. Lighting on the end of the gun is perfect. I also feel you have just the right amount of light on the hand. I'd like to see a little more light on the right side of the gun--not very much, just a little. Maybe a reflector card rather than another light source.

I like the black background, and the shape of your composition. It is a nice use of negative space.

I hope you find these comments helpful. Good luck in future challenges!
JD Anderson

A Bad Night
by lennier

Comment:
From the Critique Club! First of all, welcome back! I saw that you didn't have any submissions for about six months. Glad you are back and participating!

I like the use of long time exposures and I like that you were adventurous enough to try something like this.

With respect to showing despair...
I like the body language here. The hand on the left knee says 'stress' to me. The lowered head and closed eyes indicates that he is in deep thought, possibly agonizing over something, maybe some regrets?? I like the fact that the image shows two positions. The second appears a little staged, but it gets the point across. The fact that there are two images kind of tells a story. The first image is a beginning, and the second progresses to 'despair' (or at least distraught to a certain extent!).
I like that this shot is taken outside. It helps add to the despair theme, possibly indicating that this person wanted to get away and be alone.
I like the fact that there are some background details instead of an all dark background. I don't think I like the way the entry steps overlap his head(s). I like the fact that some details are there, but I would have liked to see the steps off to the left or right of his head.
Concerning the 'judiciously' applied dust and scratches filter...
The effect is applied in a manner that it borders on the effects you'd get with the watercolor or cutout filters in Photoshop. My instinct is to say I feel this was overdone a little. It would be interesting to see the original image before this effect was applied. Most challenges require technical excellence, but I think this topic of despair works well with dark, grainy images.

Overall a good image. I like the fact that you experimented and tried something unusual. Congrats for your creativity, although acting lessons may be in order to truly portray despair. ..trying to imply despair sure beats actually having despair, though! Keep plugging away and earn yourself that Canon D60!!

JD Anderson

His Despair Our Gain
by Vision

Comment:
Gets an 8 for image quality and interest, gets an 11 for the message!
JD

The Weakest Link
by rmahan

Comment:
The angle of your shot causes the broken link in the shadow to be low in the shot, wiht the actual link being high in the shot. In my opinion, that's what makes this shot great! I think this is a great concept and your composition and angle are perfect. The background is a little bit mottled and murky. A tiny bit more light on the lower part of the chain would have been nice. 8 Nice shot and good luck in the challenge,
JD ANderson

Before the Storm
by xertion

Comment:
What a great, moody image! I like that this is not completely black and white (I think I see some blue tones in the clouds). Nice shape, nice clouds. The only thing I can think of to make this better would be to get rid of the trees in the background. This one tree shot against the sky without the trees in the background would be very powerful (IMHO). Nicely done and good luck in the challenge! 8 JD Anderson