come down
by JMoreira

Comment by Ecce_Signum:
Greetings from Andi via the Critique Club

First Impression: A fun well composed shot that meets the challenge well

Composition: The composition fills the frame well but maybe a little too tight? Personally I'd have liked to have seen the ends of the laces on the bottom boot and both the laces on the top boot falling onto the background rather than the other boot.

Subject: A novel idea and whilst (for me) they don't appear to be cooming down the stairs I like the way they interact with the steps.

Technical: The lighting is a little uneven on the boots with the top one being a different shade to the bottom, both are exposed well but differently (if you see what I mean?)

Final thoughts: Top 20 for your first submission is a great result so well done, I gave this a 6 during voting.

Dead Crab
by JMoreira

Comment by geneward2:
this would have been better if focus was clear throughout

Dead Crab
by JMoreira

Comment by Jason_Cross:
I like the shallow DOF of this one.

stone face
by JMoreira

Comment by macrothing:


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
Nice collection of 'stones'. Second thing I looked at was your title, which made me look for a face - I thought I saw one, but then the 2 other stones/rocks/crystals/etc threw me. Maybe the face was within one of the 'stones' - I think I saw something there, maybe. I gave up and looked at the image as a whole, within the context of the Challenge. It came across as a fairly static, straight up image of a collection of crystals/etc. The OOF (out of focus) upper left one lessens the overall quality of the image.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
If I interpret your Photographer's Comments correctly, it sounds like you put effort into your lighting and setup - which has produced a nice effect, but it slightly softer, with a smoother gradient effect, would enhance the image (and subjects) better in my opinion. The reflections are not strong enough to feature and too subtle and oddly placed that they almost become a distraction, but fairly minor.

Compositionally, it doesn't have strong balance, especially for a horizontal framing.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
You have two especially good and helpful comments that I agree with. 5.21 is quite a good score for this Challenge, and the placement not bad, but given some of the other scores, I might have expected it to be a little higher ranked.

Summary
I like the way the colors are showcased against your backdrop/lighting and like the choice of crystals, just wish I could see more detail in them. The upper right one is the most intriguing, to me.

stone face
by JMoreira

Comment by De Sousa:
I miss all the textures a rock contains in the from. The light could be better and the composition more balanced. Any way, great job!

stone face
by JMoreira

Comment by Rasai:
Your lighting on these silica based crystals really does a fine job fine job!
My interest is in the amber colored 'inclusion' (perhaps?).

stone face
by JMoreira

Comment by kaiser_chief:
Shooting from directly above, with the light behind, for me does not show off the rocks in the most interesting way. Shooting so that we can see the different shapes, and the light resulting in different shades would have worked better. The placement of the rocks also does not seem to really appeal

stone face
by JMoreira

Comment by monster91:
nice lighting and colors

stone face
by JMoreira

Comment by GregoryB:
Wonderful lighting

come down
by JMoreira

Comment by pedromen:
Nice idea, Zé. I like the lighting and the way you hid the metal reflection from the stairway. Carry on!