IMG_004578
by zencow

Comment by UrfaK:
Like the dof and contrast

Phil, the Flash, Takes a Break
by zencow

Comment by Ammie:
composition lacks wow. Nice light on the bird though

step
by zencow

Comment by Luci11e:
would love this if the hand had been cropped out

Where the Sidewalk Ends
by zencow

Comment by FrankRobinson:
Hi again Chris, and welcome back to the Critique Zone!

I really like this shot, but then I am really in a 'BW' place myself at the moment. The contrasts of light and dark sides to the grass heads, and the curves are very appealing.

Technically: I am interested by your use of such a tight aperture - most lenses peak in sharpness at about f8-f11 and by f25 I would expect to see some refraction creeping in on any but the most expensive, which may account for some of the blur. I'm sure that camer shake or movement accounts for some too, at only 1/25. The DOF is nice, but I would have probably tried to get a little more of the foreground grass heads sharp - I guess that might well just be taste. The lighting, as I have said, is excellent. Natural, but excellent.

Artistically: I really don't think that there is anything I would change if it was my photo. The lateral length of the grass means that this simply has to be a landscape shot. The balance of foreground and background is really well done and there is enough going on everywhere without it looking busy. Also, a really top BW conversion!

In summary, this is the sort of shot that I would expect to see for sale in an art gallery. Unfortunately DPC is clearly back in a sunset mood for this challenge, but that shouldn't decrease your pleasure in this shot - it doesn't lessen mine. Incidentally, the structure really reminds me of this one from posthumous

Fire and Ice
by zencow

Comment by spiritualspatula:
Wow, thought this would score higher. I was trying to figure out what the heck I was looking at, but couldn't figure it out. Nice shot though. The way the fire (light) radiates throughout things is really neat looking visually.

step
by zencow

Comment by tanguera:
I can't figure it out but there is something so appealing about this image. Maybe it's the incredible sharpness of his pants, and the sense of movement without blur.

Phil, the Flash, Takes a Break
by zencow

Comment by fridjo:
the head looks weird! is this some kind of rolling shutter effect? otherwise, I would prefer a tighter crop.

Cobalt Shadows
by zencow

Comment by Luci11e:
Greetings from the Critique Club

First Impressions:
To be honest? This took my breath away! I loved it from the very first time I saw it.

Technical (Comp, lighting, color, focus):
The composition, the lighting, the color, the focus - including the bokeh - it's all marvelous. And your worries over the "distractions" were for naught as what you consider distractions only add to the image.

Challenge:
You certainly met the challenge and did so beautifully. AND I'm a title girl and this title is PERFECT!

Artistic/Emotion:
Artisticly? Stunning! Melethia nailed it in her comment below "the blues make this rich and vibrant, and the bokeh is lovely!"
Emotionally? This is a very soothing picture and I can so totally see why you are considering hanging it. I would if it were mine.

Summary:
I'm sorry to say that I have no suggestions for making this better. I may not have been the right one to give a critique of this image but as they are randomly assigned to us I was thrilled to be able to give you my thoughts on this image. I think posthumous and katenlow said it best with just one word....gorgeous.

edited to fix the tag

Message edited by author 2010-10-08 12:36:19.

Where the Sidewalk Ends
by zencow

Comment by hawkeyefilms:
A very pleasing image

Where the Sidewalk Ends
by zencow

Comment by bvy:
The rhythm of nature. Simple and effective.