No liquid allowed, Abstract in Purple and Greens
by olddj

Comment by Cutter:
I am going to try to predict what it is for each photo: Yours is ....a blurry piece of glass

Ahhh, The First Kiss
by olddj

Comment by pcody:
honesty here. It's a sculpture. Traditionally, they score very low on this site. People don't like seeing pictures of other people's art. I can't explain it, that's just the way it is.

Please do not "mock" me. I'm a pretty bird!
by olddj

Comment by PaulE:
Hi Jacque,

This was a 4/5 shot for me. I wound up giving it a four for the following reasons:
- With bird shots such as this I believe that head and eye should be in sharp focus. This is not quiet the case, it is a little bit soft.
- The blurred leaf and branch behind the birds head further softens the apperance of the head.
- The colours are a little flat. That is to say there is nothing which gives the image 'punch'.
- Technically it is not a shallow DOF. The bird is in focus and the tree well behind it is not. just being picky, though.

In terms of improving it - I think the full branch across the image and through the bird is very distracting. By this I mean it draws attention away from the bird.

I am not on grass cuz I blend in much better here
by olddj

Comment by Melethia:
I like this guy! He definitely blends in quite nicely in his surroundings yet you managed to capture the detail very well. I'd have liked to see the rest of his antennae but realize that a) it might not be there in the original capture, and b) might not have provided the crop you wanted.

Some of our favorites from Cambridge
by olddj

Comment by Melethia:
I have to agree that the background doesn't work particularly well to show off the pieces here, particularly the bird. I also realize that the vast majority of us don't have studios with lights and backdrops with which to work. Improvisations include fabric (I've heard velvet works well) and posterboard, though the latter tends to be too small for most things and a bit flat without much richness to it. (I know, I've tried.) I can't be much help for lighting, as I've tried desk lamps but they only work for very small objects. As for the composition, it's a bit too formal and centered for my taste. That may very well be what you intended as these are formal pieces in a collection and this type of composition is often used in such photographs.

I know I look it, but I am NOT sad!
by olddj

Comment by Melethia:
I like this shot alot. The look the dog is giving you isn't sad at all - I see it more as wise and omnipotent - and aren't all our pets wise and all-knowing? I do like the OOF background quite a bit, and love the contrast of that against the sharpness of detail in the black fur (which is hard to achieve). The only thing that may have been sacrificed here is the white fur has a blue tint to it (and bear in mind I'm perusing on a laptop, but the color is usually fairly true.)

I really couldn't tell you why this scored a 5.5, but then I consider that a good score. :-) It has more meaning than "glitz", which I see as good, but doesn't always get reflected in score here. It's a great portrait, definitely worth framing and hanging on the wall.

Ahhh, The First Kiss
by olddj

Comment by L2:
Okey dokey - since you asked, mind you, I'll give you some honest feedback.

While technically well done, the focal point is hard to make out at first or even second glance. Using the title as a clue helps, but it just feels like I have to work too hard to figure this one out. Even knowing it's supposed to be a kiss - I just don't see a kiss here. Once I have figured it out, there isn't enough here (IMHO) to keep me interested, and because of this, the image does not have the apparent intended emotive effect (at least for me). I don't think the shot conveys the title, because I can't see the second face. It doesn't really look a first kiss, or even any kiss, and this is because you can't see a face on the right. This is a case where a different composition may have added to visual impact. A full 1/3 of your frame is the back of a head; would you have done that with real people?

So, on technicals - yes, well done. On emotive aspect - not as well done. I can see where you are going, but I'm not sure you got there. Overall impact - rather nice, but lacking "wow" factor. Meets challenge - yes, but not as well as some of the other entries.

I didn't vote on this image, but if I had I probably would have given this a 4. I would have pondered a 3 because the image does not appeal to me, and then pondered a 5 because it is well shot, but in the end I would have likely settled in the middle.

Certainly don't mean to hurt your feelings, I see that you have other great shots in your portfolio. It's just that I don't see this particular one in the same way that you did.

Hope this helps.

A Florida Boardwalk Denizen - White Ibis
by olddj

Comment by philup:
Congrats on your highest score on your profile page! Good picture.

No liquid allowed, Abstract in Purple and Greens
by olddj

Comment by rhipster:
Blurry, sorry

I know I look it, but I am NOT sad!
by olddj

Comment by Evaan:
Wonderful detail. Beautiful eyes and coat.