Dead Trees' Epitaph
by SteveDunster

Comment by jlchaves:
Nice concept, but the sun is a bit burned out. Also seems out of focus.

Dead Trees' Epitaph
by SteveDunster

Comment by e301:
I like the steely-grey feel of the sky - has that kind of pre-storm greasy feeling. I don't think you've served the strange geometry of the pylon particularly well with this point of view however: its arms might as well not be there, although nevertheless they're present enough to know that they've not been shown to effect.

The Next Generation
by SteveDunster

Comment by mpreslar:
Needs just a touch more contrast. It is too hard to pick out the green on green pine-cone.

The Next Generation
by SteveDunster

Comment by Siggav:
The greens look oversaturated on my monitor. Hard to get detail out, it all blurs into one big poison green mass. Something to either let the seed pop out more or make the background less busy would have helped. In my opinion anyway.

Lat/Long
by SteveDunster

Comment by SquishyB:
seems out of focus.

The Next Generation
by SteveDunster

Comment by h2:
too much saturated

The Next Generation
by SteveDunster

Comment by Konador:
I think a less-centered composition would help add interest to this shot. Check out the winning photos in the recent Rule of Thirds challenge to see what I mean.

Heart of Oak
by SteveDunster

Comment by a5280hidi:
I like the interesting angle of this image. It seems a little washed out color-wise though; 5

Inside, Looking Out
by SteveDunster

Comment by jerowe:
Hello from the Critique club, my name is Jon Rowe, and i will be looking at your image this evening :)

Composition/Lighting : this image is definitely interesting and a great attempt at a wonderful image study. i believe the reason for the sub-5 score is due to the lack of focus. i have the same camera, and it's GREAT. love it, and that's a great kit lens you're working with. what i would suggest for this would be to not use the ISO1600 you used here, and use around 100 or 200 at the most. also, setting the focus point on one of the raindrops is critical for the effect you were going for, and there really aren't any water drops in focus. keep on trying, and make sure you're using a tripod for pictures such as this, it helps a lot. especially with the kit lens, since it's not a very fast lens. (with the 3.5-5.6) great attempt:)

Challenge : it meets the challenge. the colors coming through that are blurred are great. really have a pastel feel to them. great job.

Conclusion : with the equipment you have, you have all you need. you also have a great eye for composition. i looked at your portfolio, and you have some great images. the learning curve for the rebel xt is not that bad, but there are a lot of great books out there that will help you out with the use of your great camera. here's a link to one:

//www.amazon.com/gp/explorer/0764588133/2/ref=pd_lpo_ase/002-2916455-0033663?ie=UTF8

i read it cover to cover, and my pictures were night and day aftewards. hope this helps.
Keep on shootin!

Good luck on your future challenges:)

-Jon Ed Rowe

Heart of Oak
by SteveDunster

Comment by michael_p:
I could be wrong but was this shot in RAW? If so it appears to me that you have added a little too much fill light