Painting with Streetlights and Bushes
by SundayMornings

Comment by posthumous:
I liked it. Nice abstract. I gave it a 7.

Painting with Streetlights and Bushes
by SundayMornings

Comment by K3Master:
Neo didn't consider the problems with taking acid while trying to watch The Matrix.

Painting with Streetlights and Bushes
by SundayMornings

Comment by Yo_Spiff:
I like it, but you must know that abstracts usually don't do well in non abstract challenges. I applaud you for entering this.

Mine...
by SundayMornings

Comment by karmat:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

You have a lot of things "right" in this picture, but two thing seriously effected the overall image.

First, the focus issues. Even though you were able to "salvage" it to a degree, the shot still suffers from being out of focus. Due to the processing you have done, the biscuits look "blocky" with not discernible texture remaining in them, and there are artifacts in the "background." His back right paw looks focused, so I am thinking it was just a matter of your camera not focusing where you wanted it to.

The color cast is also distracting. A clean white would have really given this shot some zing. I don't know about your camera, but a lot of them have it so that you can adjust the white balance if you are using flash. It may have also been possible to desaturate the yellows, and gotten the whites a bit white. You could have used levels and desaturated the whites, then "erased" the dog to get him back to his 'natural' colors. Or you could use a mask and do it that way.

The flash is what caused the shadow, and may have been diminished some by bouncing the flash. If using on camera flash, simply take an index card or a piece of white paper and hold it (or fasten it somehow) so that the light from the flash hits the paper and bounces. You get the benefit of the flash, and not as much shadow.

I love the composition in this. It works very well, and if the things addressed above had been "fixed," I have no doubt that you would have score as much as a point and a half higher.

Best to you in future challenges.

Karma

Mine...
by SundayMornings

Comment by SandyP:
Awwwwwwwwww! What a cute little fellow. And so sweet to pose when he would rather be eating biscuits.

"Sorry Mum...It Was An Accident..."
by SundayMornings

Comment by cca:
I thought this was cool Stuart - kinda disappointed at the the lack of blue, but I actually saw this one when glancing through the entries and thought it was clever without realising it was yours - well done!

Mine...
by SundayMornings

Comment by tootsweet:
Patient puppy. Mine would have drool dripping from his mouth and his body would be trembling with the effort to stay still with cookies nearby.

I think I would like to see a less tight crop on the upper right corner, but you might end up with too much negative space along the top. What does the original look like?

Mine...
by SundayMornings

Comment by Lydia:
I like the idea of this very much. Adorable!
I think it could be a bit more in focus, especially the line, since that is what the challenge requires as the subject. I don't think I would have cut off the dog's ears... but his shadow is fun!

"Sorry Mum...It Was An Accident..."
by SundayMornings

Comment by karmat:
CRITIQUE CLUB CRITIQUE
by karmat

Compositionally, I think this shot works very well. The flowers are the primary focus, with the glass adding some interest and finally, an oof basketball telling the rest of the story. Without anyone of those elements, the shot would seem incomplete. Also, it is well balanced between the flowers on the right and the ball in the upper left. I think a little less foreground might make it a bit stronger.

Technically, the focus, lighting, and dof work great here. It seems to have a touch of a yellowish cast to it, but it could be my monitor -- I don't remember it being like that when I voted. OR it could be because the table top is an orangish/yellow color, and it makes it feel that way.

Overall, a well executed (no pun intended) shot. On the one hand, some may have felt it wasn't a true "crime" (my initial thought), but if you've ever had kids around, it definitely fits the definition of "crime" at home. :) Not that my kids have ever broken anything, hahahaha.

Good work and I look forward to seeing more of your stuff.
Karma

Mine...
by SundayMornings

Comment by RoxyAnne:
Is that urine around the dog? That's my 1st thought.b