The Heart Of A Lotus
by sanx

Comment:
*A Critique Club Comment*

Hello Sandy
Please keep in mind that I am not a trained professional...

Composition
I like this composition. The crop works very well, the stamen are nicely placed in the lower 1/3rds intersection and the radiating petals look nice coming from that point.

Technical Details
Focus seems a little soft, this may have worked better had noise not been evident in the petals. The highlights seem a little overblown, and tonal range seems to be a little low. Your depth of field is good, all of the stamen have the same focus.

Aesthetics
To me this is quite the aesthically pleasing image. The colors work very well together, violet and yellow being complementary colors and all. I would recommend cloning out the two green leaves of the background, they detract from the rest of the image.

Relationship to Challenge
I believe this image meets the challenge nicely, you have used an interesting perspective (close) to create a dramatic effect (complementary colors of radiating stamen and petals).

Overall I think this is a nice image that needs a little fine tuning to be an eye-popping image. Elimination of noise in the petals, balancing out the highlights to bring out a little more detail in the petals, and cloning out the green background leaves (perhaps to black). The noise and the soft focus are, IMO, the detractors of this image.

If you have questions or comments about my comments please feel free to PM me.

I look forward to seeing your next entry!!

-jp

Grackle II
by bobdaveant

Comment:
I think that's a grackle, however I'm not a professional.

happy
by melodee

Comment:
*Critique Club Comment*

Please keep in mind that I am not a trained professional...

Composition
The composition has too many disparate elements that don't lend themselves to each other, the most obvious of which are the dog and the chains of the swing. As some of the other commentors have stated, the composition would have been enhanced had you cropped out the dog. The chains, while distracting with this crop, may have worked on with a portrait crop that excluded the pooch. A shot from straight on may have cured the chains but you would have lost the model's pose. I do like the model's pose and her facial expression, and she does have winning smile. Right hand placement is good, the left hand being cropped I find mildly distracting, but only in a "What's in her left hand" sort of way.

Technical Details
The focus on the model is good. I think that, had you been able to eliminate the background during post processing using curves or such, the use of the on-board flash would have worked for this shot. As it stands there seems to be too much PP to bring out detail, and with it noise, from the background. This may have also caused the slightly desaturated colors. Perhaps upping the color, at least of the shirt, may have made the photo pop a little more.

Aesthetics
I do not find this photo aesthically displeasing, but I would have to agree it has a candid snapshot feel to it. Cropping and highlighting the model may have been able to overcome this.

Relationship to Challenge
IMO this photo meets the challenge. A portrait is a photograph intended to show the basic appearance of a person and, perhaps, bring out a quality or essence of that person; this photo does that. I feel this is a relaxed, happy person.

Overall I think this photo is a nice representation of the model. Had the foreground and background been taken into account and either utilized better or eliminated completely, this photo would have done much better.

If you have questions or comments about my comments please feel free to PM me.

I look forward to seeing your next entry!

-jp

Beautiful Sunset
by peridaisy

Comment:
Beautiful photo. Nice colors and tones. I would suggest cropping the foreground water out. Overall very nicely done, good job!

Out from there
by Fjolasx

Comment:
I like this photo. Excellent composition with the rock in the water balancing the person, the relationship between the two makes the whole image work; I can focus on one and the other makes sense as a periphery element. Very nice tonal range. Very nicely done!

Introspect
by cdcootie

Comment:
Very nice POV used. I like how the direction of her stare conflicts with the height of the trees, a very nice counter balance; it makes my eye rest on her and my peripheral vision travel the lines of the trees. Well done!

Impact
by jseyerle

Comment:
Wow! What an excellent photo! Excellent timing, excellent focus, and excellent crop. Very well done.

Destination...Unknown
by CalamitysMaster00

Comment:
I think this photo is wonderful. I love the colors and motion and tones. Very well done.

Watching the World Go By
by L1

Comment:
I like this photo. Excellent focus and perfect dof. The crop, with the man on the left sweet spot, is perfect. And you've presented us with excellent tonal range. I like the man way the man is sitting, and how he's holding himself. Very nice shot Laurie.

CrazyKermit.JPG
by okiesisi

Comment:
LOL!