Portrait - hand in June 9th

Image File

Grade

Title

Rating

Critique

C Grade - SET

digital-image-c-set-subject-flower-girl.jpg

C

Flower Girl

A

Lovely use of eye contact and expression.  Well done getting on the wee doll’s level. The image is a little on the dark side, so a tweak on the brightness would improve this hugely.

digital-image-c-set-subject-little-grub.jpg

C

Little grub

M

Fabulous bright eyes, beautifully clear where it needs to be and focus falls away really well, a very engaging image.  The crop through the head is a tiny bit uncomfortable – perhaps if the images was rotated anticlockwise a little bit we’d get a tighter crop on the face, and some of that very large shoulder on the left would fall away.

digital-image-c-set-subject-look-at-me.jpg

C

Look at me!

A

Well framed and engaging portrait of this beautiful creature!  Great use of backlight.  I wonder if the focus could be a little more on the eyes/lashes?

digital-image-c-set-subject-my-two-front-teeth.jpg

C

My two front teeth

M

What a cutie!  Well framed and engaged, getting a six year old boy to show his toothless grin can be a challenge!  If you had turned him ever so slightly to his left he’d have had a touch more light in his eyes.

digital-image-c-set-subject-night-diver.jpg

C

Night Diver

M

Great shot!  Well done getting the balance between sky and diver just right!  The sky has some beautiful tones in it.  Could this have been taken without the green thing behind him?  Or is that an important part of the diving experience?  It keeps taking my eye out of the shot, and not towards where the diver is looking.

digital-image-c-set-subject-quinn.jpg

C

Quinn

M

Lovely portrait of this young man fishing!  You’ve managed to get a smile, even though he’d really be rather looking the other way!  I’d love to have seen a little more of his surroundings, although if there were distracting elements it may have been better cropped tightly like this.

digital-image-c-set-subject-say-duck.jpg

C

Say Duck....

M

What a beautiful doggo!  Well done getting him to stay still for long enough to grab the shot!  Lovely focus on the eye.  I’d like to have a little more room under his chin, as it feels a little top heavy.  A slight crop from the top will probably fix that nicely.

digital-image-c-set-subject-summer-fun.jpg

C

Summer fun

M

Perfectly timed and what a lovely, relaxed expression!  There’s a little bit of grain or noise in the image, but that’s easily forgiven.

digital-image-c-set-subject-teary.jpg

C

Teary

M

Aw.  Poor wee tott!  I love crying images, as it shows such a big part of the day for a small child!  Beautiful clarity on the tear on the right, I’d like to have seen the same focus on the other eye as well.

digital-image-c-set-subject-the-ploughman.jpg

C

The Ploughman

M

What a well timed image, and you’ve managed to capture him somewhat unawares! The slower shutter speed means you’ve kept the movement in his arm.  Good job! 

digital-image-c-set-subject-the-thinker.jpg

C

The Thinker

A

Nice, clear side profile of this gentleman.  The crop is a little bit uncomfortable for me, I’d love to see more context to see what’s going on.

digital-image-c-set-subject-use-your-voice.jpg

C

Use your Voice

M

Great engaging portrait that tells a story.  Nice use of eye contact and well framed.  If I was being picky, I’d have lowered his left arm about 10cm.

C Grade - OPEN

digital-image-c-open-awatere-autumn.jpg

C

Awatere Autumn

M

Beautifully captured landscape, and fabulous use of the rule of thirds!  The shadows and highlights have been handled well.  There are some blocky or pixelated elements in the sky, but still overall a lovely image.

digital-image-c-open-into-the-mist.jpg

C

Into the mist

H

This image FEELS like something, the simplicity, the symmetry and the well handled black and white treatment – it all adds to the mystery.  Well done indeed.

digital-image-c-open-on-the-move.jpg

C

On the move

A

Well framed and good use of leading lines keeping your eye in the frame.  This image could be improved by some context, a person perhaps?

digital-image-c-open-rarangi-early-morning.jpg

C

Rarangi early morning

M

Stunning colour palette!  Lovely echo of the sky colours in the wet sand below. 

digital-image-c-open-sketched-lily.jpeg

C

Sketched lily

M

Is this a photo of an art piece?  Or is this a photo of an actual lily and then rendered as a pencil sketch?  Unfortunately because I can’t quite make out which it is I can’t comment on how this might be improved.  However, this would be a very cool piece of art framed up on someone’s wall!

B Grade - SET

digital-image-b-set-subject-focused.jpg

B

Focused

H

Beautifully clear and well handled portrait!  I’d love to see the crop just a tiny bit looser to give a little bit more room for those ears.

digital-image-b-set-subject-perfectly-made-up.jpg

B

Perfectly Made-Up

M

Lovely evenly lit portrait of this bride’s make up.  I’d love to see her eyes!

digital-image-b-set-subject-portrait-of-a-duck.jpg

B

portrait of a duck

M

This guy reminds me of a character from the 50s or 60s, hair all slicked back and full of personality!  Well done with the separation from the background!

B Grade - OPEN

digital-image-b-open-evening-stroll.jpg

B

Evening stroll

M

Well done with this street photograph!  It’s not easy to capture an image like this when there are strangers in the frame!  Great use of leading the viewers eyes from the figure on the left to the people at the tables and then down the path to read the sign.  I love the shadows coming in our direction too!  The darks are just a touch on the blocky side, but it works for this image.

digital-image-b-open-feeding-in-the-rain.jpeg

B

Feeding in the Rain

M

Lovely wee moment there, well timed indeed!  Nice use of colour, the harmony of tones works beautifully.  I feel like the focus isn’t bang on the bird’s eye, which is the only thing that lets it down for me.

digital-image-b-open-lest-we-forget.jpg

B

Lest we forget

M

A poignant image.  The hero being the poppy on the right, symbolising our refusal to forget as the generations move on.  I think I understand the meaning behind keeping the background blurry, but in reality it gives my eyes a little bit of stress as I try to make out the words on the gravestones.  Maybe I’m just too nosey.

digital-image-b-open-paddles.jpeg

B

Paddles

M

Great intensity and clarity!  Love those droplets in the air as well!  It feels a little too tightly cropped at the top, perhaps?  Depending on what’s up there, of course!

digital-image-b-open-sunset-over-the-pier.jpg

B

Sunset over the pier

M

Lovely use of thirds, and what a warm glowing colour palette! 

A Grade - SET

digital-image-a-set-subject-allie.jpg

A

Allie

M

I just know that this isn’t the first time this puppy gets into mischief!  Nicely framed and well done getting on doggo’s eye level.  If you wanted his eye contact just make a quick, high wining noise.  Works everytime.

digital-image-a-set-subject-ari.jpg

A

Ari

A

What a stunning child, and a quiet moment well captured.  I’m not sure where the focus is exactly, I tend to think it’s a little in front of the face.

digital-image-a-set-subject-aunt-and-niece.jpg

A

Aunt and niece

M

What a great face!  Perfectly timed, and Aunty has NO idea!  After enjoying the facial expressions, my eye goes directly to the vignette, which is really more of a distraction than an enhancement – dial it back a tad so your viewer doesn’t notice it.

digital-image-a-set-subject-bella.jpg

A

Bella

M

A beautiful subject with flawless features, well done getting the attitude and engagement! I’d like to have seen the hands in frame, the crop is just a little bit uncomfortable.

digital-image-a-set-subject-flowers-for-mum_1.jpg

A

Flowers For Mum.

M

You’ve got this wee darling mid discussion about the treasures she’s found. You’ve handled the direct sunlight well!

digital-image-a-set-subject-happy-skiers.jpg

A

Happy Skiers

M

Dynamic use of the closeup/scenic combo!  Perhaps a little more background might have enhanced this.

digital-image-a-set-subject-junior-investigator.jpg

A

Junior Investigator

M

Interesting and engaging portrait!  The split lighting suits the expression and adds a bit of mystery.  I might usually have opened up her shoulder just a touch, but being slightly closed off like this makes sense.

digital-image-a-set-subject-lisa.jpg

A

Lisa

H

Stunning woman with beautiful engagement.  Well cropped and a really lovely image to look at.  If I was being picky I’d say the light source is a little too low – see the catchlights are in the lower hemisphere of her eye?  Try to keep them in the top hemisphere for the most flattering light. 

digital-image-a-set-subject-look-dad.jpg

A

Look Dad!

M

Beautiful clear image, well handled in the direct sunshine.

digital-image-a-set-subject-maternal-bond.jpg

A

Maternal Bond

A

Lovely duo, the colour palette is lovely and warm. However I wish the focus was on the little person’s eyes and the crop was not so tight on mum. 

digital-image-a-set-subject-ready-for-formal.jpg

A

Ready for formal

A

The is beautiful young woman, and a nice simple portrait.  I’d like to see focus on the all important eyes!

digital-image-a-set-subject-selfie.jpg

A

Selfie??

A

What an interesting character!  I think this would be greatly improved if the focus was on the eyes. 

digital-image-a-set-subject-wilde.jpg

A

Wilde

A

This little one is having the best time up a tree, you’ve really captured the joy!  The crop could be improved by including both hands and a little more room in the direction he’s looking.

A Grade - OPEN

digital-image-a-open-into-the-valley.jpg

A

Into the Valley

H

Stunning landscape!  Fabulous use of black and white conversion and the elements really do keep your eye inside the frame.  Really well done.

Grade

Image Medium

Title

Rating

Critique

C

Print

Dance Night #1

M

A lovely quiet moment, well captured.  The brush in the foreground gives the image context.  I would be inclined to lighten up the shadow on her face just a little.

C

Print

Dance Night #2

M

Lovely looking young woman, and the person in the background adds a dimension, as well as questions, to the image for the viewer.  I find the shadow in the closest eye a little distracting, this could have been remedied by turning her chin towards the camera ever so slightly.

A

Print

Contemplation

M

Nicely captured contemplative moment, well handled balance between the light and the shadow on his face.  I might have been tempted to crop a little tighter so his eyes are on the top third line.

A

Print

Hi There

M

Gorgeous wee person!  I love the connection you’ve established between mum (?) and baby.  Well done getting mum to project her chin towards baby, this gives her jawline a more flattering look.  The crop on the baby’s head is a little on the tight side, but still a lovely image nonetheless.

A

Print

Youthful Attitude

M

Gorgeous young woman, and well lit with the shadows falling in the right direction.  I would tend to warm the image up ever so slightly, but that may be a matter of personal taste.