greg_kowalczewski

Finally ... congratulations!

A very interesting effect with sharpness to the face and blurriness to the feathers. It works for me. Well done. Full frame meaning "full frame sensor" or "uncropped shot"? If the latter, even more impressive.

This shot would sit comfortably in any sports magazine. My only suggestion is to be vigilant about maintaining horizontal horizons.

I love the shot but see it as a little too dark. I would consider more light to the face and hands but nothing else (just so that the expression of the boy is a fraction more visible).

Great shot showing the movement through the S-bend. I would consider making the background perfectly horizontal (but this is a very minor quibble on my part). 7/6

Hard to comment without knowing what the promotion is. Is there a reason why everything is white? After going to the trouble of having a person “bust out” of paper – why not increase the impact by either giving the foreground or background some colour (or both)? Or increase the side lighting to make the shadow effect of the torn paper more dominant. Or throw some paint over the paper like Australian painter “Pro Hart” used to do. Since this type of image is not original one needs to work harder to make it spectacular – but in a way that compliments the promotion.

For my eyes the crop and arrangement is perfect with a beautiful neutral gray background that helps focus attention on the subject matter. The only two things I could pick on in what to me is an otherwise faultless image are the way one of the wasp’s legs is wrapped around its body (does this happen naturally?) and the rear tip of the out-of focus wing (where the lack of focus affects the clarity of the water drop – or is that tip simply bent?). I would like to have given 6.5 in both categories but because the system does not allow this I have given Aesthetics 7 and Originality 6.

Love the shot and the arrangement, but I agree with Mark (remove the blue vein).

I can only congratulate you and agree with all that has been said. Is there any chance that the girls may have captured you? I am intrigued by the strength of the light on the face/teeth of the girl furthest away from the camera (has that effect been added?). It does direct my attention to two places.

This shot has grown on me. I always had a positive reaction to the motion/monotone effect but felt that the legs and feet of all athletes should have been included (perhaps you had no choice). I like the amount of space you have allowed the athletes to run into. I would consider removing the tiny white bit near the top right edge of the frame (looks like the beginning of a marker). It looks as though it was a great stride for stride finish between 6 and 5 (I presume 6, 5, 2 is the order in which they placed).

I like this version (tighter crop and softer light) better than the POW version of 2009-08-17. It is unlikely that I will see a more interesting and original portrait of a child in 2009.

Ronnie, there are no concerns about sharpness here. I love the action that you have captured but I am less convinced about the contrast and framing. I think there is too much background and the overall colour competes with the bird (as I see it on my monitor). If there was more vision of the hunting post I would consider including it. The white flecks in the image are a distraction that I would consider removing. If the background were lightened a little it (but not the bird) it would help define the action. The crop that I have attached is not a solution but a suggestion toward the direction of how this image might generate greater visual impact. But in a nutshell, any framing that shows more of the bird and less of the background with a greater contrast between the two will help make this great capture stand out (it was your request for critique rather than the thumbnail that made me look at this image – and I am glad that I did).

This is a great action shot that works well in B&W. The photographer and observer in the background are what make this shot interesting (in my opinion). Their presence also adds a sense of scale. I would however consider a narrower vertical crop to heighten the drama captured in this image.

This is beautiful composition with vibrant elements. The unique thing about this image (as seen through my eyes) is that I can enjoy viewing it in any position and still continue to feel direct eye contact with the model, a bit like the Mona Lisa (where the eyes appear to follow you).

This is one of the most beautiful bird images I have seen. The colour of the legs and the detail in the eye is brilliant. The background is tranquil and the droplets from the beak are a wonderful inclusion. The other thing that appeals to me as a viewer is the ground level eye contact I have with the stilt.

This is a great capture. I am amazed at the flexibility of the legs of this bird you refer to as the Baya Weaver (my first time looking at one). I believe a tighter crop would do this image an even greater justice (provided there are enough pixels to go round). The way the bird is hanging onto the leaf and the stem is what makes this image (in my opinion).

I love the colours and composition of this image. I like the softness in the image and the blown out background. I think it adds to the overall effect. The stripes through the model’s hair blend with her shoe straps to create an interesting effect. A 5 x 4 crop (as opposed to your 6 x 4 crop) will bring the model forward. I think the image Hans Schrama is refers to is “Rika” (also good) – but I like this one better. Mark’s comment about the window being a distraction is something you need to watch out for. More often than not I would agree with this comment, but in this instance I like the way these two elements connect (and help define the shape of the model’s head). All said and done, this is my favourite image in your current portfolio. Each time I came back to look at it (trying to figure out whether I liked it or not) I liked it more.

I love the colours and the composition but would like to see more of the bird with a tighter crop.

This is a spectacular composition. The water trailing the birds’ feet and the sun on the feathers are strong elements as are the birds in the foreground. Aesthetically, I would prefer that the red background continue to the top of the frame. Otherwise; faultless.

The background colour is amazing and really compliments the animated moment of the birds – a bird’s version of a mud fight (brilliantly demonstrated by freezing the droplets of mud)! I think the fact that you don’t see the head of the one of the birds (turned away from the viewer and partially hidden by its feathers) adds to the drama of the image.

I like Michael Mancil’s cropping suggestion the best. You see more of the hawk, but there is sufficient background detail to appreciate that this is a spectacular dive. By being able to distinguish the thickening of the branches it adds to the drama because you begin to appreciate how quickly this bird is approaching ground zero. And judging by the bulging eyes, this hawk knows it. But if you take too much away from the sides all this drama is lost. In fact a sharper background may have been beneficial. I am also assuming that this was shot horizontally so there is nothing more to add in the vertical direction. But with a shutter speed of 1/2500 s and a focal length of 400 mm I certainly appreciate you only get one shot at this and I think you have achieved an amazing capture.

I love the colours and composition of this shot along with the framing used to present the image. I like the idea that one can see the sand, sea and island beyond.

Love the composition, the sharp focus of the eyes (to which the viewer is immediately drawn) and the out of focus hand. The only thing I wondered about were the strands of hair below the glasses – but then that might be the very reason why she is looking over them.

I love the vertical orientation and arrangement of this scene. The cloud formation in association with the clear sky is eye-catching. I also think this shot would look great in a 5 x 4 format to make the bride more prominent. The fact that you have taken such a great shot offers you these possibilities.

This is an attractive capture with great composition and light. Love the colours of the bird and the dark softness of the background which really makes the bird stand out.