Aton by Samuilvel

Today's Critique brought to you by: Samuilvel

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 3.5/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
Even on my home PC, I could tell that this photo was a bit too dark. I like the contrast, and how enigmatic the photo is.

Composition:
By my reckoning, the photo is too dark. Then again, this adds to the contrast and over all feel of the photo, so it's not too bad. Past that, I can't find anything to complain about.

Emotion:
The darkness reminds me of a storm. The photo itself is enigmatic; I don't know what it's thinking (and trust me, photos do think). Judging by the focus, the white thing on the beach is important, and I wonder why.

About Samuilvel:
Samuil's been a member of the deviantArt community since August, 2008. Judging by his photography, he's no amateur. One of his works will be on exhibit for the "Picture of the year Bulgaria 2009" exhibition at the National Art Gallery in Sofia Bulgaria start March 4th.

Tip of The Day:
It doesn't matter how long you've been a photographer, there's still room for improvement.

Macaw 2 by Aem-Creations

Today's Critique brought to you by: Aem-Creations

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I love how bright the colors are and how well they contrast with each other and the background,. The focus is very nice.

Composition:
I think I'd like to see either the rest of the parrot's left shoulder (is suppose it's actually his right shoulder) or the shoulder cropped out. Like I said before, nice contrast and focus. The exposure is nice, too.

Emotion:
The parrot kind of freaks me out, not because I'm scared of parrots (which I'm not), but because you've managed to capture his eye in a way that makes it seem like it follows you around the room.

About Aem-Creations:
Aem's been taking photos since they discovered their mom's 35mm point and shoiot camera at around age nine. In high school, they saved up for and bought their first "real" camera, a Canon Rebel. Aem tries to take pictures of whatever catches their eye, but they particularly enjoy shooting (not literally) animals.

Tip of The Day:
Some people have a stigma about cameras, saying that crappy-point-and-shoot cameras aren't "real" cameras. If they weren't real cameras, they wouldn't take pictures, now would they?

Lady Mary by TristanGreer

Today's Critique brought to you by: TristanGreer

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I like the colors and overall tone of the photo. There's nice contrast displayed in this photo, as well. I think there are a few small composition problems, but they're really not very significant, just some things to think about.

Composition:
The colors and contrast are really nice. The focus is gorgeous, too. I'd like to see a little more space between her elbow and the bottom of the photo. I also think that her eyes are leading the viewer off the photo, so it might be nice if her eyes were looking a little closer to the camera.

Emotion:
She looks like she's had a long day at work and just wants to sit down and have a drink without some guy haranguing her. Very nice.

About TristanGreer:
Tristan's been a photographer for around five years, but they're not a professional. They like genre shots, but they've been known to do glamor photos every once in a while.

Tip of The Day:
Sometimes it's just fun to draw things on your photos in PhotoShop, just because you can. The point here, is never to take photography too seriously, because once you lose the fun in it, you've lost everything.

Candles by The-Apiphobic-Artist

Today's Critique brought to you by: The-Apiphobic-Artist

Scores
Overall: 3.5/5
Composition: 3/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I like the concept and the colors. There are a few distractions, though.

Composition:
I really like the contrast between the flames and the darkness of the photo, as well as the contrast between the white candle and the red candles. The big red candle in the background distracts me, as it seems to have no real purpose here, as does the object jutting into the right side of the picture. The photo is also kind of noisy. But, beyond that, it has good exposure.

Emotion:
My first thought upon seeing this, was something along the lines of "Aw, candles. 8D" (Yes, I do include emotes in my thoughts). After looking at it further, I noticed the huge mess this had the potential to become. One badly placed foot or cat could have red wax all over the place. And then I was amused by the thought of that very mess. Yeesh. I'm tired.

About The-Apiphobic-Artist:
TAA hasn't been a photogrpaher for very long, just a couple years (longer than I have, in truth). She's got a thing for pictures with interesting lighting, and takes lots of pictures where the sun "makes cool and different effects." She's planning uploading more stuff soon, so check her gallery out!

Tip of The Day:
If you're going to make a mess with your materials to take pictures of, be sure you clean it up afterward. Just because you have a mom, doesn't mean she should have to clean up after you.

Had Enough Of Those Young'ens by ShiverZPhotography

Today's Critique brought to you by: ShiverZPhotography

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 3.5/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I like the pose and the subject a lot. The title seems to fit this photo well, too.

Composition:
I love the angle. Technically speaking, the wolf doesn't stand out very much with the brown background, but I doubt there's very much you could have done about that. Um, the tree in the background is a bit distracting, and I probably would have cropped the photo differently.

Emotion:
The wolf really does like tired, and it kind of makes me want to go to sleep, too. The soft brown colors give this photo a natural autumn feeling, too.

About ShiverZPhotography:
Having been a photographer for seven or so year, Sophie's only really been serious about it for the past three. She's geared her photography around animals, and knows that getting the perfect shot often means taking hundreds, even thousands, of mediocre ones. Sophie generally sticks to natural photography, but has been known to cosplay/shoot cosplayers (not literally). She's branched out from nature, as well, and takes pictures of her travels. "My favourite animal subjects are tapirs, sloths, red pandas, leopards, wolves, giant anteaters, tamanduas and manatees," she says.* by the way, she has a youtube account, which I thought I'd include because I felt like it: Shiverz66.

_{I quote her here, because I'm too lazy to list those without the copy/paste feature of my PC. By the way, what's a tamandua?}

Tip of The Day:
Always know your subject to the fullest of your extent. For example, Sophie knows her animals and I know my flowers.

Don't look behind by Jeymo

Today's Critique brought to you by: Jeymo

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I like the contrast and the angle, too. The focus on the dog seems a bit off, like, it looks crisp, but my eye doesn't quite agree with that statement.

Composition:
Good use of the rule of thirds here. The contrast between the dog and the background and the collar and the dog is wonderful. The focus seems a tad off in some manner that I cannot describe. I mean, it's really nice focus, but there's just something about it.

Emotion:
The dog doesn't look too horribly happy about her position, which makes me wonder what she's unhappy about. At the same time, she looks curious, as though she's wondering what her owner is doing snapping a picture of her like this.

About Jeymo:
Jenny is German and she doesn't consider herself to be a photographer (I beg to differ). The dog is hers, and she's had her since she was a pup (no, I'm not going to clarify who had who since whom was a pup). Anyhow, Jenny dreams of being a photographer. She's been a member of deviantArt for 2 years, this may, and has an interesting assortment of art in her gallery.

Tip of The Day:
No matter how good you are at anything, there is always room for improvement.

Summer Days by Torikinns19

Today's Critique brought to you by: Torikinns19

Scores
Overall: 3/5
Composition: 3/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
This photo seems less artistic than it is just a snapshot of the world. I like the contrast and the lighting. This photo's weak point is composition.

Composition:
The cloud and the tree in the background are distracting. The colors are very nice. I'd like to see more focus on one specific sunflower than all four of them.

Emotion:
Sunflowers are happy flowers, giving this photo a feel of happiness. And the cloud looks so soft and close, it makes me feel like I'm laying on my back in a field, sort of. The sunflower without pedals is a grim reminder that darkness lurks within happiness.

About Torikinns19:
Victoria has always been into photography, and used to get in trouble regularly for absconding with her sister's camera to use it. She likes nature shots, with and without people, because she feels they're beautiful. The bright colors and movement of nature are what inspire her, and she loves that her photos seem to come to life. She's also fond of emotional photography. "There is beauty in this world and it is all around us, I try my best to capture it and share with the world," she says.

Tip of The Day:
If you want to get a good smile out of your model, it's best to make them laugh.

Llevo Tus Plantas by Skuhweer

Today's Critique brought to you by: Skuhweer

Scores
Overall: 3.5/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
What I like about this photo is the vibrant green and the clarity of the water droplet. I think the green of the background makes it kind of heavy, though.

Composition:
I'm not a proponent of the rule of thirds, so I'm perfectly fine with where you've placed the subject. I'd like to see more contrast, though.

Emotion:
The vibrancy of the green speaks of life and nature; the water droplet gives me an over all sense of peace.

About Skuhweer:
Skuhweer has been a photographer for a year and half, now. Her favorite shots are shots that look somewhat vintage like. She believes photography is all about telling the truth in a fantastical way. Skuhweer really admires people who are confident enough to use film cameras.

Tip of The Day:
Train yourself to be your best critic. Intrinsically, artists are hard on themselves, so give yourself a little leeway, but not too much.

Maurice by Bwolkenhauer

Today's Critique brought to you by: Bwolkenhauer

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I like the colors and the exposure. The left side feels a little heavy. The focus is nice.

Composition:
The rocks on the left half of the photo make it feel a little lopsided. The colors and contrast or gorgeous, and the exposure is very nice. Your ISO is low, as it should be.

Emotion:
This photo reminds me of summers and farewells. Of standing on the beach watching the sun go down and watching my sandcastle erode with the waves.

About Bwolkenhauer:
Brooke has been an avid photographer since she got her camera last year. She's been taking picture of anything that catches her eye ever since, but she really enjoys colorful photos. She likes contrast, as well. While she's no expert (her words, not mine), she is quite talented; go check her out.

Tip of The Day:
Contrast is a powerful artistic tool. Use it well and you could rule the world.

Hearts in Eyes by BananaFiishBones

Today's Critique brought to you by: BananaFiishPones

Scores
Overall: 3.5/5
Composition: 3.5/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I like the colors and overall tone of the piece. Nice contrast. There are just a few things I'd change, were I the photographer.

Composition:
The focus is very nice. I like the colors, and the contrast between the sunglasses and her face. I'd like to see more of her face, and the rest of her glasses.

Emotion:
This photo seems mysterious. It makes me wonder what the model is thinking about. The lighting is soft, lending a benevolent feel to the over all composition.

About BananaFiishBones:
Banana (as I'm going to refer to her) is French. She's been interested in photography for 3 years, but she doesn't consider herself a photographer. She prefers candid photography. Banana uses a Canon 1000D, which she worked very hard to earn.

Tip of The Day:
Victory has never tasted as sweet as it does on the day that you receive your first DSLR.

Headphones by Jennieaedunlap

Today's Critique brought to you by: jennieaedunlap.

Scores
Overall: 3.5/5
Composition: 3.5/5
Emotion:4/5

Overall:
I like the concept and the background. The lighting is a little off, and I'd like to see a few things about the composition changed. The focus is nice.

Composition:
I'd like to see a little more space between the headphone in the background and the top of the photo. The photo also seems a little dark. There's a lot of noise. I like the over all tone of the photo.

Emotion: This photo reminds me of all those times that I've gotten up and left one of my books in the middle of a study session. T he headphones seem sort of forlorn when I think about it like that.

About Jennieaedunlap:
Jennieae has been a photographer for two to three years now. She's not professional, she just does photography for fun. She likes taking abstract and expressive photos.

Tip of The Day:
Listening to music while you work can often improve your creative capabilities.

Dafo.Dill. by KristieCalifornia

Today's Critique brought to you by: KristieCalifornia

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 3.5/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall:
I like the colors - they're very bright. It seems dark, which is probably due to the monitor of the PC I'm using at the moment. There are a few composition things I'd change, but it's still a nice photo.

Composition:
I'd like to see more space between the daffodil and the top of the photo. While I like the angle, I think the photo would be better from a different one. The focus is very nice, and the flower is not washed out or too dark.

Emotion: It reminds me of Spring, which is a great time of the year. The yellow makes me kind of happy, too. The daffodil, like all daffodils (really), looks somewhat forlorn.

About KristieCalifornia:
She's always liked taking pictures, but it wasn't until a year or two ago that she started to notice how much she actually liked it. Kristie started learning how to mess with lighting and stuff like that. She likes to take shots of flowers and random objects that have detail or distinct texture.

Tip of The Day:
Noise is your enemy - except when it isn't. Use noise removal software - Paint.Net comes with it - to remove it when you can!

Bouquet2 by EternalMessage

Today's Critique brought to you by: EternalMessage

Scores
Overall: 3.5/5
Composition:3/5
Emotion:4/5

Overall:
The colors are great, it's really noisy, but when it's zoomed out, I think that adds character - it's distracting on full view, though. There are a few composition problems, too.

Composition:
I personally would have cropped the photo differently. The pink rose that's cut out kind of bothers me, because I'd like to see the whole thing. I don't know if it's just the settings of the monitor of the computer I'm using, but the photo also seems really dark.

Emotion:
The graininess of the photo gives it a nostalgic feel. It's seems quite elegant, too.

About EternalMessage:
EternalMessage (EM) has been a photographer for about a year and a half. They like to shoot plants and landscapes, because those shots show real life. EM's favorite kinds of shot are still life and macro. EM really likes photography, because it allows for creative expression in different ways. Their inspiration is natural beauty the things going on around them.

Tip of The Day:
You don't need to spend a ton of money on programs like PhotoShop to edit your photos. There are several free programs avalable online, such as Paint.Net (Available here.), that are just as effective.

Cedric and The Stone by KomradeKomer

Today's Critique brought to you by: KomradeKomer

Scores
Overall: 4/5 (+52 for Gnomage)
Composition: 3.5/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall: I like Cedric. In addition to the awesome subject, I also like the colors. There are a few distractions.

Composition: I like how Cedric contrasts with the rest of the photo; everything else is a somewhat subdued color, while he's brightly colored. The lamp behind him is a little distracting; I would have had Cedric closer to left side of the photo, myself. The lighting is a little dark for my tastes.

Emotion: Beyond the glee of seeing a gnome, I feel curiosity as to why Cedric is on the stone, but that's good. This photo, and the other photos featuring Cedric, reminds me of the Travelocity Gnome, whom I love.

About KomeradeKomer:
He picked up an ex-professional camera that still uses film. He's been shooting with it for a year now. He's still learning, and he has some great photos. Currently he's working with portraits, but he prefers landscapes/cityscapes.

Tip of The Day:
Photography doesn't have to be a career. At the same time, you should never do something you're good at for free.

Camargue by PrisleyStan

Today's Critique brought to you by: PrisleyStan

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 3.5/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall: I really like the colors. The focus is nice, as well. I'm not too fond of the placement of the subject in relation to the background.

Composition: The colors contrast quite nicely with the silhouette. I'm digging the depth of field, because the grass is in focus and the background isn't. I don't like the clump of trees directly beside the grass; it feels like they're crowding it.

Emotion: Summer; that's what this photo reminds me of. Makes me think of a warm summer's night spent swimming in or sitting by a lake.

About PriselyStan:
Priscilla likes to capture moments, moods, light and colors. She more use dot landscapes, but she's been trying to work people into her work. Her gallery doesn't have a real coherence to it, because she's still trying to find her own style, but she's skilled nonetheless.

Tip of The Day:
There are an infinite number of things to photograph in your surroundings. Great photography does not require traveling. It's all about finding a new way to look at old things, ya digg?

Clifftop Castle by Icandealwithfate

Today's Critique brought to you by: Icandealwithfate

Scores
Overall: 3.5/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 3.5/5

Overall: I like how crisp the lines of the grass are, and how the grass contrasts with the sky and the hill in the background. The angle's nice, was well. It seems kind of subjectless, but that's because my mind process grass as a background object, so it's probably fine.

Composition: Everything's crisp and clean, too. There's aren't really that many distractions - the big green hill/castle in the background is the only one I can see (and I think it adds to the picture). I'd rather it were focused on the castle, myself, but I like it this way, too. I don't really like the blurred grass in the foreground.

Emotion: This photo kind of makes me think of cresting a hill on the other side of which is a valley. On the other side of this valley, is a castle. Anyway, it's a feeling of weariness and euphoria at knowing that my destination is near at hand.

About Icandealwithfate:
Rain's been a photographer for about eight years, and she recently bought herself a Canon EOS Rebel XS (the same kind of camera I bought, recently) for her trip of the year. From what I gather, she's currently living in august until June. She was influenced to start photography young by her uncle.

Tip of The Day: Stalking people with your camera is fun.

Her Old Shoes by Viatrierci

Today's Critique brought to you by: Viatrierci

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall: This piece shows great contrast and leading lines. I love the model's pose, too. I'm not sure I like the trees in relation to Eun, though.

Composition: The model contrasts very nicely with the sky. However, I think there's a lot of green in the photo as a whole. The way Eun looks at her shoes/fan is great, because it draws my eyes directly to the subject of the title - her shoes.I really like the variety of textures present in this shot, and the lighting is very nice. The tree line behind her is probably the only part I don't like, and that's because I think her outfit would contrast much better with clear blue sky. I also really like the fact that she's barefoot.

Emotion: Green is a lively color; this photo is full of life. I like the way she's looking at her shoes - it reminds me of seeing an old friend after a long while or reminiscing about the good old days. There's also a subtle hint of freedom shown by how she's barefoot..

About Viatrierci:
She's does photogrpahy as a hobby and, like all of us, she's not always very enthusiastic about it. She got her first DSLR last year (January 9, 2009). She used to be into landscapes, but limited travel experiences have caused her to move on to other things, such as fashion and avante garde. She wants to do underwater photography, but the equipment is expensive, so she's content to stick with above-water photography, for now. Viatrierci's gallery is quite diverse, and is definitely worth pawing through.

Tip of The Day:
Flowers are a great way to improve your skills, because they're better at sitting still than many other things.

Sorry III by Matias15

Today's critique is brought to you by: Matias15

Scores:
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall: I like the emotion and the pose quite a bit. The light might be a little harsh. The photo is a little noisy, too.

Composition: I really like the pose. It's almost like she just woke up from a nap or something. As previously stated, the light might be a little on the harsh side and the photo is noisy. I think going with B&W was a great choice for this shot.

Emotion: She seems kind of tired, like she just woke up. the is mostly her pose and the lighting. It also has a bit of an old-fashioned feel, because of being in greyscale, which contrasts quite nicely with her outfit.

About Matias15:
Matias started out in 2005 with a Sony H2. Eventually he upgraded to a Nikon D60, then a D80 (his current camera). He's a professional. Anyhow, his favorite shots are shots with people in them, and concert photography. Matias' gallery is full of awesome, and I suggest you check it out.

Tip of the Day:
Never be afraid to show off your work. Often enough you are your own worst critic,* and there will always be someone who enjoys seeing what you've come up with.

_{*Unless you've got an ego, like I do, then you're just good at critiquing your own work.}

Arches by EGibson-Photography

Today's critique brought to you by: Egibson-Photography.

Scores
Overall: 4/5
Composition:4/5
Emotion:4/5

Overall: I like the angle, but I feel that the positioning is a little off. I think black and white was a good choice for this photo, too.

Composition: I would like to see more of the lamp that's in the foreground, and the dark area on the right side is a bit of a distraction. I'd also like to see a little more space between the edge of the photo and the vanishing point. I really like the lighting and the contrast shown in this piece. The lower half contrasts quite nicely with the upper half.

Emotion: Being black and white, this photo gets a feeling that is somewhat old-timey. The angle makes it look like the distance is far, and thusly makes me think that it's going to be a long walk to get to that third lamp.

About EGibson-Photography:
Emili has been doig photography professionally for around 2 years, however, she's been a photographer for six years. She loves people photos, and feels that "clearly captures an emotion has merit." She has a tendency to prefer editorial shots. Her gallery is pretty awesome, especially since it's only a week old, and is definitely worth strolling through.

Tip of The Day:
The line between a hobbyist and a professional is a defined by whether you make money at it. However, above all else, you should take photos for yourself, because that's the way to create art. Tape a chunk of your soul to the photo - trust me, souls regenerate over time.

Purple Petunia 1 by Midnight-cardinal

Today's critique brought to you by: Midnight-Cardinal

Scores:
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall: I like the bright colors and the depth of field. I don't like the red in the background, though.

Composition: I love the depth of field and the placement of the petunia. The light and dark purples contrast well with each other, as well as contrasting nicely with the rest of the picture. The red plant in the background is somewhat distracting.

Emotion: This reminds me of summer, flowers always do. It has nostalgia value, for me, because flowers are practically all I used to take pictures of, and some of my best pictures have been of flowers. I think beyond that, it could use some improvement in this category.

A bit about Midnight-Cardinal:
Rayna has only really been photography since last November. Luckily it's summer in New Zealand, so she has lots of time to practice and plenty of things to photograph, too. She's currently focusing on landscapes andnature, but she hopes to do chapter/story photography someday. She's got a great eye for interesting angles, and her gallery is very nice.

Tip of The Day:
If you find someone who takes photos that you really like, try to incorporate some of what they do into your work. It helps to create a style that is all your own, a style that fits your personality. This actually goes for all mediums.

Waiting For You To Come Home by Cloudbubb

Today's critique brought yo you by Cloudbubb.

Scores:
Overall: 3/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall: I like the emotion that this photo conveys. However, I think the light is too harsh and distracting.

Composition: I like that the cat is in the center and that the light is coming from behind it. I think the drawers on the left and the light coming from the window/doorway are distracting. I like the contrast.

Emotion: The way the lighting is on the cat gives the viewer a sense of mystery. Who is this cat, and why is it waiting for me? The location somewhat detracts from this feeling, but it's not too horrible.

About Cloudbubb:
Alex has been taking photos for about a year. Her favorite kind of photography is candid photography, because it makes the person seem more natural. She's got a pretty good gallery, and it's certainly worth looking at.

Tip of The Day:
Always wear the strap for your camera, this helps keep it from getting broken.

White Delight by Photospaz

Today's critique brought to you by: Photospaz.

Scores:
Overall: 4.5/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5

Overall: I really like the simplicity of this photo. It shows great texture and pattern, too. I'm not particularly fond of the placement of the snowflake within the photo, but it's not too bad.

Composition: I think I'd like to see the area that's in focus moved back so that all of the snowflake is in focus, rather than just part of it. Also, the snowflake is kind of hanging out in an odd place for photos. I like the contrast between the snowflake and the background, though.

Emotion: This photo reminds me of winter, as it should, and of year spent playing in the snow, throwing the snow about, and so on - meaning it has nostalgic value. It also give me a sense of urgency, because I feel like it'll melt away at any moment.

About Photospaz:
Alyssa has been a photographer for about two years, which is when she got her first digital camera, I assume. Then she discovered the macro button, and she was hooked. "Macro is my life now," she says. She adores macro and landscape photos, as well as photos of animals and buildings. She also enjoys photo editing, though she says she's not very good at it.*

_{*Neither am I, for that matter.}

Tip of the day:
Photography is all about taking ordinary things and making them extraordinary. From one angle, a cat is simple that, a cat. For a different angle, however, the cat becomes Catzilla, or, at the very least, a more emotional subject.

Point of Land by Perfectionisyou

Official Announcement Regarding the Blog: Because Innovation doesn't seem particularly useful, I'm removing it from the critiquing terms unless someone specifically asks me to critique for it.

Today's critique is brought to you by: Perfectionisyou.

Scores:
Overall: 4/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 3/5

Overall: I like this photo because of the angle. The bright white of the lighthouse draws the eye to it, which is very good. I'm not too fond of the otherwise subdued colors.

Composition: The placement of the light house is very nice, as are the rocks in the foreground. The people aren't too bad of a distraction. The leading lines of the rocks make my eyes venture off the photo, though.

Emotion: The subdued colors the photo remind me of the small number of cloudy days I've spent at the beach. The photo also conveys a sense of being separated from others.

About Perfectionisyou:
Lex does photography for a hobby, mostly because her school doesn't offer a digital photography class. She's been a photographer for around six years. Since she got her own camera, she's been taking more pictures. She likes pictures that have water in them, because of how water reflections things and how easily water expresses emotion.

Tip of the day:
Don't be afraid to get dirty for your photography. Some of the best shots ever have been obtained at the expense of muddy knees and grass stains. Just try to keep your camera clean and dry.

Peacock Droplet by Dirzha

Today's critique is brought to you by Dirzha.

Scores:
Overall: 4.5/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 3.5/5
Innovation: 4/5


Overall: I really like the colors and the depth of field of this piece. It seems to lack emotion, just a little, but, then, I'm not feeling well today, so maybe I'm just missing it.

Composition: The colors and the depth of field are gorgeous. The water droplet is so crisp, too. I think, maybe, I'd increase the depth of field a little so that a tiny bit of the area in front of the droplet is in focus, too.

Emotion: There isn't a whole lot of emotion immediately obvious in this photo. It make me want to stare at it, though, which is a plus, because it captivates the part of me that enjoys art.

Innovation: I find it amusing that as soon as I sat down to prepare to critique this, a similar photo showed up in my inbox. However, before that, I'd never seen anything like it. Very nice.

About Dirzha:
Dirzha's been a photographer for something like ten years now. However, she started with digital photography two years ago. In a way, the two mediums are vastly different, but, for the most part, they're quite similar. Macro isn't normally something she does, and this photo is one of her first real "macro" shots.

Tip of the day:
A narrow depth of field can eliminate distractions in the background of your photos. At the same time, it can sometimes make things blurry without your permission. Anyhow, try it out if you can.

Surrounded by Craukette

Today's critique is brought to you by: Craukette

Scores:
Overall: 4.5/5
Composition: 4/5
Emotion: 4/5
Innovation: 4/5

Overall: I really like this photo. The colors are gorgeous and the reflection of the sky on the skyscraper is quite nice.

Composition: I like that there are, like, three main building crowding the center. the sky is in the center, which I, personally, like. I think I'd like it better if the spires at the bottom weren't there, but, at the same time, they contribute to the overall mood of the piece.

Emotion: This photo makes me feel kind of claustrophobic. The building are towering over the viewer, but not in a bad way. It's like the bigger kids who want to welcome the small kid to school. And the sky is so bright, too.

Innovation: I really think the fact that the clouds are so bright above the buildings is great. The angle is great and stuff, too.

A little bit about Craukette:
Craukette has been doing photography for at least five years. She got her first "Real" camera (a Nikon D70) five years ago to take pictures in New Zealand. Her favorite kinds of photos are landscapes and sky photos, and anything that kind of transcribes harmony. She recently got a new camera.

Tip of the day: Try photoshopping two heads on one body. It's amusing.

Peaceful by Natalyy

Todays critique is brought to you by Natalyy.

Scores:
Overall: 3/5
Composition: 3/5
Emotion: 4/5
Innovation: 3/5

Overall: It's a very beautiful photo. I'm not entirely fond of these kinds of pictures, but that's not your fault. Still, very pretty.

Composition: I personally would have cropped it differently. The cloud at the very top is a little distracting, to me. I really like the position of the sun and the clouds surrounding it, though. And the colors are beautiful.

Emotion: Like the title implies, this photo gives off a peaceful feel. The darker clouds at the top make me feel like the peace isn't going to last long. However, the bright yellows and light blues also make me feel that the darkness can be held at bay.

Innovation: I see these kinds of photos all the time - which is part of why I'm not particularly fond of them as a whole. Anyhow, I feel that this one would have been more unique if it had been cropped differently. Still, the photo is quite beautiful, and unique in its own way - two sunsets are never the same.

About Natalyy:
Natalyy enjoys taking macro shots, but she's recently gotten into taking conceptual shots, as well. She's been on dA for two years, and, from the looks of it, she started doing photography way before then. dA says she's eighteen and from "Bosnia and Herzegovina." Her gallery is a amazing, so check it out.

Tip of the day:
Cats - we all love to take photos of them (except for those who don't). The problem with them is that they don't like to sit still most of the time - or follow the script. How can you fix this? You can't. You have to rely on luck. However, having someone distract the cat in your preferred direction helps.

Ich blicke an dir vorbei by Chinographer

Today's critique brought to you by: Chinographer.

Scores:
Overall: 4/5
Composition:3.5/5
Emotion:3.5/5
Innovation: 4/5

Overall: I'm really digging this photo. I love the angle of the building, and the hue of the sky.

Composition: I don't really like the lamp or the shadows on the building - they're slightly distracting - but the rest of this piece is very strong. If this were an add for a hotel, I could totally see the text being right where all the leading lines point.

Emotion: This photo gives me the same feeling that all the really big buildings in New York City - a kind of claustrophobic awe. The building looms very well. And I guess it wouldn't loom quite as well without the lamp post to give us perspective.

Innovation: I don't get to take/see pictures like this very often, because I live in a small town. I think the angle is very creative.

About Chinographer:
This guy's been doing photography for six years! He bought himself a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT two years in, and upgraded to the 40D in 2008. You can see more of his work on his deviantart page or at his homepage - www.freakalive.de. I think what's great about him is that he's not searching to the perfect picture - he just tries to have an eye for the right mood for each picture.

Tip of the Day:
Learn to use your camera's setting, or your camera will make life hard. I cannot tell you how many times I've disagreed with a camera on composition in the past year and a half. I'm still learning how to make my camera submit to my will. Anyhow, learn how to change your camera's ISO, F/Stop, Shutter Speed, Zoom, Focus Mode, and everything thing else, because it gives you more control.

Street by xXxCelineChanxXx

Today's critique is brought to you by xXxCelineChanxXx.

Scores:
Overall: 3.5/5
Composition:3/5
Emotion:3.5/5
Innovation: 3/5

Overall: I like this photo quite a bit. The angle is quite nice, and I like that it's in black in white. There are just a few things - which will be explored below - that I'm not fond of.

Composition: So, there's a distraction in the top right corner, where, like, power lines cross the corner. I'd also like to see the vanishing point further to the right. I really like the contrast between the clouds and the street. Also, I think having the cars there makes it more interesting.

Emotion: This photo totally reminds me of the Beatles. The clouds seem a tad ominous to me, which is actually quite nice. I like your choice of black and white for this one, as it helps to keep the cars (which are probably in a plethora of colors) from distracting the viewer, as well as adding to the somewhat ominous feeling.

Innovation: It's been a while since I've seen something like this. This photo immediately brings to mind the Beatles, as well as the cover of American Gods (at least, the copy of the book I have). Anyhow, I like the combination.

A little bit about Celine:
She's been playing the photography game for about four years. Like me, she doesn't really have a favorite kind of shot, she just likes the ones that turn out awesome. Her gallery is pretty interesting - definitely worth a looksee.

Tip of the day:
Clouds and stuff can create different moods in your photo. In the same way, capturing a person unawares can create a great mood of its own - the kind of mood that makes you laugh. Seriously. Try it some time.