Cookies by Celinphotography

Today's Critique brought to you by: Celinphotography

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

Overall:
This photo is very nice. It accurately portrays the soul of these cookie. The composition is interesting.

Composition:
I think another angle would have been more powerful - perhaps from below? - but the current angle is quite good. The cookies contrast well with the background, giving them dominance.

Emotion:
Aye, ye've acc'r'lty capt'red 'he soul o' t'em cookies. I'm assuming they make the viewer feel hungry (not me, but that's a personal matter). They look very innocent and harmless, to be sure.

About Celinphotography:
Celine has always loved to take pictures. She got her first reflex camera at age seventeen. Celine is currently an art student. She enjoys photojournalism.

Tip of The Day:
Capturing the essence of food is difficult.

Chains by Wiseman500

Today's Critique brought to you by: Wiseman500

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

Overall:
I like the colors and the concept.

Composition:
I don't like how the chain near the top is out of focus, it's distracting to me. The white thing (a bolt?) is also rather distracting. The colors are nice. I like the subdued tones of the photo.

Emotion:
This photo has subtle emotion. The feeling of being chained to something, be it a pole, a bed, or a relationship is definitely there.

About Wiseman500:
Mateo has been a photographer for three years, though they've only been serious about it for the last year and a half. Mateo loves macro photography and nature photography. "I love being able to see things from a new perspective and being able to show that to others," they say.

Tip of The Day:
It feels weird to take photos out in the world, but it's actual very beneficial.

Black-eyed Susan by Growerman

Today's Critique brought to you by: Growerman

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

Overall:
I love the colors, the contrast and the composition. This photo is very nice. Of course, being that I'm critiquing this, I'll have to find something you could do better at.

Composition:
The colors and lighting are gorgeous. The yellow contrasts well with the green background as well as the brown of the centers of the flowers. The focus is very nice. I think I'd like to see a little more space to the left of the center of the flower, since it seems kind of cut off and/or cramped. Moving the left edge a little further left would also make better use of the rule of thirds, too.

Emotion:
This reminds me that we're only a few months away from Summer vacation (and, you know, sleeping in until noon every day). It's very summery and bright. I can almost feel the sunlight.

About Growerman:
Growerman has been photographing the natural world for four or five years.

Tip of The Day:
Capturing the perfect lighting is difficult, but totally worth it.

All The Little Duckies by EmersonStem

Today's Critique brought to you by: EmersonStem

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

Overall:
I like the colors, the contrast and the concept.

Composition:
I think I'd like it better if the purple one was in focus, too, as it's somewhat distracting. I like the contrast between the candy and the grass. I think the green one is a bit unnecessary, seeing as it doesn't really stand out against the grass. The lighting is very nice, and the contrast between the orange and yellow candies is very nice, too.

Emotion:
They look like they're waiting for something, rather than following something. Like they're in the middle of a game of Red-Rover, or something. I like the effect of the grass being taller than them, since it gives the photo a sense of smallness.

About EmersonStem:
Emily has been an amateur photographer for around 3 years. She just got her first DSLR around a week ago, and she's been learning a lot about it every day. She loves taking pictures of people. She also likes macro shots. Emily likes anything that shows color and life.

Tip of The Day:
Variety is the spice of life: vary your subjects and methods every once in a while.

Abandoned by Sillysally3456

Today's Critique brought to you by: Sillysally3456

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

Overall:
I like this photo, because it has nice focus, lighting, and angle. I just have a few minor complaints.

Composition:
The black spot in the background at the top right is somewhat distracting. I'd like to see more space to the left of the bloom. I like the angle, and the lighting is very nice. The rose contrasts well with the white backdrop. Black and white was a good choice.

Emotion:
The black and white effect gives it a bit of an old-timey feel. The fact that the rose is on the ground tells me that it's been discarded for some reason, which leads me to wonder why it's been abandoned. Making the viewer think it a good thing, kudos.

About Sillysally3456:
Sally's been a photographer for about a year. She likes still life, macro, and landscape photography.

Tip of The Day:
Photography is all about documenting a moment's moment in visual form. Try to document it in an interesting fashion.

132 by Blackeyedwitch

Today's Critique brought to you by: Blackeyedwitch

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

Overall:
I really like this photo. There are a few distractions in the background, but they're not really too consequential. The lighting is very nice, and there's a lot of emotion present.

Composition:
You can see part of the rest of the town/city on the left where the steps end, which is somewhat distracting. The lighting is great, and the capture of the birds in flight is wonderful. The contrast of the person and the door with the fairly subdued tones of the rest of the photo is very nice.

Emotion:
This photo is so cool. It reminds me of any number of the fantasy novels I've read. It'sa dark, and seems kind of apocalyptic to me. The seemingly oldness of the building and the steps really adds to the feeling.

About Blackeyedwitch:
Blackeyewitch has been a photographer for a year now. She likes HDR photography. Judging by this piece, her work is amazing, so go check her out!

Tip of The Day:
Photography is not something you do, it's something you are.

78, Drink by Saenzlove17

Today's Critique brought to you by: Saenzlove17

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

Overall:
I like the angle and the concept. The lighting seems a little dark - but that's probably just the PC I'm using.

Composition:
I think I'd like to see more of the straw. The lime shows very nice contrast, and the focus is very nice. The yellow and red things in the background are distracting.

Emotion:
The drink looks cold. The lime brings a touch of tart flavor to this photo. It makes me kind of thirsty.

About Saenzlove17:
Bayley's been a photographer for two years. She likes still shots, since "things that are moving aren't really [her] thing."

Tip of The Day:
Depending on the monitor you're using, colors and lighting looks different when you upload your photo to your computer.

Bright Blossoms by RainsOfChange

Today's Critique brought to you by: RainsOfChange


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

Overall:
The colors are nice. The depth of field is great. There's just one thing I don't like.

Composition:
I don't like the blurry blossoms in the foreground. I feel they detract from the subject. The colors and lighting are nice.

Emotion:
This is very lively. It's captured the essence of spring quite nicely. Makes me want to have a picnic. Though, I'm under the impression that the tree is probably naked by now.

About deviant:
Myra doesn't call herself a photographer, since she just takes photos whenever she has her camera and she sees something nice nearby. She enjoys capturing nature and the sky.

Tip of The Day:
Pictures of clouds are all fine an well, but they're usually quite boring. It's best to take picture of clouds only when said clouds are extraordinary.

Still by My-Colorless-Project

Today's Critique brought to you by: My-Colorless-Project

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

Overall:
I like the lighting. There are a few distractions, as with every photo.

Composition:
I'd like to see more of the ferris wheel. The thing in the bottom right corner is kind of distracting. I like the space on the left, I feel it gives the ferries wheel a more whimsical feel. I think maybe color would have been a better choice for this photo. I like the lighting, though it could be a bit lighter.

Emotion:
The lighting you've got going on here strikes me as more of a Zombie-Land carnival of horror kind of lighting - with that in mind, I'd like to see more Zombies (I'm kidding). I think brighter lighting would give this more of a fair/carnival feel.

About deviant:
Melly has been trying photography for around a year, and yet she still doesn't consider herself to be a photographer. She, too, doesn't have a favorite, and just like shooting things that catch her eye and give her ideas for her own photos. If you like her work on My-Colorless-Project, she's got another account. However, I can't link it to you, because I'm lame and didn't write it down.

Tip of The Day:
There are many online communities that can help you receive appreciation and critique for your photos.

Kimi 5 by Tienlove

Today's Critique brought to you by: Tienlove

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

Overall:
I really like the lighting and the pose. I think black and white was a good choice. There are just a few things I'd change.

Composition:
First, I'd like to say that the lighting is beautiful. It's very summery. I'd like to see more of her hands. Also, I think the photo would be a little nicer if the line where the grass stops wasn't going through her head, or wasn't shown at all.

Emotion:
This photo is very summery, like I said. Kimi looks somewhat happy, and contemplative, as though she reflecting on how nice the day is, or something. It's very nice.

About deviant:
Tien has been a photographer for about two months. She hasn't got a favorite shot; she just takes pictures of whatever catches her eye. Her blog is Paradigm Drift.

Tip of The Day:
Remember the Fffs of photography: Focus, forsight, and fun. Remember to focus when you shoot things, as well and keep your shots in focus. Have the foresight to notice the flaming chicken in the background. Have fun taking pictures of the flaming chicken, instead.

Reaching Out by Neon-Monkey

Today's Critique brought to you by: Neon-Monkey

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

Overall:
I like the contrast and the composition. Good depth of field. There are a few distractions, though.

Composition:
The flowers contrast quite well with the greens and greys of the rest of the photo. The flower in the very bottom of the left corner is somewhat distracting, as is the stripe of grey.

Emotion:
This photo reminds me of summertime. It's very vibrant and has good lighting.

About deviant:
Chris has been taking photos for about 10 years, but it's only in the last two years that he's been thinking about what he shoots. His favorite kind of photos are macro shots. He also likes "the idea that one can go down and watch what the 'bugs' can see." Chris collects pictures of graffiti, stating that it can often be very challenging just to get the whole piece in the photo.

Tip of The Day:
If you run out of inspiration for photographers, take a break and do something fun. For example, go epically own someone at Mario.

Yellow Daisy by Saritita

Today's Critique brought to you by: Saritita

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

Overall:
I really like how simple this photo is. The contrast is nice, and the focus seems good. I think an aspect or two of the background might be a bit distracting.

Composition:
I, personally, like that you placed the flower in the center, because the space around it seems balanced. You have nice leading lines, and if this were an advertisement and the text were place in the top right corner, it would certainly draw your attention to the text. The yellow contrasts very well with the green background. I think the light green spot by the stem is somewhat distracting.

Emotion:
The darkness of the photo makes me think that this daisy is longing to see the sun again.

About Saritita:
Saritha's been taking photographs since she was about 10. Her favorite subjects are flowers and animals in macro, and she's starting to photograph airplanes. However, she likes every kind of shot, too. Her Gallery's pretty awesome, so go check it out.

Tip of The Day:
If you're going to go to Seattle, try to get an interesting picture of the Space Needle.

Wall Puddle by JoGuge

Today's Critique brought to you by: JoGuge

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

Overall:
I like the colors and the contrast. I don't really like how the light overwhelms the lantern, slightly.

Composition:
There's a lot of nice contrast in this photo, and the color palette is very autumnal. I think it would be better with less exposure so that I could make out details regarding the lantern. I also think cropping it at the corner of the wall would make it better. I like how the lantern is positioned on a third.

Emotion:
It's dark and mysterious, and I keep expecting, like, Batman to appear in the dark area around the corner, for some reason. On the flip side, it also makes me think of how there's always hope, even in the darkest of nights.

About deviant:
JoGuge is studying photography in college. She's serious about portrait work with different kinds of film cameras. Any digital work she does is simple point-and-shoot, and "is more for helping [her] gather ideas and keep thinking in color."

Tip of The Day:
Sometimes it helps to just take pictures of things to help train your eye for those artistic things. It also helps to keep you thinking in color and about composition.

Orchid View 211 by Buildingclimber

Today's Critique brought to you by: buildingclimber.

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

Overall:
I really like this photo. The colors are gorgeous, the depth of field if very nice, and a few other things just make it lovely to look at.

Composition:
I'd like to see more of the petal that's cut off at the bottom of the photo. The other flowers and buds in the picture are slightly distracting, but they add to the natural feel of the piece, so I'd say they're beneficial. The contrast between the flowers and the dark greens of the foliage is very nice and brings out the different shades of pink quite well. It might be a little noisy. I like the fact that the subject is in the center of the photo.

Emotion:
This photo reminds me of spring/summer time. It's a very good representation of life, and feels very natural.

About BuildingClimber:
Terry is a great photographer, as I'd expect from someone who's been a photographer since 1972 when he attended a vocational school for photography. He's a great guy and a wonderful photographer, though he sometimes finds it difficult to take photos due to a medical condition. "I believe that art is an act of creation and not just a recording of an event though I believe that too is creation because it is the photographers view which is created ..the camera is just the vehicle used to arrive at the finish line of that view," he says. I suggest you check his art out, as his gallery is really too good to pass up. His birthday is on March 10, he'll be 57.

Happy Birthday, Terry! May many more follow!

Tip of The Day:
Terry's right, art is an act of creation. That's why it's always best to try and get different or novel angle on your subject. For example, the kitten is much more interesting when you're photographing from it's level.

Piano by ThatPhotographyChick

Today's Critique brought to you by: ThatPhotographyChick

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

Overall:
I like the concept and the angle is very nice.

Composition:
I think there's some noise around the base of the keys (where the keys meet the piano?) and near the end of the (for lack of a better word) keyboard. I personally would have cropped it differently so that you couldn't see the end of the keyboard. I think black and white feel of the photo is a key component to the emotion of the piece. I'm quite fond of the contrast.

Emotion:
Whenever there's a photo in black and white (or even predominantly B&W) it always reminds me of the old days of photography. It has a very nice feel to it. This photo delights me, because it combines two of my loves - music and photography.

About ThatPhotographyChick:
She refused to supply me with a name other than her user name,* so I'm going to refer to ThatPhotographyChick as Chick henceforth, because I'm a lazy bum. Anyhow, she's a youngster, and judging by the ISO the photo was taken at (400) she knows a little bit more about the workings of a camera than I did until very recently. Chick's been into photography for about a year, and she likes taking pictures of people and nature, for the most part. She hasn't quite developed a keen eye for composition yet, but she's got a ton of promise and her gallery's worth looking at.

Tip of The Day:
If you have any nic-nacs lying about, those make great subjects for photography.

_{*I would have settled for Bob, even, but I'm glad she was being safe about the internet.}

Spectrum by Mineek

Today's Critique brought to you by: Mineek

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

Overall:
I like the concept and the contrast.

Composition:
Well, the first thing I have to say is that nothing seems to be in focus. It also seems really noisy. I really like the colors, they're bright and contrast well with the hand. I like that you can see the lines of the hand.

Emotion:
It reminds me of rainbows,^* which are always fun. makes me want to go play with my new gel pens. Translation: it makes me want to go be a little kind for a little while.

About deviant:
Mineek's been taking photos for about four years, mainly focusing on self-portraits. She's been known to use different styles every once in a while, though.

Tip of The Day:
When inside, your ISO should probably be around 800, unless the lighting is really good.

_{*Of course it reminds me of rainbows, it is one.}

Lavender 1 by Kiss

Today's Critique brought to you by: Kiss

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

Overall:
I like the color and the concept. The execution is a little off.

Composition:
Good use of the rule of thirds. The purple contrasts nicely with everything else in the photo. I think I'd like it better if the depth of field were wider, and the white stuff in the back ground is distracting, as is the bright green thing in the center of the background. The photo is noisy, too, so you should probably consider lowering your ISO next time. The focus itself is kind of nice.

Emotion:
This photo reminds me of springtime, and the beauty of life as it pushes through the snow to blossom.

About Kiss:
Li has been using a pocket camera for a few years, but she finally got her first "serious" camera this month. She like's up-close nature shots, such as plants, flowers and bugs, just to name a few. Her gallery is filled with a variety of artistic mediums.

Tip of The Day:
On a sunny Day, your ISO should probably be around 400 when you're outside.

Golden Guardian by Idess

Today's Critique brought to you by: Idess

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

Overall:
For someone who doesn't claim to be a photographer, you certainly have a nice photo here. I really like how most things in the photo are arranged, and the colors are quite nice.

Composition:
I really like the majority of the picture. The bottom left ninth of the photo has a few distractions in it, and the people in front of the house are kind of distracting, too (though I wouldn't have noticed them if I weren't looking for them). The house if very clear, and has nice contrast. Nice placement of the house, too.

Emotion:
I like how the title lends a feeling of something being protected, presumably the bridge. The lack of clarity of the bridge (I assume it's the weather causing that) is interesting and makes it seem further away and bigger, which lends credence to the alternative that the house is being protected by the bridge.

About Idess:
Idess doesn't consider herself to be a photographer, because she just does it for fun, and I don't believe her in the least. She's very good at what she does, and her talents extend vastly beyond photography, in fact, I started watching her because she's an incredible artist. She takes her photos with an old Canon Powershot.

Tip of The Day:
Part of being a sane artist involves being an egoist while maintaining a healthy dose of the "OMG My Art Suxxors" attitude.*

_{*Which is why I'm not a sane artist, I have too much ego and not enough of a lack of confidence. I'm a sane person, though.}

054 by MasochisticHeartache

Today's Critique brought to you by: MasochisticHeartache

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

Overall:
I really like the colors and the concept. there are a few compositional problems, nothing too serious.

Composition:
The jewelry doesn't really seem to be in focus. I like the leading lines of the notes leading up to the bracelet. I like the depth of field, but I think it would be better if the focus were better.

Emotion:
Well, for me this is a calm photo. It makes me think someone just got done with a concert and has unthinkingly placed their jewelry on their music because they're tired and just want to go to bed, or something along those lines.

About MasochisticHeartache:
She's an apprentice wedding photographer in Victoria. She's interested in photo journalism, and most of her photos have a journal feeling. She says they're "pictures of people's lives... so they mean something and aren't just a photo."

Tip of The Day:
Lens flare is difficult to get, but totally worth capturing.

Not The Usual Suspects by Darwin2kx

Today's Critique brought to you by: Darwin2kx

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

Overall:
I like the colors and the depth of field. I can't really complain about much - it's a very nice and simple photo.

Composition:
Very nice contrast and depth of field. The colors are very nice, too. I'm somewhat distracted by the funny shaped purple one, and the black one in the very back.

Emotion:
Well I for one am against candy, but the colors and the idea of the candy certainly invoke a feeling of nostalgia. The title somewhat confuses me, but that's good, because it's making me think about why they're not the usual suspects.

About deviant:
Ben Dauphinee has been a photographer for seven years, which is basically since he picked up his first digital camera. He's been officially pro since he sold his first print in 2005. Ben got his first SLR last year (a Rebel XTi). Around 25% of his gallery is flowers. He has a personal website, Bendauphinee.com.

Tip of The Day:
Natural sunlight is a better light source than indoor lights, more often than not.

Snow Bunting 1 by Rosie-A-G

Today's Critique brought to you by: Rosie-A-G

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

Overall:
I like the photo, because I know how hard it is to get bird shots. I also like how crisp the focus on the snow bunting is.

Composition:
I think the foreground is a little distracting, because the greens of the grass stand out more than the naturally muted colors of the bird. The focus if very nice, as is the depth of field. I like the contrast within the bird's feathers.

Emotion:
I'm in awe, because I know how hard it is to shoot birds. Also, birds are cute,so I'm kind of "b'aaww"ing.

About Rosie-A-G:
Rosie takes pictures of wildlife, mostly birds,as she's "been a birder all [her] life." She bought her first DSLR three years ago. She tries to hang out with photographers who are better than her, as she feels that a person learns a lot that way. Rosie'salso been taking quite a few courses specializing in wildlife photography.

Tip of The Day:
Hanging out with people who are better at photography than you is a great way to learn how to be better.

How To Fix Everything by Ohhey25

Today's Critique brought to you by: Ohhey25

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

Overall:
I like the emotion present in this photo, as well as the interesting vignette. There are a few distractions.

Composition:
I like the contrast between her coat and the frame, and the frame and her face. I might have chosen a different coat for this shot, as the current one somewhat blends with the background near the bottom. I'd also like to see more of the frame and her elbow. I like the leading line of her finger pointing to her eyes. It's also a bit noisy around her eyes, I think.

Emotion:
She looks troubled. The slightly burnt effect of the vignette makes my mind wander down paths to find itself at a conclusion that her house burnt down and the frame is all she has left. Very nice emotion; good job.

About Ohhey25:
She started film photography in her junior and senior years of high school, which was five years ago. She didn't pick up photography again until last summer, and says she officially been into photography for eight months. Her favorite kinds of shots are portraits, particularly portraits that utilize they beauty of the subjects eyes. "They express a lot of emotion and are very beautiful," she says.

Tip of The Day:
While the stress of taking a digital photography class can sometimes drive you to madness, it's a very beneficial experience.

Quiet Earth II by Ymefreak

Today's Critique brought to you by: Ymefreak

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

Overall:
I really like this photo. This photo shows very nice contrast on more than one level. Just a few composition problems (ones I never would have noticed if I weren't looking for them).

Composition:
I think that the tree just barely showing itself on the left edge of the photo is distracting. You could help fix this by cropping differently, or including the whole tree next time. I'd also like to see David bigger, however I think that would change the overall feel of the piece. I mention contrast before, but I didn't go into detail. I love the stark contrast between the "city" (I say this because he's not dressed like a country boy) boy and the nature setting. There's also gorgeous contrast between the landscape and the sky.

Emotion:
This photo is peaceful. I could see someone going to the place in this photo to relax for an hour or two on the weekend, just to get away from it all.

About Ymefreak:
Madeline (the name her dA page gives me) has been doing photography for 3 years, which is right around when she joined deviantArt. She thinks her knowledge about the subject has improved quite a bit, but she also knows she's got a lot to learn. Her favorite kind of photography is portraiture. She also enjoys a nice landscape photo every once in a while. She wants to combined ultra-wide lens landscapes with portraiture someday, when she has the right equipment.

Tip of The Day:
Dogs that can't sit still make for bad photos.