Aura II

as far as I know! I give a 100% money back guarantee on all of my photography work, and they haven't asked for a refund...

By: DannyLenihan

Not Tonight, Josephine.

Great shot - I just wish the horizon was level - I know it's really nit-picky, but I think it would have made all the difference. Will upload a mod to see what you think.

Danny

By: NexusImages

Michelle Collins

Hi Gav,

It's a nice capture, no doubt, but I think you've ruined the image by being too heavy handed with the vignette. The guy in the background is definitely a distraction, but not nearly as much as the black oval around the image.

Have you though about either:

a: Using a square/rectangular vignette tool - I use Tiffen DFX for most vignetting, and you can adjust it to just creep into the edges, creating the "draw" to the centre, without it noticably being there.


or

b: Use the burn tool on a low opacity and create the vignette yourself, just towards the edges and corners.

Still get's a vote from me because I think the image is good, but one of my biggest bug-bears is over-processing, of which you are guilty here.

Would love to see the untouched original - can you upload it as another version?

Danny

By: leedsgh

Cool vista.

I love it! Don't know why, I just do.

By: loronzo

Aura

Thanks Trev - totally agree. unfortunately, the beads are the point of the image, them being part of the client's catalogue.

By: DannyLenihan

Time and Decay

I agree with Eviscera above - would love to have seen this as a square crop with a slightly more dominant clock, but I have to say that's being ultra nit-picky. It is still an incredible piece of art, and I'd love to put it on my wall!

Well done.

Danny

By: sherlob

Long Tailed Tit 11

I'm stunned. Never been a big fan of wildlife photography either, but this week has been a real eye opener.

great, great capture.

By: FeatherFriend

'69 Karmann Ghia

I think this is a magnificent image. To be fair, I've spent hours looking through the galleries this week, for images worthy of a GEA, and I pretty much thought I was done for a week, and figured I should have a quick look to see which images Pete has awarded.

I must have been half asleep when you posted this because I totally missed it. What a wonderful shot, and in my humble opinion it should have got an EC. Personally I would complain - letters to Pete Bargh, MagEzine Publishing Limited...

By: IRaddict

Early Light

Not really a fan of HDR, but this is a fab shot. Well done.

By: mikesmith

Dark anticipation

I like the idea of this shot, and as this is the kind of shot I take to earn a living, I feel obliged to be a little critical:

1: Your focus is on the hands and toes. When taking portrait photos the focus should always be on the leading eye, unless you are specifically highlighting an area of the shot, and since this isn't called "hands and toes" but "dark anticipation" one can only assume that the point of the image is the expression on her face, which is not in focus.

Also, when shooting black on black, I would use a rear light so that you can gain some separation between subject and backdrop. If you have a light shining from the rear onto the back of the subject, it need only be metered 1 or two stops below the main exposure to have a massive impact on the subject without creating horrendous shadows or over indulgent highlights.

Minor points: There is a hotspot on her face where it is over exposed. The correct exposure would cause even more loss of separation, hence the need for a rear light. Also, the background is really creased and very obvious. A little attention to detail would make a huge difference.

I actually think it's a really nice shot, and if done well it could be magnificent, but on this occassion it just falls short for me.

Please take this criticism at it is intended - as a nudge in the right direction. You are more than welcome to disregard it completely, and I'm sure there are plenty of members that would entirely disagree with my synopsis - isn't photography wonderful!

Keep it up,

Danny

By: KangaRU

Eighty-One

Cracker.

By: woolybill1

U

Sean, your work is stunning. The only thing that has stopped me from giving this shot an award is that the left side of the cup intersects with the shape of the arm behind it - I think greater separation could have been achieved with a slightly different composition.

Having said that, you are a master of quality and DOF, and I still think it's a fantastic shot.

By: seanslevin

Roundhouse

if I was going to be ultra-critical, I'd say that referring to it as "some building in Rome" is tantamount to calling Shakespeare "some English bloke".

By: Pavan_Chavda

Just Who Is The Five O'clock Hero

Stick to photography

Great image.

By: Scaramanga

3rd Rock from the sun

Two words. Wow.

By: IcelandAurora

...

Great idea - strangely, it looked almost biblical on the thumbnail, but now looks more medieval. I think this could really work in both senses. Very well taken. Have a Bouncing Danny Award!

By: george_gradinaru

U>

What a wonderful concept! Have been guest editor for 3 days and this is the first image I've awarded. Cracking!

By: seanslevin

GREENFINCH

Wonderful moment.

By: jeb2012

Britcar 24hr

very impressive, the new MK4. How's the grain on a decent enlargement?

By: onewildworld

A mouse view

cracking shot. IMHO a touch overdone on the vignette - I always think that the mark of a good vignette is that it draws you in to the subject subtly, without noticing it, but it's a tad heavy on this.

Having said that, it's still a wonderful shot and it makes the sky look very dramatic to that side.

By: Baz72

Briana - Cabana Girl

I think this is A fantastic fashion shot. well done...

D

By: HotShot38

A Nude Dawn II

Thanks Johnny. I'm not a perfectionist by any means. The nearest I'll get to perfection is a blank CD.

It's just things like; I used an extra light on the left as the room was too tight on the right to balance it, so as a result, I've lit the inside of the door frame, which is unnatural in a silhouette. Also, where the light is at the top of the right hand door, it's over exposed the edges, losing an intrinsic part of the structure of the door.

These kind of things may go unnoticed by many, but I'd be unhappy about handing this to Hasselblad as a finished product. I'll upload some images from the reshoot in July and you'll see a huge difference.

By: DannyLenihan

Summer's evening

Cracking shot. Have a "Bouncing Danny Award".

By: LeighRebecca

A Nude Dawn

Quote: god, that would give the neighbours a thrill or shock !! LOL
Sue

Definitely a thrill Sue. In fact, I was going to tell everyone it's you...



Danny

By: DannyLenihan

Tibby Unexposed

I am so close to picking this shot as the winner for the evening, but her facial expression is just puting me off - it kind of looks like she's halfway through a blink which is a real shame because it is otherwise an absolutely wonderful shot.

Have you another from the same set up?

ATB,

Danny

By: jaspig

Modest

nice shot Steve. Did you photoshop the background in?

By: SKavanagh

More Than Purity

Quote: Very nice photo. If I was being hyper critical I would say that the light on her forehead and chin is just a little harsh compared to her shoulder area but its so minor it does not spoil this otherwise great photo.

Thanks Tom. Our screens are professionally calibrated so that we can produce prints identical to what we see on screen. If you've got over-exposure showing on the forehead and chin, it may be that your monitor is too bright. I always meter at the point of incident, which in this case is her forehead and shoulder simultaneously. I think she may well have had darker skin on her shoulders, or perhaps the make up artist had lightened the tone of her face, hence the difference.

I really appreciate you taking the time to properly look and give feedback.

Danny

By: DannyLenihan

My boy

Cracking Sue.

By: SueTurner

.. attack !

cracking shot - he looks like a Machacoy Blue - very similar to my two...

By: SueTurner