Fire Seeds by iancrowson

I think you may have gone too far this time, Ian. A bit too dark overall. How about a complete reversal, light the background, or have just a back light and the seeds and head silhouetted. The setting sun makes a fine back light.

Paul

6 Pack attack by lloyd82

If his eyes are red and small, what do you intend to do to them in Photoshop? They will still be red and small unless you replace them altogether and I really would not. You could try lightening them a bit with the dodge tool. Technically quite a good shot for a male cheesecake calendar but otherwise just that.

I would try some rather more dramatic lighting if you want other than this effect. The vest looks a touch burnt out but otherwise technically pretty good to me. If you darken the background with lighting you are going to have some clash with background and skin tone.

Paul

homeless by leedsladphoto1

Decent street shot. The chopped off litter bin is a slight pity. Would prefer all of it. Otherwise the only problem is covered by Willie. You sepia is a bit weak. Sepia looses contrast and it often pays to go for a very dark brown base colour with a contrast boost.

Using the duotone process can also add impact by choosing the right colours yourself.

Paul

Up and Away by iancrowson

Pretty good, Ian. A nice try. I'm not sure how it can be too sharp? Surely the head needs to be sharp. I don't think your secondary light is having any effect and that is what is missing. I would have a second flash, radio triggered if your kit does it, behind the set up firing back towards the camera and play with the flash power ratios.

Possibly a bit of light on a background to reduce the total blackness.

Paul

Horse Silhouette by Sone

Quite effective this one. Strong but obviously contrived. However, it works. You needed a bit more space at the bottom so the hoof is not cropped and one or two bits of the silhouette need a clean up with the clone tool.

Well done.

Paul

Crossing.......... by Subhojit

Interesting slice of life shot, but everyone is as an individual. The child is walking quite well away from each woman so maybe the chemistry is not a stable reaction? Nice bright and colourful image, and good street photography.

Paul

Mademoislle Camille by derek collis

Nice but a slightly unusual tonal range. Might be the high ISO. must have been very low light for those exposure details.

Paul

industrial nature by Dairtreephoto

Decent image but you have lost all feather detail on the breast. An adult Starling has a speckled brest as well as back. You could try the dodge tool to get a bit of detail back..

Two Face by mmz_khan

Very nicely done.

Paul

Swan Lake. by NickHall

You are attempting to compress an almost impossible tonal range. You must expose for the highlights as you cannot later put back burnt out detail. This would send the shadows even darker. The head is already so. The only answer is to expose less, then use the dodge tool on the shadows.

If you have a powerful flash, fit that, keep at or below the synch speed and use flash fill. The best way, that, I think. Don't consider HDR though. Just doesn't work on this type of thing.

Paul

Feed Me Mum! by briantjjones

You get some really nice bird shots. You have good gear and you know how to use it, but you seem to miss adding that bit of cream at the end, so to speak. Here, the young bird has a very dark eye area which needs just the slightest sweep with the dodge tool. Finishing touches.

Paul

Panther in a Urban Jungle by lloyd82

This is technically very well done, but I'm not sure of the composition. In one way it has impact, then I wonder about the empty space? Does it speak to me? I do wonder what he is doing. Your title tells us, press ups. Does it say that. Not sure.

Paul

Poppies.... by Miti

Technically superb in almost every way, but the composition is not. The central placing destroys balance and you need a good heavy crop off the left to move the flowers that way. Rules do not always work, but they do here.

Paul

Untitled by Sone

With Willie. The idea is there although you seem to be saying it was a mistake! the plant does not stand out enough and the image is well under exposed. You need to brighten things up a bit and the heavy greenish colour cast would then recede. B&W will not work here as the tones will all convert to similar greys.

Paul

THE TUNNEL by owen3371

This is very effective. It is over sharpened, but I actually think tat adds something here making the image very distinct. The problem you have is almost un-surmountable - the wall light is just too bright causing a considerable hotspot. Not easy to deal with.

Paul