Here we go, my turn to do the critique for this month, I'm not as technically minded as Roger, but I know a good, or bad image when I see one. I will try to be as tactful as possible, and hope that no one gets too offended. And I apologise in advance for the excessive use of smileys.
Paul Kipling, All well in focus, but a little dark, an Orange Tip on an Iris, sounds like it would make a great photo, but in-fact the clash of colours are a little off putting.
Chris, Technically a fine image, this is a very attractive picture, a pristine butterfly on a nice perch, maybe the angle could of been a bit better, but the camera up grade, is without doubt, starting to pay off.
Charles Nicol, Moths..... Moths, this is a bl**dy butterfly comp, a nice image, good composition, could be a little sharper, but Pete will become interesting, and Guy will marry Buffy, before a moth wins one of these comps.
Eccles, never a bad shot from Eccles, although I can't really fault this shot, I can fault the man for not changing this, for that magnificent Silver-Washed Frit pic, he posted in the June sightings.
Fishiee, this is a masterful image, I love it, I wish I took it, if it has any faults at all, then maybe it could of been cropped a little better, ( some room for the butterfly to look into ), but that's nit picking, well done Fishiee.
Roger, like Fishiee's image this is a hard one to fault, I think its cropped slightly better than Fishiee's, but its perch is a little distracting, and it wasn't playing ball with its antennae, but these are things outside of Roger's control. All the things he could of done right he did, nice uncluttered back drop, beautifully light, pin sharp, one for the wall I think!.
Gwenhwyfar, Rubbish.
I suppose that won't do will it.
A very attractive composition, can't fault it technically, like it a lot, would of voted for it, if I could.
Pete, this is probably the best image so far, in any monthly comp, to get no votes, I had this one down as a contender for honours. When I look at some of the images that have got votes, and see Pete getting nil for this, its just wrong. This is a fine image, plenty of interest, beautifully butterflies, and a lovely crop.
Surely you have a family member, or friend you can get to register on here, and vote for you Pete.
Martin, from what I've seen of Lulworths, they are a bit under stated to say the least. To get a shot of one that I would say was competition worthy, would be very challenging, But to get one that I would vote for, is outstanding, and you did. I love this shot, great light, lovely back ground, and the crescent pattern through the wing, a shot I would kill to have taken.
Gruditch, What a good looking guy.
Trev Sawyer, A handsome butterfly for sure, if I'm being picky, its a little out of focus on the head. The bright flower also clashes with the butterfly some what, sorry Trev but it does.
Nick B, Although well in focus and quite sharp, this pic does lacks any real wow factor.
You may of been better going with that unusual breeding pair of Brimstones that you originally posted, a nice soft dreamy pic, that I feel sure would of attracted some votes.
Ian Pratt, A nice image, the colours are a little strong, and the subject is not at the perfect angle, but a nice image all the same.
IAC, I like the more unusual angle, the slim front view is also enhanced by the clever crop, adding the name gives a nice finishing touch, well done.
Denise, congratulations on the victory, a well taken image, your definitely moving in the right direction, I see a big Eccles influence in this pic. To be honest I didn't have this one down as a contender, so maybe I don't know a good shot when I see one, after all.
Jack, although it is nice to see a bee sharing a flower with a butterfly, on this occasion the two subjects are a little distracting, and make for a messy composition. But that's only my opinion, and I don't expect Jack gives a monkeys what I think .
Markulous, I would say that a Small Heath is one of the most challenging butterflies to photograph, its so hard to get the best out of them.
This is a fine attempt though, the butterfly is up on a nice perch, (unusual for a Small Heath), and the image is technically fine. But for a pic Small Heath to compete with all these fancy Frits this month, it would have to be a master piece, nice try though.
chanander04, technically not a great capture, the head, and especially the eyes are out of focus. No matter how good the rest of an image is, if the head is out of focus, then it will always let the picture down, focus on the eyes my friend.
Dave McCormick, you bottled it Dave, you had a real nice pic of a White, but thought it too plain, and changed it for a less well taken, but more flashy Blue. Its a tough call to make, but I personally would of gone with the technically better white.
SteveH, I like this image, I came within a Gnat's whisker of voting for it, if the subject was a little less central and maybe turned slightly, then I definitely would of went for it. As it is I'm stunned that this image has not got more votes, maybe you should register under several different user names and vote for yourself.
Sidwemn, Oh how I tried to get a frit to pose like this for me. The head could do with being a little less obscured by the Grass, but this is such a eye catching attractive image, that it was always going to do well in the voting, Grass in the way or not. very jealous.
M-galathea, Hmm, I've taken tens of thousands of images but none have came out like this, I can't honestly work out what you have done here, it just doesn't look natural. I think some where in there, there is a good composition, but it just looks strange to me. That said it got some votes, maybe they are sympathy votes for being next to JKT,
.
JKT, I knew the moment I first saw this pic, that the June comp was over, or should have been over. This is one of the best images I've seen in one of these comps, for some time, simply awesome,
I honestly thought you would win by a country mile.
Sussex Kipper, can't relay fault this one, but against such class opposition I think it lacked a little Humph, nice shot Mr Kipper
Nick Patel, I think perhaps this one should of been saved for the Butterflies and People comp. But nothing wrong with adding a little fun to the proceedings, I bet Jack voted for this.
web4160, a very good interesting and pleasing composition, but a little soft, I'm guessing that your not using a DSLR with a Macro lens. For if you were, and you got it right, this could of been an awesome pic. unlike a lot of people, you know a good image when you see one, and that's a good start, now get your hand in your pocket.
Padfield, now here's a guy, if you'll excuse the pun, who knows how to get the best out of a compact camera, unlike many compact users, his backgrounds usually enhance the image. Yet again a lovely image Guy, preferred your originally posted blue, but this is nice also, God help us all if you get a DSLR.
Paulcrook, took a little time to actually find the butterfly on this image. Its way to big, and any flaws are exaggerated tenfold. I think this has the makings of a nice picture, a skipper on a stem of grass with a nice blurred back drop, but its just toooo BIG.
Ah, in the end I downloaded the thing and checked it out in paint shop pro, yes it is a good shot.
Twitcher, compared to the last pic this is positively small, but still posted too large, and in your face. It is however a nice interesting shot, well in focus were it matters, but cropped a little too tight to the subject.
BryanH, what a gorgeous butterfly, absolutely pristine, the colours and light in this shot are great, and the subject is looking into a nice bit of space. Good shot Bryan, well done.
Shirley Roulston, I found Meadow Browns to be a very challenging subject, to get the best out of, against say BryanH's SSB they can seem a little under stated. If your going to do well in a competition with a Meadow Brown, you relay need to take one hell of a pic. And this pic doesn't really tick too many boxes. The subject is at a bad angle to the camera, a piece of grass is obscuring a wing tip, and because you are using a compact, the back ground is in focus and distracting. However like so many others the original pic you put up, was actually very good, and you should of stuck with it.
Simon C, a nice Frit is always a good subject, the eye isn't as in focus as it could be, but a pleasing shot none the less. But with so many other outstanding images this month, and several other Frit shots, that a slightly more eye catching, I thought this image would get some votes, but struggle to get in the placings, a decent effort though.
Roger Gibbons, nice, I don't know how you continually get a butterfly on the ground to look good, mine always end out c**p, maybe its the lack of rock around here. A nice shot as always, would expect nothing less, and we all know its only a matter of time till you win one of these comps.
So there you have it, a great competition, followed by a rubbish critique.
I personally voted for JKT, Fishiee, and Martin, but SteveH, RogerDodge, IAC, Sidweman, and Pete Eeles were all very close to getting my vote.
This time round apart from JKT, it was very hard to choose who to vote for, and although I personally like the three vote system, unfortunately looking at the votes, I think there is some tactical voting, and a bit of, one for him, one for him, and one for me, going on.
I thought I liked the new three vote system, but now I'm not sure. What if entry A gets 10 first place votes, entry B gets 9 first place votes, yet entry C get no first place votes, but 15 third place votes, just a thought.
Anyway well done to all, I eagerly await the scathing criticisms of my own pic, and this critique.
Gruditch
.