Bonsai Master

[Marko]

It's been a while since I put one out for critique, so please feel free to comment. thx! Marko

[Mad Aussie]

Cool. About the only thing that stands out for me is that blurred structure on the right side is a huge distraction for me. Everything else is excellent.

[Marko]

Hmm - cool thanks MA.
I totally debated about cropping that sucker out but in the end I left it in because of the Asian architectural design. Maybe I'll try a cropped version.

[JAS_Photo]

Cool, I thought the structure was a pagoda so it fits in I think.

[Marko]

is this crop better? - I think I'm leaning toward no.

[Iguanasan]

The problem with critiquing this one is that there's really not much wrong here (if anything). I believe we're at the point of opinion. I like the first on with the tree trunk (or whatever it is) on the left and the building on the right kind of bookending the statue.

That being said, you have some blown highlights but they kinda work here so that's not really a problem though it may have been nicer if they were toned down a bit.

I do find the statue a little low on the "horizon". I would prefer to see a little more foreground in front of him. But maybe that's just me.

Nice capture overall.

[Marko]

Thanks for the comment jas and iggy!

Just as an FYI - those blown highlights are specular highlights, normally I almost never tone them down...sometimes when i find them extra distracting (perhaps here) though, I will clone them out. The same is true of pure black with no detail. Most images benefit from those extremes being included. Though i do agree, sometimes they can indeed be distractions.
Thx again!

[Mad Aussie]

The crop is better to my eyes.

[dante]

This one made me smile Nice one
I like the cropped version better, it's only the master and nature then, as opposed to the pink structure (I didn't see it as a pagoda before reading the comments).

[Bambi]

I like both but lean towards the first one with the wider crop. As Iggy says it's opinion. I do like the highlights.