Critiques #7 - Phobias

[Jensen Ackles]

Lets get the controversial out of the way

Phagophobia - The fear of being eaten. Sorry Tink.

Grell: Yikes! now this is terrifying. I like that Peter is literally the Phobia itself. I'm really liking the dark side of Peter we've been seeing. I'm also a fan of the change in design of Peter and seeing him outside his normal Green outfit. I think this is a big plus for Peter Pan this round. (However, if we find out this isn't Peter, then expect a major deduction)

Jensen: No worries from me, I know this is Peter Pan. I like this dark side of Peter. I like variety though so it makes me happy to see it. This is good.

Doctor: First, I want to go on record to say that I absolutely LOVE this photo. It is by far my favorite of the round and I'd LOVE to give you a 10 for it. It's just amazing. However, I can not. As much as I ever hate to acknowledge when Team Justice Champions is right...I still will when they are. We established in Photo Shoot #2 a very CLEAR ruling on this very issue when Team KorrAang submitted Rule 63 versions of themselves:
"These aren't Korra and Aang. This is a white guy being a water bender and a female air bender. I think you had this round confused with Rule 63." -Grell
" I'm all for taking risks and pushing the envelope, but these are not even Korra & Aang. You actually did the Rule 63 characters and that's where the problem lies. We can't accept these characters as they are not the right members of your team I'm really sorry." -Jensen
There is no question as to the gender of this submission. The artist makes it very clear this is a FEMALE. Which means it's Rule 63. I can not in good conscience ignore this when we were so very harsh on Team KorrAang on this EXACT issue. It would simply not be fair. We made a ruling. We need to stick to it. So, I'm sorry...but you WILL be given a score of 1 on this from me, just as we gave Team KorrAang back in Photo Shoot #2. I hope you understand.

Jensen: For the record, I didn't check the link because this looks male. I am reading that this photo was based on a dream. The artist doesn't say that they drew this as a female but that he was female in their dream, but someone does ask the question in the comments because like myself, this looks male. Everything about this photo looks male. If it wasnt' for your link, I'd rank you as Peter Pan but you provided the link yourself. Team JC is not right though, those do not look like boobs lmfao

[Jensen Ackles]

Barophobia - The fear that gravity will cease to exist.

Grell: You really like to have a lot of things going on in your photos despite our warnings each round. Means my eyes have to do a lot of busy work seeing the whole photo. It's been okay for you for the early rounds, but if this becomes a habit the judges may look at it as going against the judges advise. You are making the connection of weightlessness in your photo, though you seem more at peace rather a sense of fear. Aside from those comments, it's a very beautiful looking piece.

Jensen: Ummmmm one uber busy photo does not equal each round lol This is only the second time you've submitted something busy and for me, I got it right off the bat. This is gorgeous and perfect for the theme at hand.

Doctor: Okay well, despite what Grell said...I think "busy" was only mentioned once and I was a fan of that photo. So... xD With this photo, I think it works perfectly. It would've been a mistake NOT for it to be busy. You have to be able to show the source of fear and it's a little hard to show a lack of gravity with nothing there to go floating off. I think you chose perfectly. I'm in love with this photo. You look amazing. Brava!

[Jensen Ackles]

Gerontophobia

The unreasonable fear or hatred of the elderly is associated with the fact that someday all young people will grow old and that old age is associated with death. This unwillingness to accept death manifests in feelings of hostility and discriminatory acts towards the elderly.

Grell: I'm really liking the change in art style. My favorite part of this photo is the attention on the faces of you and Master Roshi. I also like this take of fear because when people are afraid, they can react by lashing out. My critique for this photo is that the proportions of you torso seems a bit off. Some moments seem alright, but other moments feel like the arms are smaller than they should be. Regardless, this is a great submission in my opinion. Great job

Jensen: I love how hot you look lol You are very sexy. The art styling makes you look dirty but not so bad that I want to vomit. This is a pretty good photo and I'm liking it.

Doctor: I am LOVING this take on "fear". People sometimes forget that violence is a very real result of fear. You look killer. *giggles*

[Jensen Ackles]

Arachnophobia or arachnephobia is a specific phobia, the fear of spiders

Grell: This photo seems to hit all the right notes. The environment helps sell your theme with the spiders all around you. The quality of Link is really nice. It's better than has been the last couple of rounds. Nothing negative I can really say. Nice work this round.

Jensen: I like this. I can see the webs and the fear in your eyes. It's a good shot.

Doctor: I like it. I find myself unable to say anything negative as well. Do me a favor and swat that damn fairy though. xD

[Jensen Ackles]

Cleithrophobia - Fear of being locked in a small, enclosed space

Grell: This photo seems to have more of a connection to Merinthophobia(Fear of being bound or tied up), but you're still within the same area. I do like the sense of terror and emotion coming from Zelda here. I wish the quality was at the same level as Link's photo. Aside from that, not a bad submission. Nice work.

Jensen: I agree with Grell. I thought it would be more that you were tied up than in a small space. The art styling is weird. Your feet look really badly done. This isn't horrible though.

Doctor: For Zelda, please see the critique I gave Joker. The same applies to you. I'd also add that Grell suggestion of Merinthophobia would've also been sooo much better for both you and him.

[Jensen Ackles]

Cheimatophobia/Chionophobia - Fear of Cold/Fear of Snow

Grell: Damn this photo is huge. It probably could have done with a resizing or cropping. Aside from that, I believe this is your best submission to date. I really like you showing a more vulnerable side of yourself which really goes along with the theme. There really isn't negative I can say. Great Job.

Jensen: This is your best submission to date and I love it and you looked scared. But what is your fear?? Did you post it somewhere? Because I can't tell. OK, I finally realized that you put it in white and had us highlight it lol That almost cost you btw lol This is great and I figured your phobia was fear of snow/cold.

Doctor: I love that you showed fear without showing fright. There is such a wide spectrum of emotion connected to fear and I was afraid we'd see only the basic terror face. Anyhoo...you did fantastic. Best work yet. I'm very happy to see you growing so much in this competition.

[Jensen Ackles]

Cleithrophobia - Fear of being locked in an enclosed place

Grell: You really know how to do some terrifying photos. I really like how the art style gives the illusion of struggling with how it's drawn. I'm not quite as thrilled about the face in the realms of modeling as I have been in past photos of yours, but you really know how to work the "ugly" looks. Good job

Jensen: I agree with everything Grell said. I'm not thrilled about the ugly bare foot all up in my face though lol

Doctor: I would be a much bigger fan of Joker's and you'd rank higher on mine...if you had said this was Dementophobia (the fear of insanity/madness). I have to base it on what you've declared it as though...which IMO isn't that great. You and another model both chose the same fear and both made the same mistake. The photo relies on us assuming the room you're in is a small, enclosed space...without any legit evidence to support it. It's like claiming a fear of fire, but only showing a match...or a fear of spiders, but only showing a web. There are no flames or spiders, which is what the fear entails. I hope that makes sense for you. I won't dock you too much on it, if that's your concern. Just could have chosen better is all. Anyhoo...Joker. Oh Joker. You sure make ugly craziness look awesome. lol I kind of like the foot. It hands a touch of humanity to a photo that appears all demonic.

[Jensen Ackles]

Arachnophobia - Fear of spiders.

Grell: Damn that's a big spider! Nature, you scary! I feel this photo is about middle of the road. You're definitely hitting the theme of Phobias, but there isn't anything to really push it pass it. It's still a nice photo submission this round.

Jensen: I like this but you forgot your modeling. It looks like a screen cap almost (I know it's not but just from the loss of modeling, it makes it feel that way) I do like this photo though.

Doctor: Tink, I don't know if this is the start of a horrible porno or a kickass cartoon. xD Either way, I think you did a good job with finding a fear, but forgot about modelling.

[Jensen Ackles]

Toxicophobia- Fear of being poisoned.

Grell: Pretty easy connection with the fairy tale story. I love the art style here though I wish there was more of an emotional reaction. However, I still really like your submission this round. Good job.

Jensen: I really like this. It's a lovely modeling photo and works

Doctor: Snow's is simple and a little predictable, but it works well and you like great. So good job

[Jensen Ackles]

Arsonphobia- Fear of fire.

Grell: Definitely an interesting take on the theme. Instead of being afraid of the fire, it's more that you're the Phobia come to life. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the 3D modeling(at least it looks like it). I think this photo would have been more powerful if the flames were behind you and you gave us a straight on stare. It would have been awesome if you could have given us a deadly stare to bring the fear in the photo. It feels a bit lacking.

Jensen: I agree with a lot of what Grell has said. I do wish you were more face on with us, but I still can see the phobia and what you represent. It's not great but it's definitely not bad.

Doctor: I actually like his posing. I think it's one of his strongest. I love the hair (naturally). It works well in the profile your face is heading toward. The only negative is that there's too much fire. I would have cropped a lot of that out. It takes the focus off you big time. The fire reaching to the claws is a brilliant touch btw. Good job.

[Jensen Ackles]

Bathmophobia (the fear of stairs)

Grell: Probably could have done with some cropping of the watermark on the top corner. At least with the graffiti watermark it looks like it would belong. As for the theme, I think you hit the theme. You give off a sense of terror. I wish the quality was at the level of Shikamaru's photo. Regardless, a Nice job this round.

Jensen: This is a bit large and looks almost like a screen cap. It could have been perfect but it's just not quite there yet. I do like the expression of fear though.

Doctor: Ino has the theme, but the art just doesn't work for me and this is such a bland choice IMO.

[Jensen Ackles]

Philophobia (fear of love or falling in love)

Grell: I like the quality of the photo, though I'm not quite convinced with the theme connection. Temari(the girl) seems to be embodying the phobia more than Shikamaru does. I wish the roles were reversed since it would have been a stronger photo for you.

Jensen: The models didn't have to embody the fear. So this isn't a problem for me. i just don't know if I like this.

Doctor: The way I understand the theme is to show a fear. Whether as the victim, the inducer or having conquered. The fear must be present in some form. It's clear that Shikamaru is not a victim or an inducer, so one must assume that he has conquered his fear. Which is awesome, since you're one of the few to go this path...but it's a difficult way to express it. You have to be able to go strong or it flops. I'm sorry to say this flops for me. It's just not a strong photo and TBH I find your lady friend to be more interesting. I want to know what HER fear is, cause she just gives off such a variety of subtle emotions here. I see passion one minute, fear the next and then BAM hopelessness.

[Jensen Ackles]

Arachnophobia

Grell: I really like the detail in the photo as as well as how much you're connecting to the theme. Definitely quite a terrifying photo. I would have liked to have more focus on your face. You lose a bit of your face because of the webs so it's a shame that your face is as far away from the front as it is. For what we have, I think it's a great submission.

Jensen: I almost love this. My only real issue with this is it was so hard to tell that's Chun Li because of the way it's set up. But it's a great photo.

Doctor: I'm not a fan of Chun-Li's only because it's so easy to lose her in the shot. If she was more clearly defined then this would've been 10x better.

[Jensen Ackles]

Mastigophobia
Mastigophobia is the fear of punishment, especially whipping, flogging and torture. With Cap now captured and been obviously lashed a few times in this picture, and the addition of the ruthless killing machine Venom, lashing Cap with its tongue, I think this invokes the fear rather well..

Grell: Oh My! I... um... hehehe! Boy.. is it hot in here or is it just me? Well you hit the theme dead on. Maybe it's Captain America's innocent boy-next-door charm, but it seems like you can pull off sexy without looking slutty. Great photo again

Jensen: I love this shot. You're modeling and looking vulnerable in the position where you should look that way. This is great.

Doctor: Someone save Captain! I think you did great. My only negative is more toward the artist. There are bits of fabric in those tears that should be hanging, not stuck in form. lol
Oh! You've been relying a LOT on Captain's sex appeal. I'd like to challenge you to find photos for upcoming shoots that either simply don't show sex appeal...or show the complete opposite.