4
by RKT

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: I love quirky portraits and this is no exception. In fact it remands me of a picture of my own son, where his goggles also squished his eye:



Yours is a much better image though: great shallow DOF, lovely tones, complementary grain. Excellent.

Critical stuff: Perhaps slightly tighter on our right (his left)?

Overall: Excellent portrait.

Soul Catcher
by Zigomar

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: This cruises right along the edge of cliche without actually crossing over - quite a feat and a consequence of how well you've measured each facet of the image - the tones, the selective focus, the contrived set-up (is there another type?); all hang together so very very well that the overall effect is superadditive. Great stuff.

Critical stuff: I suppose the border takes nothing away but I'm not sure it adds much at that depth.

Overall: More effective than it should be - well played.

fade
by rooum

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: Emotive title and an image processed in a way that conveys it is doing its best to hang onto reality - that resonance with the subject is well made and appropriate. The eyes are stunning - they anchor the image and offer depth to photo and subject. Of course, the motion blur is the most significant choice you've made in your capture - such foresight.

Critical stuff: Nothing really.

Overall: An amazingly communicative image.

She ain't Heavy
by galatia_n

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: Oh my word, the light! What an amazing collaboration of light and shade and colour and haze and sharpness and people and story. It feels sad, I wonder if it is? The mind conjures the dark background haze to acrid smoke and our Western, Hollywood-induced indoctrination turns this into a war zone. I can't see how it could be - perhaps a natural disaster? I almost feel guilty for overlaying a back-story - I'll refer you back to the strong narrative you've created with this image.

Critical stuff: I wonder about the left side of the image - do we need it? It doesn't really matter...

Overall: Amazing, powerful image.

welcome
by nick_hinch

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: This is quite extraordinary. I've come back several times to this image - it's power doesn't diminish. It isn't like any of the images I normally pick up in this challenge series but it's here because of the profound effect it has had on me. For me, this image is a just about as fine a rendition of humanity as you could find. It transcends a photograph and offers a pure connection in a way that flat out startles me. You have to understand, I'm not the sentimental type and I don't feel sentimental about this image but truly moved.

The expressions on each of their faces is so very very communicative and your capture is so straight-up, so honestly depicting; like you're holding a visual door open for us, being very careful to to step aside - the photograph disappears, and we are there with our fellow human beings.

Even the crop of her arm on one side and the edge of the round pillow on the other contributes rather than detracts - because it reinforces the notion that the photograph itself is nothing. That's what you've done here. Shared a perfect moment perfectly, offered a photograph that through the act of viewing dissolves and gives way to life.

Critical stuff: No.

Overall: An image with such quiet power and such profound connection. Just stunning.

no pictures please
by cutout

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: Wonderful image; so difficult to work out what we are seeing - I can't work out what the transparent layer is - or where it is. That ambiguity adds much - it is like reality broke as you took the shot. Then there is the back story - again, barely discernible and all the better for it.

Critical stuff: Why so small? You'll be getting hammered for that.

Overall: Very, very interesting image. I just wish it was larger.

isolated
by lobrin

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: HA! like a pantomime, I want to shout "They're behind you!!!". Truly marvellous composition - perfect in high contrast black and white. I also like how your DOF has isolated her; as her position to the crowd has done so physically.

Critical stuff: Being picky, but I think you could have shaved a little off the left side and the tiniest bit off the right - this would have given us this marvellous image a little bigger on our screen :-)

Overall: Excellent moment, fantastically well presented.

Leicester mercury news stand - competition
by Adz

Comment:
Brilliant street portrait.

Subway 8:31 PM_6999.121511
by mariuca

Comment:
The guy to the right draws you eye with his scariness - only then do you notice the hands between you and him.

norway
by Cuttooth

Comment:
I could get lost in that contrast.