ghost dance
by posthumous

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: Extraordinary image - the whole inside-out effect is so very strong. I love how many things are ambiguous, the gender of the subject, the position and nature of all of the surfaces, the wider context of the image - is the subject on a boat?? Their posture - are they jumping? If so why. All these questions makes us very interested in the image. I love the composition too - all that negative space up top... and I really enjoy the levels, the way you keep the coat black and formless.

Critical stuff: Nothing at all.

Overall: Fabulous... 9 or 10, 9 or 10....hmmmm

broken
by JeniY

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: A very direct image that feels so constrained looking at it makes me feel like I shouldn't move my head. I like how the glass bottle is most definitely the subject and how the flowers, though prominent, remain incidental.

Critical stuff: I'm not so keen on the (slightly distracting) background - I think I'd have been tempted to pull its luminosity down in post.

Overall: Well made precise image.

The Way Out
by dgodard

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: There are some nice leading lines here (would've fit the current challenge well) and the wood pattens in the right upper quadrant of the image are very nice - particularly the ceiling pattern. Your choice of exposure is excellent, we get a true sense of it being dim in here but very bright outside. I really like that fence line outside too.

Critical stuff: The greys, as offered, are a bit flat; I think I'd have been tempted to tweak the levels a little.

Overall: A simple image, that although effective doesn't, for me, deliver all the way.

And what waits beneath it
by jjbeguin

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 a superbly toned and rendered image. Perfect grain, perfect vignette, perfect coloration. This image actually pulled me forwards trying to get a closer look wondering what critters were camouflaged among the blades.

Critical stuff: As well done as it is, I think the intrinsic interest level means you were never going to get a ton of interest from the image no matter how good your processing was.

Overall: Very well executed image.

Red
by freakin_hilarious

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 am a fan of fish shots and I like how bold and uncompromising this one is - red-as-you-like, to hell with the noise, max out the contrast. All good. My favourite part of the image is that vibrant electric light blue at the bottom and how it contrasts with the near black behind. I know how hard it is to get a good fish shot and this one is a keeper!

Critical stuff: Nothing really

Overall: Excellent eclectic stuff.

Metters Improved Stove No. 2
by Qiki

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'm glad I've come back to this - I must've been grumpy when i first looked at it. Now, I find it vibrant and uplifting. I love the light - you capture its warmth and as such it makes me want to take a deep breath and enjoy the moment and the sun. The most significant word in the last sentence is 'moment': you have me convinced that everything would look different (and diminished) a moment later or a moment before you took the shot. The textures are lovely too, but all is secondary compared to the light.

Critical stuff: Not too much - I wonder about the sky and whether you need it. I crop with my hand and think I prefer the image but that isn't much of an issue at all. Those who don't 'find' the light might offer a drive-by vote and I fear the number of people who stick around long enough to bask may be few...

Overall: An image that does a good job of creeping up on you and then ambushing with its goodness!

Sueños de la luna
by 4trtone

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: An unusual image in so may ways - not just about form or texture or colour or light. It sits on the cusp of being categorised as a type of image. I can respect that..... and I do like the coloration and the vignette.

Critical stuff: All of the above - I can't quite get a handle on the image and as a consequence my brain doesn't manage to integrate it so as to make sense of it. I think it helps if an image can articulate with something and this really doesn't (at least for me).

Overall: I like that you entered it but if I'm honest it isn't a picture I've enjoyed.

janvier
by bvy

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 a very direct image - one that reminds us of the 'human footprint' both in terms of litter, detritus and a physical footprint in the snow. It's all here with a backdrop of nature - the snow. There is a juxtaposition there with the snow sullied by man (what is the blue tint?) and the assertion of nature... perhaps there is a commentary here on climate change but perhaps I read too much into it.

Critical stuff: For all of the above, I don't like the image. You probably don't want me to enjoy, it is probably meant to be slightly ugly.... but for the most part I prefer beauty and there is plenty around to find.

Overall: A brave image for sure, but not one that finds an admirer here. I respect your eye but I reserve the right not to enjoy the image ;-)

CEO George C. Gull's Official Portrait
by pixelpal

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: An image that startles with its quality. I don't use the word lightly. We often get some decent bird offering in the Free Study but this offers something above and beyond that sort of work. I got the blue ribbon for 'Portrait of a Wild Bird' 13 months ago and this image is soooooo much better in every way to that offering. Difficult to make an effective comment on work such as this without just trotting out superlatives but I'll try. The lighting (just a flash?) works so well, isolating and emphasising the gull, the focus is nailed but more than that, the smoothness of the image is outstanding. I'll be interested to see what sensor you are using, in my work I only get this look using a full frame camera. I also wonder whether you used the Adamus sharpening technique; again it seems to offer a degree of smoothness I can't seem to manage by other routes. The contrast you have offered between the vibrant yellow beak and eyes and the colour-monochrome of the feathers is so effective. Your model too has performed beautifully, offering up an intent quizzical look.

Critical stuff: Ummm..... No.

Overall: Simply outstanding - I hope you ribbon (and with an 8+ score).

swept
by skewsme

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: Very nice graphic shot - super contrast that constrains detail to the furtherance of drama. I like how the white flecks look like scratches - almost reminiscent of those wax-scratch drawing packs distant relative might buy you as a kid.

Critical stuff: Nothing really.

Overall: Very effective image.