Simple Pleasures
by Cam

Comment:
Well, you got a laugh out of me anyway :-D

Lonely Violet
by ladpupmoe

Comment:
OK -- possibly a monitor problem. This feels a little bit too subdued in terms of its light and dark values -- or perhaps, it's not soft enough. One way or another, for me it lacks a little oomph -- which is a shame because I really like the composition otherwise. I want that flower to pop off the background -- I think it needs to be lighter than it is. If you're worried about it being too bright, you might try a soft focus technique in conjunction with some brighter values. All just my two cents -- take them for what they're worth.

Simplicity In Red & Gold
by Spanish_Grease

Comment:
At first, I wasn't certain if I liked the skewed glass "table". However, the more I looked at the image, the more I decided it was a really nice touch that helped break up the symmetry of the piece and give a little more visual stimulation. Nicely lit and conceived.

Simple as...
by justine

Comment:
I like the idea here a lot, but I do wish the numbers could either all be the same tone, or be three different tones. The 1 stands out too much for my taste. I keep wanting to see the numerals as ice cubes -- which means, to my mind, you've done a good job toning to change one set of objects into another set in the viewer's eye. Good luck.

Pill
by CraigD

Comment:
I totally love the idea here. I was really excited to see it when the thumbnail came up, but I have to admit, this is just too soft for me. If this were in focus (or even just more in focus) I would be a lot more jazzed about it.

Ariel #6 (duotone)
by GeneralE

Comment:
Hey Paul -- didn't see anybody else commenting on this so I thought I would.

Here's what happened as I brought this image up. I started looking at the baby's face and then my eyes literally snapped up and over to the smiley face on the crib toy and had a hard time leaving it. Even looking at it now, I find my eyes tracking up there over and over.

I think the image is really strong as you have it and would only suggest a couple of things to play with in Photoshop -- or whatever program you're using.

First, try an image where you clone (or use the heal tool) to remove the smiley face on the toy. It might not help, but I think it would be worth giving it a shot if you can manage it cleanly.

Second, it looks like you selected a circle/oval around the baby's face, feathered the edges, and then blurred the area outside the circle/oval. Right now, the fact that the blur cuts through part of the baby's hand is what is prompting the following, if you have the capability. Draw a loose selection around those things that are both nearest and furthest from the camera (both of the toys, foreground blanket, and pillow -- being careful with your selection where the toy and baby's face overlap), then blur this area after feathering your edges. Now draw a selection around everything BUT the baby's face, feather the edges and blur everything again. (Near and far things get blurred twice.) You will have to be really careful in the areas around the baby's face, but I think it will add that extra bit of realism to the shot.

Just some ideas to play with if you get the chance. Like I said, this is strong (in my book) and think maybe you could make it still stronger if you'd like to play with it some more. But as always, that's my two cents so take them for what they're worth in this economy.

If I wasn't clear, or you'd like to ask questions, or get some more feedback, or whatever, let me know.

Jeff

Color Erasers
by kim100878

Comment:
OK, yeah, there are some problems with this -- but I like it. It certainly doesn't deserve to be this far down in the heap.

I think the biggest single thing that could have made it stronger would be a cleaner background. If that was a nice solid black, with the funky erasers on top (I like the harsh color transitions), it would have looked more intentional and less accidental. (Not saying the look was accidental, just that was how it was perceived.)

my i assist you with your choice of wine this evening?
by tomzinho

Comment:
You know, I actually saw a show on the food network about Balsamic vinegar and there are people who actually do drink the stuff in small amounts like an aperatif. :-)

A New Beginning
by Yomi

Comment:
Hey, I wonder exactly where THAT was taken. ;-) Nice shot and congrats.

Door #13
by zadore

Comment:
I like it -- I think it could use some tweaks here and there -- but I like it. The horizontal lines near the bottom of the shot seem to be perfectly horizontal, but they're off just enough to notice as you look at them higher up the wall. The red and blue seems to be just a touch dark or maybe flat -- it's hard to adjust the whole photo to fix those without blowing out the snow, but since you were allowed unbounded Photoshop tweaks, that should be easy to overcome (as with the fixing the lines to horizontal). Love the symmetry, and the half windows at the top.