The Child
by LERtastic

Comment:
Good contrasts in texture and size. I think the play of the small twig versus the negative space works well and bring a sense of zen. I think the focus is a bit off though, a sharper focus would really help set the twig off from the background (which kind of makes it meld in since the colors are very similar). The white light on a drop? or something is a bit distracting too. Since it doesn't seem to be an important aspect of the image (due to its out of focus nature) its brightness does draw the eye away from the leaves as a whole. I think cropping it just a bit at the top so the dark portions were gone might help as well. I gave a 4

Ocean of tranquility
by justamistere

Comment:
I can absolutely find the zen in this image, I like the simplicity of it and the sun streak makes a great subject. Unfortunately, I find the technical aspects to be a bit lacking and that really effects the impact the image has. First there is a strange tone to the colors, I'm not sure if its because of the light and how its reflecting off the water or what. Your horizon is tilted a bit and that's very noticeable in this image and finally the focus looks like it could be a bit sharper. I like what you were going for and I think it certainly meets the challenge, but because of the technical issues I gave a 4.

Dawn
by pcody

Comment:
Lovely image. I can sense zen with portions of the subject though the vegetation at the bottom seems irrelevant and not needed for the photo. I love the use of light here, its wonderful. I think the focus looks very good as well. Were it my preference I would've cropped the image right above where that orangey hued one was, I've scrolled the screen to block that out and to me the resulting photo seems to emphasize not only the play of light but also that one stem that's reaching out further than the others into the semi-darkness. Great photo. I gave a 6

Zen Photography
by MayaM

Comment:
This is a simply breathtaking landscape that has some very fine elements that depict a sense of zen and some fabulous contrasts. Most particularly of interest to me is the contrast of the stillness of the lake against the rough rocks and the earthy colors of the lake/grass versus the coolness of the sky. There are a lot of points of interest here and each one of them have been rendered exceptionally well technically. The low light really helps set the mood and there is a nice stillness and sense of calm. I don't however get that inner zen feeling from viewing the image but I think its exquisite all the same. I gave a 7.

meditation
by ursula

Comment:
Very lovely image. I like the emphasis on scale here and I think there is a nice zen to the photo. The way you handled the natural lighting is superb. I like the tone and colors as well. Focus seems good but a little soft and yet I think that works. Though I think the image as is works just great, I do think if you were to actually crop out the entire bottom portion to just below that rock outcropping on the right side, I'd love the image even more. There is a soft, ethereal feel to that portion of the image that I think is absolutely gorgeous. But that's just me and maybe it would be worth exploring at the end of the challenge. Great entry. I gave a 7 and a favorite for that top portion. :D

White Orchid
by w4jzz

Comment:
Powdery purple haze envelops the white cloud of orchid, what could be more serene and still? I really like your take on this image. I love the soft focus and I think it works very well here. It immediately gave me a calming effect. The color choices were spot on, the purple contrasts nicely with the yellowy-orange in the flower but they are both so pale that it isn't an overwhelming display of contrasts. I like the off-center composition and I think the one thing I'd prefer more is to have an even greater sense of negative space, perhaps having the stem more aligned diagonally with the upper left-hand corner and then having a large expanse of the soft purple background. That said some detail of the flower would be lost if it wasn't as close up so its a toss-up. Very well done. I gave a 7 and favorite.

Contemplation
by talmy

Comment:
Very nice calming colors in this image. I think the natural light looks good and the focus looks nice too though not completely tack sharp. Though this does depict what I consider a zen-like scene, there is so much going on in the image that I am not getting that still or harmonious inner 'zen' feel from it. It does have a good number of points of interest for the eye to view but there are so many its hard to center on one and become invested in it. Perhaps if the image was cropped down to explore the balance between the rock and the little statuary? Or the rock piercing the pond with the background blurred to a simple mass of green? Something that would take one of the many elements and break it down to something simplistic would feel more zen to me. I gave a 5

Peachful Day
by sabphoto

Comment:
Very nice, vibrant image. I like the greens and blues (though I wish the sky were a bit less cyan). I think there is stillness and a sense of minimalism of sorts to the image but as a viewer I'm not feeling much in the way of zen exactly. As I look at this, I'm wondering how the image would look if she was sitting not under the tree but to the left, in that empty space, sort of acting as a balance to the tree. Might not work but her outfit being green and white made me envision her in position over there and it seemed to work in my mind but I could also be crazy. :) The focus isn't quite as sharp on the subject (girl under tree) and seems more focus on a portion of the grass. Use of the natural light is good though! The horizon seems a bit tilted but not extravegantly so. I gave a 5

Two minds in one body
by Nuno

Comment:
I think this a wonderful portrait and for that I gave it a 5. I think your handling of natural light is great, there are only a few hotspots on the knees, forehead and belly, none of which are enough to be distracting. I think the position of your subject is wonderful, I can almost feel her enjoying the sunshine. I think the detail in the sand sort of belies the zennish feeling in the image, I would've preferred something more blank as your background, if only a less kicked up section of sand. I do think there are aspects of zen in the image though, she certainly looks serene and at harmony with the world though I don't think that translates into me the viewer feeling the same way exactly. Still I think this a well rendered image, thus the 5

Balance
by remarsh

Comment:
This is definitely a zen-like depiction. The balance is very nice and I like the organic nature of the stones, they have a wonderful rounded, smooth feel. That said, there's a starkness to the image that doesn't speak of zen to me, but rather a coldness, as if it is zen for challenge sake rather than an attempt to understand the inner feelings of zen.. does that make sense? I'm not really that zen-trinsic myself, but though this has balance and minimalism and stillness it just doesn't quite hit the zen button for me. I think its technically nicely rendered but the feeling isn't there. I gave a 5.