Free as a Bird
by digifotojo

Comment:

Originally posted by J-Me: Jo, I'm so sorry that there's a couple of self-proclaimed "know-it-alls" in here, disrupting your enjoyment of having just won this ribbon. Perhaps, they do need some help in learning etiquette. (A statement, not a question). Dudski and Kgeary...neither of you have any idea of what it is that you're talking about. There have been PLENTY of photos gracing the front pages of this site that I have had to head scratch, wondering why they are there. However, they are there. Enough people found merit and beauty in the shot to put it there. The same holds true with this one. Accept it...your particular tastes or not. As for looking "fishy"...there are all kinds of forms of editing techniques. Just because YOU can't figure out how they're done "legally" doesn't mean that they ARE illegal. Too bad neither one of you could censor yourselves enough to either not comment if you had nothing good to say about a winning entry...or...simply refrained from commenting (as I do when I don't agree with a ribboner) and waited to see if it was validated. Both of you will look like fools when this ribbon sticks. I hope your photos receive the same curteousness as what you've shown here on this one.

While I agree with you about not bashing people, that's just not true for the photographic world as a whole. I've been told many times by my brother-in-law, a highly qualified, professional wedding photographer that there are many times a photo coach of his would literally say "WTF were you thinking here?" Sometimes that gets the point across, sometimes it doesn't.

Regardless of all that, there is some pretty clear and unusual editing near the bottom center of this image. You can see a very clear line seperating two parts of the image on the right side. Now, I am new here, but when I read the Basic Editing rules with these virgin eyes of mine, I see a problem with this image being valid. That is all there is to it. I think it's a good concept as a shot, and I think there are some redeeming qualities about it, but I don't believe it's a valid submission.

Fear of the Dark (Iron Maiden)
by Garry

Comment:
I wanted to give this shot a 10, but I couldn't, and the reason being is that it's just not as creative as the Electric Funeral shot. With that said, I find this image very striking and fitting with its title. The high key nature of it creates a perfect juxtaposition between the subject and its surroundings. Along with that, it's incredibly creepy. Maybe someone who is not afraid of spiders will rate this lower, but for me, it's very solid.

9/10, well done!

Hallowed Be Thy Name (Iron Maiden)
by gyaban

Comment:
A really great shot, I think a ribbon may be inevitable for you! How you achieved this, I have no idea, so I can't say much from a technical standpoint other than your "image" seems properly exposed, haha. I'm not sure how the song you've associated this image with goes, and I don't exactly see the connection between title and content, but I think you've done an excellent job with this.

INDESTRUCTIBLE - by Disturbed
by fldave

Comment:
FLAMES EVERYWHERE.

Blackwater Park
by tnun

Comment:
A centered, OOF bird, standing on a dark rock next to some darkness. Sorry, but this is a cut below the rest for me.

Angel of Death
by Darkpixel

Comment:
Interesting, but with an overwhelming vignette applied.

Sacrificed Sons (Tribute to the soles lost on (9/11)
by drz01

Comment:
Souls* and unfortunately I don't think this shot makes the connection between title and subject matter too well. Granted, these are twin towers, but I just wonder how these particular towers are related to 9/11. Maybe I've proved myself stupid in saying that, I hope not, but all the same.

War Pigs by Black Sabbath
by caba

Comment:
Interesting idea, but the over-processing doesn't compensate for the somewhat boring action figures.

Bark at the Moon - Ozzy Osbourne
by giantmike

Comment:
This is a really interesting piece here. I think it lacks emotion, but I know you put a lot of work into it, or at least it appears that way.

Solitude - Candlemass
by gg3rd

Comment:
Very fitting for the title, but not as good as my choice for #1 after seeing many "Solitude" images.