STEEEEEEE-RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!
by L1

Comment:
Nice stop-action photo. I think cropping out the umpire (and the lady behind him) would have focused attention on the "moment" of the ball.

Not The Usual Prize
by Sammie

Comment:
Nice idea. Lots of diamonds in the challenge, but I like this almost-believable context. The lighting is harsh and perhaps a little overexposed. The composition is o.k. but I miss the paper wrapping that comes with the prize and feel the set-up of the box is just a little too unnatural.

Daddy, can you buy me a ...
by Coley

Comment:
I like the idea. The exposure seems rich and crisp. Nice choice of color for the background, it contrasts well with the notes. Wish the notes seemed to "grow" from the tree a bit more--perhaps changing the way they're attached and varying their shapes some would help.

Smiling Back
by insteps

Comment:
Great concept! Set up well so the strand of pearls seems more like individual pearls--a mouthful of pearly whites, as it may be. I don't care for your choice of background, perhaps something less sterile. Also, a secondary light source might take some of the harshness out of the shadows--it just feels a bit too unnatural overall.

Getting Leisure
by JPR

Comment:
Funny! And they say in the threads that cemetarys don't make for good photos! I do think you could have lowered the point of view to exclude some of the grass and bring the subjects closer together, though. Sepia tone isn't my favorite picture element, it seems a bit overused in general in DPC, but in this pic it does help to unify the whole--B&W might have done the same.

Nowhere, High and Dry
by grdSavant

Comment:
Interesting photo. I like the way the composition leads the eye. The shadows give drama and bring out the textures in the scene. As for the theme of the challenge, though, this seems somewhat unlucky for the boat and its owner as opposed to the happier, more fortunate, connotations associated with serendipity.

Only in America: Aging Milkshake Machine Salesman Meets Hamburger Bros. & Rewrites History
by boomer

Comment:
As your title demonstrates, it helps if you know the story. On its own, the colors are dramatic and the emblem well stated. There seems to be something of a political comment here, the arches x-ing out the flag--intentional?

Spring (unedited)
by spydr

Comment:
Crisp! You seem to have handled the focus perfectly, hard to do in close-ups like these. I love that I can see the texture on the petals--don't think I realized how much texture forsythia blossoms have before now. Well done!

Flying
by mandyp

Comment:
The sun and tree really compete here--so much that your subject seems lost. I can easily see why you attempted it and hope you'll try for the subject again.

The Age of Innocence
by Kali

Comment:
This could be THE one! Beautifully done! I love the idea of the happy discovery of feeling rain fall on your face.