The day begins
by Ammie

Comment:
Looks like a fine day brewing up. The sky is so fresh with promise. Nice how the silhouetted horse picks her or his way into the dawn. Great depth of field. The pastel colors set a calm, happy mood.

If you go down to the woods...
by Paul

Comment:
Nice shapes, textures and light. Quirky yet satisfying balance. The leaves and flowers, so similar, are the field for this delightful quilt.

Textures at Low Tide
by Tupelo

Comment:
Fascinating image of these patterns in the sand, these jazz riffs on the fading day. The minimal palette lulls one into dreaminess. The birds are both band and audience. The remaining pier looks like people holding hands. Such interesting interconnections.

Damselfly on a leaf
by Janja

Comment:
Wondrous image. As a study it could not offer anything more. The hairs and spikelets, so perfectly delineated, arouse curiosity, what's up here, how do they function? What would I do with such prickles? Only the excellence of the picture can enable such musings. That turquoise body, those incredible eyes, subtle planets, what do they see? Thank you for allowing us some slight entree into this alien world.

ellie
by take-two

Comment:
Beautiful black and white picture. There's so much character here, in the creased, highly textured skin, its almost metallic sheen, the shambling gait. The overall toning is lovely. It's also sad, walking, figuratively, into the twilight, knowing that these incredible creatures are in such trouble. They all are.

Joy
by wildiris

Comment:
Stunning image of these children, joyful in the surf of a vividly orange sunset, a moment caught in amber. What's more precious than this? The light is sublime. Dynamic. The patrolling bird is an additional grace note. I find myself focusing on that section of the image, to the virtual exclusion of the rest of it. Not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just so static vis a vis the left half.
Children's enchantment trumps the rectilinear adult world.

old forgotten tears
by posthumous

Comment:
That this exists is a marvel, and thank you for inviting us to the mystery. It's uncanny, born of the earth, and our imagination. The shadows, tones and highlights, textures, how ever could they be assembled by the purposeful human hand? Perhaps this has been dodged and burned somewhat to bring out the features, I don't know, but it's wonderful.

The Green Honeycreeper
by Donna-Dee

Comment:
The pure beauty of a still life, except it's a living creature. From the tip of the beak, throughout, and down to those endearing, knobby feet, the detail is stunning. If it seems I'm talking more about the bird than the photograph, sorry. If the composition seems obvious, it might be because perfect balance is such that it can be overlooked, taken for granted. This is elegant, just right. Part of the wonder is the opportunity to see and absorb what is so often flitty and just out of reach. My only hesitancy, opinion only, is about the pinkishness of the background behind the honeycreeper. Feels somewhat overwhelming. Other than that ...
One of three co-favorites of the challenge.

Evening Glow, Nauset Marsh
by Bear_Music

Comment:
So vastly peaceful that trying to insinuate oneself into the moment is understandable. The line between water and sky, already tenuous through reflection, just hints at the far reaches of the marsh. The colors, of course, are wonderful. The deceptive modesty of the composition enhances the calm. That float in the lower left -- how to anchor the whole. The seeming ducks, the motorboats, grace the scene with a note of whimsy as they breast the wind. Absolutely lovely.
One of three favorites of the challenge.

The road ahead
by Paul

Comment:
Rollover's upon us. Fine, fine image. Didn't know there existed a Legos bus driver and highway, to say nothing of the rain and fog.