Reach for the sky
by smokeditor

Comment:
Wonderful subject - nice setup and exposure. Compositionally - I think it is MUCH stronger as a square image by cropping from the top. The banding in the golden /brown areas is unfortunate.

Father & Son
by s4nd3r99

Comment:
Great idea, title, composition and exposure. Unfortunately - your filesize of only 40k caused all kinds of terrible compression "uglies" on the background. Try to use as much of the allowed 150k as you can.

spore-producing organs
by brunas

Comment:
Subject = great. Exposure = right on. Lighting = ok - but mabe a bit softer would be better (the shadows are very black.) Composition: Would be much stronger taken on a diagonal. Prognosis = well high in the pack.

Porcupine
by darix

Comment:
Wonderful cone flower in a great composition. The repeating pattern of the second flower works well. I do not like the man-made background at all - it adds unnecessary square shapes and a color that detracts from the image. But - the main cone flower is so perfect and powerful, so it still gets high marks.

Sunflowers at Sunset
by Dim7

Comment:
Superb scene - very "painterly." Somehow the work you did on the sky (dodging, burning?) looks very artifical. (If that's not the case feel free to PM me.)
Exposure on the ground area (buildings, flowers, etc) is perfect. Did you try a graduated ND filter? Strong entry.

Study of Water Lily leaves
by caba

Comment:
Great lighting. It's fun to wander around in the image, but it probably should have one "key element." Excellent exposure.

Burrowing Candyworms
by ScantyNebula

Comment:
He he. Nice intrepretation of the challenge. White background works very well - making the colors really stand out. Cropped a bit close on the top - the leaf up there needs more breathing room.

Helianthus annuus in strong winds
by dinny

Comment:
Delightful whirpool of colors! This is an exceptional image - well composed and exposed. I expect the DPC voters won't "get it" which is a real shame. The weakest link is the title, but that is so minor... but try something like "Fantasia" or "Poetry in motion." Overall, I hope this does well - it is so artistic and creative.

Rumohra Adiantiformis
by bongo

Comment:
Wonderful lighting. I like the repeating shape in the background but wonder if it would be stronger if it were more green (instead of gray.) Textures are amazing.

5:50am
by Falc

Comment:
Simple - and very effective. Black background is perfect. Composition could not be better. Title is imaginative - but where is the am/pm indicator? (I wonder if some won't even notice the "clock hands"!) The border is just "ok" - think it should either be a uniform width - or if not, larger at the base only. Try it with a much thinner, uniform frame. Should finish well up in the pack - I really like it.