Still, again
by Rae-Ann

Comment:
Beautiful light and textures. Very nice contrasting shapes. This has the feel of a fine painting. 8.

P A U S E
by messerschmitt

Comment:
First subtract all those people with a myopic definition of Still Life, then take away those who can't recognise a good photograph anyway. What's left is not enough votes to lift this brilliant work above a score in the mid-5's. Hell, it's so good it probably won't even make 5!

Presumably, in view of your wry title, you were prepared for the dismal "Not a Still Life" crowd. But I'll bet nothing will have prepared you for how seriously this will be underestimated as a photograph. 10.

Cezanne
by Jutilda

Comment:
Lovely, classical and sympathetic. 7.

Emu Eggs
by pointandshoot

Comment:
Beautiful glow and a sympathetic still life study. The combination of the jade-like eggs and the honey-warm basket is a lovely pairing of colours, textures and tones. Also an elegant juxtaposition of "pre-life" (eggs) and "post-life" (timber basket). I think this is what a classical still life is all about. 9.

Organic
by jenesis

Comment:
Ambitious; a rare quality here. Simple lighting and very interesting processing. Direct, expressionless gaze strips away all the behavioural frippery and does indeed get right down to the structural, molecular level. The image also has distinctly sci-fi, androgenous flavour (hope that doesn't offend you) that I think is very compelling. The total effect is riveting. 9.

Digging in the Dirt
by dahkota

Comment:
Wonderful light and tones in the hair. It's a simple but elegant composition; not especially ambitious, but sometimes that's the point. Brilliant title! The skin has a glow that I assume is intentional (well of course it's intentional, you numbnut), and that I wonder about ... I wonder if you needed it? But that aside, it's a very fine portrait. 8.

Rainy Day Mood
by talikf

Comment:
Terrific! It demands the attention of the viewer, not just because it is visually startling, but also because it clearly has something more to say than "just 'nother pretty girl here". It's two distinct pictures; (a) the subject on the right, and (b) the "other" person on the left looking at the subject. It creates the strong impression for me that I am standing beside the person on the left and we are both looking at the subject on the right, as if she were a painting. It's a strange but pleasant illusion. I have no clue if that's what you intended, but I sure hope so. 10.

Reveal Thyself
by SherwinJames

Comment:
The idea and the photographic execution of it are both terrific. And I love the guarded facial expression, especially for the clever title. There's something slightly strange about the processing; the hand looks slightly fake, like it's been added later. Maybe that's just me; I often feel that way myself! Anyway, it's a very good and interesting portrait. 7.

The Key
by xtine

Comment:
Almost went right by this, I guess because it is low key and understated by comparison with some of the more strident shots. Happily, I looked a for second longer and realised how good, how well conceived and executed, it actually is. Its impact steadily grows with each moment's consideration, which is exactly the opposite of most of those more attention-seeking shots. It's a lovely, enduring portrait. 8.

Reflective
by pidge

Comment:
Beautiful and stylish. Shapes, lines and tones are a lesson to every photographer ... deceptively simple, but it's actually quite sophisticated. I guess you just made it look simple. 8.