Broken souls amoungst us.
by docpjv

Comment:
This is a most unusual and interesting photograph. It seems as if the woman is not actually present, but is merely a vision of the man's memory, which is presumably exactly the effect you were intending. This idea is supported by the composition (the two figures appear disconnected), by the apparent age difference (she's the right age to be a memory for him), and by the use of grain to establish the hazy, dream-like atmosphere. I suspect the man is actually posed in front of a photograph of the woman, in which case the use of grain is doubly effective because of the illusion it creates. Either way, I hope you DON'T tell us how you achieved this fascinating image; I prefer to believe the illusion. 8

Safe in my fathers arms
by TUBORG

Comment:
Terrific portrait. It's one of those rare images in which the care with which it was constructed, lit, captured and processed is not immediately obvious. You look at it & are first struck by the appealing little boy and the adult hands, and it just looks like a very nice photograph. It's only when you consider why it looks so good that you begin to notice just how much care and skill went into its creation. 8

"Until Death Did We Part"
by tmorninglory96

Comment:
It's sackcloth and ashes, of course ... and, in view of the title, in this case it's for mourning rather than pentinence. That makes me nervous about commenting freely, because it looks real rather than simulated. It makes a stark and arresting image. The lighting is beautiful, the composition is simple yet elegant, and the processing, including the use of grain, is sympathetic to the mood and the subject. 8

Whither
by Germaine

Comment:
This is a careful & effective composition, combining shapes, lines and tones beautifully and effortlessly. Oddly, although I can understand the role of the grain, I actually think it might detract a little, because it 'flattens' the scene out, and robs it of the sense of depth implicit in the lines ... makes it look a little like a painted theatrical backdrop. Still a nice image though. 7

One Window
by Jaimeson

Comment:
It's like a puzzle ... I feel I want to slide the windows around on the wall to solve the riddle of the blank space. It's artistically interesting and it challenges the viewer's imagination ... and that's way more than most in this challenge! Of course, it would work just as well without the grain but I like it anyway. 7.

A Place in Hell
by JPR

Comment:
Presumably this is an elevated boardwalk above an ocean very convincingly turned to fire and brimstone. It's a terrific composition, expertly photographed and processed, but it's the great idea that impresses me the most. 8 ... Nope, bump to 9.

The Night Tourist
by e301

Comment:
A brilliant street photograph. We see far too little of this stimulating genre at DPC, and yours is a terrific example of it. I am especially impressed by the details ; the spotlit legs of the 'marching' pedestrians, the perfect positioning in the scene of the primary subject, and the fact that all faces bar his are turned away ... any of these alone would have been pleasing, but to capture all of them together can only be a remarkable mix of skill and good fortune. Add to that the man's slightly bewildered expression, his hat, the finger to his brow, and what is presumably a furled collapsible umbrella inexplicably held aloft like a flag, and you have an image that can easily provide half an hour's entertainment for the thoughtful viewer. Well, maybe not half an hour; lets just say about fifty times longer than the DPC average. 10

A Fallen Leader
by Transit

Comment:
This is very powerful - it certainly does evoke the idea of a fallen captain. The hint of dust below the eye and lower horn adds to that effect; as if the animal has just now fallen and is still sliding to a halt - absurd of course, given that it's a long-dead skull, but the feeling is there nonetheless. The grain is of course entirely appropriate and contributes to the impact. 9

Out of here
by heida

Comment:
Wonderful high-impact composition. I like everything about it except maybe the grain, which I think might be a little excessive. However, it certainly does give the scene a touch of 'alternate reality'. Also love the fact that the man's hands appear to be in his pockets. Don't know why, it just seems delightfully whimsical in the context of this scene. 8

Borsalino
by joezl

Comment:
Well, I love these hats - I wear similar ones (alas, not Borsalino) myself. Beautifully composed and lit scene, and effective use of grain to complement the mood evoked by the composition & subject. 7