the vanishing
by Alecia

Comment:
Right, I guess it's pier - probably wouldn't do well under peer review.

I love the rhythm of the structures. And I love how they disappear into the fog.

I know these are things over which you had no control, but: I usually like waves in sea shots, but I think here the strength of the whitecap distracts. I wonder if there is a time near dawn or dusk with just about this much light, but the lamps are on? Just some thoughts, I think this structure has a few more good shots in it.

It's and inspiring shot, thanks for posting it.

Hope
by Amason

Comment:
Very strong mood.

Would love to know about what was used for lighting. The glare in the fog and the strong horizontal shadow suggests that they could have been auto headlamps...

Good Luck.

Hidden During Voting
by e301

Comment:
Nice solution to the "if you choose yourself as the model you have an idiot for a photographer" problem that is inherent to this competition.

Gordon
by Gordon

Comment:
Nice bokeh, but the flat lighting... falls flat.

Blurred Interlude
by jjbeguin

Comment:
Yes, there is a B&W film I get this look with .. but never mind. I imagine one could do the same thing with levels and curves - gotta try. I've now been at this for two or three hours and even though B&W is overused this is the first photo I've seen in thie competition that has the visceral feel of a B&W print from film. It's a nice look (gotta check out the vintage section of this site, I guess) I like the composition, lighting, and richness of texture in hair, iron, wood, plaster, and chickenwire. Very nice.

midnight in the garden
by grigrigirl

Comment:
This one definitely had the most striking thumbnail. But it's purposeful slight blurriness - especially of the eyes which would make the photo extraordinary - is its ruin. When eyes are lit so extraordinarily, we'd like at least one to be in focus. It's like going to an expensive French restaurant where everyone is eating the best cuisine the world has to offer and being served a bowl of Instant Oatmeal.

Bach passion
by bicray

Comment:
I am almost always ruthless about distractions in a photo. But here the photo is about a person and his relationship to music. I find the soft earthtones of the shot to be remarkably soothing and they harmonize nicely. I also like the rhythms established by the book bindings and the staves. It is always unexpected to have a subject's face totally in the shadow, and it is always a big risk. Here it is carried off with aplomb. Usually I find washed out and black areas wasted, but here the areas echo each other in shape, and the black and white give high and low notes to the composition. In a field of very predictable photos, this one is unexpected: it's a gem.

Graphic Portrait
by SteveJ

Comment:
There was a time when I tried using photoshop effects to improve a photo that had problems. Then I decided that it was usually a bad idea. In this case I think more could have been gained by fixing the problem with the blinds - the big black spaces that occur beneath their lower edges - and moving that shiny wire thingy . The edge of the table on which the elbow rests is a bit of a problem - more precisely the fact that the lower edge is in the photo. The pose does not strike me as natural or photogenic and it is a hard pose to crop well.

At home
by Mambe

Comment:
There are so few photos in this competition that have used color or natural lighting. This one uses both and the result is stunning. The yellow silk gown, natural wood, skin, hair, and eyes complement each other perfectly.

Trapped!
by kosmikkreeper

Comment:
Very clever. Very droll. Three extra points for taking the technique du jour an extending it.