Emerging
by cpanaioti

Comment:
I think that this one suffered from the focus not being crystal clear. While we can make out the head of the ant inside the flower, everything looks blurred to me. These types of shots don't typically do well on this site. Also, bringing the ants position to the left would have helped out your composition some by bring the the center of the flower more into the frame. Great eye to see such a scene, just not the best of all execution. Notice with your high scoring photographs that your focus is crisp and they have a great contrast of colors.

Parade vendors appeal to all ages
by Melethia

Comment:
Nice photo-journalistic capture, but it really lacks any one area of interest. The kid's expression and captivation with the stuffed toy is nice, but he gets lost in the shadow. The cute mom would make an interesting subject, but her face is partially hidden. I agree that this one would also work well in a tabloid-type magazine. Crisp focus and nice exposure with the difficult lighting conditions, but some room for improvement.

Careful, I spit
by Kelli

Comment:
--Trading Post Comment--
Great coloring here and excellent focus, but I think you picked a subject that is a bit too common for a free study. These are the toughest of all challenges to do well in, and I normally avoid them. This one makes me chuckle, and the composition is very nice. I still believe that it should have scored better, and well above a 5, but voters on here are hard to figure out most days. I think you'd have done better if you would have isolated the llama against the sky and left out that tree line that's centered in the frame.

Senior
by nards656

Comment:
--Trading Post Comment--
I got to you before the voting was over! I still like it, and think that it is a nice shot. Maybe a hair over processed, but not terrible at thus resolution. Nice lighting, and I think that the square crop serves this one well.

Light and shadow
by Melethia

Comment:
--Trading Post Comment--
Nice capture and nice score. I think that you scored about as high as you could have with this shot and this site. Vivid colors and overdone neat image seem to do better than nice composition and striking contrast. I really like the tonal range that you captured here, as well as the contrast. Beautifly composition and crystal clear focus also work to make this a nice image. The dark and bright areas of the capture also serve to make this a well-balanced image.

Two worlds - One bus stop
by timfythetoo

Comment:
--Trading Post Comment--
Nice score, and I don't see anything wrong with the border. I think that the composition could have benefited from shifting a bit to the left. The gentleman on the left is a bit too close to the frame's edge for me. Terrific colors and wonderful clarity. I think that the 640 pixels allowed here really limited the score that this one could have bought. Nice work!

A Day Out
by tngrndream

Comment:
--Trading Post Comment--
I really like the peaceful feeling that you've captured here. I'd really try to use the full 640 pixels that the site allows, especially for a shot with this much detail. Your focus and exposure are great, and the bending road really carries the viewer into the pic. I think that I would have set up a bit differently to get that road a bit more over to the right hand side. Only to get it more out of the center, though. The coloring seems near flawless. This one would work well as a large wall-hanger.

Kook sets fire to Coney Island
by Kelli

Comment:
--Trading Post Comment--
Very interesting. You have several elements working together in this shot to keep the eye moving all around the frame. You've captured a very interesting scene, and your placement of the actor is priceless. Nice background hair. The shot immediately gave me a smile. I think it could have been better without the harsh lighting on his face, but we can't control everything. Nice score.

Secret WWII-Era Prison Discovered
by chalice

Comment:
--Trading Post Comment--
No way this is a sub-5 shot. I think that too many voters got too carried away with the challenge title this time. Some concentrated on the title, while others worried about how it would look in news print. This is a very nice shot, and I think that the title really adds to it. The composition is excellent, with the light at the end of the tunnel really pulls the viewer into the frame. The cage makes me want to look deeper and see what else is back there. I think that I might have tried to darken the left wall a bit, but that would have been about it. Nice work, and an easy 6+ capture.

His
by jenesis

Comment:
Very nice portrait, but you look a little tense. I bet it was from running to get into the shot and posed soon enough, huh? Great composition and really nice lighting. If you'd had your left arm down on his skin, I think that you could have eliminated most of the shadow underneath without any extra lighting. Having that wrist bent up also adds to your tense look. The expression is great, giving a very intense look rather than cold. I like it. The shadow over the left eye is a bit distracting, but easily remedied by pulling that hair back just a, well, hair. I like the initial entry as well. Your catch lights are much more pronounced with fewer distracting shadows. Wonderful job overall!