look away
by tate

Comment:
Pf. Looks like a young Meg Ryan. What a set of peepers. 7, Nice image.

mona lisa
by tcmartin

Comment:
Interesting image, looks like an orchid bud. Tones work well. Can't help wonder about it not cropped so tight on the right. Nice unique image. Nice light too.

Causeway Lilly
by jonnienye

Comment:
Looks like it might be a Zephyranthes, commonly known as; Zephyr Lily, Fairy Lily, Rainflower, Magic Lily and Rain Lily. More links below:

Dave's Garden on Zephyranthes

San Marcos Growers on Zephyranthes - Fairy Lily

answers.com on Zephyr Lily

The Red Shed
by tpbremer

Comment:
In response to your request for feedback, firstly I think that the barns and shed shots you've seen (at DPC) are mostly heavily processed and usually involve more context: sky, surrounds, etc. I think I understand the concept you were going for with this image, but looking at your original I see that you didn't have much more (context especially) than this to work with. The light is on the 'least' interesting part of the barn - the window being in shadow, the dappled light around the side is nice but barely discernible, especially at this size. Looks like there might also be some focus/blur issues (or could be haze). Your toning with this entry has blown some of the color ranges in my opinion and made this a little harsh in areas, thereby diminishing the overall soft effect. The composition is out, the shed is to the left of frame and the mass of tree(s) also dominates the left. My suggestion would be, for this scene, a variation in angle/perspective - of the barn, and the trees, and also, of the camera angle - this looks like you got closer to ground level, which is a good idea, but not sure it has enhanced the image here, perhaps a variation in that perspective too may have produced a more dramatic perspective. I gave this a 3.

edit to add: my comment about the blur/focal still remains, even though (obviously) I know this is/was a Soft Focus Challenge - and I also know/knew you used the black nylon (which may have contributed to the 'haziness'), I wonder whether (if using the nylon again) a white or lighter color would be better for a scene like this. As well, further softening in pp would probably have aided the overall effect and feel you were going for.

Message edited by author 2008-05-21 16:59:20.

Moonlight through the Pines
by jlanoue

Comment:
Very nice and good thinking with the moonlight. Maybe a little more off the top to emphasize the shadows and bring that front deck into play more - looks like a nice place to sit.

Along the River
by BrianR

Comment:
Beautifully captured. Well done to get the light as well - especially for this Challenge, can't help wondering about emphasizing that by cropping out the left side - but then you'd lose the good reflections there.. who knows.

Springtime grazing
by hanae

Comment:
Beautiful scene and image. Love that tree.

Lady in Waiting
by timfythetoo

Comment:
8 - Nice composition and 'moment'.

A stone is their only memory...
by choltmeier

Comment:
I like this, but it is not 'soft' so much as 'another' effect, if that makes sense. These validations confuse me with the 'rules' (especially Basic).

Glade Walker
by Imagineer

Comment:
Beautiful scene, nicely framed, for this Challenge would like to have seen this even softer. Looks like another set of legs behind the Glade Walker, but could just be more 'wood'.