Duck Soup (1933)
by Pug-H

Comment:
Pretty neat, and you lighting isn't too bad - there's quite a strong sense of the various textures. It isn't, for me, a very succcessful challenge entry - but I'm struggling to say why exactly: I think it is a question of weak composition in the end: there's a tension between the spoon and the ducks, which actually adds to the strength of the area of frame where the bowl is, and somehow it is that that becomes the central subject - the ducks are weak, die to their central placing, the spoon because of being out of focus, and the bowl seems like the least important part of the image. I wonder if a less horizontal viewpoint might have strengthened the image? Nice try though

Taking Lives
by renaissanceman

Comment:
As a set up for a propaganda image this is ideal. To my eye, your execution of it could have been improved with the use of levels or histogram adjustments to really take that background to black, and probably also by using a softer and more angled light, which I think would help provide a threatening sheen on the gun, and prevent that glare on the bullet. Not an image I like, I'm afraid - it's too straighforward and obvious a message for me, akin to being battered over the head. But neatly done. 5

On the Waterfront
by jenesis

Comment:
Strong image, good choice of title too. Immaculate use of depth of field, and a strong compositional balance across the frame. It's possibly a touch too purely graphic for my taste (and this really is now about personal taste): there isn't enough definition in those ducklings to add that extra level of wit to it. nevertheless, strong work. 7

Solitude
by Brad

Comment:
Ten ribbons in nine months, and just 60 challenges Brad. I think you'll need a handicap, soon. Congratulations on another one :-)

Natural Wildlife Habitat
by dipaulk

Comment:
Certainly fitting the challenge - but the other half of that, producing a quality photograph - well, this desn't do it for me. There is a strong sense of the patterning of those tree textures, but there's very little differentiation of tha background to give any strong sense of subject anywhere, and the chaos of shapes and lines makes it a very difficult composition to follow. There is, however, a strong sense of pulling the eye to the right of frame, which makes the hiding of the figure work photographically very well.

"Mommy, is that tree gonna get me?"
by OFreasier

Comment:
Lacking real punch - without knowing your processing it's difficult to tall you what I feel is wrong, but it looks like you could use some more contrast and a good bit of sharpening - that would really hhelp bring out the patterning of that chaos of branches I think. It's not a bad image for the challenge, but you could work on your composition also.

He's in there somewhere.
by kevrobertson

Comment:
After some moments of looking, this image seems tilted a touch - which adds I think an unneccesarily distracting dynamic to what is otherwise a very fine shot for the challenge. I particularly like the fact that the strongest compositional elements pull the eye towards the stairs, and your hidden figure is in the other direction.

where's the bird photographer?
by petrakka

Comment:
Don't see anyone at all :-) I'm not sure about the strong barrel distortion, I feel that it doesn't work for this scene - though I do very much like the light.

Behind the Barn
by Judith Polakoff

Comment:
Strong compositional work to hide the figure, and to divert the immediate attention. There's a certain misted feel to the image, though I wonder if a touch more definition in contrast might have been effective for the voters.

The Beaded Door
by KarateKid

Comment:
The impressionistic and grainy feel of this is pleasing. Composition is strong, sense of the dynamic also strong. There's a hauntedness to the image - and you've kept the detail of the expression on the face well. Nice work.