What is sand?
by Jessi

Comment:
Yes, it meets the challenge but isn't particularly interesting. Looks like it's a container of sand for agricultural use. I feel bad for those snowed in or landlocked with little sand available. No vote.

Footprints
by Shutter-For-Hire

Comment:
Very nice picture. A little oversaturated and unlevel, but otherwise nicely composed. The lens flare is unfortunate but probably unavoidable. Is this based on the prose on plaques? No vote.

Don't look at me, I'm see through (self portrait)
by Jdroullard

Comment:
This would normally get a low score for the photographer reflection, but since it's the purpose of this shot you did well. Good take on the challenge with a unique twist.

Atardecer
by jreynach

Comment:
While trying to figure out where the transparency was I figured out the title means evening or dusk. It's a little small at 600 pixels. It's a pretty scene and the exposure is pretty good for the conditions and basic editing. With Advanced editing you could have done bracketed exposures and tone mapping. Your Alpha 200 (exif data) will give you a good picture, so larger with some sharpening in post processing may have made this more detailed. Are the tree leaves the transparency?

Endangered
by Ann

Comment:
Great shot, Ann. I've seen those pandas many times and they have never posed like this for me. They're usually asleep. Excellent job on post-processing. Congrats on top 20.

Week One
by karmat

Comment:
PAW (for my 2009 goal counting purposes) - Beautiful Eastern USA scene you don't see much of out west. The constant haze reminds me of when we visited the Blue Mountains in Australia there is a blue haze I think from eucalyptus vapors. There appear to be some vertical waves through the right half of the hills, or is that my computer?

Goldfinch - Week 2
by lunachicken

Comment:
PAW - I like this better than your first one because other than a little OOF twig nothing is blocking the Goldfinch and we can see it's face. Good framing by branches. Maybe boost the saturation a bit to bring out the coloring.

African Hoopoe
by sulamk

Comment:
PAW (for my 2009 goal counting purposes) - I have never seen or heard about a Hoopoo before. Interesting bird. I'd like to see it cropped closer to the bird to get more detail. I'm looking forward to seeing more South African birds.

Week-1.jpg
by bauerfan71

Comment:
PAW (for my 2009 goal counting purposes) - I think the crop is fine, showing openness on the right and clustered buildings on the left, but the snow at the bottom is pretty indistinguishable, almost making it look like it's cropped to the barn. I think higher contrast would help bring out the rustic look of the barn, and may also bring out detail in the snow.

Chickadee - Week 1
by lunachicken

Comment:
PAW (for my 2009 goal counting purposes) - Wildlife is going to be difficult to consistently get. Thank goodness for the abundance of birds. The branch in the way is unfortunate. It's a unique pose, with the bird apparently preening. Other than the blocking branch I like the rest of the branches. They help the picture a lot.