Ice age
by Alex_Petrini

Comment:
I wonder if this is Fred's...?

Spectacular - near monochrome in its palette.

welcome
by nick_hinch

Comment:


Awarded for Best of Year 2011

snap
by ubique

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: This is a highly interesting image with a most novel POV. The overall composition is quite immersive - we feel pulled in. I like the grain and the toning and the eye contact with the subject works really well as a secondary hook after the flick itself.

Critical stuff: The vertical banding to the right of the hand.

Overall: Bold and thought provoking. Excellent.

Tuol Sleng - S21
by cosney

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: I love these abandoned buildings shots and this is a nice one. The floor tiles work really well in offering a sense of depth and you choice of viewpoint is just right. I also really like how my brain can't decide whether this is a monochrome image or just very drab. The vignette is excellent too.

Critical stuff: Not really

Overall: Nicely done.

The Stilt Fishermen of Kathaluwa
by jagar

Comment:
John - these scenes are always really compelling but here, strangely, it is that breaking wave rather than the fishermen that draws my interest - not a bad thing, but unexpected.The bird is surprisingly prominent too. The glowy rendition reflects your work and once again you have judged it well. My brain tells me the men are over sharpened but my eyes don't reveal much when I scrutinise closely.

Great scene - well made.

masked soul
by bspurgeon

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: Despite the excellent pigeon, it's the background I find most interesting - it's so very cornery! and with the subliminal suggestion of a face peering through the blur. The slight coloration works really well and the movement blur adds an uncommon thick softness to the image - like a visual muffle.

Critical stuff: Some additional grain may have contributed to the mood.

Overall: If you are going to make a blurry pigeon - this is the way to do it.

iSlink
by daisydavid

Comment:
Lovely capture and a nicely dark presentation. Great clarity where it needs to be.

A screaming comes across the sky.
by 4trtone

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: I don't really understand this image and I enjoy how another part of my brain asks me why I expect to. I do quite like the colour palette too....

Critical stuff: Despite the internal dialogue this image promotes, I'm not a fan - even as an abstract I feel the image isn't effective for me - I think I'd have enjoyed lower contrast and higher saturation.

Overall: A challenging piece of work but not one for me I'm afraid.

window
by jmritz

Comment:
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.

Positives: Well, you have stopped me for long enough to drop one of these comments upon you and I DO like the fact that you have challenged us with this image... Now that you have me, I find the eye fascinating - like a glimpse of ET frozen in a stasis chamber!

Critical stuff: I find the colour noise ugly and all though the image is somewhat compelling, it is nonetheless difficult to like.

Overall: Always pleased to see people sticking challenging images into Free Studies so thanks for that.

Valley of Death
by darnok

Comment:
This is a beautifully rendered image - brave to offer up a monochrome despite the rig colours available to you. It works very well though.

Great stuff.