My bridge
by Abra

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 : Super composition, love the lens flare and the catchlight in the helmet. I really enjoy the arches too and the way the white dashed line guides the eye along the full depth of the 'Z' axis. The boy himself is perfectly placed in the frame and offers an engaging subject.

As I look more, other features become more prominent, the shadow patter, the highlights catching the mesh of the fence.

Critical stuff: The structure is so well shown that the boy is a little lost - perhaps that was your intention? Some may prefer a tweaked edit to bring him out a bit more.

Overall: A very nicely made image.

Friday afternoon
by ScooterMcNutty

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 : It feels like I could walk into this scene, I can almost hear the hustle and bustle. I really like the emphasis you have placed on the signs and how their dominance and scale to the architecture. The high-contrst monochrome treatment works very well, as does the vignette.

Critical stuff: The buildings are so prominent here, the lens and perspective distortion is quite prominent.

Overall: A very engaging image.

Equus burchellii
by whiteroom

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 lovely blurry stuff - it would have been easy to have been tempted to offer up a vanilla wildlife shot but I'm so glad you didn't. The degree of motion and the overlay effect it has produced is fabulous and although I wouldn't have picked that colour for the toning I'm glad you were bold enough it works perfectly.

Critical stuff: Nothing at all.

Overall: Lovely stuff - bumping from a 7 to a 8.

Homecoming
by Windtale

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 very cinematic - I like that. Such a story to be told here, the suitcase makes the image, the way that it looks large and heavy and only just clears the ground seems to me to be a metaphor for the character's wider life. The landscape and your subject reaction to it is most compelling. I really like the conversion/toning too.

Critical stuff: The foreground snow is darker than the snow on the hill behind - I think the brighter snow has a tendency to draw the eye away from where it should be.

Overall: Very nice image.

in the square room
by arngrimur

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 : There is something about this portrait that is honest and magnificent - the intense gaze, the clinical background, the greenish hue, the general lack of fuss - its straight-up-ness if you will. The POV and framing too - perfect.

Critical stuff: Nothing

Overall: Sublime. Bumping from 9 to 10.

Christmas Blues
by Spizzer

Comment:
This is a great street scene and one I didn't fully appreciate in my first pass. Your exposure is just perfect and that choice elevates the image considerably. The light playing on the sax while the figure remains as shadow all combined with the colourful background bokeh makes for a really delightful scene.

Bumping to an 8.

swimming with the natives
by rider808

Comment:
Lovely image - made me think of this one:



Makes me want to get an underwater housing.

The figure and reflection is interesting enough in its own right but with the dolphins below it is flat out amazing. Very bold choice to go monochrome too.

A 10 from me.

Steve and Dange by the Hearth
by banmorn

Comment:
I think this is a flat-out fantastic portrait (of man and dog). The fire in the background offers a lot of context and gives the whole image a warm feel.

10 from me.

'Tis The Season!
by TommyMoe21

Comment:
OK - I'm going out on a limb here and letting you know that I scored this a '1'. Only fair to let you know why.

First of all I should say that I use the full scale and that I am but one voter with my own expectations and 'luggage'.

I should say I have a (fairly extreme) prejudice for images of ornaments - particularly figurines, so this was always going to be a hard sell to me.

Of all the things you could photograph for a Free Study I'm not sure why you would choose something like this...

Having said all that, it does have redeeming features - technically, it is a pretty pristine image and I can certainly respect that. Enough that I should bump it a little.... Bumping to a 2 for the technicals - I can't bring myself to bump it any more, the image itself leaves me too cold. Apologies.

Bridal Veil
by daevans

Comment:
OK - I'm going out on a limb here and letting you know that I scored this a '1'. Only fair to let you know why.

First of all I should say that I use the full scale and that I am but one voter with my own expectations and 'luggage'.

The subject matter is one that really doesn't excite me (it will be on the money for plenty of other people though).

Although I think the upward looking POV is interesting enough, the bottom right rock formation encroaches on the area of interest and detracts from the scene.

Most of all though, I'm afraid I've against your editing choices - the blown highlights and blue fringing to the water are to my eye very unattractive.

Having said all of that and having spent the time writing this comment I do wonder if a 1 is a bit harsh.... Bumping to a 2.