Fahrenheit Zero
by Gabriel

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: Great clarity here - you have managed to communicate the texture and the coldness of your subject very well; I like the play of light and dark in the top right quadrant of the image.

Critical stuff: For me, I find the interest level tops out quite quickly - I don't find my eye wanting to explore further or my mind trying to form an interpretation.

Overall: This is an effective image but one that I find to be a little light on qualities that cause the eye to dwell for longer than a moment; though I must admit, it is rather well executed.

Scissor
by t_kotzak

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 really like the simplicity of this composition - there is a purity about it (I know that sounds like pretentious bollocks but it really does have that quality). For me, the focus on the pivot point makes the image, it is the pivot that defines the tool and that function differentiates it from other cutting implements. In that regard you have captured the essence of the object. I really like the lighting and the conversion too - I even like the crop... chop off the pointy bit, emphasise the pivot point.

Critical stuff: Nothing at all.

Overall: Some photography is about distillation of the essence of a subject. I think you have managed to achieve that rare thing here.

Low Tide
by storode

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 like the way this confounds the eye a little as it tries to ascertain scale - are these micro channels or larger structures? If it wasn't for the ability to visualise the grains, this might pass for an aerial shot of some sort of delta.

Critical stuff: You've made a number of choices here - the aspect ratio, the B&W conversion, the slight vignette and of course the subject itself - I have to say that some of those choices seem a little arbitrary, the image doesn't communicate a crafted feel to me.

Overall: An interesting abstract nature composition but I'm not sure how well it stands up in a Free Study challenge - in this context I think images should (and mostly do) communicate something about the motive of the photographer - I'm sure this motive is very clear to you, after all - you chose this image but for me, I'm just not sure I'm sharing your vision.

Cart
by neophyte

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 like the aspect ratio, it gives the hotdog stand an upright feel and we feel close to it. I also like the angle at which you have captured your subject. I think the black and white works well, though I feel you could have made it a little edgier with higher contrast and added grain.

Critical stuff: Although the composition demonstrates a lot of care (I think you may have even corrected for perspective) the cropped umbrella stands out a little. Above, I said this could be edgier - the sauce vat (or what ever you call it) seems to cry out for a bit of added emphasis; I'm not sure what editing tools you have access to but a tonal contrast brush or something similar over that area might have been really effective. As I said above, I might have tried some grain, some harsher contrast and perhaps a small vignette - however, you may not have the editing tools, nor might that sort of image be to your taste. When I do it, I do get pulled up for 'noise'.

Overall: An effective image but one where I think that the subject and the edit aren't as complementary as they might be.

Gloucester Road
by Anthony_D_Archer

Comment:
Congrats on the red - very well executed image. I liked this one in voting.

Via del Corso
by JimiRose

Comment:
So pleased to see this get the Blue Jimi - really pleased it stayed above 8 too. It really is an 8+ image. great stuff!

Two Black Dogs
by james_so

Comment:
I really like this - makes for a really effective abstraction, like a distillation of the scene.

Liquid
by Retroesque

Comment:
This is quite brilliant - I love the coloration.

Sunk
by RKT

Comment:
Very interesting - can't quite work out how you did this, there looks to be more than one blurry technique going on.

I do like it though!

facets
by krnodil

Comment:
Very effective - great use of technique to achieve a vision.