Contemplation
by wei1108

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: My what an interesting portrait, served well by excellent toning and great background bokeh. A face that is full of character too. I also think the composition is pretty good (though I may have been tempted to shave a little off behind his head).

Critical stuff: Although the toning works well, the coloration had a slightly jaundiced look, especially the whites of his eyes - makes me want to send him for an abdominal CAT scan

Overall: The overall result is very accomplished.

Home for the Holidays...
by NikonJeb

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - sometimes I find myself commenting on something that spans mainstream and niche appeal - this is one of those images. I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: A very poignant title and story here - very well executed too. I like the way you have manipulated the luminosity levels to keep the focus on the subject without losing the wider environmental and architectural context. The monochrome treatment works very well.

Critical stuff: Nothing really.

Overall: A very effective, thought provoking image.

Thru the Viewfinder
by beekeeper

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Very unusual composition - I really like it! Everything hangs together here - the strange border-like viewfinder, the artefacts, to poor colour reproduction, the blur, the old looking horse and the headless dog. Most definitely more than the sum of its parts.

Critical stuff: Nothing really - it is what it is; any change would mean that it wouldn't be!

Overall: Quirky and deceptively well done.

No Body
by npasel

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: An intriguing setup to be sure and your post-processing is a good match for the image - the trouser filling looks pretty authentic too.

Critical stuff: I'm having a hard job to discern how much of the merit in this image in photographic - though I'm not sure that matters too much.

Overall: An original image with plenty of niche appeal.

soar aching
by posthumous

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Interesting offering - I like the way that you are fully confident in your use of blur, image makes little attempt to bow to convention. I think you have captured the essence of the subject quite well.

Critical stuff: All of the above really; this isn't an easy image to look at.

Overall: Not for me but a bold, carefree, independent image nonetheless. Bravo.

Waiting for Lestat
by JaimeVinas

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: I really enjoy seeing unconventional portraits in the Free Studies and I pleased to have the opportunity to view this one. I really like the framing of the doorway and the deep shadows too.

Critical stuff: If I'm honest I think you've pushed the PP a little hard, I find the whites of the eyes in particular a little harshly treated.

Overall: A pretty good image, but one that is not best served by PP choices.

Lab Rat
by deers

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: High in originality and it makes want to know more about the context of what I am seeing - some sort of print is being produced. I don't quite recognise it as a darkroom though.

Critical stuff: Not an easy image to engage with, though I'm sure it will appeal to some.

Overall: An interesting image (in a curiosity sense) but in the final analysis I don't think there is enough here to hang onto viewers for long.

Entourage
by RKT

Comment:
The most interesting image in the challenge by some margin. 10.

Up at the Farm
by jasonlprice

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Wow, what an effective composition - a pretty original POV, but more importantly it works with the scene so well. I'm a fan of the monochrome treatment and the moody sky too.

Critical stuff: I think the focus may have been better on the face, but I do like the detail of the ladders. I think the burning of the face is a little unsubtle but I can see why you have done it.

Overall: A very effective image that might have benefited from some different choices as the point of exposure.

Rainy Day Poetry
by Techo

Comment:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - sometimes I find myself commenting on images that span niche and mainstream audiences, this is one of those images! I'll be picking one of the images I commented on in this series for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: A very beautiful image that benefits from your choice of where to focus. The boats , though out of focus are no less a fundamental subject of the image that your crisp branches. The light and colour here are quite magnificent - you really have captured the essence of this rainy day. This image has the feel of someone who is right at the top of their game - I'm eager to find out who crafted this.

Critical stuff: Nothing at all.

Overall: 10 and a fav, enough said!