Happy
by ThatChickOverThere

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: This is a very unconventional portrait - I'm liking how it breaks a number of conventions. I think the degree of unsharpness here works very well and there is a lot of personality communicated too. The lighting works really well on the jacket and I like how it merges into the background - I'm a fan of the negative space too.

Critical stuff: The above comments might suggest that I really like this image and though I quite like it, I'm not mad about it. Sometimes in comments I say that the image is more than the sum of its part - here, if I'm honest, I feel the opposite - the whole effect is less than it should be. I feel a little guilty about that assessment but it is an honest (and personal) one.

Overall: I like the vision and I think you've executed it well but somehow something has been lost in the process - I wish I could be more specific, but this is just a gut feeling.

The Visit
by qui-bow

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:This is a very unconventional image - I like that part about it. I also like the overall coloration and lighting and the scene is certainly intriguing.

Critical stuff: To me, the overall feel of this is a little casual and un-crafted; I think the main culprit here is the chair on the stage which I think looks a little messy. I think the blur is a little distracting too - not enough to be become a feature yet enough to upset the overall clarity of the image.

Overall: I think the success of this image was dependent of you get everything perfect - I think you've nailed the colour and lighting but, for me at least, it is let down by other elements.

Vines
by wetland

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:This is an image with great texture - it makes me want to reach out an touch. For me, the highlight of this image is the sense of some warming sunlight top left - subtle but powerful. I also like the latent mystery the the window blind suggests - closed suggests privacy and thus lived-in but the growth of the vines suggest a degree of dereliction. Interesting.

Critical stuff: I wonder about the centred composition, thinking that more wall to the left of the window may have been even more effective but really only saying that to have something to say in this section ;-)

Overall - a very nice image, high in mystery and well executed too.

ritual
by whiteroom

Comment:
27 ones - madness!

This is excellent.

The Overcoat.
by rooum

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: Oh wow! Instant favourite! This is just such a holistic image - every element is mutually supportive of each other element. The tones, the focus / blur, the vignette, the composition, the subject.... All brilliant.

Critical stuff: Nothing.

Overall: Quite fabulous; this says LevT to me - apologies if I have this wrong.

Down the Rabbit Hole. Or is it up?
by robinegg

Comment:
Beautifully executed.

Birds
by Melethia

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:The overall scene holds together very well and I think the Lensbaby is the right tool for the job. I'm really liking the grain too. Also, I wonder how you got this shot - the timing is either highly fortuitous or you camped out - either way it makes for a great scene.

Critical stuff: There is a lot of blur here and I wonder if a smaller aperture ring might have been a little more effective - but then perhaps that would detract from the overall vision.

Overall: A most compelling image - it gets better and better the longer I look at it.

Osprey's Landing
by CorySmith

Comment:
This is such a good shot, the framing of the wire is a masterstroke.

Forgotten Stop
by Bpaige

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:Had to stop and comment on this one! Very bold! I like the superimposition of the lamp posts and the general dereliction.

Critical stuff: If I'm honest I think the low contrast of the image doesn't make the most of the scene - which is a shame.

Overall: I do like this scene, I'm just not sure you've optimised the image.

Blues
by lovethelight

Comment:
Oh... this is sooo well done; I wish I could pull off work of this quality.

Fantastic execution of an outdoor portrait - lovethelight?