Visitor
by wildiris

Comment:
Good shot of a great scene - probably not as effective as it would have been if the focus was a little more on the eyes; but I can see how razor thin the DOF is, but this does fall short of some of the very best macro work.

You may already be familiar with the work here, but if not take a look at this gallery:

1x Macro gallery

- Mandrillus Sphinx -
by andrewt

Comment:
Very good image which I am sure will do well. It has been well served by the tonal contrast augmentation.

Little Sable Lighthouse
by luvmyaussie

Comment:
I really, really like this - funny thing is my brain is telling me this is a colour image but I scrutinise it and I can only see shades of grey!

Very compelling work.

Fame and Fortune Clothing
by Hot Karl

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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Really bold image - I like the way that you have really committed to it - the composition, the pose, the POV, the harsh lighting, the tone-mapped look.

Critical stuff: There are few elements that detract from the purity of the image and I'm sure you could have cloned them out legally under advanced - for me they are: the strip lights in the lateral windows and the foliage top right. I also think a tad more space below his feet would have balanced the image.

Overall: I really like it, but is so nearly fantastic, that the small distractions become even more apparent.

Cold Wind
by jdmacswain

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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Interesting image, with a 'drawn with charcoal' look - gives the impression of driving snow.

Critical stuff: The centred composition doesn't really work with subject matter and moving camera effect - I think the dynamism that technique can evoke is lost a little in this composition. I think I'd have been tempted to offer slightly higher contrast but I can see that you must have deliberately avoid true blacks and whites which of course is your call yo make. You appear to have some sensor dust on the right of the image and another spot bottom right - you could have cloned these out.

Overall: I think you've achieved what you wanted to but overall I think the image lacks a bit of impact.

Watching
by karmat

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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: I love the concept here and you have really captured it in your composition - no question that the viewers eye stays just where you want it. The slight vignette really works too.

Critical stuff: The coloured eye. I can see why you did it but I think you underestimated your image, I am a fan of selective desaturation (I use it myself quite a bit), but this image doesn't need it and I think you have robbed it of its 'specialness' - we focus on this 'gimmick' rather than the photography.

Overall: I hope I haven't offended - this is a really great image, really good photography but for me your editing choice has interfered with what would have been a 9 or 10 for me. I'm going 7 now (a big drop - but I think that is an honest assessment of the impact).

past glory
by Deen

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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Great image - well found, well composed, very appropriate post-processing - I'm a big fan of the colouration. Subject-wise the hanging door has great impact but overall it is the very contrasty look that makes the image so compelling.

Critical stuff: Not a lot really - can't make up my mind whether I like the red on the right of the image...

Overall: Excellent work - a great match of subject and technique.

'Ball Court Graffiti
by ardyer

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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: Compelling subject matter and the black and white handling does bring a particular perspective. For me the reflections add the most interest.

Critical stuff. If I'm being honest, I am not really a fan of this image - although the b&w handling does add a certain minimalism it also robs the scene of one of its major features - with its vibrancy stripped away, what are we left with? I also think the POV / composition isn't well optimised; a lower POV, with you making better use of the pole might have added a little more interest to the scene.

Overall: I like the concept but in the end I don't think the trade-offs you've made have quite worked out.

Sweet Dreams
by artvet

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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: The lighting / editing to the light is just great here - I'm wondering if you've added a vignette; either way doesn't matter to me - it just works really well. Very charming image which has plenty of 'slice of life' appeal.

Negatives: Having managed to isolate the subject matter with the lighting / vignette, there are elements of the periphery which are a tad distracting. The phone in particular.

Overall: A great image, well shared.

Andie
by Tom

Comment:
Wonderful shallow DOF portrait. I'm really beginning to like this sort of work and have been dabbling myself.