'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.

Witness Protection Program
by dswann

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 find and this is one of those times that the title contributes to the art. The bag on the head is priceless. I really like the colours, vibrant yet still grungy.

Critical stuff: I don't think the focus is quite as crisp as it might be and I think there are some elements of the composition that detract from the whole - I wonder whether getting down on the ground and offering a low POV might've worked a little better.

Overall: I'm very pleased to have met this image - I have enjoyed it. Very well seen and titled but I'm not sure you've made the best of this photographic opportunity.

Threesome
by muur88

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: Certainly worthy of capturing - great street photo! The characters in the image are priceless - their expressions and gaze place you firmly in this image, even though you aren't in it.

Critical stuff: There is something about the framing that doesn't quite work for me and although I can appreciate that this may have been a rapidly caught image, the fragment of upper window and the slightly too much negative space on the right of the image, throws this out of whack a little.

Overall: In my opinion, although this image is not short of interest, it lacks a little finesse to be truly effective.

I Spy a Bird in Blue Skies
by got2bgutsy

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: A great title that helps the viewer appreciate the image as you do - I'm not sure I would've seen it had you not pointed it out, so I'm glad you did. The slightly tone-mapped look works really well for this image and I really like the colours too.

Critical stuff: Then clump of grass top right is a tad distracting but I'm not sure what you could have done with it, I also think the crop is a little tight for me.

Overall: A charming image with bags of character.

Pat's Liquor Store
by JeffryZ

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: This image has the sense of you having captured a special time of day with the golden colours and the long shadows. I really like the way the image fades to (near) black at the top and bottom of the image. My favourite part of the image is the faded 'Liquor' sign, especially the light playing on the 'L'.

Critical stuff: The target banding in the sky - not sure what your work flow is here, but I'm not sure that it is RAW shooting with 16 bit editing.

Overall: A very atmospheric image.

le cochon
by vawendy

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: How great is this!? So many elements to look at, great depth to this image, both in terms of perspective and story. I really love the pig head - it makes the image. Just about every element is intriguing - I wonder what everything is used for. This sense of curiosity is augmented by the window frame which adds a voyeuristic feel.

Critical stuff: I can't think of a thing.

Overall: Such an interesting image - thanks for offering it.

Golden-Eye
by ErikV

Comment:
Stunning focus - the eye is amazing perfect title; will place very high.

the door is always open, mannikin
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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: This one has my eyes dancing - the window in the centre draws the eye to begin with before it dances to the hanging door and then flits to the sign towards the bottom right. I really like the peripheral blur. The touch of brown colour in the middle is compelling too.

Critical stuff: nothing really

Overall: One of those images that is more than the sum of its part. Great stuff.