By moonlight
by aliqui

Comment:
What a wonderful, wonderful shot. Perfect lighting, perfect sharpening - it even looks a little tone-mapped on the stem. I wonder if it is.

This has set a new standard for flower shots.

Different
by RoeeRozen

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: Yes very different! Very intriguing juxtaposition between the gunship and the scenery - it does rather stop us in our tracks. I think your composition is just about perfect for this image and though I think your colour choices are a little odd, I can't deny that they work.

Critical stuff: the image does seem a little small - why didn't you submit at 720px?? It is difficult to say without knowing the lighting conditions, but I remain unconvinced that this treatment of colour and luminosity offers the best possible edit.

Overall: I used to spend hours as a kid pouring over all of the Jane's reference books so I was really pleased to have come across this image.

One Last Sip Before I Go
by MaryO

Comment:
Great sharp macro - I think the bokeh may have been even more effective with a wide open aperture though.

Just a big bubble or...... POLTERGEIST!!
by supacohen

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 can see why you shot this - it certainly isn't something you see everyday and by sharing it, we can all enjoy this interesting scene.The mega-bubble is well lit and the eye is naturally drawn there.

Critical stuff: If I'm honest I think that though this is a good scene, it isn't a good photograph. The column is very prominent and competes with the bubble and probably succeeds - this is problematical because of the lack of focus here; I know that isn't where you intended the focus to be but it's too big a feature to include if this unsharp. The cropping generally doesn't help either - the woman in profile at the bottom does little to help your image and cropping a bit more top to bottom would've improved things.

Overall: A good scene, well seen but one which is marred by technicals which don't help you to communicate your vision with the viewer.

Full Moon Dash
by kcarter07

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: Very interesting from a technical and artistic perspective. Is this a Lensbaby shot?? So rare to see them in colour and it works really well. So many good parts to this image, the detailed, contrasty bricks, the golden light through the arch - such a range it almost loos HDR. The really interesting thing about this image is its ambiguity as to the time of day - after all that could be the sun or the moon - I suspect the moon because of the darkness on the far right of the image.

Critical stuff: You know that I'm going to moan about the verticals... I just don't think you can have verticals this close to it without it being perfect... and it isn;t.

Overall: An intriguing picture which brings something a little different.

Dorian Gray
by ytshuva

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 is a very well executed and conceived image - an intriguing set up.

Critical stuff: I'm about as anti-smoking as they come so I'm never going to be a fan of this image. Photographically it feels too close but perhaps it's just me recoiling as I would in real life.

Overall: An interesting vision, skilfully executed.

Storm over Florence
by LevT

Comment:
Fantastic - extremely well executed image.

Pyramid Peak
by delin

Comment:
Wow - this would've made a great entry for 'X marks the spot' - looks pretty good in an FS too though!

U.S. Open 2009: Center Court
by Five_Seat

Comment:
Great execution of the tilt & shift technique.

Squid's beauty reflects
by Motek

Comment:
Great vibrant image - I am a fan of shots such as this and this one is really pretty. When I do them, I find preventing my own reflection is absolutely key. I'd be interested in hearing how you set up for this one.