Waiting for a Cab
by tmorninglory96

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 think this is one of those images that offer up a slice of life rather than trying to wow us with technicals or artistic vision - though of course the motion blur and the tone mapping do offer something by way of that. Interestingly the area I find my eye drawn to the most is the underside of the balcony above the man. I think the colours certainly add a lot of interest - I like how there is a red zone, a blue zone and a green zone.

Critical stuff: I think images like this should tell a bit of a story - I'm not sure this one does. Paradoxically instead of complementing the image the tone mapping / colouration becomes the star of the show - easily stealing the limelight from the actual content in the image.

Overall:Although this image is certainly competent and brings an artistic vision, I think this image is neither honestly enthralling or sympathetically edited and as such it misses the mark a little for me. I can however understand why you would like it.

Metropolitan Art
by tvsometime

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 think this is a well seen image - well executed, I like the fact that everything is orthogonal and I wonder what lens to use, I presume you corrected it with Photoshop. Of course the distortions in the glass are the star of the show and they offer us an intriguing glimpse into this cityscape - the changes in colour are particularly compelling.

Critical stuff: Nothing really, I think you've done exactly the right thing by this image.

Overall: Well proportioned and well edited - you've extracted the most from this interesting scene.

Ivories over downtown
by Yo_Spiff

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 think this would've done really well in the Deep DOF challenge, but it still works here.The way you've used the piano to mirror the cityscape works really well and the contrast in this monotone image is a perfect match for you subject and composition. The overall effect is very effective. Of course the winning element is the juxtaposition of the piano with the city. I did well with this image: . I think yours offers a similar effect, though yours is a much higher quality image.

Critical stuff: I wonder whether it might have been possible to boost the shadow detail in the reflected building furthest left in the image.

Overall: A really effective image that deserves to do well. I'll be looking to see what lens you used.

Pilgrimage
by Iraklis

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 masterclass in the use of light and shadow - the interplay of the highlights and shadows is marvellous. This would be a good image without the figure, but with them - it is lifted to another level.

Critical stuff: I think this could have stood a tighter crop on the left allowing for you to offer a bigger, higher image at 720px, I think a little could've come of the top too if we were going that way - drawing the eye more to the most interesting elements in the frame.

Overall: An great scene, well executed.

I dont think we are in Kansas any more.
by pete0121

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: What an extraordinary scene - it looks like a film set or something; it really makes me want to know the context. I love the slightly high key nature and the way the image fades to depth - I don't even mind the border. I also like the way that you've had confidence in the muted colours. Most of all I like the figures - full of mystery.

Critical stuff: Nothing really - not understanding the context is a little frustrating, but that is my problem.

Overall: A most compelling image of a most extraordinary scene.

Red-Yellow-Blue
by silverscreen

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: Sometimes in the comment series I comment on an image that has wider than 'just' niche appeal - I think this image begins to stray into that area. What hits me about this image is its purity, so clean uncluttered. I like the way you haven't been tempted to ramp up the saturation on the red and yellow - I'm not sure I would've made nearly such a sensible editing choice; there is a lesson for me right there. The composition is fantastic - so well balanced.

Critical stuff: Nothing much but perhaps my heavy-handed editing might have been tempted to send the window panes to black just to pick up the contrast of this area.

Overall: Incredibly effective image - expertly executed.

Guided
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 my Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: What an interesting image - full of story and a little mystery. I'm not sure of the context but the robe, the stone, the light communicates druids to me. I like the blur / motion too - I like the linear aberrations it causes. I think the yellow colouration, the light gives is excellent.

Critical stuff: I'm not too keen on the blue hue - desaturation of that channel with an increase in luminance to a higher key image feels like it might have been more effective but without trying that, how can I say.

Overall: A very effective image which clearly communicates a vision. I really like it.

The Entire Tree from One Single Leaf
by nfessel

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 quite a find and you have handled the subject superbly, your choice of background, lighting and colouration serves only to emphasise the beauty of the leaf. Your composition too - just the right amount of negative space.

Critical stuff: Not much to say here

Overall: It's tempting to say that you haven't had much to do here - the leaf gave you the photo; but, that's not right - you brought plenty... plenty of faith in the leaf, plenty of restraint in the edit and plenty of understanding of what was important. If ever there was a photographic argument for 'less is more' - this would make a valuable contribution to that case.

vertigo
by krnodil

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 certainly communicates an abstract vision, almost like a shattered mirror in addition to the image of the tree, one of those images where it helps to just look at the forms and shapes rather than examining the details.

Critical stuff: I'm not sure there is enough here to hold my attention, often in these longer comments it takes me a while to see the appeal and I'm glad I invested that time. I've been here for a while and I'm afraid I'm still not warming to this.

Overall: All credit to you for pulling off an image which in all probability reflects exactly what you wanted to achieve but I'm afraid I don't see what you must've seen in this image to enter it into the FS.

Youth
by gsal

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: Wow - how you've captured this! This is a masterclass in how to use contrast - it's practically painted with great blocks of the stuff. The hair is striking, driven into highlights and lowlights by the levels/curves you have used. The eyes would be too dark but the glimmer of a white in her right eye makes it just right, the pronounced background blur and of course the '66' - utterly compelling. The dutch angle and even the crop of the head it just right and of course you already know I'm going to appreciate the grain.

Critical stuff: Let's talk about the top left corner of the image - what is it? It's funny really, it looks distracting but if I mask it with my hand the image is diminished... a mark of of sublime 'crafting'. See what you've made me do with my 'critical stuff' bit!

Overall: Just perfect really, most people wouldn't be able to pull this image off - I wouldn't be able to, I'd doubtless over do some element - it would look clumsy in my editing hands. But you understand your work too well to make those errors. I just checked to see if it is on 1x.com. It isn't - but it should be. 10.