Droplet
by Paul

Comment:

Originally posted by Jac: Nice waterdrop. But I have no idea how small or large it is because I don't know how big/small the leaf is. It looks huge to me actually.

Interesting perspective that I hadn't considered - for me, the droplet itself offers a clue to the scale of the image. The radius of curvature caused by the surface tension places a limit on its size.

Two Girls and Her Cat
by pointandshoot

Comment:
5.4419 and 240th out of 412; you got a 9 from me so I'd like to offer some more recognition for this work:

Cooper River Marina
by mgarsteck

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):

Positives: Wow, what a busy image! Of course the busyness IS the image, this creates an abstract pattern which effectively creates an overlay effect onto the scene making this shot more than the sum of its parts. You were quite right to offer this in monochrome and your manipulation of the contrast emphasises the oh-so-important vertical lines in this shot. Your placement of the boat towards the left side of the image is critical to the shot - to borrow a boating metaphor from your image, it anchors the shot. It is that boat the eye latches onto and it acts as a primer to the rest of the virtually encoded image, allowing the brain to make sense of the rest by offering the vital context of the scene.

Critical stuff: I'm not sure I have any; I do note that there is very little that is actually white in the image and I wonder how a tweak in levels might look, but then it would be a different image and this one is just fine.

Overall: An image that keeps the eye and brain busy and one which manages to almost create an impressionist image from an 'ordinary' scene. Great job.

Let the Sun Shine In
by XMountaineer

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):

Positives: You've managed to create a real sense of size and looming from your POV and the inclusion of the horizontal structure communicates a sense of three dimensions.

Critical stuff: I will be up front with you and declare that I'm not a fan of this image and I should justify that statement. For me, the overall scene isn't strong enough to carry the image and I don't think you have made choices at the point of shooting or editing to add additional interest to the scene.

Overall: This is a puzzling image for me. You must see something in it or you wouldn't have offered it up for a Free Study. I'm just sorry that I don't see what you do.

3 - Some Sort of Bee or Wasp (ETA or Hoverfly)
by ErikV

Comment:
This is a nice crisp image - I particularly like the foreground bokeh of the flower in the bottom left of the image. It offers a great canvas to the bee.

Colorful Blackbird
by karenk

Comment:
The thumbnail really doesn't do this justice. Great job. I'm hankering for technical details though - especially lens and aperture information.

om nom nom
by Steef

Comment:
I'm a fan of squirrel shots too - this is a good one! You've inspired me to try to put one up in this side challenge.

~ Old Florida ~
by Ja-9

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):

Positives: Actually, this is quite pretty for something I've picked out for this comment series but it is sufficiently quirky to catch my eye. I really like the POV here - I think the viewer's relative height above the water in relation to the jetty is just right for this scene. The limited colours are interesting - the green overpowers to a degree that the otherwise gaudy yellow text becomes a welcome relief. I like the way the overhanging trees appear to be very soft, as does much of the foliage now I look - I wonder whether a diffuser filter was used or whether something like the 'Glamour Glow' filter in Color Efex Pro was used.

Critical stuff: I feel the image lacks a little bit of depth - you can see there is depth but it isn't that well communicated; I'm not sure why.

Overall: I like this image, it is an interesting scene but in the final analysis, the lack of a sense of depth leaves the viewer less engaged than they might be.

Trail of Light
by mooresauce85rm

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):

Positives: This is a very bold shot for a Free Study, I applaud your confidence to fill the frame with very little. But wait... those with properly calibrated monitors will find themselves drawn in - eager to look down the corridor , wondering what is around the corner that is just at the edge of our perception.

The light fittings are quite pretty but it is the light they cast on the ceiling that fascinates, especially the colour change... from blue/grey to brown - surely this is a result of your post processing but it is subtle enough to wonder....

Critical stuff: Perhaps the crop is slightly wide - I value the negative space but the real interest in the image is discovering that actually it is full of detail. I think I would have lost a little of the left side with a sacrificial balancing crop on the right too.

Overall: An interesting image which rewards a patient and inquisitive viewer.

The Oxyacetylene Flame
by citymars

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):

Positives: This image benefits from great compositional elements; the structure of the building lends support to your image and serves to frame the elements. This leads us to notice things we might otherwise overlook - like the cabling to the left or the girders within. Although the title alludes to the flame as the focus, I find my eye drawn to the worker's safety tether - it reminds us of his vulnerability and makes us think how extraordinary it us that small, soft creatures such as humans can, so routinely, construct structures so massive.

The colours also work well, the red of the platform, the green of the harness but most of all his polka dot hat!

Critical stuff: Not much to say here, I think it may have been more effective if the whole frame was slightly to the right, thus missing the object you have transected at the left border.

Overal: A very effective image.