Eye See You
by MrsFuzzButt

Comment:
Greetings from the Critique Club!

Good subject for selective desaturation (and for a Blue challenge). The treatment really shows off the interesting patterns in the iris. My inclination would have been to crop off the top part, but that would not have been as effective; the (mostly) negative space at the top somehow makes the image more dramatic.

The photo is technically well done. Focus, exposure, and sharpness are all great, as is your editing. As with most photos, lighting is very important, and could be improved here. Some of the bright spots (especially the relatively large bright spot on the iris) are distracting and could have been avoided with slight adjustments to the lighting.

Overall a nice image, one you can justly be proud of.

Freedom in Play
by melismatica

Comment:
Nice shot, ruined by shooting into the sun.

Freedom of expression
by eirasi

Comment:
The clouds fit well with the statue, and the stark lighting works well here. The sharpness of the statue is great, really bringing out its texture. But sharpening has created some fringes where dark meets light. Try selecting the statue and contracting the selection by a few pixels before applying USM.

A Daring Escape
by scalvert

Comment:
Great setup and composition. Needs better lighting.

Cildhood Unbound
by Rooster

Comment:
Nice approach to the challenge. I wish the girl on the left had an excited expression like the other one, which is wonderful. There is a color cast that reduces the contrast (and the impact).

Escape
by pitsaman

Comment:
A technically difficult shot with such bright and dark areas (I don't know if a polarizer would have helped), but nicely done. A great interpretation of the challenge.

Free spirit
by heida

Comment:
The high key approach is perfect here, and the model is just the right size compared to the vast ocean. The color seems a bit warm, but that may just be me.

I CAN SIT ON POWER LINES, CAN YOU?
by biggood53

Comment:
Great color and nice composition. I like the position of the clouds in relation to the bird.

Let Go
by Elemmennope

Comment:
Great idea!! ;-) I wish there had been some clouds in the sky when I made my balloon shot. Although a bit bright here, they make the photo more interesting.

Lift Off
by C-Fox

Comment:
This certainly captures the moment! I wish the focus was sharper.