All fall down
by sns

Comment:
I like the abstractness of this photo. I agree that you should have found a way to make the reflection line across the bottom more horizontal, but it would be cool also if you took it the opposite direction and used a sharper angle to the dominoes so that they went from large to small moving left to right. I know it can be tough when your shot has an "evil twin" in the challenge. That seems to help one and hurt the other, but you were lucky to be on the receiving end.
I think that the comment about them looking like they are standing up has to do with the lighting and long exposure. A second synch flash might have helped the "after" image be stronger than the "before". I had to find a way to fake that for my motion shot.
Nitpick: It would be nice if you could have achieved more even lighting as there seems to be sort of a spot-light effect going on. The lighting is strongest in the center.
Overall, it is obviously a strong image that many people liked. I like the black and white, but actually prefer more organic lines. The strong verticals are just a little too stark for my personal taste, but I can appreciate the photo and the work that went into it.

Links
by jjbeguin

Comment:
Wow. The member challenge certainly got a lot more feedback than the open challenge, but here's some more for ya...
You obviously have a very nice photo here. Competition was stiff in this challenge.
Composition is great. I am so glad that we have the new cropping rules because this is an excellent example of where a rectangular shot just wouldn't be as strong. The diagonal and placement of the open link are great. Part of what makes this image so strong is how close you got to the subject. Exposure is good. You've made an interesting photo out of a mundane object which is quite an accomplishment.
Minor gripes: The lack of focus in the bottom right corner is distracting - especially because it is one of the few light colored spots and, therefore, draws the eye. Overall, I wonder if the focus couldn't be even sharper. Texture shots don't often work well with post-processing sharpening, but maybe you could have tried something different during shooting. It is helpful if you include the aperture, shutter, and iso in the photo details.
I agree with the frame comments. I'm not sure that such a bright color is the best choice - especially since it further accentuates that lower corner.

Turkey Feather Still Life
by Kaz

Comment:
HEY!
Please include iso, shutter, and aperture in your photo info. I think it can help everyone learn.
You have a lot of comments already, but I'll throw in my two cents.
First, I too am wondering a little about the combination. This isn't actually a wild turkey bottle is it? That's really the only connection I could guess.
Usually it's a good idea to use odd numbers in still lifes. The reflection of the bottle almost creates a third subject or else this would really seem a bit weird. For that reason, I really like the inclusion of the mirror.
I do like the draping of the background material, but there does seem to be quite a bit of noise in the darker areas of the shot. Some cameras can't handle low light well, but it would help to know the iso and shutter speed.
I like the angle of the feather and don't even mind the position of the bottle, but the composition is a little off.
I hate to jump on the "rule of thirds" bandwagon, but I think that it might help here. The primary focal point seems to be where the bottle and feather meet which is very centered. I also think that a different perspective and crop could help. The upper empty area isn't really adding a lot to the shot. Maybe poining the camera down more so that there is less space above the bottle and even more reflection showing would help.
I took this into photoshop and ran auto levels. It moved the black point (darkening the shadows) some which added more drama to the shot. I also like a little more saturation to bring out the nice color of the bottle.

Lake Michigan
by GolferDDS

Comment:
Hey!
I tried to study this photo before reading the comments, and guess what jumped out at me ... the horizon is slanted. :o) If you use a photo editing program like photoshop then you can use a grid or guide line to check lines like this.
I personally like technical shots and ranked this above average because I liked the quality. The focus is good. Exposure is good (it's a bit dark but goes along with the stormy mood and was probably accurate for the conditions).
I think you may need a stronger subject. The waves and the dark diagonal of concrete draw the eye first, but I'm left wanting more.
The colors are rather dark and drab which adds to the mood but also feels a little "blah". You know what I would suggest trying? Keeping everything as it is but adding in a brightly colored subject in the bottom right (follwing the rule of thirds). Someone looking out to sea, walking away from us, or sitting on the rocks in a raincoat might work.
Of course, if you could throw in a colorful boat on the left side of the horizon or a lightning bolt in the upper left then that would work too. ;o)
If nothing else, you could have moved some so that the (whatever it is) on the horizon isn't so centered.
I wouldn't categorize this as "motion" off hand, but it does fit the challenge.
Overall, this is a good photograph but doesn't have enough interest to draw me in and keep me coming back. Very good score nonetheless!

DeoxyribonucleicWHAT?! The Life of a Student
by Konador

Comment:
HEY! I went to the Rainforest Cafe in London!

How to Scramble an Egg
by indigo997

Comment:
OK. I took this before reading the "how'd they do that" on the "Swish" photo, but my technique was similar. I don't have second synch flash and wanted to freeze the egg above the nail rather than at the beginning of the fall... To do that, I blew out the egg and glued a piece of black thread in one end. I then tried holding the egg for the flash and pulling it up. The problem was that the string was showing in the shot (due to the flash). To solve this, I flipped everything.
I nail was hanging from a string (and wouldn't hang straight). I held the egg just under the nail for the flash and then let it fall. In post processing I flipped the photo so that it would be falling the right way. I also had to adjust the black level some so that the string didn't show at all.

Message edited by author 2002-12-16 00:19:09.

Rehearsal
by Alecia

Comment:
I think this is a really good snapshot and definitely fits the topic. It just isn't "pretty enough" for the average voter. My complaint is the noise and that shadow obstructing my view of the hot guy.

Blue Streak
by inspzil

Comment:
This is great, but if you could somehow create the motion blur just in the bg and have him in focus then it would be awesome. Sort of like the look you get when you sit in the center of a merry go round and take a pic of someone on the edge of it while it spins. Not sure that's at all possible of course. ;oP I just wanna see this kid!

Moving by night, sleeping by day
by psychephylax

Comment:
Awesome capture. Excellent. Gotta subtract one point tho b/c it isn't exactly a shot of motion. Still a 7 tho.

Gridlock'd
by arnit

Comment:
This is cool. Nice night shot. Good quality.