Why?
by PetRock

Comment:
Nice subject and textures. I like that branch--what an odd direction it's going in! I like the lines that the branches make. Especially the 'why'-ing branch. How bizarre nature is sometimes, eh? Interesting subject, and well captured. It's nicely in focus. Sharp. And black and white suits this quite well and encourages texturing--definitely suits the criteria of the challenge. No question in my book.

Critiques (these are my personal feelings about how I might have done things different... it doesn't mean they should be done or that they'd make it better--I'm far from being an experienced photographer myself--I just know what I like, and my critiques will tend to suggest editing towards that direction):
Somehow this image doesn't seem to... pop for me. Not saying it doesn't, but I don't feel as much depth in this as I think I could/should with the branch that's going backwards so far. That might have potential to seem really deep. If I was to try to get this I might run the image through topaz adjust. That does a really good job at it, in my opinion.
This is more of a personal thing, but I dig high contrasted images so I personally would have liked to have seen more contrast. Maybe just over the trunk though, because if done on the leaves it might make them too dark.
The crop doesn't do much for the image for me... were you to crop just to the left of where the 'why' branch branches off from the main left trunk (somewhere between a third and quarter from the left) it would have given a spiral effect on the tree which would have probably encouraged higher scoring.

It's a fine image. The leaves do you credit because if they weren't there I'd imaging the tree would be quite twiggy which would make the image far more difficult to look at and discern details.
I can't decide between 6 or 7 for this one. I'd say probably 6. But certainly 6.5 if it was there :-)

Paint Chip Kaleidoscope
by Garry

Comment:
Chip cards, yes.
I suppose this is doing poorly because people mightn't have heard of them. But you can't really blame folk for voting down this if they haven't heard of 'em. Not sure how widespread that term is. It might seem like a shoehorn to many, so perhaps brace yourself for a low score.

In terms of composition, it's fine... nothing breathtaking... I think a more offcentred centre of the cards would have worked a bit better but it's hard to know without seeing the original.
The image doesn't seem to have much depth to it, but that's not surprising since it's a flat subject anyway.
I don't find the shot very interesting if I'm being honest. I'd probably vote this 4 or 5, but probably 5 because it's an original take on the theme.

Miniature
by onepurplerose

Comment:
This image made me laugh. The first think I thought of was "wow, they got a pigmy-horse the size of a mouse! How aloof!" and then I noticing the title realised what it was.
The DOF here is lovely. It really makes the background and foreground soft with intermittent and interesting speckles of detail dotted that entertain the eye when it wanders towards these areas. It really reinforces making the horse the focal point of the image. As does the colour contrast.
I like the crop, and the stance of the horse makes me think it's cantering over to the higher grasses on the left hand side. It has a stern stare going on too.
I really like this image. I can't think of why this isn't scoring well. As I said last night I gave it a 7. Perhaps it's the foreground?
Maybe the horse could have done with some isolated sharpening? If there was nice coat detail (like seeing hairs or something) I think it would score much better. This is probably beyond your control though because surely the small horse would have tiny hairs. It's the only thing I can think of that'd make me score it higher I'm afraid.

I suppose a good way to gauge how it'll be received is to look at that what DPC loves the most competition. If a style did well in that it'll probably do well in other competitions. This might just be the type of shot that won't do well unfortunately.

Not from this planet
by Abra

Comment:
Black and white processing, in my opinion (and it's not an educated one, it is just one that I have formed based on how I react to images), has the potential to bring a very moody feeling, more so than colour processing I think, and this is what you have achieved in this.
I love the background textures. It's excellent that you got the out-of-focus blobs on centre-left, but then with some hatched texture of the fabric too. And I like how when swept from left to right this detail becomes less and less pronounced. Perfect for drawing the eye to the main subject while having an interesting background.
As for the main subject (a thorn bush of some kind?) it is an interesting subject. I think it was probably your intention and I think it works for moodiness (but probably not for scoring) but it is basically only black and white with no greys. This makes it stand out from the background quite well, but what it does not do is show you details on the bud (is that what it is?). It looks like a spikey black ball with white streaks in it. Again, I personally think this works but I think the more common DPC voter appreciates detail and mid-tones more than cut-out blacks and moodiness.
I do like the stalk thing more to the right of the thing I call the bud. That is nice and textured, but what I really like about it is that it's only when you look at it that you discover the textures. Almost like a reward for your time :-)
I gave this a 7. Reasons for not more are that I am not that an uncommon DPC voter and really like details, the blob to the very right distracts me, and because I really wish there were more details.

With fingers of Sunshine, the Heavens reached for him.
by Garry

Comment:
I really liked this one, Garry. It's a very moody shot. The grass is nice and smooth and bright and textured, as are the clouds, but nice and contrasty. If it's not doing well perhaps it's due to the style of processing--some people dig details, but in this shot the... it almost feels like a water colour... that really makes it pop for me.
The vertical fingers of sunshine, as your title puts it, contrast nicely the horozontal stacking of the tones textures and blacks. The major finger (middle? WTF! :P) targeting the barn on the third is very nice indeed and while perhaps not as lucky or emphatic reminds me of this shot of Yo_Spiff's

The vignettes might sortof count against you, though (scoring wise?). It makes a dark picture darker (too dark? I don't think so, just trying to be critical, I quite like it), but the contrast between the dark outsides and light grass and bright fingers... very pleasing. Very pleasing indeed.
The one criticism I can pull against this is that the crop is a bit too letterboxed for my liking. It's hard to judge how an alternatie crop might make it feel, though, especially when regarding only the final one. I'm no expert on bordering but perhaps a top and bottom border might have squared this up while maintaining the composure, reinforcing the horozontal landscape and cloud stacking? Just a thought.
8

Tomato No. 42
by gyaban

Comment:
I was going to say it was the lowest ribbon score I ever saw, but then realised that you came second rather than third... so second lowest ribbon score I've ever seen :-)
I like the lighting in this a lot. Not Weston-esque, perhaps, but still nice.

I've come to realise I should try commenting in French on your shots (hoping you'll forgive the lack of accenting, poor grammar, woeful spelling and embarrassing attempts at the language... haven't spoken/written it in 7 years or more and wasn't good at it when I did either)...
Il est tres difficule de trouver les fruites de forme irregulere dans les grandes villes. Je n'en pouvais pas trouver [desole! c'est difficule!]... mais je suis regarde un navel qui ressemblait un "thingie" mais... le "thingie"... um... ne faudrait etre appreciee...

I think I may stop commenting in French if that's OK :-)

Beacon
by amaurer

Comment:
Lovely. I don't mind the lens flare here, or the grittiness. I think they add to it.
I wonder if you would have been permitted to straighten the horizon for this. A flat line might have more impact. Just what I might have done--not saying it would have made it better or anything :-) 7

Stare
by Magnumphotography

Comment:
Nice shot, with gorgeous bokeh and details on the animal. These things are all subjective, but I think there's probably a bit too much negative space for the image. Still, it's "gorgeous" negative space so how bad? :)

Abandoned
by wetland

Comment:
Nice shot with a lot of depth. I find there's a lot to look at here, which isn't a bad thing. I love the bright light coming in through the gaps in the woodwork.

Shedding Birch Bark
by Enlightened

Comment:
This is really really nice. DOF captures the bark, but is narrow enough for a gorgeous soft bokeh. Textures and tones aplenty on the tree.
Really nice work.