A Black Swallowtail in the meadow
by kiwifoxtrot

Comment:
Gorgeously realized composition.

Grace in Stillness
by markwiley

Comment:
Probably my personal favorite this challenge. This portrait conveys that titular grace, for sure, but also undertones of strength, wisdom, and something I can only describe as hard-won tenacity. Part of that lies in the subject's personality; part of that lies in the photographer's ability to draw it out. Kudos on that latter part.

Behind the Brush - The Making of a Mural
by nam

Comment:
Definitely has that journalistic vibe. I wish the bag of supplies weren't so out-of-sync, visually, with the rest of the image. Perhaps a tighter crop and a little desaturation might be worth trying. But still one of my top picks for this challenge.

Tinkan Tiataco Group Showcases Bolivian Dance During Heritage Festival
by noraneko

Comment:
Probably my personal favorite in the challenge. This just feels immediately like something from a local newspaper or website feature story. Great capture with instant storytelling.

Wings of the Garden
by markwiley

Comment:
Simply gorgeous.

on a cloudy day
by skewsme

Comment:
Outstanding pastel coloration and vintage textural interest for the bokeh. I briefly considered submitting a butterfly image myself, and this one makes me glad I didn't. :-)

Yucca
by Neat

Comment:
A difficult shot to get right, gorgeously realized--right down to the tiniest detail.

The Weeper
by PennyStreet

Comment:
Oh man...if only this was a "hidden faces" challenge...this would be a Blue for sure. I'll be interested to see how it fares in the ratings, but I love it. :-)

Woven for life
by primabarbara

Comment:
Sometimes the most useful things come out of last-minute, improvised experiments. The textural interest here is undeniable, and the color grading truly works for me. For what it is, this is considerably more artful than a "throwaway" shot. :-)

season
by Tiberius

Comment:
I rather enjoy this submission. Wasn't sure how it would place, but just wanted to say it connected with me, and I find it artfully understated. Feels like a very "useful" composition as a creative asset in stock photography scenarios--something organic, rustic-chic, etc.