Pollination
by crik

Comment:
Coloration and detail in this image is astounding to me. Surprised it didn't place higher.

Life at the Water's Interface
by markwiley

Comment:
Visually, this was easily my favorite in the challenge. It feels very much like the sort of thing I would hang in an office waiting room to create meditative calmness and a pop of earthy color for mood. I also adore the processing. It's the kind of painterly photorealism I dig and can so rarely imitate.

Super Macro of a Sachem Butterfly
by GolferDDS

Comment:
One of the most technically proficient macros I've ever seen. I've never tried focus stacking before. This makes me want to learn! Congrats on the ribbon

Pachydiplax longipennis - Blue Dasher
by wildiris

Comment:
Beautiful capture. These are indeed SO difficult to capture facing you, let alone staring down the barrel at you. :-)

Protected platform
by primabarbara

Comment:
Nicely done. :-)

Life In A Fish Bowl
by GolferDDS

Comment:
Very nicely conceived and executed. Having tried something similar with a willing subject and failing repeatedly, I know exactly how hard this is to get right! Pretty sure this is a lock for the top spot, and my personal favorite in the challenge.

I'm not so sure I would have included the fish. I get the rationale, but I would have probably opted more for a terrarium vs. aquarium effect, since (for me) the fish interrupt the illusion a bit due to the obvious absence of water in the glass.

The author
by Neat

Comment:
Congrats on the red! A well-deserved placement here.

make a face
by PennyStreet

Comment:
A personal favorite for me this challenge. Looks like a kid who will definitely make people smile many times over in life. :-)

Passion
by DCrest01

Comment:
I figured this one might take the blue, actually. The rich colors, evocative minimalist subject placement, and thematic pairing with the saying are pitch-perfect. Literally my only quibble with it--and it's a minor editorial quibble that did not impact my vote--is with the font choice and missing space in "everyday" (i.e., "every day"). Congrats on the HM!

Confidence
by nam

Comment:
This was one of my top two picks. The personality of the subject radiates perfectly for this moment. Congrats on the yellow!