smoke.jpg
by Jozi

Comment:
I like the lighting you've captured here with the smoke. To have the snow, and to shoot against the sky like this, you did an admirable job of getting a nice exposure. I live near some businesses that put out this steam, and in the winter especially, I often think about taking a picture of the billowing cloud, but haven't yet. This may inspire me to do just that!

The only thing I might have done differently is to angle upward just a bit to change the composition. I would have wanted less snow in the foreground, and also not cut off the top of the column of smoke in the sky. Looking at it again, you might also want to give it a very slight counterclockwise rotation to pull some of the stronger vertical lines more vertical with the frame of the photo.

Hope this is helpful! :)

Rain Delay
by ClubJuggle

Comment:
I like this shot. I bet people thought you were a little crazy taking a photo of a rainy stadium seat :) The crop and angle are just right. Colors, although not bright are rich and realistic with a great exposure. As mentioned by many others, the dof really adds to this shot. I hope I don't see too many rain delays this season!

Soli Deo Gloria
by Zoomdak

Comment:
I can see why you've taken up track. :o) How many times did you have to race before you got what you wanted? Very cool shot. I like the sense of scale here...with the person only being a tiny part of the whole picture, arms raised. Just beautiful. I am so jealous that you're getting these results with your 717. Why won't mine take shots like this???

Seriously, the placement of the person against the brighest part of the sky works really well.

Aperture
by Zoomdak

Comment:
Just added this one to my favorites. Wow. Awesome color, composition, and mood to this beautiful shot. You have nailed the sunlight and brought out all the reflections and beach interest as well. I agree with someone below who said this needs to be on a magazine cover. You really should be entering this everyplace you can!

Congratulations for being the one God chose to click the shutter on this one :o)

National Anthem
by Zoomdak

Comment:
This is a really cool crowd shot. I just love how it fills the whole frame. Lots to look at. The b/w has some great tones in it. I think the main reason like it, is that in most crowd shots there's such a variety of poses, angles, and glances. Here, most everyone is looking out to the field, many with the hand on heart for the anthem - yet there's just enough variety added from those who are different. Not a shot I would have thought to take, but you did a good job.

Pain of Death
by rex

Comment:
I think this is a good idea for the pain challenge and the b/w is the right choice. I would have liked a closer shot on one of the older tombstones with the others in the background, instead of all of them in this landscape sort of shot. There's lots of interesting character to the old grave sites. I'm also not sure about the perspective here...kind of looking uphill. If you wanted that perspective, I would be at the bottom looking straighter up, not a bit angles or sideways as you have it here. Just my humble opinions! Good luck with your challenges, and I hope this was helpful.

IMG_7362small.jpg
by maxj

Comment:
This shot looks like it needs something else...either interesting lighting, a unique perspective, or great subject. As it is, I just see a picture of a tree without anything really adding interest. The lighting is pretty flat, the landscape is very centered and somewhat ho hum. Now, remember this is just my opinion, but that's what I'm here to share. Maybe you could have gotten a reflection of the tree? I hope this is helpful.

Colorful Sunset
by SDW

Comment:
I love sunsets. I told my hubby our next house must have an unobstructed westward view front or back :) The colors here are gorgeous, and I could just look at those clouds for quite some time. Best thing about sunsets is wait 2 minutes and you have an whole other look to enjoy. Nicely captured.

‘Pains’ Of A Closed Textile Plant
by SDW

Comment:
Wonderful shot with an emotional element to the story as well. I really like the crop/composition with the lines of the broken glass and the colors. A great example of looking at things just a little differently from a photographers point of view. I wouldn't change a thing.

Autumn Reflection
by SDW

Comment:
Nice scoring shot and I can see why. I gave you a 7 during the challenge for this one. Some folks might think those colors are oversaturated, but I happen to really like it that way. It would make a beautiful print, as it feels very artsy to me. The reflections are awesome. The only thing I would change, and you really have little control over, is the lighting. It appears to be just a little flat. Everything else is so nice, that it's not something I'd notice right away, however. It might look a little livelier with some dodging of the upper trees just a bit. Hope this is helpful!