ellie
by take-two

Comment:
Beautiful black and white picture. There's so much character here, in the creased, highly textured skin, its almost metallic sheen, the shambling gait. The overall toning is lovely. It's also sad, walking, figuratively, into the twilight, knowing that these incredible creatures are in such trouble. They all are.

Joy
by wildiris

Comment:
Stunning image of these children, joyful in the surf of a vividly orange sunset, a moment caught in amber. What's more precious than this? The light is sublime. Dynamic. The patrolling bird is an additional grace note. I find myself focusing on that section of the image, to the virtual exclusion of the rest of it. Not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just so static vis a vis the left half.
Children's enchantment trumps the rectilinear adult world.

old forgotten tears
by posthumous

Comment:
That this exists is a marvel, and thank you for inviting us to the mystery. It's uncanny, born of the earth, and our imagination. The shadows, tones and highlights, textures, how ever could they be assembled by the purposeful human hand? Perhaps this has been dodged and burned somewhat to bring out the features, I don't know, but it's wonderful.

The Green Honeycreeper
by Donna-Dee

Comment:
The pure beauty of a still life, except it's a living creature. From the tip of the beak, throughout, and down to those endearing, knobby feet, the detail is stunning. If it seems I'm talking more about the bird than the photograph, sorry. If the composition seems obvious, it might be because perfect balance is such that it can be overlooked, taken for granted. This is elegant, just right. Part of the wonder is the opportunity to see and absorb what is so often flitty and just out of reach. My only hesitancy, opinion only, is about the pinkishness of the background behind the honeycreeper. Feels somewhat overwhelming. Other than that ...
One of three co-favorites of the challenge.

The Garden Visitor
by mefnj

Comment:
Just the right focus on this majestic praying mantis, this t. rex of the insect world. Those goggle eyes are fixed on the visitor to his or her domain, haughty, indomitable.
Okay, just making that up, don't really know. The composition is adroit, both regular and irregular at once. Mainly green and black, leaving no distractions, this is strong. How perfectly the antennae stand out against the leaf. Bokeh, also lovely. Sumptuous.
One of three personal favorites of the challenge.

Evening Glow, Nauset Marsh
by Bear_Music

Comment:
So vastly peaceful that trying to insinuate oneself into the moment is understandable. The line between water and sky, already tenuous through reflection, just hints at the far reaches of the marsh. The colors, of course, are wonderful. The deceptive modesty of the composition enhances the calm. That float in the lower left -- how to anchor the whole. The seeming ducks, the motorboats, grace the scene with a note of whimsy as they breast the wind. Absolutely lovely.
One of three favorites of the challenge.

The road ahead
by Paul

Comment:
Rollover's upon us. Fine, fine image. Didn't know there existed a Legos bus driver and highway, to say nothing of the rain and fog.

Almost There
by Luciemac

Comment:
I'll take your word that there's a vanishing point ahead. Sometimes the implication of such an eventuality is more provocative than its production. Very cinematic, with an exciting blur to the figure. The red secures the vitality and drama of the image. Beautifully emotive.

Shard
by howardj

Comment:
Somewhat like standing beneath a rocketship platform. The vanishing point disappears in an explosion of light. The perspective, of course, is key. Myriad lines lead you throughout the image, but you're inevitably drawn to the stark central brightness. The touches of color, red, blue, green and rust, provide a bit of relief from all the grey, varied and captivating in pattern as they are. A strong, fascinating and captivating image.

The old elms alley
by mariuca

Comment:
Otherwise known as Poets' Walk, in Central Park, NYC, though I like your name better. Your scene is so peaceful, it must be early in the morning. Usually it's thronged with people and venders. What I really love is your sepia toning, which magically takes one back a good hundred years, and more. The overarching elms and delicate foliage are beautifully presented. I've seen many pictures of this walk, but none as evocative and enchanting as this.