Patience
by TooCool

Comment:
Glad ya didn't pull this one now Dude??? I told ya it looked good! Congrats on the top 20!

Absolute Still
by Skip

Comment:
Wowsers! Awesome shot Skip!
I didn't vote this challenge, but if I had, this would surely have gotten a high one in my book. Just beautiful. Big congrats on a very well deserved blue!!!
:-)

4th and C
by Slyy

Comment:
Here is my take on this shot. Not bad technically for a night photo. The focus is good. Exposure is not too bad, you've caught a nice light trail, and that 'silky' smooth look to the water. There are a couple of spots, like the lights in the fountain and the windows of the building that are a little hot, not too bad but a minor distraction. One thing some people might do differently is to use a smaller aperture (I see you used f4) in this situation to control the light a little more and get the 'starburst' effect on the street lights. (maybe you were trying to avoid this)

The subject is not bad, but I find a slight conflict, the statue and fountain competing against the light trails and street/setting for attention. It leaves me wondering exactly what the photo is about. What could make this different? Well, perhaps either simplifying or showing more context. If the photo is about the fountain, then maybe a more dramatic angle, and showing less of the surroundings would stress this. If the shot is about the whole scene (which I tend to think) then maybe a little less fountain and some more of the street and scene, paying close attention to compositional dynamics. In this case, maybe a lower point of view, or better yet an elevated one could strengthen the presentation. The angle here just doesn't reach out and grab you, so to speak, it is a view that one would expect to see if you were standing there, sometimes showing an angle that you wouldn't expect to see can add a lot of interest factor to an image.

Your shot is not bad. (I scored it a 6) It is a nice scene and technically sound. Keep in mind that this was a free study, people had a month to work and free studies draw interest from a lot of people, a lot of great photogs. You are up against a lot of very stiff competition. I thought my entry would of scored a lot higher :-( too. In a different challenge, your shot could very well of scored higher.

All just my opinion, hope it helps :-)

121_2132.jpg
by bj16060

Comment:
Wowsers! What an incredibly amazing image! I think you have really captured just how amazing and mind boggling the miracle of birth is. Great, great photo, and a big congratulations!!!

"Orange" you glad I brought the knife?
by graphicfunk

Comment:
Really cool shot man ! Congrats on the top 10 :-)

Street Santa
by Joey Lawrence

Comment:
Awesome shot. Amazing clarity and detail. Very nice. High interest factor. I really like the tones and feel of the image. Great dof. Good strong composition. Just an outstanding job here. Very nice :-)

gone fishing
by melodee

Comment:
Very lovely scene. Great subject. A couple things that perhaps could strengthen the composition IMO, first, if the frame were a little lower, then the reflection of the fisherman would not be cut off at the bottom. Also, a subtle thing, but I think this is a case where the subject could be better off framed to the right on the image. The reason I say this is that the boat and the person are facing off to the left. The viewers eye tends to follow the line here, and being placed closer to the left edge, the eye will tend to follow and wander off the photo. If the subject here were close to the right edge, then the eye would follow and go 'into' the image, then the isolation, placement, focus etc. would draw the eye back to the subject and help to anchor the viewers interest within the shot. Of course, this is a compositional 'rule' that can actually be broken to good affect sometimes, but I do feel in this case it could be applied. Focus does seem like it could be a touch sharper on the main subject. I really like the splash of colors in the trees and the reflections are very nice :-)

Working hands
by philup

Comment:
Powerful, bold image. I really like the tonality here. Looks to be quite a story in those hands. Solid clean composition. Awesome concept, executed very well. Great job!

Strumming...
by srdanz

Comment:
Very cool shot! Great point of view! Terrific lighting and focus. I love the '3d' look. Awesome job! I like it a lot :-)

" Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus"
by autool

Comment:
Should I leave what I want for Christmas for a comment??? :-)