Curves n' Lines
by dinn

Comment:
what a fantastic composition! all the elements come together beautifully. love the contrast between the beiges and blues. this is one of my top picks for the challenge. hope it does well for you!

Parrot Portraiture
by buzzrock

Comment:
exquisite capture. i imagine the focus could be a tad sharper, but all the same, the composition, coloring, and lighting are fantastic.

Split Bout....the inner struggle
by graphicfunk

Comment:
all i can say is "thank you!" i will always be able to point to this 'validated' image as an example of what's possible/acceptable. great job, all the way around. i have some ideas as to how you did this, but can't wait to get the real scoop! good luck!

Solitude
by Zoomdak

Comment:
while this is an absolutely beautiful image, i think it would be much stronger without the moon and the moon's reflection. they are a distraction that forces my eye away from Haystack Rock, rather than letting my eye wander, leisurely absorbing the rich colors and textures you have captured. it's amazing how something that small can have such a strong impact on someone's viewing experience.

Ethan, Dirty Face and All
by smellyfish1002

Comment:
this is a killer shot. the focus is perfect, the expression priceless. bw really brings this to life. if this doesn't do as well as you'd like, i'd attribute it to the shallow dof.

Vicki
by Konador

Comment:
excellent portrait shot. the eyes grab you, the line of her face against her hair holds you. the hint of a strong jaw adds character to a powerful image. as much as i love this shot, if it doesn't top 10, i'll be willing to bet it is because of the earrings and necklace.

Warmth
by joanns

Comment:
this is a beautiful portrait, very well composed, very compelling. i think it could be improved slightly if the lighting on the face was a little more balanced. if the shadow from her nose was softened, this would move up a notch for me. i like how the black top allows her torso to contribute to the composition without taking focus away from her face.

The Guitarist
by timj351

Comment:
even though the focus is spot-on, the shot itself is just ok. for performance shots to really work, you have to connect the viewer to the moment. here, the face is too shadowed to get a read on emotion of the moment. while you have nailed the focus on the visible hand, we can't see what the other hand is doing--we're only getting part of the story. on a positive note, the grain works very well here (and in shots like this) to help capture the emotion usually associated to listening to music in darker venues.

another thing to keep in mind about band shots: even though there are some bass players who are very energetic (think sting about 20 years ago), most are there to hold down the beat. the more interesting shots are going to be of the performers who are making the music stand on its edge.

hole 12, par 4
by willem

Comment:
what an incredible image. the detail is simply stunning.

Mercy
by hopper

Comment:
lovely image. wish her hair wasn't so blown out, as well as the sky behind the trees. this would probably be stronger with a different background and less direct sunlight.