a photograph is made, not taken.
by fstopopen

Comment:
This is a strong and eerie image, but it's really hard to figure out what's happening under that arch. Almost has an underwater feel. Much study leads me to believe that's a landscape of hills and trees under there, but I have to reach roo deep for it. If you had worked to separate the distant landscape from both the sky and the foreground rocks, by lightening it and adding contrast at same time in that area, this would be much more coherent. As it is, ALL the elements of the photo are so close in value that it's hard to perceive the depth that is obviously there. Also, the truncation of the arch at the top is most unfortunate... Still, a strong and evocative image.

Mendocino Coast
by bryanbrazil

Comment:
A little too contrasty, it cries out for more detailin the major dark areas, especially where the bridge footing are lost in the shadows. Nicely composed, except that the rocks on the lft are so flatly-lit and detailed that they are distracting.

Railway Bridge
by shutterphunk

Comment:
I really, really wisdh this had been rotated ccw a degree or so, it has such a strong sense of leaning over. The tonalities are a bit muted, but it's an effective composition and a drmamtic scene.

Looking thru
by Nuno

Comment:
This is remarkably nice, and a brave entry given the topic. The image looks very much like something AA would have done. It is unfortunate that the face is not in focus. A strong entry in my eyes, nevertheless.

Riding the Waves
by mocabela

Comment:
Very rich, compositionally a bit pat. There's essentially nothing happening in the bottom half of the picture. The rendring of the rocks is exquiste, and you have dealt very well with the backlit sky.

Half Moon Bay Sky
by LowLght

Comment:
A bit too silhouetted to feel spot-on, but great sky work and a strong entry.

Daffodils, Washington State
by jbsmithana

Comment:
About as pure an Ansel as we have in this challenge. Wonderful sky work. The bit of tee on the right is a definite negative. Very strong entry.

A Tribute to the Legend 1902-1984
by Gringo

Comment:
The composition is a little too centered, and you're about one zone shy of true "pop" here, but there's much to like in this image. Good score from me.

Church, Watkins Colorado
by MWitt

Comment:
The tonal range and the treatment of the skyhere are uber-ansel, congratulations. The composition itself, with the lack of breathing room on all sides, is distinctly lackluster. In particular, we really need more foreground, quite a bit more.

We Built This City
by casualguy

Comment:
This could be SO nice, but there's alittle too much sky with nothing happening; a full third of the image is empty space. And the critical dark areas, on the shaded sides of the cars, are crying out for a little detail in the shadow. Otherwise the tonalities are rich & palpable.