Hat Trick
by kvickrey

Comment:
This is outstanding. I'm stunned the voters, collectively, realized this and gave you a top-10, since it's grunge-processed and, arguably, the hat isn't even close to being the subject of the image. But what an image! Great finish. I gave it a 9...

Speechless
by photoMAD

Comment:
Just saw this for the first time. Really an excellent piece of work. FWIW, "combining 4 different exposures to even out the light" is exactly what HDR actually is :-) The levels and masking you had to apply afterward is the manual equivalent of HDR tone mapping functions. What you did here represents the *origins* of HDR processing, which has now been automated by a lot of different programs. But there are MANY serious landscape photographers who still prefer to do it the way you did this, because it looks more natural that way.

Obviously, I'm not one of 'em :-) But I admire this. Good work!

Plane of perspective
by snaffles

Comment:
Wow, I just realized this was a Snaffles! You got a RIBBON! Congrats!

Side note: Commercial jets don't use afterburners :-)

s c a p e # 7 6 7
by rooum

Comment:
This was my highest score given. I guess I'm becoming a Nolan booster :-) Nice finish for such an off-the-wall take on the topic.

Intertwined Rainbow
by radarbrat

Comment:
Surprisingly low finish for this, IMO. It's well seen and well executed, and a different, yet effective, take on the topic. I gave it a 7 myself, would have expected top-20 for it. Well done.

Inspiration
by cutlassdude70

Comment:
Lucky you, Idyllwild... Been through there a LOT myself, since I'm a San Diego native. Shot the rock quite a bit back int he day, I did :-) Congrats on the top-10.

Escher's Study
by Neil

Comment:
This is very nicely done. Love the processing of it. I gotta visit there some day...

that afternoon
by krnodil

Comment:
Good grief, I didn't realize THIS got the brown... Hell, I gave it an honest 8. I think it's as allegorical as all get-out, it's definitely an interesting and intellectually engaging image as far as I'm concerned. And it actually has a chair IN it, which is more than you can say for Don's near-brown experience :-)

Chair Sublime
by raish

Comment:
Hey, pretty good :-) Just 2 spots off the brown and zero comments during challenge... Definite Charliebaker territory, Peter :-)

where does the time go
by skewsme

Comment:
Haha, that's funny. Was typing notes to all my 10's and 9's when I ran out of time. I gave Don my only 10, and you're one of my 9's. Delicious!