Colors of Japan
by Theguzz

Comment:
Your control of the bright values is excellent, your control of the BG tonalities is superb. The image is appealing, but in the end, for me, somewhat too static to move me. I have it at 7. Nicely done!

On Top of the World
by CorySmith

Comment:
LOL! Smile on my face! And a bump to 7. This is beautifully rendered, and just fantastically cheerful.

Sunset in the sky
by charlotte

Comment:
Sort of perfectly captures the "topic" (Hidden Gem) doesn't it? I like this image very much, the sense of flowing out of the womb of the sky.

The Ancient
by inshaala

Comment:
Boy, THAT's a different take on a gator... Love the milky water...

Majesty
by AP

Comment:
Mysterious, murky, skeletal landscape. On first pass the shadows seemed too blocked up to me, but on re-examination they're probably about right for what I take it you're after here. I like the very precise handling of the bright sky and the fading BG mountains. I can see why you picked this one as representative (assuming it IS representative, since I have no clue who you are).

Bumping to an 8.

Straight on my way
by ladibug

Comment:
Definitely a hidden gem, and I've enjoyed coming back to it several times, though I've yet to comment on it, a situation I'm now rectifying as I bump you to 8. I get this weird sense that the vent pipe is a submarine periscope, and that just cracks me up.

Taj Mahal
by tyt2000

Comment:
Perfectly gorgeous, a non-typical, gritty view of the monument. Well done!

It's now bump city for you, just in the nick of time. The more I look, the better I like :-) Moving you to the 9 group, and good luck in the challenge!

I think what really does it for me is the sheer incongruity (in my mind at least) of a wading camel!

Industrial Door Contractors: Machinist
by Rook3000

Comment:
I'm just coming back to this my review, and bumping you to an 8. I love the tonalities here, and the subtle partially-desaturated look you've achieved. If I have a quibble, it's that he's just a little too central in the frame, to my eye at least. I think the dynamics would be dramatically improved if he were as little as one body-width closer to the edge. Of course, that would create issues with the upright on the back wall, and you *have* worked very succesfully to isolate him from the clutter, so it's not a major nit for me, but...

..pass through the gate..
by mshimer5

Comment:
This one is gaining favor with me big-time. I doubt it's scoring well for you, which is a pity, because there's so much to love here. I'm guessing lensbaby, which is a real plus courage-wise :-) I love the intricate interleaving of sharp/soft/sharp/soft in this sweeping, emotive image. Bumping to 8.

Song of the South
by jmsetzler

Comment:
I'm totally liking this as I come back to it. I failed to comment on first pass, but it's been at 7 and I am bumping to 8. You've created a quiet, understated, intensely human image that resonates with me. The tonalities are wonderful overall. To my eye, it looks like the face has been dodged just a little too much, it just seems a hair too light, but that's a quibble.