A Cold Day at the Park
by meyers

Comment:
First, Ursula approved and that's pretty much better than any higher score you might have achieved. She's the Queen of Bokeh. I don't limit "bokeh" to "circles of light" either. It's pretty much the way an OOF or soft background can highlight a subject - and you've done it well here. The arch of the trees and the light space beneath them frame the young man quite nicely. I don't know about having to see his mouth or his smile - his eyes pass along an impishness that might not be seen as clearly otherwise. And I do like the way the scarf seems way too big for him yet fails to contain his spirit.

My only nit is a grayish horizontal line near the base of the picture - perhaps from a fence. It does ever so slightly pull at the eye a bit.

I took this into Photoshop and a bit more sharpening can be used to bring out the boy if you wish, but the softness doesn't detract in my mind.

The Morning Rush
by posthumous

Comment:
I quite like this one, but it takes more than one viewing to really appreciate it. The DPC two-second view doesn't cut it. I seem to recall there were discussions that the sky was oversharpened - I disagree.

First impression - when taken with the title, it's somewhere I'd like to live if this is rush hour in the morning. It appears lightly lived in yet deeply settled. No mass rush, a few houses here and there amidst the trees, one tower in the distance. The presentation leads one to think this one on/off ramp/curve is the only one serving this distant community, and that's all it needs.

The one commenter mentioned it's hard to tell if it's sea and sky or just sky - doesn't matter. If one wants to see it as sea and sky, it's there. Also doesn't matter to me that it's evening and not morning. I can't tell the difference without knowing the direction you're facing and the B&W disguises it even more.

It's quietly comfortable. I think that pretty much goes with what Mr 301 said, too.

Twinkle, twinkle little bee!
by Giorgio

Comment:
This is a very good macro with a pretty good score, good comments, and a favorite. The effect of the lighting is quite sweet, the way it brings out the specs of pollen and the hair on the bee - quite fascinating actually. Depth of field is just right to provide a setting that enhances not distracts from the subject. Why didn't it score even better than a non-sucky 5.8? It's subtle - not an "in your face" dramatic display of the effects of lighting. Subtle is not bad, and in fact is quite good. It doesn't always do well in DPC voting, that's all. Nice work! (Hey, they can't all be 6's, though I suspect nearly all of yours in the future will be!)

No More Peanuts & Cracker Jacks
by thegrandwazoo

Comment:
Bitchin' way cool shot with a lousy average score, although score is irrelevant if you like the picture. I can indeed see that 640 can't do this justice.

PB016990_edited-1.jpg
by missinseattle

Comment:
Maybe a touch soft on this one as well, but I really like the vertical composition of the leaves - works nicely.

PB016979_edited-1.jpg
by missinseattle

Comment:
Maybe just a touch soft - try a little sharpening and it'll really pop. Color is magnificent and I like the composition - great bokeh, too!

I'monlyametaphorI'monlyametaphorI'monlyametaphor
by raish

Comment:
Robbed. You were robbed. Great idea - the catbokeh does indeed contribute quite nicely to the photo!

Amongst The Lilies
by BrianR

Comment:
Nice finish for you as well, sir! Lovely bokeh in this - I especially like the touch of yellow.

Look at me!
by Rino63

Comment:
Congrats on the new PB! I quite like this one - excellent macro!

Purple
by timfythetoo

Comment:
This did rather well for something you thought would possibly be a new low score. Love the final note. :-)