Waiting
by wsteyn

Comment:
One of the most amazing shots I've seen... Spectacular job! Congrats!

Comfort from the Dark
by sir_bazz

Comment:
Stunning image... Beautiful job. Congrats on your ribbon!

Purrrrfect Silhouette
by dmmonty

Comment:
This is truly a spectacular shot (and I'm not a cat lover)! Congrats on your well-deserved blue!

Ready for Her Exam
by labuds

Comment:
Great shot! Congrats on your ribbon!

Indeed, in deed!
by docpjv

Comment:
Love this! It speaks volumes! LOL Very creative and emotive shot. Congrats on your 2nd place ribbon!

Bored of Education
by scalvert

Comment:
Awesome job Shannon! Definitely worthy of the blue! Congrats!

swan5.jpg
by kevrobertson

Comment:
Personally, I'm not crazy about seeing the beautiful creature against such a stark "man-made" pavement background, but that point aside, I think the offset composition works pretty well. I grew up around all kinds of swans, including Polish Mutes (like the one shown). They are powerful beasts both in and out of water - despite their somewhat clumsy appearance. I like the kinda drab color tones & processing you've applied here - it matches her surroundings. You lose some detail in the highlights, but I think it kinda goes with the processing choices. Nice capture.

swan3.jpg
by kevrobertson

Comment:
I like the lines in the shot, but there seems to be some sort of artificial "feel" to the edges of the swan versus the water - almost as if the two have been processed separately and cut harshly. Otherwise, I really like the shot.

Swan
by kevrobertson

Comment:
I really like the unorthodox crop this has going on. Great color too. My main issue actually lies with focus & lighting in this shot - especially on the swan's neck. You seem to lose both in the neck, where a main portion of both the lines (and viewers' eyes) are drawn. I think when you're going for something as "against the grain" (so to speak) as this is, you really have to nail it, or it doesn't really work. That being said, I think it's the focus & indistinguishable highlights on the neck that prevent this image from really being a glowing success. (And don't get me wrong - I really like the idea and where you're going with it - and you're ALMOST there!)

Message edited by author 2005-11-20 16:34:12.

Frozen Lake
by kevrobertson

Comment:
I think you have some wonderful elements captured here. I'm just not sure you have them presented in the best possible light (so to speak). The swan and reflection are wonderful - they are currently too far off to the left IMHO. The object in the middle of the far shore is a distraction, I would clone it out. The sky & reflection is really nice, so it doesn't really matter "where" it is located in the image. Therefore, I would suggest, cloning out the object and shifting everything to the right. Again, I think you have all the elements for a great shot, they're just not quite put together correctly for a masterpiece - know what I mean? Good shot as is, nonetheless.