Condoreo
by bpcardona

Comment:
Powerful piece of work here. I agree that the arm in the foreground is a bit distracting, but it also "hides" the grieving person's identity, so I see pros and cons to the crop. I immediately "felt" emotion when I saw this shot - it's filled to overflowing with it. And I agree... If you convey an emotion to your viewers, then you've successfully achieved art. Nice shot and I'm sorry for your loss.

broom vendor
by whiteroom

Comment:
* Greetings from the Critique Club *

Great... How the **** am I supposed to comment on such a phenomenally successful image!!! LOL I'll do my best to give you my opinions, but please take them with a grain of salt, as this shot won the blue for a lot of very good reasons!

Composition:
Perfect. I can't think of anything that would improve it. This shot really captured personal character beautifully. The weary eyes and expression speak volumes.

Lighting:
Almost perfect. The lighting on his face is superb. There is a hot spot on one of the brooms.

Focus/DOF:
Perfect. Incredible detail on the man's face and a very gentle DOF that allows the viewer to see the background (and the brooms) but concentrate on the man.

Meets the Challenge:
Exceptional (obviously)! This image really stood out to so many people for a reason. It really captured a beautiful moment in very high contrast (on a number of levels).

Overall:
Outstanding shot. Congratulations on your well-deserved blue ribbon.

A Collision of Divisions
by ggbudge

Comment:
Really nice composition, but the blown out sky really detracts from the overall appeal IMHO. I like the kudzu covered trees framing the industrial complex, and the reflection is very nice. I just think that the lighting for this time of day was against you. Good eye for spotting this - you might consider going back and reshooting it around 6pm (I find natural light to be pretty good in the early evening).

Suspension Bridge at Dusk
by ggbudge

Comment:
Not sure if the blur is intentional or not, but it doesn't "feel" like it IMHO. I think that if you were to apply say a watercolor filter to this shot, you could capitalize on the blurriness though. You've got nice tonal range and I like the composition.

Untitled
by zarniwoop

Comment:
Nice contrasts and texture here. I like the composition too. It does have an AA feel to it. I agree though that the background starts to lose depth. Maybe a bit of burning to deepen the tones. Still, a very good shot.

Captive
by cheekymunky

Comment:
I like selective desat shots and I think this one works because of the title. It's almost as if the colorful beast is trapped inside a b/w world. I would consider bumping up the orange-red tones in the tiger a bit, as well as the overall contrast. Great focus and capture (so to speak)!

Prison Stripes 'n Cells
by taterbug

Comment:
Very cool shot and I love the vivid colors on the wasps and comb. The tones of the background are a distraction though. Have you considered possibly desaturating the background or burning it almost out? I don't remember whether the challenge would have allowed for that, but I think it might keep the viewer's focus on the subjects. Great contrast, focus, & DOF on the subjects.

Gargoyles are gggrrrrrreat !!!
by taterbug

Comment:
Great composition and lighting. Still trying to decide if I like the reds - I think I do. A little more contrast might help make it pop. Very cool capture though.

...By The Hour.
by tsheets

Comment:
Not sure that the grainy aspect works as well as planned. The newer model vehicles clash with the aged look IMHO. Good composition though and I like the title. I also like the double entendre of the motel's name. The beaten up/tilted mailboxes are a bit of a distraction, but they do add a sense of seediness to the image. Cool capture.

Rocky Shore
by taterbug

Comment:
Love the composition and great focus. The water is a tad too blue though IMHO. I think if it were darker and blacker you could still see through it to the bottom (which is nice) and it would create a more realistic appearance. The colors on the rocks and leaves is wonderful.