Trotting in the Sand
by Sammie

Comment:
Nice capture. The blue clothes slightly dominate in this shot though in my opinion, but fairly minor. I like the movement in the sand. Perhaps incorporating more dunes and the contrasting green grass on the right, for added context/depth may have given this something extra, although according to your notes, was fairly 'opportune'.

Cracked
by swan

Comment:
I gave this a 5. I thought the texture capture was fairly good but, 'criticism'; if it was either more on an angle, or 'straightened', plus more space around and possibly even a different, more complementary 'base'/background, would likely have given this something extra and made it better in my opinion. The top right on the egg has some 'blown'/overexposed issues, but difficult to control - perhaps a variation in lighting may have helped.

Lucy
by polkop

Comment:
Like the concept. I think (and your call obviously) the top right shot in the top left corner, 'looking down' would have made this better. Each shot sharper, a crop variation in each and overall 640 width, make this better in my opinion.

white-cheek-turuco.jpg
by polkop

Comment:
Like the composition on this and looks like it has good potential. Depending what you had to work with of course, if the quality was there, this at 640 (width in this case) would have made it much better in my opinion. Incorporating more of the bird too, again depending, would also have made it better. The colors are nice, the greens don't 'clash', just a bit more detail/sharper on the bird, especially that unusual eye, would also have helped make this an even better shot.

Morning Dew
by Pooba

Comment:
8 - Very nice. Nice simple coloring. Good two-for-one shape capture. Criticism; mainly the overall 'darkness'. Your call obviously and, depending what you had to work with, but an inclusion of more of the light/sun on the left (difficult likely) and possibly a tighter crop at the bottom (especially to try to exclude that green/brown 'something' bottom right) and more included at the top (again depending what you had) may have made this even better in my opinion. Difficult shot, but if it, the web or the droplets/spheres/circles, were even sharper, also likely would have 'lifted' this a little more. Whether intentional or not, I like the way you lined up the center of the web against the darker part of the background to help lift it. Up to 8 from 7.

Amazing Shapes
by Michaels

Comment:
7 - Nice colors. Good shapes. Criticism; slightly grainy (or could be resizing issues or gamma, not sure), especially at the top, which detracts overall, in my opinion. Difficult shot, and difficult to do, but even sharper/more defined, making the bubbles/shapes 'pop' more, and the colors a fraction too, make this even better in my opinion.

Arch-shaped Blooms
by davidus428

Comment:
8 - Very nice. The DOF is near perfect showing the 'tail'/tip just starting to disappear. Coloring is good, especially the greens. Good 'hair'/texture capture and the lighting is nice. Criticism; mainly just the blown areas at the top of the 'curl' on the flower petals, but difficult to control I imagine, especially as you seem to have retained good detail in the darker areas. Not sure on the frame, 'works', but at this size, perhaps a touch too thick in my opinion, but just a preference thing. Up to 8 from 7. Taking the liberty of adding to Favorites.

icicles
by ralph

Comment:
7 - Very nice. Interesting natural shapes. Nice simple coloring. Criticism; very difficult, but even sharper, more defined on the icicles and their 'glassiness', would have made this even better in my opinion. The patterns within them look interesting too, but hard to discern/appreciate at this size of course. I like the composition/crop, perhaps a fraction more space on the right would have given this a little more overall balance, but minor.

Blue-eyed Curvaceous Blond
by yakatme

Comment:
8 - Excellent colors. The color reflection on the water/bokeh is very nice and complements the bird and the composition well. The shadow play/placement is also very good. Criticism; difficult, especially to not contradict anything I've just said. A few small blown areas on the white feathers, but difficult to control and fairly minor. Perhaps a little more detail in the back of the head and the neck and maybe, not sure, 'wider', may have made this even better in my opinion. As for meeting the Challenge, there's a definite shape(s) there, it's just not the "most important aspect" of the photograph, in my opinion, therefore can't quite take it higher than 8. Maybe a crop variation may have enhanced the 'shape', especially the 'curve', who knows. Taking the liberty of adding to my favorites. Very nice shot.

Anticipation
by sarrobi

Comment:
Looks like you retained good contrast control in the blacks, especially if this was taken with a backdrop of snow as per your comments. I'd be interested in seeing the snow background with this. This pp borders too closely to a 'sprite' in my opinion and detracts from the good capture of the dog. Perhaps a little more space 'above' as well, compositionally, may also have made this better in my opinion.