IMG_0330_filtered 2_filtered.jpg
by DrAchoo

Comment:
'4', maybe. Although it wasn't 'necessary' to see a cande lit in my opinion, it definitely helped in many shots, or even to be able to discern candlelight (difficult at times), and this 'light' is difficult to distinguish, especially that the light appears to be coming from so close to 'bedding' - long shot to guess there is a 'flame' there. The effect is nice and soft though. edit:typo

Message edited by author 2005-12-19 22:49:16.

Forest Spirits
by DrAchoo

Comment:
Gave this a 5. Liked the potential with the textures especially, but as you have said "I had originally wanted a shot which had all 15 lanterns, but there was too much detail and the picture wound up looking unpleasant with lichen covered branches competing with the branches of the background. " - that may have made this better in my opinion, but obviously is not what you were attempting, so it is a matter of 'preference'. The colors and overall feel was nice but again, had more potential, in my opinion.

Inner Sanctum
by Rikki

Comment:
Gave this a 6. I liked the colors (including the use of them against the black) but the middle candle was 'out of synch' and other minor balance/cropping details overall kept this shot from being 'more' in my opinion.

DSC_0667BBB.jpg
by Coley

Comment:
'7', likely, not sure. Gave the 'real entry' a 7. Here is the b/w I suggested may have made this better so I won't contradict myself there, and it definitely eliminates the skin/flesh issues in the color, but this is a different angle and closer. With the centered composition this needs to be more symmetrical (framing & angle especially) in my opinion. The 'dark edges', are too harsh and grainy also in my opinion and detract overall. At this angle it is more noticeable what forks are 'out of synch'. I think if this were 'zoomed out' a bit more (similar to the 'real entry'), make this better, in my opinion. There's also that issue of the 'little one missing' in this shot too, as per my original comments.

Clarity2.jpg
by JennApple

Comment:
'4', maybe '5', had you entered this. I was interested in seeing this for the potential, as I said in my comments in the real entry (which I gave a 2). Obviously looks a lot better at this size, but the 'clarity' and contrasting lights against the 'pure black' that was in the smaller size, doesn't seem to be as strong in this. There seems to be a slight 'haze' (difficult to explain). I like (again as I said before) the potential here, the composition is good with the bulb in the corner and the unusual 'lined/patterned bokeh' in the background is good. If the bulb were a fraction more in the frame, 'sharper' (especially re your title) and some 'tweaking' of the overall color/contrast, trying to get the black more 'pure', would have made this even better in my opinion. Also, for a 'Free Study', it was always going to be a 'different horse in the race' against so many other more 'classic' photography shots, if that makes sense. Thank you for posting this version. edit:typo

Message edited by author 2005-12-17 22:16:00.

All Alone
by scamp

Comment:
Nice colors and capture. Depending what you had to work with, a little more 'height', and trying to get the stem on more of a diagonal, may have made this even better. Like the detail in the petals, difficult I imagine to get equal detail in the stamens/center as well. Very nice bokeh/shallow depth of field. Looks like a helichrysum (everlasting/paper daisy) of sorts.

OWLfeet1301.jpg
by Younger

Comment:
Good, 'odd' potential with this in my opinion. Nice colors. 'If only' the talons were sharp (of course the tie/cuffs detract but little you can do about that) and overall just a little sharper (even though the 'soft' does 'work'), make it even better in my opinion. A slight nudge rotation up on the right too, and possible crop variation also may have made this even better. Like it, especially the colors, patterns and texture 'contrast' with the rock/wood/whatever the owl is standing on.

IMG_2389.jpg
by Rando D300

Comment:
Very nice capture and colors. Opportune of course in all likelihood but, 'if only' the ears weren't cropped, but still, good shot. The simple background and lines look good. Contrast control of the whites looks well done too.

Unusual Friends II
by Marjo

Comment:
This is also very good and the quality (at this size anyway) is still good enough in my opinion. Is this better than the other? - maybe by a 'whisker' (pun intended) in my opinion, but it's a matter of taste. This color version (and slight crop variation) just has a little more 'feel' or 'depth' to it. The extra pixels do help of course. A lot of potential in this shot for variations in toning, crop, saturation, etc - all producing a really well (again) naturally framed, well captured (opportune of course (good luck if you try to reshoot)) and nice character shot with good shadow play and textures as well. Thank you for posting this version.

Unusual Friends
by Marjo

Comment:
Good capture. Presume the quality wasn't enough to put this at 640 - likely a 'distant opportune capture'. Very nice. 'Natural framing' adds a lot to the character of this shot.