Japanese Garden
by franktheyank

Comment:
Congrats on the blue! Love the rich, hues in this photo and the lines of the tree that weave & curve. Your capture showcases the beauty of the garden i that is captivating to look upon when autumn has arrived.

Golden dream of an autumn leaf
by lavi83

Comment:
What this best captures is the movement of the season - the feel of the wind as it lashes at the last golden tones of autumn that clings to the tree branches. The composition is both warm and cold. Warm because of the lovely golden tones in the single visible leaf and the blur of those we cannot see clearly. Cold because the capture of movement makes me feel the chill of the wind that will eventually cast that leaf off of it's secure anchor on the tree branch. The focus and colors are soft but that just adds to the appeal for it gives it a dreamy feel.

Season's Over
by GeneralE

Comment:
I love entries that have double or several meanings. I really enjoyed the play on the meaning of season - there are two: the tennis season and the season autumn with rich and lovely colors adorning the trees has fallen. Nice rich details and colors and even strong leading lines of the tennis court to draw the eye in.

Bench
by i-river

Comment:
I love the feel and mood that this invoked...I think too many times we get mesmorized by sharp detail, strong contrasts and rich colors that one forgets that faded colors can work quite well in creating a mood that is rich in feel. I feel the fading colors of autumn, the crisp winds that herald the chill of winter, and the loneliness of the pealing paint weather worn bench whose only compnay is the few scattered leaves sitting upon it.

Message edited by author 2011-11-15 10:40:51.

The Dead Season
by Hipychik

Comment:
The ripples of water that push the leaves are like the breath of wind that toss the autumn leaves off of the sheltering branches of the tree. The dark eddys and whorls is like a watercolor - the dock piling invokes the idea that we are sitting at the edge of the dock fishing and daydreaming as we watch the leaves drift by.

The Gathering
by jagar

Comment:
There is just something about the texture and the mood of this composition. The autumn leaves have gathered into this barren but seemingly cozy shelter of from the elements. The closed off walls offer shelter not just to the plantlife clinging to the walls, but the fallen folliage, and the cat who is curled up near the fallen leaves as if it is a blanket.

Here's looking at you kid
by BrennanOB

Comment:
Fantastic work - and kudos to you for the time and patience. Years ago I did a complex carving. I came out fantastic but I vowed never again. So again - hats off to your patience as well as the fabulous result and great composition - very worthy of the blue.

Will-o'-the-wisp
by ace flyman

Comment:
Congrats on the ribbon Joe! That is one 'on fire' pumpkin. It is the wicked grin and the details of the fireball flames that makes the shot.

The Black Cat
by vawendy

Comment:
White patch gallows a warning of fate you fail to outrun
Once I revolved around you like Pluto to the Sun
But your cruelty plucked out the amber orb forever dimming my sight.
To unveil the blood severed wedding vow, my wails will be your blight.

Nice attention to details of the story - the elements of the brick wall behind the cat, the gallows emblazed on the chest, and the one eye all allude to Poe's work. The biggest critique I have is that 'something' is not quite right about the one eye aspect of the cat (and yes the composition does creep me out for the violence done to the cat and the lady in the story is unnerving). I guess it is because the plucked eye area looks flat....like the fur has grown over it.

The Premature Burial
by dtallakson

Comment:
Some of my writings cause the flesh to flush pale
Six feet under vistas while alive is one such tale
Interred in my grave I arise,
With every reading my spirit never dies.


The dark and pale colors lend to the spooky and eerie feel of the composition. Nice touch to have the ghastly hands reaching out from the grave with the name of Poe inscribed on the tombstone. It is as if Poe does indeed try to claw out from his grave much like the narrator in the his short story. Very well done.