Bath Time
by dleach

Comment:
I've seen magazine stories and some nature shows showcasing these 'snow-monkeys' who bathe in the warm springs for warmth. I bet it is even more impressive seeing it live:-). I like that you captured this monkey looking staring back at us. Established eye contact can add visual interest as we connect with the subject. He's staring at me while I watch him. I also like all the wonderful details from the wet spikey hair to the nose and water pooling on the fur/hair around the mouth.

Shhht, I'm still asleep...
by GiorgioBaruffi

Comment:
What is so stunning and just dazzling to look at is the way the light plays on this nature scene. Love the way the light illuminates the waterdrop dappled dragonfly to turn it into an object adorned with sparkling gems; dewdrops and jeweldrops. I also like how the light just gently touchs/outlines some of the details of the plant and the dragonfly - I can see the fine hairlike filaments on the plant stalk as well as the hairlike filaments on the torso of the dragonfly. Very nice capture here.

The Approaching Storm
by TomCubis

Comment:
An oceanscape scene that has strong potential to move into the high above average and mayhap the exceptional category. The B&W is a nice choice for it calls attention to all the textural details from the rough strata of the rock to the cresting of the crashing waves. There is alot of visual interest here BUT where the photo suffers is the strong dynamic range of tones. Oh, the contrast are not so bad that it appears flat it is just that it is not quite there for it to reach it's maximum potential. I have a feeling that playing around with Shadows/highlights/midtones and maybe the elusive S-curve (have yet to master that PP tool) would make the blacks a deeper and 'richer' dark tone increasing the contrasts between the dark and the light tones. Once that strong contrast occurs I can then see this ocean scene becoming as very visually eye-popping off the screen.

King riP
by pawdrix

Comment:
Great capture of an everyday street scene moment and a moment in time. This is a great photojournalism shot. Like this young girl 'we walk' into the scene where news of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson is dead. It is a defining moment in time and one in which everyone heard the news. This little girl while strolling past the notice is going about her daily business. It is interesting that the drawn Michael J. is forever frozen in a dance move; it will always be static. The action of the girl walking (and to my free associating mind I almost thought one second that her pose bore a strong resemblance to the Moon Walk) is an action that is movement; static for the shot but not for the action in time. I can't help but look at the photo and think of 'moments in time'.

Heart and Soul
by reephoto

Comment:
I like horse portraits/photos but I find that this one, while good, has room for improvement. I find the crop odd - the horizontal does nothing to complement the lines of the face. It chops it off rather to perhaps focus on the eyes mayhap. But if so, then why not bring us closer to the eye to see into the heart that beats there. I wish I could point to an example that shows what I mean. Unfortunately, the example by the photographer, Gilad Benari, was rotated out as he rotates his works every once in a while to showcase other pieces. If the focus is not the eyes but the head/face of the horse it would be best to crop or compose it along the facial lines which is a vertical. Your B&W tones are very dynamic with excellent tonal range in the shadows and highlights. The details are strong with focus so sharp you can see the fine hairs on the horse's muzzle.

The Deer Days of Summer
by scottieham

Comment:
"Does she see me, does she see me?," is what I imagine this deer to be staying as it stays stock still hoping it was not spotted. Love the alert and at the ready stance of this doe waiting for a shadow of a movement from us to then bound away. I almost find myself holding my breath so that I can continue to look at this natural beauty. Wonderfully sharp details captured and the gentle lighting in the meadow are wonderful.

Senioritis
by kvickrey

Comment:
Happy, happy, jump for joy is what this photo speaks to me. Love the warm gold and reddish/orange tones which also helps strengthen the happy and sunny mood of this shot. Silhouette of the jumping lady and the fields are nice, dark and deep allowing them to really pop off the background.

Blue Savannah
by marbo

Comment:
There is an explosion of lines/shapes and color here in this composition. While beautiful and verdant the tight bunching of so many lines and extra vibrant color makes it all the harder for the eye to drink in the scene. I am sure that a large size print of 16 x 20 it would look great large scale but when you translate it down to small scale it just hits the eye all at once and becomes overwhelming. One thing that bothers me is that the extra vibrant violet colors of the floral floor. It looks too saturated. While I see some wonderful shadows and midtones in the trunks of the trees to define each individual shape, I don't quite see the same mimicked in the flowers. It's there but not to the same degree - and I wonder if that selection was less saturated and had a boost in the shadows/midtones if it would ground and define the scene more.

Summer Dragonfly
by milspec

Comment:
I like how the light plays upon the delicate latices of the wings making parts of it sparkle like tiny gems. Details are very lovely on this close up of the resting dragonfly. The blurred bokeh effect where it creates glowing circles in the backdrop and has a warm wheat tones shows a beautiful and dreamy quality. Like sparkles on the lake to complement the sparkles on the wings. Nicely done...bumping up.

Sea Guardian
by Alicia

Comment:
Wonderful great detail on this pelican sitting on the dock. The bokeh effect with the ocean and the buildings in the backdrop makes it look like a painting or mural - makes the bird pop more because appears more real whereas it's environment does not. Colors, lighting and detail are very good - can see the fine details in the feathers of the folded wing and the soft golden down on it's top head.