Eyes That Have Seen
by acoppola

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments. There is very much a story behind this photo portrait of this elderly gentleman. I/we the viewer experience a level of disquiet as we look upon him. He is not smiling. The eyes that normally are the window of the soul are shut. The eyes are no longer seeing. Sights that were once common to him are now just something that lives in his mind's eye. As much as he can no longer see and is blind, we too are blind for we can no longer read his expression by looking into his eyes. Emotions are hidden unless he chooses to show a smile or frown. But we, the viewers can be blind in another fashion. Our discomfort may get the better of us that we choose to avoid this sight. He has seen and I am sure has many stories to tell some sad, some with joy and some that may even bring genuine laughter. What has he seen, what can he tell us, what can he teach us about life and perhaps ourselves? These are all questions that go through my head as I gaze upon this man. This photo shows a human interest story...one that I am sure there are more details to be read from the commentary that at this point in time is hidden to us.

Cityscape - Night Life
by soon

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments now. The long exposure that captures the cars going by as nothing but light trails perfectly complements the picture of the city light at night. Why? Because it plays into the idea that citylife is fast paced; it is lights and action. Things do not move at a snail pace but can travel at speeds of light. Color and details are wonderful. You especially captured some wonderful defined details on the buildings in the backdrop. Great DOF that captures the look and feel of the busy city. Great job!

M i l l e n n i u m
by hihosilver

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments. This is a wonderfully simple and elegant capture of nature. This shows unspoiled beauty with just the rolling shapes of the mountains peering out of the sea of clouds. The cool shades of blue and purples create a calming mood the perfectly fits the serenity of the scene.

Alone
by haze

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments. This is my leaning tree, I come here when I need time and space to think...to feel...to think of which direction I need to take. It's trunk has always got my back. I come here and it's rough bark is strong and gives me support when I need a comfort zone. My leaning tree rests nearby the waters. An ideal place for the waters reflect the skies moods as I too reflect upon things and feelings. The gentle sound of the water lapping is a gentle soothing sound that helps to calm jangled nerves. This is my secret place, my leaning tree. This is what story unfolds when I look upon your composition. The colors and silhouettes as well as the presence of the two main subject paints a mood and feel for the photo.

Old Truck in the Field
by thatsanicepicture

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments now. Love the composition of elements here. You have this old decaying car surrounded by this field of lush green. It shows an interesting juxtaposition rot & decay surrounded with life renewing. The setting sun is also very symbolic of the time setting on this ol and falling apart car. It's day is done. When I look upon this composition I cannot help but think of the lyrics to King Crimson's song Dig Me...it is about a rusting and abandoned ol' car. Great job in presenting all the elements in this symbolic composition of this car's 'life'.

In the air
by offiof

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave commentary. Holy moly what a great action shot of this fish leaping up into the waters!!!! I get the idea that this is some form of salmon or other type of fish that swims upstream against the current. That is why I say it is leaping up into the waters above. Great capture of the water splashes and the detail in the fin, tail and scales is wonderful. Love the action going on in this shot. One doesn't always have control of the elements but it would certainly catapult this great shot into the exceptionally good category if you lucked out and caught the head and eye showing. It is still a wonderful shot though, great job!

Blue Flax
by chickadeezl

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments. Love the bokeh backdrop that allows the flax in the foreground to really shine and pop visually off of the page. Lighting is wonderful for I really like how it illuminates and adds a really nice sheen on the petals. The almost glow with the soft blue/violet hues. Now to my critique...ah crud! She has to spoil the commentary with a critique right;-) I think the composition would be much more stronger and appealing to the eye if you cropped out the top third of the photo such that it is close to the highest flower in the foreground. The blue flax that is blurred in the backdrop bokeh really does not offer much to the composition and sometimes distracts attention away from your main focus flowers in the foreground. That beautiful shade of springtime green bokeh backdrop would be far more complementary to your foreground flowers.

pelican . blues
by nivlek

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments. A very interesting presentation of a sunset shot but instead of warm colors it utilizes cool blues. The choice to use cool colors invokes the idea of a calm serene and cool breezy day by the shore. Tones and contrasts are good with maybe jussst a tad more of a boost to the contrast to make it pop visually even more. Love the inclusion and spotting the pelican in the shot for it adds visual interest. The last little critique I have for this shot is that the head of the pelican disappears a bit into that sand bar. A slight change in angle either by shooting it a little higher up or lower would have moved the head such that the water would be the backdrop and thus the whole bird would be fully visible and contrast with it's surroundings. Great photo nonetheless!

Backstage Pass
by Carlo21

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments not. Wow, what great detail and DOF on this shot of the guitar!!! I love how you composed it such that the neck acts like a leading line that runs off to the vanishing point to the horizon. Very much like a pathway for the eye to travel upon. But that same pathway needs a little something to add extra zing to this photo.....Hmmmm. Hey! You know what would be really cool?!?! If you could get this same wonderful set-up and have it on a stage such that the neck of the guitar leads off to the seats in a theatre with what appears to be stage spotlights shining on the guitar in both upper corners of the composition. Lights, music, PLAY! It would have a look and feel of getting ready to put on a music show with just the guitar and the backdrop setting (pardon the pun) the stage for projecting that idea to the audience. If you have any way of accomplishing this I highly recommend doing it. It might mean going out of your comfort zone and asking someone you know connected to the theater to use it or asking a complete stranger for use of their facilities with the promise to credit the place in the commentary as a form of advertisement. The worst they could say is no. But if they say yes, and all elements come together this great above average shot could be catapulted to the exceptional category of 9 or 10 just by applying some star power (and yes that is a guitar hero reference;-) )

W I L D
by halopes

Comment:
Voted earlier coming back to leave comments. The angry sky rolls across the wide expanse of blue while the waves thunder and crash upon the craggy shore. This is the impression I get as I watch the forces of nature at work in your shot. Very beautiful and scenic shot of this beach - while beautiful I feel the calm before a storm for I see rain bands far off in the distance to the left of the composition. There is one other human element that chooses to brave Mother Nature's display (aside from us the viewer) and that is the lone oil tanker that I see far off into the distance. Of course that could be an island in which case I am very wrong:-) Love the capture of a moment in time as the water crashes upon the rocks and we see the explosive spray in fine detail. Colors and detail are wonderful. Great job on this seascape capture.