The Hunter
by gys

Comment:
Beautiful animal...falcon yes?? I like that you have captured this bird of prey without the hood on so that we get to see the eyes. Nice focus that shows off the details in the feathers and coloration. This is a good shot but it has the potential to be even better. First I do like that you captured it in an outdoor element with the handler holding it. But the environment could have been brought in to add more visual interest. The inclusion of the ground plane that composes 70% of the composition 'visually' grounds the bird. What I mean by that is that had the photo been taken at a lower angle such that the sky makes up more of the backdrop it would compliment the bird more by making a visual connection to it's natural element. Not only that but the colors of the bird would contrast and pop more visually off of a background with some same color hues that compete with the subject's coloration. Now your sky here is a flat white and grey so you might have wanted to avoid that because it was not visually interesting. However, could you have photographed it later in the day or even another day where there might be more interesting sky patterns? If the opportunity was available then always try to take advantage of the best possible settings. Lastly, the eye of the beautiful bird could use a bit of catchlights to add some depth and gleam to the eye. Could you have changed your angle such that the sunlight reflected in the bird's eyes or possibly have used fill flash to hopefully add a gleam to the eye (of course, you would only do this if the falcon/hawk would not react violently to the use of flash or be startled).

Day-14 Weathered barn
by carofo

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

I love the processing in which you have a faded white border around the photo - it invokes the idea that we are looking at the scene from a frosted window. Love the range of colors on the weathered barn from reds to browns to the greys that contrast really nicely off of the white snow blanketing the area. This is a wonderful winter pastoral scene. Nice job!

Attack of the Giant Snowmen
by bobonacus

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

*Chuckles* Great street scene capture. That snowman looks like he is about to pounce/land on the shoppers below (Incoming!!!!). Again this is a nice little capture of the streets of London for it gives us a lovely view of the holidays there as well as the lovely old-style buildings.

Holiday Singers in sepia
by cogerox

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

Very nice processing! I agree with others that the processing is an improvement on the original. Love the feel and mood this captures - feels like a scene out of one of Charles Dickens novels. The scene has very much an old time Victorian feel to it. Love the splashes of reds & pinks that liven up the dark tones that are primarily throughout the image. This would make a good print and/or holiday card.

More Neighbors
by JeniY

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

I like the timeworn ragged look that you added around the edges of the photo for it gives it a feel of an aged photo - we are seeing something far back in the past. The lighting and details captured here of these cows grazing/relaxing is wonderful...love the details on how we can see the flow of hair on their hides. I also like how you waited for the two cows to look our way for it gives us the sense that we are there and they are looking directly at us.

Clowns
by Melethia

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

Very nice! Love the rich colors in this photo from the cobalt blues to the golds in the stars of these dolls costumes. Nice crisp focus too with some complementry bokeh going on in the backdrop to set this display of dolls off nicely. The only creep out factor that I see is that the main clown's eyes' were painted to look slightly angry such that the smile takes on a sinister look. It seems to me that the 2nd clown doll in the back has much more of an innocent expression.

Whatever 18
by Ken

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

Wow, this is fabulous! Love the rich red color of the star that visually pops off of the white frost. I also find the frost patterns very visually appealing. Nice crisp colors draws the eye in and the sharp focused details are the cherry on the top. Shame that the Star Challenge dates were not timed for this one for this would have easily earned a top 10 spot.

Day 27 - Cherry
by hajeka

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

You have some beautiful rich color tones in this food composition. Good lighting shows off those deep rich chocolate browns that pop off the white plate. A black plate would not have allowed the rich hues of the browns nor the deep rich reds of the cherries to pop visually. Nice sharp focus shows us some wonderful details. My only critique is that the whipped cream on the top of the dessert looks like a shapeless mass - something I found out whipped cream does is very quickly lose it's shape with heat from lights or sunlight. The solution?: You fake it by using another material:-) Classic Soda Shoppe Banana Split The whipped cream is really white cake icing:-) Other than the whipped cream topping this is a great food shot - could appear in a food magazine.

- - - -
by krnodil

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

You may not have an idea how it happened but the pastel hue bokeh background adds beauty to the scene and it is a wonderful happy accident. It also adds color & beauty to the spindly and decaying plant.

A Table with a View
by Charlene

Comment:
Finally getting around to finishing comments for the Dec. Side Challenge:-)

Absolutely spectacular B&W tonal range here! Very dynamic! Love the leading lines present in your composition. The table and the chairs act as leading lines to vanish off to the horizon...it is those lines that lead us to the large picture of the city square in some European town (judging by the double decker bus in the scene). Title is perfect for the composition for we, the viewer, really do get a table with a view:-)