Low Tide
by Tap10

Comment:
The composition to highlight and make the shapes of the lines in the low tide the main subject makes the shot interesting. But while the concept is good the composition needs improvement. The colors on the mountain in the background appear a bit too oversaturated which tells me that this was done to get a punch of color. It does add color but it does not appear natural to my eyes. Generally it is early morning and very late afternoon hours that will give the photographer some wonderfully rich and deep tones - not to mention the potential for a colorful sky if there are clouds at that time. I believe, given the title, that the main focus was the shapes/lines of the low tide. But you have introduced another element that I think is rather distracting and detracts from the image -that is the mountain in the background. Perhaps a change in angle and tighter focus would have made a rather unique composition that moves from average snapshot into a above average shot. I.E. shoot the picture with the camera looking down at a 45 degree angle and tight crop showing the lines with just the reflection of the sky and the mountain to add visual interest & color.

A Magical Place
by SherwinJames

Comment:
It has been said time and time again the lighting is spot on! The way it illuminates this flower is what elevates it into something mystical and magical. The water bubbles also add the element of magic 'fairy dust' or little dewdrops of magical light falling off the petals. Square crop keeps attention focused tightly on this magical flower while the black backdrop really allows the flower to shine and visually 'pop' off the page.

S E N T I N E L
by Nald

Comment:
This is a beautiful B&W shot of the waters of the bay and the SF bridge. I like how you composed the shot taking it from a low angle level to the rock in the foreground. This creates such a visuallly interesting photo. I see two sentinels here. The composition shows them both off perfectly for one dominates the foreground while the other dominates the background. The first is the rock who has been sitting there for countless years enduring the waves of the river. The second is the bridge that towers over the river off to the right hand side of the composition. One last note about the rock in the foreground, I love how you captured the movement of the waters for it is the sweeping motion that adds visual interest as well as movement to the piece.

Cape White-Eye
by wsteyn

Comment:
I like the square crop because it keeps a tight focus on your main subject - the bird perched on the flower. The blurred background provides the perfect backdrop for the bird to visually pop off the page. Love the colors. I know the relative size of those flowers so this is a really small bird to be perched like that - because of that I can appreciate and get a sense of scale. My only critique is that I wish the composition had captured the bird head more in profile so that we can see his eye and beak more. Picky, picky, I know - that is sometimes very hard to accomplish but if one can get the shot it does improve the appeal of the composition.

Peyto Lake
by srdanz

Comment:
I like the sweep of the mountains and the interesting textures seen on the rock face in this landscape photo. The inclusion of the foreground ground plane detracts from the appeal of the image because your main focus should remain locked tightly on the beauty of the lake and the mountains in the background. The other element that is a detraction from the visual appeal is the color of the lake itself. It appears unnatural in it's settings. The color is close to that of turquoise/bright aquamarine - not a normal lake color especially since the water would most likely reflect that of the color of the sky if anything. Here it is a flat color that shows no reflection of it's surroundings.

Pointe Shoes
by angela_packard

Comment:
Love this portrait shot! The lighting cast upon the subject is soft and complementry. It illuminates exactly what it needs too at the same time shining the spotlight upon the main subject. I look upon this photograph and can almost think of it as a portrait painting - a study on the life of a dancer/ballerina. All those shoes that she holds represent all her experiences as a dancer - all the untold hours spent practicing and perfecting her craft. Very visually interesting and compelling to look upon.

Surprise!!!
by nephoto

Comment:
Love the expression in this composition!!! A reflected surprise as you caught her looking in the mirror. The B&W was a nice choice for it heightens and calls greater attention to the focus of the shot - the expression of surprise. Had it been in color, it might have not had the same impact for the color may or may not have called attention away from the main focus. My only critique is that I wish she held the mirror out a tad more farther to get the full "O" surprise expression of her mouth in the frame of the mirror.

Pray for Surf
by ShannonLee

Comment:
Love the golden hues of the sky but that hue continues down to the ocean color and the sand which gives the image an overall flat appearance. There is no range of tonal hues. The yellow hue of the surf and the ocean just does not look right to the eye at all - there should be some blue tones but there are not. Everything has a yellow cast and as such a normally appealing shot of the sand & surf appears flat and unappealing. I think that if you removed that yellow cast that dominates the scene (either by not using the camera filter or removing the adjustments of color levels that colored the scene) would greatly enhance the appeal of the image.

The Stare
by timfythetoo

Comment:
Those colors on the tiger really pop off the screen! They are bold and rich in hue. And the stare of this majestic beast is captivating ... and frightening for he is looking at us with a hunter/prey glare. Love the composition in which you included his surroundings in the photo composition. I get the feeling that it is as if we have stumbled out of the brush and disturbed this tiger's drink.

Puerto de Ensenada
by postoakinversion

Comment:
This is a beautiful waterscape shot. Love how the colors in the sky light up like fire and for added interest there are the boats that are sailing out upon the waters. My only critique is that closer to the setting sun the colors of the sky get washed out. Playing with color levels along with brightness/contrast tools could eliminate that and mak the colors more rich and vibrant in this photo.