From a Distance
by briantammy

Comment:
So simple yet so lovely in effect. Very nice work. 10.

Awakening With Song
by Konador

Comment:
A true English robin. Very nice image. 9.

Clearing Storm, Wychmere Harbor
by Bear_Music

Comment:
"The HDR effect" immediately springs to mind. "Try to think beyond the effect" says another part of the mind. It's unreal. It's lovely, but unreal. The composition is nice regardless of the effect. I think I like it. 9. - back again: make that a 10.

Cold Feet
by Imagineer

Comment:
Absolutely on of my favourites of this challenge. Having grown up in England, this sight seems so real and reminds me of those days, whether or not your photo was taken there. 10.

Not Quite Ready to Face the World
by Rebecca

Comment:
Love the three faces: the aspiring one; the real reflection; the desired one. Works very well. 9.

Golden Fog
by SJCarter

Comment:
Lovely tone and shadow in your photo. The geometry of the open space is perfect. 10.

Valley Mist, Morning Light
by Falc

Comment:
Lovely swathe of countryside there and well worth getting up early for this photo. It rteminds me of somewhere in England or Wales. 10.

The mufler's connected to the fan belt...uh oh!
by nixter

Comment:
My choice would have been this one and I would have voted 8. I have a 7 for your actual entry.

Chris In Paris
by hotpasta

Comment:
Rainy days in Paris (and London too) are exceptionally lovely, in my experience. The muted colours, the sidewalk cafes and passers by all make remind me of paintings and romantic hours. Your son has a nice open face and his spirit comes over well in your photo. Though Paris is hardly visible in the photo, implicitly it is very much there. It's good to see your photos from your travels.

The Horse and The Rider: Darren Gauci
by hotpasta

Comment:
This is a classic image. Now what is a pastor doing hanging around the parade ring, I ask myself ;-) I expect you have heard the one about the young man who went to the races one day and saw a priest looking all the horses over. The priest finally went up to one of the horses and signed the cross on its forehead. The man didn't think much of it but went on to place a bet on another horse running in the same race. The young man's horse came in last while the horse the priest had blessed romped home well ahead of all the others. The next race came and the young man had placed a bet on a horse. Once again, he saw the priest again blessing another horse. The young man's horse arrived at the winning post well down the field while the priest's blessed horse romped home once again to win. When the next race came up, the young man noticed the priest went up to a horse, looked it in the eye, placed the sign of the corss on its forehead and one each of its hooves. That was it - the young man rushed to the tote and placed all his money on this horse. The starter sent the horses off down the track and the young man was shocked to see his choice of horse pull to the side of the track 20 lengths from the post where he promptly gave up the ghost and died. Having lost all his money, the young man went in search of the priest. How could this be? he asked the priest. Every horse you blessed this afternoon won and this one you gave an extra blessing to. The priest looked at the young man and said, You obviously don't know the difference between a blessing and an absolution.

Better told over a pint of Guinness. :)