The Escapee outake
by Wildcard

Comment:
This one is much more emotive and symbolic for me. The razor wire makes the barrier magnitudes more threatening than simple chainlink, as if they are deadly serious about keeping the dolphin captive.
Add to that the fact that they are ring-shaped, symbolic of the rings dolphins are made to jump through, and how dangerous this can be for the species.
Topping it all is the fact that he is refusing to jump THROUGH the hoop, even to make his escape, but that he's ABOVE it....

I suspect that one of the reasons you didn't go with this one was the pole, but I find it very easy to ignore. I already know the dolphin isn't alive and I don't care! :)

Unfinished
by KarenNfld

Comment:
I LIKED the shadows on this one. I know that with this kind of shot we're supposed to avoid them like the plague, but sometimes they just FIT. I actually thought this would be MUCH nearer the top :)

Nouvelle Cuisine
by Greetmir

Comment:
I agree, a well-earned PB :D
Great job on getting the black BLACK! And I love the detail on the plate :)

Minimal dog
by Melethia

Comment:
I liked this very much. The main subject is most definitely a very small part of the shot!
Yes, there is a lot in the frame, but the use of contrast to remove detail keeps the eye drawn back to the poor dog.
I also like your choice to cut off the head of the person, rendering them as merely another object towering over the tiny creature.
I really am surprised this didn't score higher!

Tropical Simplicity
by hotpasta

Comment:
I expected this to rank higher... in other words, it's one of my favourites :)

Emergency exit
by Melethia

Comment:
About bloody time! :D
(meaning, of course, that you've deserved to ribbon before now!)

Turkey Vulture
by VanBergen

Comment:
I suspect that most of the comments about quality all boil down to having to zoooooooooooom, right? :)
Because, knowing where that was shot, I suspect he was in one of those trees on the land side, not peninsula side? I've taken eagle shots down there that ended up almost exactly the same!
I still like it though... it's not easy to get a good shot of these ugly mugs :D

MAJESTIC
by AlexSaberi

Comment:
My daughter thought it looked like a museum display, I thought it looked like an "AlexSaberi" :) As usual, breathtaking!

The Fare Seeker
by jimness

Comment:
I still can't put my finger on just what it is about this one, but it was my pick for third :)

Jolly Jumper
by aabatkinson

Comment:
I think this is the reverse of what motion panning means. You should be moving the camera with your subject to keep her still and in focus, allowing the motion to blur the background while keeping her sharp against it :)