Rugged Coast
by jdannels

Comment:
Congratulations on your blue ribbon. A very compelling image with superb management of detail in the shadows. Well done!

Twin Tree
by h2

Comment:
Great scene. Amazing sky. Very fine tonal range and toning. Strong composition. 8

a tree in the country
by Stagolee

Comment:
Very pastoral scene. Makes me wish for warmer weather and growing plants. Nice painterly look. Too much vignette for me. Nice s-curve slicing through the pasture. I might have composed differently, with the tree not so cornered, but the cows are a pleasant element of interest. 8

Broken But Unbowed
by hihosilver

Comment:
A great sky. Tree in silhouette top half and in detail below the ridge line, which is how the eye would see it, too, because of the relative brightness of the sky. Excellent composition and interesting subject. 8

Surreal Illusion
by Judi

Comment:
Superb composition. Amazing detail and exposure. Beautiful colors. 8

Pine
by robst

Comment:
Great sky colors. Exotic (to me) tree. Superb composition. Looks like a warm and pleasant place. 8

I stand alone
by Lonz

Comment:
Great detail and tree shape. Beautiful light and colors. Wish you had not clipped (minor) the branches on the left and right. You could have skipped the frame and shown the whole tree to the advantage of the image. I like this because it shows how the tree has adapted to the prevailing winds or normal storm directions. 8

Along the Way
by wsteyn

Comment:
One of the better images in this challenge. Mostly, I like the sky gradient from the earth's shadow. Well done! Good detail and exposure of the subject. The bird is a plus, although that's unusual in landscape images. My first reaction to the horizon is that it's unlevel. But, could be hill country. 9

Standing By The Pond
by BrianR

Comment:
This is excellent. I understand that you wanted to make the tree look vertically squared to the frame, but you tilted the image to accomplish the look. (at least that's my reaction) Now, I would have accepted the horizon sliding downhill to the right, but it's the water which betrays. What a wonderful sky and exposure. Magnificent colors and amazing dof. The clipped branches on the right side are a minor distraction. Should be a ribbon winner, but I can't say for sure how many will be distracted by the minor landscape issues. 9

Year of the Ox (Bonsai Jade)
by david_c

Comment:
I scored this well. Good drama and lighting. The degree of difficulty is different, not necessarily greater, than photographing an outside single tree. But, I think the uniqueness here is worthy of note. 9