Romanorum Nemus
by jaysonmc

Comment:
Jayson - the trees really make the shot. Try this - it happens to be how this shot showed up on my screen: crop it at the bottom so it's just above the top of the hill. What do you think of that? It makes the shot all about the repeating patterns in the trees and removes what, to me, is the distracting ground detail.

Matchstick of the Sky - Comet McNaught
by jaysonmc

Comment:
I think this was a bit of a stretch for the challenge, which probably held your score back some. I disagree with Melethia - I would crop out the top cloud. She's right that they provide a nice frame, but I like the composition better with less of them.

But mainly, thanks for posting this. I never got to see it, and this is a gorgeous capture of it. :)

~
by Elaine

Comment:
This is just gorgeous. I mean, really, really gorgeous. So many interesting lines and bits of focus and texture ... you should print this!
Edited to say I'm adding it as a fave - just forgot when I commented.

Message edited by author 2007-02-04 01:39:45.

Safe
by Elaine

Comment:
WHAT a SHOT!

Okay, okay, putting on my constructive hat, I suppose it could do with a touch more contrast and focus.

But for the most part, I'll stick with WHAT a SHOT! :)

On the edge of paradise
by quiet_observation

Comment:
This is really lovely, Mary. :)

I just have one suggestion: I think you want the eye to focus on the stuff in the lower part of the image, from the diagonal down. The blurred circles in the upper part distract me somewhat, so I'd suggest just blurring them out. With that, I think this would make a great print.

Birds on a wire
by Melethia

Comment:
Another terrific bird shot, Deb, and another one I can't believe didn't crack 6. My only suggestion, and it's only relevant if you have the pixels, is to try it with the wire just a smidge lower. It seems a bit tight up there.

African Cheetahs
by Kelli

Comment:
This is really nice, Kelli. I think the raw materials are there for an even better finished product; with some more processing it would really improve. I agree with the folks who are suggesting a little more sharpening and a little more contrast/saturation. The fence doesn't bother me, but if you have Photoshop or something with layer masks, it might be worthwhile blurring it out a bit. If you're not sure how that works, let me know and I'll walk you through it. :)

Spring Time
by bmartuch

Comment:
This is beautiful! I'm baffled as to why it didn't score higher. Maybe the dead center focal point? I bet this would be a really nice print to put in a frame of a complementary color.

California Basking
by noraneko

Comment:
Excellent - congrats on your new personal best! It's nice to see someone whose "best of 2006" actually did better than anything else in 2006. :)

When you come up here, we can trade - you take night shots and I'll shoot wildlife. :)

Message edited by author 2007-01-26 00:44:59.

Comet McNaught
by dx_power

Comment:
I'm so glad you entered this! It was always past sunset when I left work while it was visible.