Vautour
by fotofan

Comment:
Best damn portrait of a vulture I've ever seen, should have scored higher - but I guess vultures will never be in vogue. :)

The Gathering
by karenk

Comment:
Congratulations, Karen - this was one of my 10s and a favorite for the challenge. Really well-done handling of DOF. Great good luck with the composition too, to have them all more or less looking forward at you like that, with that frontrunner's enigmatic expression - lends a weirdness to it, like we just might be in danger from them.

Bucolic Oblivion
by RKT

Comment:
One of my 8s - I liked the slightly sinister glow and hemmed in feel. Neighbors are just too dang close in suburbia.

"Oops. This is a bit embarassing."
by Lydia

Comment:
B&W treatment is lovely, depth of field is well-chosen and nimbly executed, and subject is right up this challenge topic's alley. Excellent work, and congrats on your top 10. I vote for "waiting for rollover" :)

Wee Seams
by RKT

Comment:
The shadows are what I like about it. Nice subtle idea for this challenge, and well-executed.

Looking from the Inside Out
by mchalmers

Comment:
Very creative idea for this challenge, nice humor to it too.

As for your lighting concern that you would get too much glare/reflection in your attempt to blow out the background - it looks like your subject was fairly close to your background, and perhaps moving the background much farther back and lighting it separately with a flash would avoid the issue of reflection, or at least make it more manageable. I'm guessing, no expert advice - I've been reading up on lighting lately and that's what comes to mind when reading of your difficulty.

Boo?
by MaryO

Comment:
Oooh, he's too cute to be scary! Seconds before he pounced on your lens, I'll wager. :)

Train Kept A Rollin'
by Hipychik

Comment:
Excellent panning work, Terry, nicely composed. Congrats!

Rumpelstiltskin gloats
by skewsme

Comment:
Now I get the "neighbor" reference from your comment on my shot - duh, I can be so thick. The processing provides an appropriately maniacal feel to it, good for Rumpelstiltskin's edginess, and I like how you got the back foliage to look fire-like, which also suits the story.

joie de jouer
by skewsme

Comment:
Damn - this was the one and only standout for me in this challenge, so I didn't vote - the bulk of the entries were just too depressing. It's weird but when I see this I think "French". :) Really lively, both in coloring and perceived movement; if this doesn't exemplify play I don't know what does.