The Girl With A Pearl Earring
by sher

Comment:
I had no doubt this outstanding entry would win, not by a hair but uncontestedly. I am completely stumped to see in 10th place.

portre ressami
by kiwiness

Comment:
Gorgeous portrait and a melancholical subject (or moment).
The tight crop emphasises the eyes, which is, IMO, not a bad choice considering the tender age of the model. The exposure, minimally bright on the face, is apparently trained on the scarf, which invites a considerable aesthetic element into the picture, which makes for a truly satisfying, albeit dominantly visual experience. The fixation and mystery of the eyes are thus given an aptly rich and intricate setting.

A Man
by ellamay

Comment:
Excellent, true portraiture of this (apparently) benevolent clan lord. What a great character and subject!

The extraordinary crisp presence here, I believe, is helped by the pervasive darkness of all but the face and hat. The background adds much, IMO, via its deeply rich and diffused colours reminiscent of the Dutch masters.

The quiet, joyful dignity communicated by this transporting portrait is astounding and memorable indeed.

Water Shed
by zeuszen

Comment:

Originally posted by andywightman: ...If this is posted in your portfolio rather than in the March free Study what else are you going to come up with? :))

I've commissioned kiwiness to do a macro of the same scene. ;-)

Playful
by TommyMoe21

Comment:
Beautiful, sensitive portrait of a woman in her prime. The range of lighting, particularly, is effectively gorgeous in that it associates her disposition and character (facial features and posture) with her age (harsher lighting on elbows, arms, left wrist and hand). The sensuality emphasized by the manner of this capture is neither simple nor common.
The glass, btw, makes a fine anchor.

Lovely, credible, enchanting.

The Girl With A Pearl Earring
by sher

Comment:
Vermeer would be proud, as should you.
The resemblance is stunning. The simplified (made?) Ottoman costume, material, texture, especially the rich muted colours, are sensitively chosen and arranged for the purpose. Light, composition, perspective, posture and manner, although so obviously 'lifted' from the painting are exquisite.

The young woman posing for this photograph is, indeed, worthy of a masterly portrait.
I bow.

Renovation of a 19th century stone barn.
by jjbeguin

Comment:
What an immaculate, luxurious understatement!
The absence of any redundant element is exquisitely inspiring.
A perfect sanctum - contemporary, classic, meditative.
(The image enjoys the same attributes).

I suggest black, cotton togas in lieu of bath robes.

Luci's Lounge
by ellamay

Comment:
A fine gold you have poured here and the oddest and most awesome of posses.
This is, I believe, more than a magnificent photo. It is myth-making.

> 9

David and Goliath
by zeuszen

Comment:
Thanks for all the comments, everyone.

As most of you recognized, yes, of course, I employed a tripod and slow shutter speed (f 8.0 : 1/30) to render what is here.
A speed slower than this would have tranquilized the beast to a point of false pleasantry, uncharacteristic of the given. To provide an idea of the sheer size and volume of the falls, the image represents approximately one third of the total cascade.

Fire, Earth, Air - Primitive Copperware Fabrication
by JEM

Comment:
This, IMO, is a good raw photo of considerable historical, regional, even anthropological interest. With minor adjustments to brightness/contrast/levels/Unsharp Mask (all legal according to DPC Basic Editing rules) a truly great capture could, IMO, be rendered.

I am nevertheless grateful for having been taken inside a place entirely remote and foreign for me and will rate this entry accordingly.