Black Drongo
by artistChan

Comment:
Dark bird on bright yellow highly textured field evokes some feelings generated by the Van Gough painting Wheatfield with Crows. Unfortunately, a photograph might have to wait a long time to reach similar pricing. Enjoyable image that should do well.

3 (4)
by donnydonald88

Comment:
Composition does have some separation into foreground, mid-ground, and background, but it is difficult to land on a particular subject of interest. The palms and vegetation could be interesting if showing more detail (maybe move closer and apply some sharpening in post processing). Mostly it seems a shame to enter such a small version in the first challenge to allow 1200 pixel sides. That will probably decrease the overall score.

MeToo
by jagar

Comment:
Thanks for the laugh. Black and white keeps us focused on the essential elements of the image. Excellent idea to have such a uniquely dressed person selected to have the cartoon balloon "statement."

200 Candles
by wbanning

Comment:
Evokes sense of calm and contemplation. Unusual light captured without excessive digital noise. Deserves to do well.

C'est moi - C2K
by damjanev

Comment:
Bold idea to submit such a stark portrait, but one of my top five in the challenge. Staring expression works well with the hard side light. Wide black area on the right somehow balances the face and smaller black area on the left. Sharp, interesting, and somewhat unusual.

Aspens at Aspen Colorado
by drake217

Comment:
Absolute WOW. Love the very soft, subtly directional light on the trunks. Wonderful enhancement of tiny bits of red down low and close that harmonize with darker shadowed blues further away. Bits of snow/ice establish credible white points while the darkest trunk spots reach to the full other end of the luminosity scale. Aspens can frustrate us with endless potentially wonderful images that turn out to be very difficult to capture in a way that matches artistic intent. You demonstrate technical mastery with an image that evokes a sense of peaceful enjoyment of a quiet bit of natural beauty.

horizontals and perpendiculars
by PennyStreet

Comment:
I would have enjoyed this more turned 90 degrees counterclockwise. Current orientation does show right angles but sacrifices the rest of the composition in a way that feels contrived but not effective.

Untitled
by jgirl57

Comment:
Pasta pretending to be a curtain?

cold shoulder
by mitalapo

Comment:
Given the imitation of an impressionist portrait, the title works well. More important, this has much for the eye to enjoy.

Beach grain
by kiwinick

Comment:
Looks to me like something that would do well printed large and displayed in a modern art museum. Very unique approach to the subject. Good time for me to remember about the "add to favorites" button.