Helical Waves
by Paul

Comment by jmsetzler:
Greetings from the Critique Club...

I can't believe this photo didn't finish any better than 5.33. I think you probably got bit by the challenge topic itself. You definitely met the abstract portion with no problem, but you have to keep in mind the finicky nature of the walmart shopper. What they don't see is the definitive macro element of the challenge. Your comment from Ja-9 goes to support this idea. She wasn't willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, and I suspect that most other voters probably followed that simple line of thinking.

As for the image itself, I think you have a beautiful shot. The smooth curves create a good bit of interest in this abstract. I think it's an excellent image and would have voted it in the 8 range if I had voted on this challenge... excellent work :)

Final Approach
by Paul

Comment by MaryO:
Stunning detail for a moving bug!

Final Approach
by Paul

Comment by ellamay:
I like the PS treatment of the bug, tho I do wish the flower was not quite so whitish still, I am wondering if you can darken it a bit more, I think the purple and yellow of the bee would make a for good complimentary colors?
Just a thought

Final Approach
by Paul

Comment by Steef:
this is an awesome photo. i suspect it would've done awesome in a challenge, tons of wow-factor

Final Approach
by Paul

Comment by ErikV:
Really nice how you got the bug in mid-flight. And those eyes are amazing!

Splash!
by Paul

Comment by Jutilda:
I love the high contrast and bits of reddish pink. Different and nice.

Fish Eye - of a Goliath Grouper
by Paul

Comment by gbautista87:
I really like the detail in the fish's eye. However I'm having a hard time figuring out what kind of animal this is without reading the title. To make it more explicit you could try a fishier background such as water, bubbles, or another fish.

Fish Eye - of a Goliath Grouper
by Paul

Comment by tara9824:
Wow - crazy the eye pops out at you.

Fish Eye - of a Goliath Grouper
by Paul

Comment by oldbimmercoupe:
windy title aside, nice concept.

Fountain Girl
by Paul

Comment by spiritualspatula:
Hey there, stopping by on behalf of the Critique Club.
It’s funny, I was just looking at this photo earlier tonight in the forums.
You have some interesting elements in the photo that catch the eyes, and although there’s a good amount going on, I wouldn’t call it cluttered. The rows of lights the child is stepping over lead the eye off to the right, away from the subject, but also add a nice weight to the right side of the frame. The same ground lights make really nice contrasty shadows that accentuate the look on the kid’s face, which I really like. Has the look of childish mischief to me, not creepiness as some others felt. The candid nature of the expression is great. The lights and curvature of the pool’s rim round off the frame nicely, as well.
I like how the majority of the frame is starkly contrasting white and black, and then there’s the pink, your link to the challenge, as really the only color in the frame. It’s nice that you accomplished this without selective desat. My favorite part about this is definitely the composition of the elements. The weighting is just really nice. I’m usually not very fond of photos with children on DPC, but this is one I would’ve given a good vote to. I think it wasn’t quite as overtly or centrally pink as a lot of other entries, and that was likely part of the reason for your placing in the middle of the pack. Either way, I liked it.