Stair shadow
by Melethia

Comment by pointandshoot:
This is the best shot in the challenge but may not make the top 20. Something you are accustomed to? 10

Rebridged
by Melethia

Comment by Kelli:
Trading post...
I love the editing but I'm not really too crazy about the subject. I'm kind of trying to see around the bridge to see what's behind it. Maybe that's what makes it interesting, I'm not really sure. Actually in scrolling back and forth to look at it and comment I noticed that if I crop if off below that star it takes a completely different look and I really like it that way.

Rebridged
by Melethia

Comment by timfythetoo:
Trading Post -

I will start with the fact that I prefer this much better than your original. I like that there is alot of different stuff to see as you look over this shot - the branches up top, the reflection, the trees under the arches. A much more pleasant picture overall. Maybe a tad soft as a whole but you can see a wonderful array of textures throughout. The bright white spot on the right i nthe gap on the bridge is a shame as it is a bit distracting. The pieces of tree in the others work well to soften those areas. I do like the postprocessingf on this. It gives it a funky feel but the light greens may be a bit too yellow from these actions (I dont have actions that I know of on Elements so I am jealous). Good shot and great improvement.

Earth tones
by Melethia

Comment by timfythetoo:
Trading Post -

Nice shot overall Deb. You have a knack for these warm, earth tone type shots. Great long shadow and nice overall lighting. Would like to have seen more of the room but this still works well and easily fits the challenge. My eyes are drawn secondarily to the reflections in the window. Cloning those out may have been nice - but probably a very minor point. Good shot and who can complain about another 6.+ score.

Rebridged
by Melethia

Comment by kirsty_mcn:
Slightly different format for Take Two...

Main critiques on original
sharpening, better in B&W?
my own, due to lack of comments - maybe a touch too bright in bottom left

What you've improved
Much more life to it, more wow/creative element. More interest overall.
I love the effect of the gothic glow giving a real vibrance to the bg behind the bridge. The greens of the vegetation seem to shroud it, peeking out behind and from above. You've captured a sense of the place much more than was in your original, which was more an architectural study without giving context of the surroundings.

What I prefer about the original
More structured composition, lighting on the bridge was much more dynamic. Focus on the star, echoing the blue sky... you've kinda neglected the star in this retake, and changed focus, so its just a different perspective, not a bad thing.

Overall, imho
Lovely dreamy shot. I love the lighting (evening?) on the background, but would like a touch more lighting on the bridge (not sure if the two are reconcilable)

Texas Bridge
by Melethia

Comment by kirsty_mcn:
Love the blue of the star and sky against the almost B&W of the bridge

Earth tones
by Melethia

Comment by kirsty_mcn:
Composition
Nice composition but I'd like to see it a little wider. Not really much to say

Technical stuff (exposure, dof, lighting etcâ€Â¦)
Beautiful lighting, enough to get the nice long shadow which is very important compositionally, but not enough to light the vase too harshly. Seems perfectly exposed, everything else spot on.

Meeting the challenge
Yeah, its wide enough and empty enough to not be a corner so of course

Other
I find the reflections of the frames in the windows distracting. If I were you i'd clone them out.

My personal opinion
If I'd voted on this challenge, I would have picked this out as one of yours. Your shots like this are always so beautiful (as is this one). Great to have a "signature shot" based on fundamental photography skills such as subtle lighting and tones rather than just the content. Pretty impressive that you can score a 6+ and not even make a dent on your profile page!

Stair shadow
by Melethia

Comment by scotto:
Nice angles and contrast, good luck.

Rebridged
by Melethia

Comment by nards656:
==Trading Post==

It does look processed, and it does look soft, but I LOVE this use of Gothic glow. It makes for a foggy look, to me, which is nice when combined with a river and a bridge. I also like the green that results. This is a great improvement, IMHO, over the original, but it's so different that it doesn't seem anything like it. Well done.

Stair shadow
by Melethia

Comment by Judi:
Now this is good use of lines, angles and colours. 8.