Birthday Boy
by Melethia

Comment by markwiley:
I need to be a better commenter. This one connected with me and I lingered for a while. I liked it and gave it a 7. I remember thinking that it was a bold choice for the Best Of challenge because I thought many would mistake this as a simple snapshot, and that alone warranted a comment. I had trouble formulating a sentence on why I liked it, so I moved on too quickly -- back to the hundreds of Best of 2012 and December Free Study images still left to vote on.

Had I not been in such a selfish hurry, this is what i might have said:
I love the way this image captures the buzz of birthday activity and the mayhem of the cupcake table. I love the arms, the small girl pressed up to the table. I love the children's faces focused on the cupcakes out of frame and the eye contact with the one adult in frame. A moment well captured.

Birthday Boy
by Melethia

Comment by jagar:
Why don't kids get indigestion like we do, lovely moment Deb.

Birthday Boy
by Melethia

Comment by bvy:
Great fun...

Pier
by Melethia

Comment by skewsme:
Pretty! In this version I am simply fascinated by the wavewash. I feel like I'm moving with it. I think that people can sometimes overestimate the utility of leading lines but in this photo - I adore that long pier, especially because it's bustling. I prefer this composition to the clumpier ones suggested. Thanks for posting this!

34.52 Smile
by Melethia

Comment by bmartuch:
This is so cool. Sure looks happy.

Skaterboiz
by Melethia

Comment by bmartuch:
The skate boarders are great but the church backdrop is outstanding. Nice job Deb.

21.52 Reading and ice cream
by Melethia

Comment by bmartuch:
The everyday person in everyday life.

Watching 7
by Melethia

Comment by bmartuch:
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's...

In light B&W
by Melethia

Comment by bmartuch:
This is gorgeous. The lighting is perfect and you caught him at the right spot. Nice job.

Zen B&W
by Melethia

Comment by bmartuch:
I really love the processing on this.