Arch
by aporagen

Comment by gg3rd:
The clouds resemble an explosion happenning above and behind, while there is a stillness of water under the bridge. (back to upgrade).

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by Tammster:
Cool bridge; the top part seems a little dark.

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by MacDonald:
It all works ... nothing to suggest to make it a better photo .. interesting and very well photographed.

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by hahn23:
Just oversaturated a bunch. Great scene otherwise. In the sky, there are either dust spots. Or, if the spots are birds.... then they were not a good choice for an HDR blend. (Yes, I know there's more than one way to "meet the challenge".)

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by Chucker:
A great shot, but the colors are a bit overdone for my tastes. Although there is a great reflection on the pond beyond the bridge, I find my eyes struggling to decide the center of interest--falls, bridge, pond, or sky?

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by LadyK:
WOH!!! major optical allusion here. totally blows my mind-10

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by Glacian22:
Stunning, really beautiful.

Live Oaks
by aporagen

Comment by macrothing:


Critique Club Critique

First Impressions
Can't see anyone on a 5 second look. Let me look again.. Ok, after another 20 seconds, I still cannot see anyone. Either I'm completely overlooking them or you may have misinterpreted the Challenge.

Photograph Information, Technicals & Composition Review
The scene itself has massive potential and I think the trees are beautiful, especially with the spanish moss draped over them. A variation in composition and framing to gain some compositional balance would have given this image more impact (Challenge theme aside for a moment). The out of focus tree tops/branches at the top left of frame are slightly distracting, especially on their own and the bottom right shrub/bush (which looks like similar foliage to the upper left) also throws the composition out a little. Both of these elements could be used to enhance the image, possibly with giving it a natural framing of sorts, but would require careful composition and cropping. As is, I think they end up making the image look too busy overall. The trees on their own are enough.

You don't give any details regarding the Challenge in your Photographer's Comments, so it makes it even more difficult for me to comment on this as an entry for a 'Where's Waldo' Challenge.

Comments, Score & Placement Review
29/73 is a very good placement, your score of 5.65 is not bad, but probably is a little lower than average for this type of placement because it was an overall low scoring Challenge with a reduced number of entries. I'm guessing you placed quite high because people thought it clever that they could not find the Waldo... on to read your comments received.

'Ahh', ok, yes, lower left I did make out an out of context subject - I assumed it was a wall ornament or carving, statue - but now I do see a small child in a green shirt - my apologies for not seeing him first and yes, well done for the hiding, however, I think as only half the torso is there, it might be a bit of a stretch for this Challenge...

All of your commenters loved the image and most of them found your 'Waldo'. You didn't receive much feedback regarding the photograph itself, but a difficult Challenge to garner such feedback on.

Summary
Perhaps even a much bolder crop, eliminating much of the right and, if possible, including more of 'Waldo' - not size wise, just body wise, make this a stronger image for this Challenge, in my opinion.

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by Yo_Spiff:
It's good, but perhaps the tonemapping in this scene is taken just a little too far for me. Not sure. On the other hand, it did some wonderful things for the clouds. Perhaps some of it is the strong yellow component in the foliage. I tend to turn down the yellow in foliage for a more green look.

Arch
by aporagen

Comment by StephenG:
Great color range here.