The Onset
by manic35

Comment:
A very dramatic and competant image in addition to being an excellant conversion demonstrating good knowledge of the zone system. Just over the edge of being oversharpened, the effect does not hurt the image from an technical standpoint. The right on the edge highlights enhance the pleasing artistic impact. very dramatic and intense. Well done.

The Serpent
by mm767cap

Comment:
Simpe, efficient and effective - a complete technical success with the subtle exposure of detail in the dark areas and the very good capture of the light moving around the mountain. Nordic paganism has a mythology about the Fire Snake moving down a mountain side and this is almost a perfect representation of that from an artistic standpoint. A very good concept perfectly executed.

Last beer before departure
by ocelot

Comment:
While the monotone image with colored object is a rather passe' style having seen this technigue in every challenge, in this case it works because it's so different. The matching color and tone of the light and glass are perfectly complimentary to the Victorian silhouette feel of the subject. No major technical issues and artistically impressive. Well done.

Spinning out of the dark
by rlinn3

Comment:
The effect here is interesting - it appears that the hips of the male skater disappear into the background giving him a two part appearance - as if he had been cut in half. While the image is technically compentant in the sense of stop action, it's a little soft in focus and some details are lost. With a longer lens, and concentrating on one or the other subjects, it would have been a better image. A fairly common view of snap shot quality in an artistic sense.

Between Light and Darkness
by Ammie

Comment:
There is an interesting effect here that the author may have missed. If one takes the right side of the image out of the presentation, you get the effect of a Burning Bush. While the right side of the image gives a sense of depth and dimension, it is too vague to be truly effective. Additionaly, there is a little anomaly on the left (one quarter of the way in half way up the image) that looks very similar to a bad spot in a film emulsion - it's a natural object, but it is distracting. Overall a good entry into the challenge.

The stroke of emotions
by LadyQuixotic

Comment:
There are two images here and one is better than the other. The shadow figure is much more dramatic than the subject and conveys the intent of the title in a much more efficient way than the subject itself. On the other hand, if the shadow figure is removed from the image and the subject is used, there is much the same effect, but the less than complimentary lighting is a negative. They just don't seem to work well together. Given the lighting, it might have been a better choice to work with the shadow figure. Technically competant capture in difficult lighting conditions.

Warp Factor Five
by pixelpig

Comment:
Abstract in execution, a very competant image without any significant issues. The temptation would have been to slightly over expose the lights, but that was avoided. In an artistic sense, it is vibrant with complimentary colors and shapes - very scifi in nature as befits it's title - nothing seems over done or out of place.

DON
by DigiFotoBuddy

Comment:
The reflections in the sun glasses gives the subject a slightly cross eyed look which is laugh out loud funny that probably wasn't the author's intent. A nice fade to dark on the model, but the ear on the left is immediately noticable and prominent - a little more angle on the lighting would have avoided this distraction. The smoke curls is a little over done - a simpler plume that was more figured would have been a better choice. Given that the initial reaction was humorous, it doens't quite have the drama and impact in an artistic sense that it should have. Still, a competant image.

Beauty in the dark
by JCrest01

Comment:
An effective image with a very competant fade from light to dark - no significant technical issues at all. From an artistic standpoint, it doesn't quite spark any significant emotions or interest, but the excellant use of light to convey a sense of dark is impressive. Well done.

Darkness of the Soul
by BigChris

Comment:
The foreboding color cast and model expression fit the challenge crieria exactly. A good composition well framed and exposed with everything properly controlled and presented. An artistic success as the image matches the title perfectly in addition to being a properly executed image. Well done.