Focus, Patience, Excitment, Curiosity
by colorcarnival

Comment:
The immediate impact of this image is not technical but artistic - it's a stellar capture in which the details compliment the title and the subjects exactly match the impression the author tried to convey. From a technical standpoint, it is exceptional and above average for the general challenge - the exacting tones of black, gray and white demonstrate an indepth knowledge of the zone system and it's use - a perfect conversion and well worth the time to examine closely in addition to the vague, yet detailed background which again, demonstrates mastery of bokeh both as a concept and a photographic tool. A complete technical and artistic success that by rights should place well into the challenge if not a ribbon winner. Well done.

Library Table
by Qiki

Comment:
One of the few table top reflection images that is properly composed and captured - every geometrical feature is exactly where it should be and demonstrates the effectiveness of precision and a complete thought process in staging and capture. Where it falls just a little short is that the artistic impression does not match the technical excellance. The flat tonal quality of the image, while not a huge negative, is a little deficient in creating a matching wow or pop factor to the technical expertise. Still, an exceallant image matching the challenge criteria perfectly. If a little more color could have been added, it would have placed extremely high if not a ribbon winner. As it is, it should place well within the top twenty. Well done.

Almost Summer
by aimeethetoo

Comment:
Simple and effective - a candid look at good times ahead. This image demonstrates effective use of the zone system and has no significant technical defects. The image conveys a mood and whistfulness that has been unmatched so far in this challenge - a very different look at the everyday life of a boy. Well done.

Oreo
by C4Pictures

Comment:
An image that is so gob smackingly awful it defies accurate description - there must be a reason for submitting it. One can only assume that it's meant to achieve the lowest score possible which can be obliged.

Birthday in the Park with Dad
by mindbottling

Comment:
A candid moment that seems staged and slightly forced (not that is was staged and posed - it just gives that impression). The contrasting colors are very pleasing to the eye and the angle at which the image was captured perfectly meets the challenge criteria. Another minor issue is that the image is too tall to be truly effective - a crop of maybe an 1/8th of the top would have improved the image. A good entry into the challenge, it falls just short of having major impact on the viewer.

Chilling reminder
by snaffles

Comment:
Model set piece imagery is always difficult to evaluate because there is so much to look at. In this case, it might have been a better idea to include the whole image as sharp as possible to increase the sense of depth and dimension to the image - the DOF technigue used here leaves the image rather flat and undetailed which seems opposite of the modeling image genre which would be to reproduce, as accurately as possible, a moment in time. A longer look would have been more appropriate to gain maximum impact from a dramatic and interesting scene.

Yesterday: caucht - cooked and eaten
by Glanni

Comment:
The angle of this image makes is suspect from a strictly challenge criteria standpoint being from an angle that is unnatural for a table surface image. On the other hand, there is nothing that says that the camera can't be placed on an object on the table, although this has the feel of a hand held capture. The rich and detailed fish is a pleasant surprise and while the lighting created some highlights that are distracting, they aren't overwhelming and give a sense of freshness to the subject - almost as if it has been freshly caught. A unigue subject for this challenge.

Yahtzee
by rrdjserv

Comment:
An interesting double double with the live dice being expertly framed against the static dice in the background. A very clever concept that is pleasing and amusing - technically competant with no major issues. From an artistic sense, everything seems in place including the hand letting the dice go which is a very subtle but clever and inventive touch. One minor little issue is that the bottom of the image could be cropped to eliminate the table surface which would have concentrated the eye on the more interesting aspects of the image, but that's a personal choice - it's still very good as it is. Well done.

Foil : essential for Campfire Cooking
by glad2badad

Comment:
Not quite as effective as it could be, the narrow center focus field is more of a distraction than a focal point of interest. The overall appearance of this image seems rather bland. While the color combinations are interesting, the lack of depth and dimension are a negative and could have been handled more effectively. A better idea might have been to use a more focused approach and concentrate on the meal ingredients and the foil itself as the plate in the foreground is diametrically opposed to the title and subject matter.

Table Wine
by Ammie

Comment:
While this sentence may seem to be over wrought with angst, sometimes it helps to just reach out and scream "what were you thinking?". This is a brilliant composition in the meme of minimalist imagery which is marred by less than competant lighting control. The back lighting created blooms which ruin the gentle, pleasing tones and colors including washing out the incredible details in the right wood chair top and negatively affecting the bottle, glasses and candle stick. A little less exposure to control the white flare on the table top and candle flame and the elimination of the back lighting would have brought this image to perfection from both an artistic and technical standpoint. The author should revisit this scene and recompose to eliminate these issues and enter the image into a print competition - it would place very high in that context.