Arrival
by mm767cap

Comment:
Fantastic image, and something very different than all the other stuff on offer. My choice for the blue, and the only 10 I've given out in this challenge. I don't think that anyone could argue that this wasn't creative use of light. Meets the challenge perfectly. Good luck for a strong finish!

Kiwano
by ti_evom

Comment:
I gave two images in this challenge a 10, yours was one of them... the other turned out to the the 2nd place shot. First time I've predicted 2 of the 3 ribbons lol.

Awesome image! Can't give you any critque as you're way more talented than me lol, so I'll just stick to the superlatives :-) It looks so juicy!

- GRIN -
by andrewt

Comment:
I gave two images in this challenge a 10, yours was one of them... the other turned out to the the Blue winner. First time I've predicted 2 of the 3 ribbons lol.

Awesome image! Can't give you any critque as you're way more talented than me lol, so I'll just stick to the superlatives :-)

Banana Leaves
by lawrysimm

Comment:
Thanks everyone for the great comments.. I must admit this did much better than I expected! However I do think that whoever gave me a 10 must have been drunk lol

Blue Steel
by LalliSig

Comment:
Wow, my first ever blue prediction that came true! Congrats on a great image

Unzip the Rainbow
by VitaminB

Comment:
Can't vote on this cos I'm not a full member but this is a very clever idea and really well executed. One of my favourites in the challenge :-)

Basking in the Glow
by scottieham

Comment:
I read your thread about a critique and thought I'd offer my comments. I'm no means an expert in anything, but this picture looks really good to me. I'm an avid bird fan (or twitcher as they like to call us over here). I don't sit out in fields all day trying to spot a rare bird, bit I do love to sit and watch them from my conservatory on the feeders in the back garden. I personally think this is a lovely shot. The bits in the background are a little distracting but you don't get much control over that in these sort of situations.

I think the composition is pretty central, in fact the bulk of the bird is left of centre, with the bird looking out of the frame. I personally think that a right of cantre composition with the bird looking into the frame might have helped if that was an option. To be very picky, the blue leaves/petals or whatever in the foreground are also a little distracting and perhaps a desat or changing the colour to green for those leaves might help them blend in better. The reddish line at 8 o'clock (twig or something)also draws the eye. But those are really very picky comments - but that's perhaps how free studies are judged.

You can't always pick your subjects, perhaps one of the more colourful birds in an exact same image might have scored more highly (cardinal, robin etc) as people tend to have more of an affinity with brightly coloured birds.

From a purely personal viewpoint, I think it's a really nice shot. The clarity on the feathers is really good.The lighting is superb imo and perhaps in a bird challenge it would have done much better. Free studies always tend to be very hard to get a good score in. Your "She's a Gem" photo is a much better shot (I scored that one a 9 at the time). The composition is a lot cleaner, and she is looking directly with the camera which makes for a much more engaging shot.

One Fit Granny!
by basssman7

Comment:
I'm not sure where the weights, apple and tape measure idea comes from, there are a whole bunch of them in this challenge... must be an American thing that us Brits don't get. This is the best of the bunch in my opinion though. Nicely focussed and exposed, and a nice combination of the primary colours.

Blue Steel
by LalliSig

Comment:
Blue steel = Blue ribbon in my eyes. Definitely the best of the bunch. Moody, smouldering and gorgeous model. I'd kill to have a body like that lol... except I like cheese and dislike weights. Ho hum.

Hit a homerun for health
by Sheryll

Comment:
Nice action shot. The helmet lower left is a distraction, but I realise with basic editing rules you could not do much about that really.