Merry Kissmas!
by karmat

Comment:
A bold experiment, but the object just isn't interesting enough, thematically or aesthetically, to make any use of all that space. The fact that the white of the "KISSES" tag blends with the background makes it confusing as well.

Hanging On
by welcher

Comment:
Stunning! The person who took that other icy twig photo in this challenge would do well to compare it to yours. The composition here is beautiful, the DOF brings all the focus onto the front twig and leaf, but there is a dynamic, colourful background to support it. The curl of the leaf is a beautiful shape, and the colour definitely "pops". I love being able to see all the cracks in the ice. This just isn't a sight I ever see in Australia, so it's almost alien to me. 10.

Leading the Choir
by crabappl3

Comment:
I love it! You caught this woman in such a strong expression and a dynamic pose. It's really well framed to bring your eye right up to her face. The photo seems a touch oversharpened, or maybe you did some noise removal on it, but that's only a minor flaw. It's loaded with personality, and I like that.

Links
by jjbeguin

Comment:
Wow! Amazing colours and textures here! The composition is really tight. The slightly shallow DOF gives the photo that added dimension of depth. I love that the light is soft enough to bring out every detail. All that rust and erosion is very tactile... I can imagine what it would feel like if I touched it. Looking at this is a blissful experience :). 10!

Harsh lands
by Natasha

Comment:
Cool... I like the way the completely black forms silhouette starkly against the soft, undulating grey sky. The atmosphere of the photo definitely supports your title. The overall scene is unwelcoming and bleak, and the branches on that tree look gnarled and hostile. Nice work!

Corne
by muckpond

Comment:
Wow, this photo is just perfect. The black and white is very rich, the metallic sheen is beautiful, but the light is gentle enough to show us every detail. The framing is great, the lines are dynamic but nothing leads the viewer's eye out of the photo, everything brings it back in. There is enough going on to be interesting, but not confusing. Even though it's just a set up photo of an inanimate object, it has reached the level of an artwork, transcending the representational nature of photography. Definitely a 10.

One Man Bridge Band
by alanfreed

Comment:
Interesting candid... but this is exactly the kind of photo that benefits the most from the rule of thirds. Placing his body further to the left and down a little would mean the direction of his gaze would lead you across the photo to look at the people passing him by, not looking at him, then down to his drums and back around, up to his face. Some work on the colours would also help, they seem a touch washed out (just increase the contrast or work on the levels). Although there is some intest in the left side of the photo because of the bridge, it's not really adding to the composition at all.

Under the Christmas Tree
by Yomi

Comment:
Interesting geometric study. The lighting is very nice on those white girders. The strands of green stuff make me feel like I'm trapped in a net or something! Very dramatic composition, and overall and effective photo.

Flower Girl
by Sonifo

Comment:
Technically a great achievement. The colours are lovely, heading towards a kind of sepia toned theme but set off by the flowers. The lighing is lovely and soft, and I really like the way you made her hair kind of unruly, and captured a smile that looks mostly real, not faked for the camera. It's not really my type of photo, but it looks good enough to be in a calendar :).

Up in the Clouds
by jab119

Comment:
The clouds and colours here are nice, but it needs post processing work on levels, curves etc. to really bring out the full range of tones. As it is, it's washed out and grey. The framing of the tower on the left is awkward, it either needs more of it there or to be cut out completely. The focus is soft, but that's not a bad thing when the subject is clouds. If it wasn't so washed out, the soft focus would work well (in my opinion).