Countless: The Times He Makes Me Smile
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Retroesque:
Beautiful cat portrait - the ring flash intrigues me.

Happy
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Dr.Confuser:
I love everything about this except the soft focus. I am sure you chose the softer focus on purpose and it works on several levels ... but if i could reshoot (reprocess) this, a crisper focus would improve it IMHO.

Happy
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Yo_Spiff:
I think the closed eyes adds to the impression of happiness you are conveying. I am wondering, however, if you are getting killed in voting for it. Some could take it as a flaw. I'll be curious to see where this places and to read others comments after the challenge.

Happy
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Paul:
OK, I'm going through the Free Study submissions, purposefully finding those images I think are shot with a less conventional eye - this is one of those images! Thanks for offering something that isn't just DPC friendly eye-candy (though of course there's nothing wrong with eye-candy). I'll be picking one of these images for the Mu (most underrated) award:

Positives: This is a very unconventional portrait - I'm liking how it breaks a number of conventions. I think the degree of unsharpness here works very well and there is a lot of personality communicated too. The lighting works really well on the jacket and I like how it merges into the background - I'm a fan of the negative space too.

Critical stuff: The above comments might suggest that I really like this image and though I quite like it, I'm not mad about it. Sometimes in comments I say that the image is more than the sum of its part - here, if I'm honest, I feel the opposite - the whole effect is less than it should be. I feel a little guilty about that assessment but it is an honest (and personal) one.

Overall: I like the vision and I think you've executed it well but somehow something has been lost in the process - I wish I could be more specific, but this is just a gut feeling.

I Feel Unseen
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Judi:
I can sorta see him....and it fits the challenge.

The Scoop
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Carlo21:
Great stuff. The tones are great as well. Congrats on the high finish!

The Scoop
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Lydia:
Cool, Chick! Congrats on your new PB.

The Scoop
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by Jutilda:
I thought this was really cool. I like the complementary yellow/blue.

The Scoop
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by h2:
Congrats on the HM and your new PB. Nice image with pleasing colors

The Scoop
by ThatChickOverThere

Comment by bubeltrubel:
Congrats on a really pleasing image and the 4th place!