Snug as a bug in a rug
by mefnj

Comment:
so long as the bugs aren't in my rugs, i'm quite happy to let him be snug

vicki
by Giles

Comment:
The shoes make the shot for me.
It's so often that you'd see a picture like this either cropped part way up or playing up the natural bare foot... the shoes add a fun element to it.
The model seems willing enough to do the shoot (proof is in the picture), but the body language (head turned away and down with eyes looking even further away), shoulders looking tense, arm posture of 'open but not inviting' and the blue lighting just add together in a way that make this image seem less fun and more work.
A smile in the corner of the mouth, a furtive glance, biting the lower lip or a finger, warmer lighting, or a more vertical/forward posture could have added some 'stay a while' factor to this image and some points to your score (i think).

I do think it's very well done and i'm a bit envious of your having a model willing to do these types of shoots, and if i had voted i'd have likely given it a 7, but with some of the other elements it would've been an 8 or 9 easily.

Speeder
by IAmEliKatz

Comment:
a-ha, it's not Vesner.
I know he's done similar shots before, figured this might be another of his despite his fairly strict "not competing in challenges" stand lately.

I May Have a Big Nose..but...I Never Forget Anything.
by FtWorthphotog

Comment:
not sure if the title was changed/how the title was changed after voting, but upon viewing my comment makes no sense - I swear i remember seeing "forget a Anything" as the title.
anyways, great image, figure it should've placed higher.

A Minor
by DistantColours

Comment:
figured the title was a pun put on by one of our younger photographers...

Peacefully Disconnected
by jagar

Comment:
wow, during voting i thought this was Gyaban (mostly because i figured you would still do some sort of street photography scene).
Great shot John! Congrats on the top 5.

Elegance
by pamb

Comment:
congrats on the well deserved blue!
Been vacationing and hadn't had a chance to vote on these, but you would've gotten another 10 from me (and a fave during challenge, not just after). :)

Into the Belly of the Beast
by vawendy

Comment:
congrats on the ribbon and the adventure! :)

Speeder
by IAmEliKatz

Comment:
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say this is Vesner.
If i'm right, you should know who this is too ;p

Indelible
by unbreakable

Comment:
i'm unable to stop looking at the 6-shooter tattoo gun.
i can't imagine a scene where that would be necessary... but it's a fun prop nonetheless!

Although technically this image is DNMC, i'll let it slide on the score. (technically it says "without people" and it's obviously people involved in the tattooing process... but you can't have the tattoo with people, so that's why i'm letting it slide on affecting the score) :)