Waterman's Boots and Gloves
by jenicklason

Comment:
I apologise, I am new to this and you are "stuck" with my comments. Pls. realise that this is *my* learning curve more than yours!
I must admit, I had to read up what a waterman is/does - thanks for some education :-). So, I like your interpretation of the theme. I like the way you use the slightly out of focus boat tarpaulin as your backdrop. By the same token, I would have prefered to have the glove, as one of the main items in this image, to be completely in focus and/or more prominent in color and/or placement. I like the mud pattern on the boots, as it prevents them from being a "big black blotch" as well as adding interest and a little more "background" to your theme. I think your lighting is good and the wet surface all over again emphasis the picture's story.

Vegetable & Mineral - Leaf & Rust
by tvsometime

Comment:
I apologise, I am new to this and you are "stuck" with my comments. Pls. realise that this is *my* learning curve more than yours!
I like your interpretation of the theme. I LOVE the bottom part of your photograph - the leaf and the rusty surface. IMO, all you needed was to add a little blue of the background and you could have left it. I find the additional rusty barb wire, which is out of focus and "oversized" compared to the leaf distracting. the oversize, IMO really draws attention to the barb wire and I don't think that is where the viewers attention should be going. The same for the light reflections. Especially the bright one in the middle catches the eye. I like the colour combination you used and the DOF on the leaf and rusty sheet as well as the lighting on the leaf, making the shadow go "under" the leaf and hence not obscuring any of the rust it is lying on - very nicely done.

Raisin Bran
by GeneralE

Comment:
I apologise, I am new to this and you are "stuck" with my comments. Pls. realise that this is *my* learning curve more than yours!
You are obviously NOT my brother - he thinks NOTHING goes with raisins ;-). Different take on the theme, I like it.
the raisins came out well in the picture I think and the placement of them is good (grouped together in one spot rather than all over). I do feel the picture is "flat" though and the "flakes" don't really stand out. This could be the top of a pie crust as well. I don't know if different lighting and/or higher contrast in post editing would have solved this.
Although it is well within the theme, I am not "captivated" by this photograph.

dice
by betelgeuse

Comment:
I apologise, I am new to this and you are "stuck" with my comments. Pls. realise that this is *my* learning curve more than yours!
I don't quite understand how "dice" go with the theme of "A+B". Dice are used singly, in 2s or several, depending on the game they are used for.
In any case, I think the picture is very striking. IMO, I think this is really well put together with the reflective surface at the bottom. Love the crop and placement of the main object. Nothing to distract the eye. Your choice of shutter speed, IMO was also really good. This is one of my favorite photos so far, except that I don't think it is within the theme, or at least I don't "get it" :-(.

Hands & Drum Sticks
by JarHead

Comment:
I apologise, I am new to this and you are "stuck" with my comments. Pls. realise that this is *my* learning curve more than yours!
I think this is an interesting interpretation of the theme. I like the composition of your picture, especially the stick on the diagonal in the light shade. However, not being a drummer or music person myself, I don't know what the rippley background is and I find my attention being drawn to that "mistery" in your picture almost more than the obvious hands and sticks and thus find it distracting. I do like the tight crop you used it really emphasised not only the hands and sticks but in fact "how" they go together.

Husband & Wife
by nstevens85

Comment:
I apologise, I am new to this and you are "stuck" with my comments. Pls. realise that this is *my* learning curve more than yours!
I think the interpretation of the theme is good. I like that you used dolls rather than real people and still could get the "husband&wife" theme across. My eyes are drawn a lot to the background though. Especially the little boys pictures on the wall. the blue in those pics is very strong and draws my eye. Perhaps a brighter attire of the H&W or a shallower DOF would have emphasised the main charaters more. I do like the way you used the lighting.

Finger + Nose
by IAmEliKatz

Comment:
I apologise, I am new to this and you are "stuck" with my comments. Pls. realise that this is *my* learning curve more than yours!
OK, this is gross - but I suppose such a reaction to a photograph is a good thing ;-). I think your interpretation of the theme is somewhat outside the "usual", but definitely within the theme. I like the way you dealt with the background (or lack thereof) which really brings the face and hand to the forfront. I am not sure if the skin tone is not a bit on the "red" side. What I don't like so much is the prominence of the hand in this photo. Your title was "finger" + nose, yet the hand is the largest item in the picture. Perhaps shooting with a different lense, or cropping it tighter would have put more emphasise on the finger. I do love the models nose for this theme. and based on the whole take on the title, I like the "goofiness" that the model portraits.